Principal's Report

The things I didn't write last time

Well I hope you were blown away by the efforts of the Year 9 students on their camp's experience in the last issue.   I have to admit, just in case you don't know me, I'm not a camping type person.  However, being able to offer students the experiences they had in their different travels is so important to us.  All of their reports captured the challenge they faced, not only physically but psychologically as well.  You don't stand on top of a mountain, or convince a horse to do your bidding or manage to stay in a raft as it flys over rapids without having a positive impact on your sense of self.

The Year 10 students in their Police Cadets Graduation camp faced another whole range of challenges - learning to march and practicing for hours gives its own sense of achievement.  This was on top of all they learnt about leadership and community service.

So many schools are cutting back their camps and excursion opportunities for students because of increasing costs and very tight budgets within schools.  Reading the Year 9s' reports now, and talking to them when they arrived back on Friday night made it really clear how formative these activities are in the growing independence of the young adults they are becoming.  We really have to thank parents for trusting us and helping to make this happen through your generous funding.  On behalf of parents and students I would like to express your thanks to the teachers who left their own families behind to care for the "Wantirna family" for a week.  These experiences are life changing.

Valedictory Dinner

WOW do our Year 12s scub up well!  Please have a look later in this newsletter at the photos of this remarkable event we held to farewell the Year 12s and their parents.

College Captains for 2017

It is my great pleasure to announce the College Captains for 2017 will be Gabbi Cameron and Sam Brasher, and Vice Captains will be Sarah Dobson and Jayden Mitchell.  We are looking forward to working with them and watching them represent their fellow students.

Year 9 Environmental Class

Congratulations to the Ms Chamberlain and the Year 9 Environmental Studies class.  They have been studying endgangered species. Working in groups they've researched different animals and developed board games people can play to raise awareness of the plight of many of our native animals.  On talking to the students they really felt it was a fun, but serious, way of learning.

Welcome back to our China adventurers

We had a lunch recently to welcome home our 10 Year 9 students and Mr Michael Harvey who have just spent 6 weeks travelling and studying in China.  It was funny sitting in the room just listening to the excited talk as they told us about their highlights and about what they had learnt about themselves.

Year 7 2017

Year 7 parents gave us very positive feedback about the Orientation Evening, where we all heard an address from Dr Michael Carr Gregg on the transition to secondary school.  His presentation is available to download on our website under the Year 7 2017 section.  One thing he suggested that stood out for me was the activity we should all do with our families every night around the dinner table.  We should all say three positive things that happened during the day, to help focus on positive rather than negative thinking.  We tried it recently and added on one thing we were grateful for - it worked really well!

End of Year Arrangements

Students will receive their reports at the final assembly on Friday afternoon this week. More information about report collection is later in this newsletter.  They will be dismissed at 2.30pm.

The End of Year activities program has gone really well and the students have had a great time, and have learnt a lot along the way. There is no formal program for Monday next week.  Students who attend school will be welcomed, and should come in suitable clothing for working on getting the College locked down for the holidays

Sue Bell

Principal