FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Welcome to the start of the 2022 school year and our first newsletter. At the end of 2021 we had plans in place for face-to-face teaching for all our students. In the space of three weeks that all changed. We have welcomed year 7, 8 and 12 students at school from 2 February with year 9, 10 and 11 students undertaking their learning online. 14 February sees all students return to face-to-face learning. Requirements in the interest of safety for staff and students include the following:

• staff and students to wear masks whilst indoors
• restriction of the number of other people in our school. This will see a number of planned meetings  move online and written information provided
• all school events including interschool sport, assemblies, camps and excursions postponed for the first four weeks.

We appreciate the support we have received from our students and families in managing the current COVID-19 situation and the variant Omicron. It is important that if students are not well that they are not at school. In the event of a COVID case in the school there is a process that we must follow. This includes communication with relevant families to monitor their child(ren) for any COVID symptoms.

Due to the current COVID restrictions the Governing Council AGM is postponed. When restrictions about people on the school site are eased we will reschedule the AGM.

Our first day saw in excess of 420 year 7 and 8 students start high school. It was wonderful to see them being shepherded by their Care Group teachers to their Care Group rooms and start their learning journey. Our year 12 students were following DayMap going to the appropriate areas in the school to start their final year of secondary education.

Late in 2021 we were fortunate to have had the handover of our new Administration Building. This has seen Student Services and a number of staff offices relocate to deliver services to our students, families and staff. The final work is due to finish in April with the handover of the newly developed landscaped front of school and school entry, the Performing Arts Centre, the Reception and Finance Office. We need to continue to navigate the ongoing Capital Works Program however the finish is in sight. This will then see the removal of the “worm” connecting areas of the school and students and staff being able to move around more freely to access different areas of the school. Roll on April 2022!

Our SACE 2022 Stage 2 results were very pleasing continuing to show improvements over the last five years. The 2021 year 12 students should be proud of their achievements as this cohort had felt the brunt of the COVID-19 across their final two years of schooling.

A summary of the results includes:

• 182 of the 183 students completed their SACE representing 99.5% SACE completion
• 117 students received an Australian Tertiary Achievement Rank (ATAR)
• 87 of our students had Vocational Education and Training (VET) as part of their SACE completion
• 66.4% of the grades were in A and B bands
• 12.82% of students with an ATAR above 90
• 19.66% of students with an ATAR of between 80 and 89.99
• 95 students had at least one A grade with 48 students having between two and five A grades
• Four merits were achieved. One in each of Child Studies, Biology, Physics and Workplace Practices

Congratulations to Estella Duiker who is the 2021 DUX of Aberfoyle Park High School with an ATAR of 99.30 including a merit in Physics.

The 2021 Class of Year 12 are to be congratulated on their results. They demonstrated commitment and perseverance to their studies supported by our staff and families.

This year we will see:

• the finalisation of the Capital Works Program redevelopment hopefully by the beginning of term 2
• delivery of the first year of the two year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
• on-going work to ensure a successful transition of year 7 and 8 students into our school
• ongoing work to ensure we are meeting the learning and wellbeing needs of all students

STAFFING

This year we have welcomed a significant number of staff in teaching and support roles.

New Teachers

New Support Staff

Amanda Cavaiuolo

Welcome Back

2022 LEADERSHIP

Executive

Marion Coady, Principal

Cassie Dickeson, Deputy Principal

Ryan Brown, Assistant Principal Innovation in Curriculum & Pedagogy

Fran Charlton, Assistant Principal Senior School Innovation and 7-12 Career Ed

Jarrod Chave, Assistant Principal Information Systems, Timetable & Daily Organisation

Jackie Robinson, Assistant Principal Middle School & 7-12 Student Wellbeing

Lee Pope, Business Leader

Curriculum Leadership

Steve Kammermann, The Arts

Fran Charlton, Cross Disciplinary related including Research Project, Research Practices & Workplace Practices 

Rebecca Smitran, English/EALD

Raphael Zadey, HASS

Anita Sharrad, Health and Physical Education

Kate Lonergan, LOTE

Kerry Pinchbeck, Mathematics

Alicia Dean, Personal Learning Plan (PLP)

Delphine Cantin, Science

Kass Holmes, VET

TO BE ADVISED, Technologies 

Leadership Related to Student Wellbeing

Lauren Buswell, Student Wellbeing Leaders 

Troy Jacques, Student Wellbeing Leaders 

Marni Trevena, Student Wellbeing Leaders