From the Principal

Welcome back.  ELC started Term 4 brimming with confidence on Monday and almost one hundred students successfully sat the GAT under new ‘COVID- normal’ conditions yesterday. Today, Prep to Year 6 made a triumphant return to Myrniong and when I visited this morning, the children’s excitement was matched by the relieved looks on mums’ and dads’ faces!

This week you should have received a letter from me in response to a few queries we have received as to whether we were providing a Term 3 ‘Remote Learning’ discount. The College Board chose not to provide a second discount due to the following three reasons. First, those schools that did provide fee discounts had an all-inclusive fee structure.  In this situation, they have returned the savings to their school families by not having camps, excursions, performances, sport etc.  We charge our all co-curricular costs separately. Second, we do not have the cash reserves that larger Melbourne schools do, which is incredibly important when planning for the ongoing and future offerings for our students. Finally, we were entering new territory in April and had not tested the quality of learning that we could provide remotely.  Over the past nine weeks, and the six weeks prior to that, the College staff have never worked harder to provide an outstanding level of teaching.  The Board did discuss this matter at length and, cognizant that some families may feel aggrieved, have budgeted for a minimal fee increase in 2021.  I would be more than happy to discuss any further concerns with any families in person.

The staff and I have great plans for students over the final nine weeks of the year.  Connection and well-being, literacy and numeracy are our priorities.  ‘Let the games begin!’ 

Yours sincerely

Andrew