From the Principal 

As we pass the mid-point in the term, we have had a busy couple of weeks, with plenty of events and activities taking place and news to share.

We were delighted to host the Year 7 picnic last week. It was a great opportunity for our newest students and families to get to know each other and their Connect teachers in a relaxed, fun setting. Thank you to all the families who came along to support the event and make it such a success.

Our Year 12 families also joined us last week for a "meet and greet" event. After two years of this event being online due to Covid, it was excellent to be able to connect with the families of our senior students again in person and for parents to catch up with each other in a casual setting and reconnect at school at the start of Year 12. It was also a timely opportunity to introduce our new Acting Assistant Principal, Jane Lange, and Acting Head of Senior School, Paul-Micah Sullivan, to the school. We hope this is the start of a relationship that can be built on throughout the year to support our Year 12 students in 2023.

I would like to inform families that our School Council Annual General Meeting is coming up on 30 March at 6:00pm. This is an important event where the school's Annual Report is presented, and following the report, Council members are elected for the year ahead. I would like to congratulate our new members of School Council and thank them for nominating. Each year, schools are expected to present the Annual Report to the school community, which provides an opportunity for the school community to celebrate achievements, reflect on the school’s performance, and understand where and how improvement efforts have enhanced student achievement, engagement, and wellbeing. We invite all families to attend the presentation of the Annual Report or download the report from the school website following its endorsement at the School Council Meeting.

Our school is also undergoing its School Review. Over the next few weeks, the school will be visited by Department representatives and visiting Principals to set the school’s improvement goals for the next 4 years. We will be putting a callout to interested families via Compass to participate in forums for feedback on key programs in the school. Yesterday, small groups of our students at Years 7&8, Year 9&10 and Year 11&12 met with our reviewing team to give their feedback and their views on school engagement and their learning. We will review all of the feedback and use it to assist in prioritising our goal setting for the next Strategic Plan.

This Friday is our annual athletics carnival, and the first time we have made it a whole school event. Students will participate to win points for their school House; Cooper, Sumner, Plenty, or Merri and we want all students to participate and enjoy the day. There will be a range of events on offer, including track and field, novelty events, and team relays. Please ensure your child brings appropriate clothing, sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water. We look forward to a great supportive atmosphere and seeing all our students cheering each other on. 

Lastly, Parent Teacher Student Conversations bookings open this week. We are looking forward to the opportunity for our whole school school community to engage in discussions around student learning. 

Thank you for your ongoing support of our school community.

Chris Jones

Principal