Principal's Report

Year 12 Valedictory

Last Friday we had the absolute pleasure of congratulating our Year 12 Class of 2021 on their successful completion of Year 12 and 13 years of formal schooling.  This is an amazing achievement and one that has been completed in the most challenging of conditions as our students worked their way through a combination of onsite and remote learning over the last two years.

To our graduating students - Be proud of your achievements and all that you have done in 2021, take these new skills and be both a leader and learner in the future in whatever field you follow, challenge the status quo and continue to work to make our world and our communities a better place.  Stand proud, your achievements this year have been remarkable, and it is an absolute tribute to you and your personal tenacity and grit that you have successfully completed Year 12.  I am extremely proud of your achievements, as are your parents and our staff team.  Completing Year 12 is never an easy feat and here you are having completed Year 12 in tough times.  Congratulations, enjoy the road ahead and remember you are always a part of our Epping Secondary College community. 

To our wonderful parents, carers and families - Thank you for the support you have provided to your son or daughter over the last 13 years, from those first days in Prep where you supported your son or daughter to walk in to their first class; through to the final days of Year 12 where you have supported, encouraged, instructed and / or bribed your son or daughter to finish those last few steps and to show us all just how much they can shine.  Thank you for placing your trust and support in our school over the years and don’t forget us now as you end your formal relationship with us, continue to be our partners as we ensure positive educational, social and wellbeing outcomes for the next generation of learners and leaders.

To our staff team, who have worked tirelessly and done an outstanding job of supporting our graduating class of 2021.  Over the years we know our graduating class of 2021 have given us some challenges but haven’t we seen them grow.  Your support, guidance, challenge and commitment to bringing out the best in every student has seen our graduating class of 2021 develop into some outstanding young adults, citizens, learners and leaders, thank you.

Friday night provided us with an opportunity to announce our 2021 Valedictorians.  The Valedictorian award is presented to the student with the highest academic outcomes throughout the 2021 school year in each of our year 12 streams being our VCAL cohort and our VCE cohort. These students should be congratulated for the outstanding commitment they have shown towards their studies. They have consistently strived for excellence and this is evident through their academic achievements.  On Friday night we were delighted to announce Emily Gillard as our 2021 VCAL Valedictorian and Hannah Reid as our 2021 VCE Valedictorian.  Congratulations Emily and Hannah.

ABCN Scholarship

We are absolutely delighted to announce that current Year 10 student, Leilani Masoe, has been awarded one of 41 national ABCN ‘Accelerate’ Scholarships.  This is an amazing achievement by Leilani and a reflection of significant promise and potential that she has already demonstrated through her Year 7-9 studies.

As one of the 41 scholarship awardees for 2021, Leilani will be provided with:

• Financial support for educational expenses over years 11, 12 and the first year of further education, or training.
• A senior business mentor selected by ABCN from their network of member companies
• A 3-year leadership program comprising regular facilitated sessions, one-on-one meetings and a 2-day Leadership Summit
• A network of role models and like-minded students outside the scholar's existing community
• Workplace and tertiary education access and opportunities

Our students at Epping Secondary College are achieving amazing things and this is yet another example of this being recognised beyond the school gate and by our broader community.  Congratulations Leilani.

Preparing for 2022

This week has seen the start of our Early Commencement Program for our Year 12 Class of 2022.  It has been wonderful to see our students actively engaging with our teachers and getting stuck into their Year 12 units of work.  This is a great opportunity for our students to get off to a flying start in their final year and all students are reminded that their attendance throughout the Early Commencement Program will factor in to them meeting the 90% minimum attendance requirement to successfully complete Year 12.  For those students and families yet to organise books and materials for 2022, please have a look on our website at https://www.eppingsc.vic.edu.au/curriculum/student-forms/  For many of our senior students in 2022 there will be required holiday work to prepare them for a successful year in 2022.

At the other end of the school, we are busily preparing for 220 Year 6 students from local Primary Schools to join us on Tuesday 7th December for Statewide Transition Day.  These are both exciting and nervous times for our Year 7 class of 2022.  Our staff team are preparing to welcome our new students to our school community and commence the process of ensuring that they are connected and supported to make a strong and positive start to their secondary schooling.  An online, Parent / Student information session is also being held on Wednesday 1st December between 4:45 and 5:45pm and all families have been sent a link for this online event.  If parents / carers have not received this link, please feel free to contact our office on 9401 2599 or via email at epping.sc@education.vic.gov.au for more information.

School Term Dates: 2026-2030

The Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017 require the Minister for Education to determine the days on which a government school is required to be open for attendance by students.

The Minister for Education has set the term dates for 2026-2030.

Setting school dates well in advance assists with school planning and ensures the school community knows the days Victorian government schools are open for student instruction.

The 2026-2030 term dates are based on these criteria:

• there are four school terms
• the school year is 200 days
• the Australia Day holiday occurs before students return to school
• the first term vacation is to coincide with Easter
• that, as far as possible, a consistent pattern be maintained from one five-year block to the next.

More information is on the Department’s website: School term dates and holidays in Victoria (education.vic.gov.au)

Brad Moyle

Principal