Principal's Page

Welcome Back for Term 4

We welcome back our College Community to what promises to be another busy and productive term here at Wheelers Hill Secondary College.

Year 12 Class of 2018

Over the recent break, we held practice exams for our Year 12 students and they were of huge benefit to their learning needs.   I would like to thank staff, particularly our Senior Sub School Leader Judith Riddoch, for their efforts in providing the practice exam program.

We would like to wish our Year 12 students all the very best with their up and coming exams.  It is also a chance for our Year 12 students and families to reflect on lots of great memories over thirteen years of schooling. The College Community would like to congratulate all of our Year 12 students on their achievements and we wish them well with their up and coming Exams together with their future endeavours. 

On the 24th October, we will be having a special Whole School Assembly in honour of our Year 12 students.  Families are invited to attend.  It will also be an opportunity to thank our Year 12 teachers for their dedication and commitment through 2018.

We also recognise the special efforts of our 2018 College Captains in Molly Sceney, Nina Notaro, Tash Buckley and Tanja Vejdani.  They have been outstanding representatives of our school and they have shown great leadership throughout the year.  The College would like to thank them for all of their hard work in 2018.

Sports Awards Night, 2018

Our inaugural Sports Awards Night was held earlier this week (15/10).  It was wonderful night with many students, families and staff in attendance.

The Sports Awards Night allowed the College to formally recognise the achievements of so many of our students across a range of disciplines through 2018.  The Night was incredibly well organised with those in attendance enjoying what the Night has to offer.  We congratulate our students on the awards that they received, and we thank Kerrie Lay, Sally Pryde and their team of staff for all of their hard work to ensure that the 2018 Sports Awards Night was so successful.

Maths Pathways

The College has decided to not continue with Maths Pathways in 2019. Maths Pathways is an online, interactive program that we are currently using to support our Year 7 and 8 students with their learning in Mathematics.

We recently conducted a thorough review of the program including surveying and speaking with key groups, analysing learning data and communicating with representatives from the Maths Pathways group.  Our review concluded that it would not be in the best interests of our Year 7 and 8 students to continue using the program.  Our Domain Mathematics Leader (Vincent Lam) will now work with his team, together with our Learning Specialist in Numeracy (Nicholas Arnold) to develop suitable teaching and learning programs to replace Maths Pathways as part of the Year 7 and 8 Mathematics curriculum for 2019.  If parents of Year 7 and 8 students have any queries, please contact the General Office.

Parent Opinion Data, 2018

The most recent Parent Opinion Data (2018) has come through from the Department of Education (or DET) and we have received some very pleasing results from parents surveyed.

Results show that we have grown significantly in a number of areas.  Teacher Communication, Stimulating Learning Environment, Effective Teaching and Parent Participation all rated highly in comparison to the data collected in 2017.

Leadership and staff will analyse the Parent Opinion Data (2018) closely to see if we can find additional ways of making further improvements in key areas important to our parents and families.

New Appointments, 2019 - Learning Specialists

We are thrilled to announce some new appointments commencing next year (2019):

Michelle Galli (Learning Specialist - Numeracy)

Claire Hanley (Learning Specialist - Literacy)

Kim Hewlett (Learning Specialist - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics or STEM; acting appointment)

Learning Specialists are highly skilled classroom practitioners who continue to spend the majority of their time in the classroom delivering high-quality teaching and learning and have a range of responsibilities related to their expertise, including teaching demonstration lessons, observing and providing feedback to other teachers and facilitating school-based professional learning. Learning Specialists are expected to have deep knowledge and expertise in high quality teaching and learning in delivering improved achievement, engagement and wellbeing for students (from the Dept of Education, 2017).

Both Michelle and Claire are currently working at Emerald Secondary College and they come to our school incredibly well regarded.  Kim is already a member of staff and she too enjoys an excellent reputation in education.

We look forward to working with our new Learning Specialists in 2019.

Visual Arts and Technology Exhibition, 2018, starting Mon 22/10

This is an outstanding event allowing us to showcase student achievement in the Arts and Technology Domains.  This event has been an important part of our College for a number of years and the level of interest and support from our College Community is enormous. 

The Exhibition will see student work being displayed on a rotational basis starting with the work of our Year 12 students on Monday 22nd of October.  The following week will see work from our Year 11 students on display and so on.  Due to our Building Program, it has been difficult to find appropriate space for the Exhibition in 2018, so we will displaying student work in the General Office.

I encourage our students and families to attend the Arts and Technology Exhibition over the coming weeks at the College.  The standard of student work on display will be outstanding.

Value of the Week - Creativity

All of our Year 8 students are currently involved in a STEM Project.  The theme of the Project is 'Waste' and we commend them for their Creativity in developing solutions to better managing waste in our community.  Please read on through the Newsletter to learn more about the 'Year 8 STEM Project' .

Principal For A Day, Friday 12th of October - Stella Axarlis AM

We were able to welcome our 'Principal For A Day' in Stella Axarlis last week (12/10/18).  Please read Stella's biography below: 

From mathematics teacher to internationally acclaimed opera singer, managing director, Board member and community advocate, Stella Axarlis’ career has been one of diversity, determination and inspiration.

She consults with organisations that are undertaking significant cultural change and presents nationally and internationally on issues of business excellence, change management, organisational culture and education and training.

Stella Axarlis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (Melbourne University).

She has been a member of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council for a maximum of three terms and a member of the Premier’s Victorian Economic, Social and Environmental Policy Council. 

In 1998 she became a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her contribution to training, business and children with disabilities.

In 2002 she was recognised in Victoria’s Awards for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs and in 2003 she received a Centenary Medal.

In November 2011 Stella was awarded the inaugural, preeminent Lifetime Achievement Award in November 2011

The Lifetime Achievement Award is Australia’s most prestigious vocational education and training (VET) award. The award is presented to an individual who has an established history of distinguished service and who has made a lasting contribution to VET practice.

Stella returned recently to Opera to become Chair of CitiOpera and to direct the highly successful productions of Verdi’s Otello, Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos and Verdi’s Il Trovatore.

She retired from the Board of CitiOpera on May 2017

Stella had a great day learning more about College and our school community.  Stella was able to speak with students and staff, and share in the activities of the Principal throughout the day.  We thank Stella for her time and her interest in our College.  

And finally....

Well done to all of our students who competed at the recent Eastern Metropolitan Region (EMR) Athletics Carnival last week (12/10).   We had a strong student contingent in attendance on the day with Cameron Coutts (Year 9) and Marnath Ter (Year 12) coming first in their events to win their way through to the State Final next week (22/10) where they will compete in Long Jump and High Jump respectively. Well done Cameron and Marnath on your wonderful achievements, and we congratulate of all of our students who represented the College at the 2018 EMR Athletics Carnival.

Aaron Smith

Principal