PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

The end of our eleven week term is here and semester one reports have been released on Compass. Congratulations to all of those students whose achievements reflect a genuine effort to achieve success and realise their potential. For those where this may not have been the case, we hope that they will take the opportunity to reflect and plan what they need to do for a more successful semester two. Of course, the school is always willing to work in partnership with parents and students to provide the support needed for our students to experience success.

Staffing Update for Term Three

There are a few staffing changes for term three, firstly we will be welcoming back Emily Unt Wan from family leave while Emma Schmidt will be taking leave for the remainder of the year. As Emily and Emma are both Drama teachers it will make for an easy changeover.

We will also be farewelling Elaine Rose after the first few weeks of the term and Thomas Patton will be taking over most of her classes from the beginning of the term. Elaine will cover Stephanie Kierce’s classes while she is on short-term leave. Michelle Pepi and Sue Hansen will be returning after recovering from serious long term injuries.

Doctors in Schools Program

FCC was selected to be part of the Department’s Doctors in Schools program which is committed  to providing medical advice and health care to those students most in need for up to 100 Victorian government secondary schools. All students at any school in the program can access the services for physical and mental health issues.

 This program will become operational at our school from the beginning of next term. In this last semester we have had a modular building delivered and located adjacent to our car park, and this has been fitted out for the use of both a doctor and nurse. This will be known as our GP clinic.

We have Dr Vera Ramasany appointed to us and she will be available for student appointments every Thursday from 11.00 am – 3.00 pm. There will also be a nurse on duty from 9.15 am – 3.15 pm on the same day.

More details of the operations of this program will be provided early next term.

Footscray Learning Precinct (FLP)

As you may recall, in early May just after the State Budget release there was a Compass notification from FCC Council expressing serious concern and disappointment that in this budget there was no funding allocated to the Gilmore or FCC campuses of the proposed three campus secondary school for the Footscray Learning Precinct. The motion read

While Footscray City College (FCC) Council, in good faith, has fully supported the Footscray Learning Precinct (FLP) vision ‘to create a world-class education precinct, offering excellence in learning and teaching in Melbourne’s inner-west..,’ we strongly believe the May 1st Budget’s failure to deliver any funding to upgrade facilities at Gilmore College means the opening of the Precinct in 2020 will, not be possible.

Gilmore College buildings represent years of under-funding, and are not fit for the purpose of launching an exciting, innovative and futures-focused education initiative.

Furthermore, we are deeply disappointed that there is zero funding directed to upgrade any facilities at FCC, in preparation for it as a senior campus.

We believe that the failure to fund the central and northern hubs seriously undermines the potential of the vision developed by the FLP stakeholders to provide the inner-west with a world class precinct.

FCC Council resolves that without immediate and significant funding for Gilmore College, the launching of the Precinct with the first Year 7 intake at Gilmore in 2020, cannot proceed.’

School Council President, Karen Ingram forwarded this motion to the Minister of Education. As of yet, we have not had a response, although when followed up by Karen, she was informed that there was one in progress.

The possibility of further funding announcements has been floated, and we are hoping that this will come sooner rather than later, and that there will be something that addresses the concerns expressed in the council motion.

FLP Funding to Date

There has been $62.1 million allocated to the Precinct so far. The breakdown includes

$5.3 m           Gilmore College (DATS Centre –

                         Design, Arts Technology, Science)

$5.3 m             Footscray City PS (for gym/multi-

                        purpose facility potentially to be

                        shared with Pilgrim Street campus)

$3.3 m             Early Learning Centre

$19 m              Pilgrim Street land

$29.2 m           Seddon (Pilgrim Street) campus

FLP Master Planning

In terms of the proposed secondary school for the Precinct, a broad masterplan has been developed for all three campuses.

More specific planning has been developed for a new Science Centre at FCC. It is at schematic design stage and staff have been involved in consultation about the plan. If and when it is funded, it will be a very welcome addition to the college and will provide an excellent facility for our science programs.

The masterplan for the DATS Centre at Gilmore College has moved beyond the schematic design stage and is being prepared for construction to commence by August. Staff at both FCC and Gilmore have been engaged in consultation about the planning for this Centre too.

There is also a plan for a new three storey building at Gilmore College which is at the schematic design stage. This new building is yet to be funded but would make a major contribution to the infrastructure of Gilmore and provide a much needed contemporary facility for student learning at the Gilmore campus of the future Precinct.

The masterplan for the Seddon campus on Pilgrim Street is being progressed in readiness for construction to commence in 2019 with a completion date set for 2021. There will be consultation with FCC and Gilmore staff regarding the plans for this site.

FLP Curriculum and Pedagogy

The priority in terms of the curriculum and pedagogy for the Precinct has been focused on developing agreed programs for the Year 7 – 9 campuses. Staff from both FCC and Gilmore have been putting in considerable hours beyond their normal duties to meet, discuss and develop option papers for these programs. The approach has been to work from the programs we have and explore possibilities for improving or enhancing these.

FLP - Timeline for Secondary School 

The timeline for transitioning to the secondary school with two junior campuses and a senior campus was set last year and the Department is still working towards this timeline.

2019    FCC  – Years 7 - 12

            Gilmore – Years 8,9,10,12

            (no Year 11 at Gilmore – some enrolling at

             FCC, some enrolling at other schools)

2020    FCC campus - Years 8 – 12

            Gilmore campus – Year 7 only

            (Year 9, 10 and 11 students at Gilmore enrol at

             FCC or other schools of choice)

2021    FCC campus – Years 9 – 12

            Gilmore campus – Years 7 – 8

            Seddon campus – Year 7? (unclear as wasn’t

            funded when timeline was developed)

2022    FCC campus – Years 10 – 12

            Gilmore campus – Years 7 – 9

            Seddon campus – Year 7 – 8? (again not

            clarified yet)

Chef’s Dinner

Over many years the Chef’s Dinner has evolved as our major event for term two. It involves our VET Hospitality students working with a chef to produce a restaurant style three course dinner for guests. For the last four years Scott Thomas, Head Chef of The Plough has very generously donated his time to work with our students to give them an industry standard experience. Scott and VET Hospitality teacher Brigitta Clifford spend considerable time collaborating and planning for the event and for the students.

On the evening Scott also enlisted the help of two other chefs and the front of house manager from The Plough to work with the students. The college is most grateful for the contribution of Scott and his staff. Scott’s commitment and dedication to returning each year to share his expertise is a privilege for our students, and is hugely appreciated. The many additional hours put in by Brigitta Clifford is also highly valued, and a special thank you goes to our other staff Alison Downes, Ida Cattivera and Xenia Librando for the long hours they worked on the night to help ensure the success of the dinner.

This year’s dinner was the largest so far with approximately 80 guests, and it was one of the more spectacular affairs, with superb dishes and striking décor and table settings. The service was also very polished with students from Year 7 to 12 waiting on our tables, after having completed a full application and selection process for the role. Congratulations to all students involved both in the kitchen and on the floor. You were the professionals of the night and were responsible for making it a great evening for your guests – family, friends and staff.

The Chef’s dinner has also become the annual event where the Friends of FCC (FOFCC) announce the successful recipients of their small grants program. Every year the members of FOFCC spend considerable time voluntarily planning and working to fundraise so that they can provide fu