From the Principal

Our students and staff have certainly been involved in numerous activities this term. You will read about the many wonderful opportunities our students, staff and community have been involved in this term and I am grateful for everyone’s contribution.  Some of the highlights include; Fame Junior, numerous extra-curricular and sporting activities, Science week, Book week, Health and PE week, visits by French senators…and the list goes on.

Fame Junior

I am so proud of everyone who was involved in this year’s musical, Fame Junior.  Over 100 members of the cast and crew achieved 3 sell out shows and a wonderful matinee for the primary schools.  Particular thanks must go to Laura Baker-Goldsmith, Sarah Mortimer, Georgina Peters, Ben Wickham, Karys McEwen and Zoe Tuttleby (ex-student) for their overall leadership and creative talent in production, music, set design building and costumes.  This year saw our students taking on many of the leadership roles in the production, their talents being nurtured by our staff. It is experiences such as these that remain with students for decades to come.     

Year 7 2018

It was wonderful to officially welcome our 2018 Year 7 families to Glen Eira College at our welcome afternoon tea.  We are expecting approximately 175 students in Year 7 next year.  Parents had the opportunity to meet staff who will be involved in the transition of their child into GEC, begin networking with other parents, learn about our wonderful Instrumental Music Program and our very successful French immersion program and new Japanese Immersion program.

Rod Dilnutt– Principal for a Day

Every year we participate in the Principal for a Day program coordinated by ACER. The mission of Principal for a Day is to increase and strengthen relationships, based on knowledge and understanding, between the private sector and education.

I was delighted to welcome Managing Director of William Bethwey & Associates – Rod Dilnutt - as our PFAD.  He is a member of the Australian Computer Society and lectures at Melbourne University. 

 In his work with the Australian Computer Society he has been looking at the broad area of employment in the Technology industries and in particular, doing research with people in their first 4 years of work. 

Rod spent time in VCE Software Design and Year 10 IT and Robotics classes.  He shared ideas with our Information Technology Staff and Pathways Coordinator and had time with our student eLearning Squad.

Embedding the Victorian Curriculum – Professional Learning for Staff Monday 6th November

The Department of Education and Training has provided schools with additional funding for Replacement Teachers (CRTs) to take classes to enable staff to work together on developing resources for the Victorian Curriculum, which came in this year. We will use Monday 6th November (day before Cup Day) to do this work.  We believe this will minimise disruption to students.  Also, the Year 12 exams will have commenced.

We will run an alternate program on this day for all students Year 7 – 11.  Activities will include sessions on Cybersafety, Wellbeing, Financial Awareness and Film as Text.  As students will participate in sport, they are permitted to wear the school sports uniform for the day.  Year 10 students who do not have a school sports uniform will need to wear full school uniform and change into appropriate sports gear.

Many families choose to go on a holiday over this time. If you intend to for your child not to attend on this day please let the office know as soon as possible.

Capital Works

We are excited that on the first day  of term 4 we will be able to move into 4 new science classrooms and that our new student entrance will be open. The work will be completed by the end of the school holidays.

This means that on the first day back we will need time to set the new rooms up.  We will also need to relocate quite a number of lockers in preparation to hand over some classrooms on the first and second floors for the term 4 works (Rooms 101 – 104, 201 – 203).

College Council has approved an 11am (period 3) start on Monday 9th October for students in Years 7 (except 7B), 9, 10 and 11.

• Year 12 classes will run Team and periods 1 – 6 as per normal.
• All Year 7B and Year 8 students will attend a Geography excursion to the Mordialloc Estuary and Frankston Coast departing the College at 8.45am.
• Year 10 Biomechanics class will be going on an excursion so students must be here by 8.45am.

As there is a lot of moving to do where the current Year 7 lockers are located, therefore an alternate program will be provided to ensure their safety.

• Periods 3 and 4 - Film in the PAC
• Periods 5 and 6 – Wellbeing Program in the PAC

Year 7 and Year 8 students will need to empty their lockers on the last day of term 3 to enable us to re locate their lockers on the first day of term 4.  These students are asked not to bring their books etc. back until Tuesday 10th October as they will not have access to their lockers until the Tuesday.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

We are looking forward to our students experiencing their new learning spaces.

Finally

I wish all students and their families all the best for the holidays.  To the Year 12 students - I trust you will make the most of the opportunity to complete the practice exams to the best of your ability.  This will inform you as to where your energy and time needs to be spent in the final weeks of study.

Our enthusiastic staff will again be competing in the annual Teacher’s Games in Ballarat and I wish them all the best – and bring back a medal!

Sheereen Kindler

Principal