Principal's Report 

Welcome to 2023 - ‘High Expectations Respect Responsibility Resilience Teamwork’

Once again, a warm welcome back to all members of our school community.  In particular those new to the school - with 170 Year 7 students and almost 40 others who have joined us across Years 8 - 12. It was wonderful to meet and welcome many of the families at our Year 7 Welcome BBQ in the second week of term and introduce them to some of the extra-curricular activities on offer, particularly our Sports Development Program.  It was also an opportunity for our parents/carers to connect with each other, their child’s teachers and new friends and learn more about us as a community.

Our values of ‘High Expectations Respect Responsibility Resilience Teamwork’ were reinforced at each assembly and highlighted in every conversation we have with our young people as we strive to support their continuous growth in learning, setting their own personal goals and striving to reach individual and collective success.

We look forward to showcasing and enacting our values in everything we do in our school both through formal events and in our everyday lives   - in the ‘classrooms, co-curricular programs, competitions, teaching and learning approaches, and presentations to year level and General Assemblies. 

This year we have appointed a significant number of new teaching staff and once again I extend a warm welcome to all of them. At our new teacher's luncheon, it was pleasing to hear how they felt supported in our school - this was complimented by the programs and the first two days of the term with Staff Professional Learning.

Welcome New Staff to SOC

I am also very pleased to welcome the following teachers and administrative support staff who have started with us for the first time in 2023:    

College Leadership

I am pleased to introduce our Leadership Team for 2023.

Principal Class

Helen Koziaris – Principal

Mark Picone – Assistant Principal (Teaching and Learning)

Anthony Katsianos – Assistant Principal (Student Wellbeing and Engagement and Operations)

Leading Teachers & Learning Specialists

George Tzimourtas: Director of Students - Junior School

Travis Knox: Director of Students - Middle School

Grace Terdich: Director of Students - Senior School 

Louise O’Neill: Curriculum Innovation, Pedagogy, Assessment & Reporting

Sulagna Monga: Learning Specialist – Enhancement & VCE Improvement 

Steven Kuruc: Learning Specialist - Design Thinking & STEM 

Elizabeth Smith: Director of Student Wellbeing

Outstanding Student Achievement – an invitation

As we commence the year and welcome many new families to our College community - can I take this opportunity to remind families that we are always willing to hear of and share the deeds of our students in their sporting, academic, performing arts or community-based pursuits external to our College. We appreciate that our students are involved in quite an extraordinary array of activities and it would be a pleasure and with great pride that we seek to share those outcomes with our wider school community. 

A message of support for the people of Turkey and Syria

Amidst the busy excitement of a new school year, it has been truly distressing to learn of the human tragedy that has unfolded recently due to the destructive earthquake that has killed thousands in Turkey and Syria, particularly with a second quake hitting the area.

We know that we have families within our College community who have their family origins and close family ties in both Turkey and Syria.

On behalf of the College community and all staff and students, we convey our sincere sympathy to all families that may be impacted in any way by this tragedy and keep you in our thoughts.

If families are in such a position, I would invite them to contact our College – via our Year Level Leaders and/or Wellbeing staff, so that we can offer extra tiers of support to students affected by the current circumstances.

Privacy and Data at South Oakleigh College - Reminder

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools' privacy policy (education.vic.gov.au) you may also access our own Privacy Collection Notice here. 

Helen Koziaris

College Principal