FCC REPSONSE TO TRAGIC LOSS OF LIVES IN KINNEAR STREET

Most if not all will be aware of the terrible tragedy that recently took place opposite our school, where three lives were lost, including that of a young 15 year old girl.

A major factor in this awful event was that these people did not have safe nor satisfactory accommodation. While there is nothing we can do to reverse this tragedy that unfolded opposite us, as a school, it is right that we take responsibility to respond in some way. Hence we have made a commitment to raise awareness of homelessness and to raise funds for this cause within our school community.

This commitment is an expression of the values we promote as a school in relation to respect and responsibility, not just ourselves, but for others in the community. Already there has been an overwhelmingly positive response from students who are aware of this initiative, and I’m confident our students as a whole will respond with sensitivity, understanding, compassion and generosity.

To launch this whole school commitment, Dr John Falzon addressed student assemblies of Years 10 – 12 and Years 8 – 9 last Wednesday. Unfortunately Year 7 had Sport with pre-booked venues so an assembly will be held for them at a later date. Dr Falzon is the CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia, and has long been an advocate for a fairer and more equitable society and is a regular media commentator on social justice matters.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our students for their calm and understanding on the day of the tragedy when we were confined to the inside of our building because of the major police operation at the front of the school. Understandably some students had difficulty dealing with this event and sought counselling and/or permission to go home. Still, as a whole, the cooperation of the students made the management of the situation much easier, as did the support of the staff. A major thank you also goes to the staff because of the manner in which they stepped up on the day to assist in whatever way they could.

In terms of the fundraising, a separate fund will be established and any parents or carers are most welcome to contribute to it if you are in a position to do so.

FOOTSCRAY LEARNING PRECINCT (FLP)

As there have been no meetings of the Strategic Advisory group for the Footscray Learning Precinct (FLP) this year there is nothing new to report since last year. However there is now a meeting scheduled for the 28th March, so further information should follow from this.

Towards the end of 2016 we had a special newsletter edition which provided an update on the developments with the proposed Precinct. It also included a copy of the college council’s response to the broad proposal for the FLP. Council developed this in April-May 2016. A link to the special edition newsletter is included, particularly for the benefit of those parents/carers who are new to the school.

At the time of the publication of the special edition, community consultation was taking place around a proposal for the secondary component of the FLP. In a nutshell, it was proposed that there be three secondary campuses with Footscray City College becoming a senior secondary school (Years 10 – 12), Gilmore College a junior campus (Years 7 – 9), as well as a further junior campus to be built on the wedge of land between Pilgrim Street and the railway line opposite the southern end of the VU Nicholson Street campus. The college council endorsed the three campus concept in principle. Further information on this can be found with the link to last year's special edition.

To date there has been no feedback on the findings of the consultation process, but its purpose was to inform the feasibility study undertaken by Aurecon, the company engaged by the Department of Education. This feasibility study has now been completed and the report is with the Minister for Education. We will hopefully be able to report on the details of the findings and recommendations of the feasibility study after the 28th March meeting.

To view the 2016 Footscray Learning Precinct Special Edition Newsletter click here

PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS WEDNESDAY 29 MARCH & LAST DAY OF TERM FRIDAY 31 MARCH

The first formal opportunity for parents and teachers to meet and discuss our students' progress for the first term of the year, will be on the last Wednesday of term. Bookings for appointments with teachers will be available online through Compass, as usual, and you will be notified when these are opened. We look forward to meeting with you before the school breaks for the holidays on the Friday 31st March. Please note that students will be dismissed at 2:20pm on the last day of term and we wish everyone a relaxing break.

Maria Bawden - Principal

SCHOOL CALENDAR

TERM 1 DATES