...from the Principal

Welcome to the 2017 school year. I hope you all had an enjoyable festive season and a happy new year. A special welcome to all our Year 7 students and students at other year levels who are joining us this year for the first time. The first two weeks have been very busy for everyone..

VCE Results

This year again sees a good set of results by the students at Cheltenham, as a brief synopsis we had 10 students score 90+, 20 in the 80s, 17 in the 70s which is a very solid effort by them.  Our Dux this year was Yiyi Zhu with a score of 98.6 which is an incredible effort. 

I would  like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Ms Fiona de Zylva,  Mr Peter Mathews, Ms Lexie Knight and to the entire Senior School team for their support throughout the year.

Can I also thank our teachers of our Year 12 students for not only this year but for their entire journey through Cheltenham Secondary College.  All of these results are the result of team work

COMPASS

“COMPASS” is the name of the college’s main form of digital communication and information about and for students and their parents can be accessed from any computer connected to the internet. By logging on to COMPASS (using either yours or your child’s user name and password) you can access information such as your child’s reports, college newsletter (Cheltonian), messages from teachers, your child’s calendar, school policies/student handbook and attendance A lot of our families will be familiar with COMPASS because it is a widely used program in both primary and other secondary schools.  Family user codes and passwords were sent in the week before school resumed – if you have not received your letter please contact the school. I am sure it will not take long for the college community to become used to using COMPASS but please contact us if you have any questions.

IMPORTANT – MOBILE PHONE NUMBERS

For fast and effective communication, and in the case of an emergency involving your child, it is essential the college has current and accurate mobile phone contacts for Parents/Carers. If you have changed your mobile phone number recently, or since last providing details to the college, could you please contact the office and let us know your current mobile phone number.

STUDENT USE OF MOBILE PHONES

Whilst students are allowed to bring mobile phones to school, under no circumstances are they allowed to use them to take unauthorized photos of other students. Neither are they to use them during class time unless specifically instructed to do so by a teacher for a legitimate learning activity. Any student using a mobile phone in class without explicit teacher permission will have the phone confiscated and the phone will have to be then collected by a parent at the end of the school day.

COLLEGE COUNCIL ELECTIONS

This month we will begin the annual school council election process,  at the present time we will be looking for:

One staff representative

Four parent reps

Two community representatives

We will open the election process  on Monday the 13th of February, please come and see Lee Mulcahy if you wish to get a nomination form.  As per the department guidelines the “schedule” with all its details is posted in the foyer area, all details and dates on it.  Please give some thought to contributing to the college by participating in college council – there are generally two evening meetings per term, and it can be very rewarding. College council decides, to a large extent, the policies and direction the college takes and is therefore a most important part of the college community.

THE CHELTONIAN

The Cheltonian is our school newsletter usually published electronically every fortnight on a Friday afternoon.  Our Cheltonian is taking on a new look this year and each issue has some important and valuable information. With this issue is a list of staff who hold various positions of responsibility within the school. Please retain it so you will know who to contact for particular issues.   If you don’t receive it, or are unable to access it electronically, please let us know.

UNIFORM

The college has very clear rules and expectations regarding the wearing of the college uniform, and these expectations are clearly reflected in the values of “Respect” and “Sense of Community”. I am very pleased to advise that students have started the year very positively in this respect. We especially appreciate the support of parents/carers in ensuring students attend school in the correct uniform.

SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMITS AND STUDENT DROP OFF AND PICK UP

The Department of Education and Training (DET) has asked schools to remind Parents/Carers about School Speed Zones and the importance of observing these zones for the safety of all our young people. School Speed Zones are in place between 8.00-9.30am and 2.30-4.00pm, and the speed limit for our school zone at these times is 40km/h.  For the safety of our students it is very important that parents/carers observe the rules regarding “No Standing” zones in the vicinity of the school crossing. The No Standing zones are there to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic through the crossing, and to ensure drivers’ view of the crossing is unobstructed by illegally parked cars. For the safety of our young people, please observe these signs. Additionally, I would request that parents/carers not drive into the college to drop off or pick up students. With well over 1,000 students arriving and leaving at around the same time each morning and afternoon, it is not only impractical to have a large number of vehicles entering and leaving the college grounds at these times, it is also dangerous to mix vehicles with this number of young pedestrians, most of whom are not on the lookout for motor vehicles once they enter the college grounds. Please assist us to ensure the continued safety of our students by not driving into the college at these times.