ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS' REPORT

SCHOOL CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Parents can access a copy of the College’s calendar of events within Compass. Click on the ✫ logo and select ‘Calendar’ to see the year’s upcoming activities, including camps, information nights, music performances, etc.

STUDENT CHROMEBOOKS

It is an expectation that all McKinnon students have a Lenovo Chromebook purchased through our supplier (JB HI-FI). As with other parent-purchased resources like textbooks, these devices have been selected specifically to enhance our curriculum. They have also been tested and enrolled into our school network to ensure they benefit teaching and learning. Given our commitment to every student working on a standard platform, bringing a device not purchased through the school's supplier is problematic. In addition to possible network accessibility issues, devices not purchased through JB HI-FI cannot be serviced and maintained by our technicians. As such, students bringing these devices will be asked to purchase a Chromebook and issued a school-based loan device in the meantime. If a Chromebook is broken or not working, students can visit the ICT office and we will facilitate warranty and repair issues.

Chromebooks are critical to how we deliver the curriculum at McKinnon. We thank you in advance for your support.

ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING

In 2017 McKinnon will be making some changes to the way assessments are presented in Learning Tasks (accessed through Compass). A student’s result will no longer include a percentage score; rather, their performance will be indicated by a descriptor, according to the following system:

Outstanding (91-100%)
Excellent (81-90%)
Very Good (71-80%)
Good (61-70%)
Moderate (51-60%)
Low (41-50%)
Very Low (1-40%)

Students will still achieve specific marks for their assessments (either percentages or grades out of 10), but these will not occur in their Learning Tasks. Rather, teachers want to focus more on providing students with useful comments which identify their areas of achievement, but also specific strategies to improve. Current educational research has shown this is a more effective way of promoting effort and driving self-confidence. Moreover, the introduction of performance descriptors now provides a consistent grading scheme across the school, from Years 7 to 12.

SAFE ONLINE BEHAVIOUR & ACCEPTABLE USE OF ICT RESOURCES

Please impress upon your children the need to use social networking sites such as Facebook and Instagram in a safe and responsible way. We strongly encourage parents to discuss with children how many ‘friends’ they have on Facebook - it is not uncommon for teenagers to have over 1000 friends on Facebook including many who they have never met face-to-face. This is risky behaviour. We discuss this issue with students often and would recommend you sit with your child and go through their list of Facebook friends with them. Further information about helping students behave safely online can be found on our website. We expect students to always demonstrate the College’s core values of respect and integrity in their interactions with others, including all online communication.

STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE

Parents are reminded that the Department of Education & Training does NOT provide personal accident insurance for students. Parents are responsible for the cost of any ambulance expenses and medical expenses, unless negligence of a teacher was proven in the incident. Reasonably low-cost accident insurance is available if parents wish to cover any expenses not covered by Medicare and/or private health insurance. You may choose your own insurance company or contact EBM Insurance Brokers online at www.studentcover.com.au to apply for cover.

SCHOOL GATES

Please note that the Draper Street entrance to the College is closed during school hours. The Walnut Street gate is no longer open for use by students.

CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSIONS FUND (CSEF)

CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities, for students in Years 7 to 12. If you hold a valid means-tested concession card (e.g. Health Care Card) or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. Application forms are available from the Finance Office. For more information about the CSEF visit www.education.vic.gov.au/csef; for CSEF information in languages other than English please check http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/Pages/csefflyers.aspx.

Families who are eligible for the CSEF may also be eligible for support in purchasing school uniforms - please see this information sheet: https://www.ssr.net.au/sites/default/files/State%20school%20relief%20A4%20Year%207%20uniform%20Parents%20Factsheet%20V3_0.pdf