Principal Report

As the 2019 academic year draws to a close, we have a great deal to feel proud of; to feel grateful for and to look forward to.

Our students continue to do us proud in so much that they do. They work hard and have high aspirations for what they can achieve in their time at Woodmans Hill Secondary College. Our work as teachers is so much about developing the whole child, so that they have the confidence and the resilience to pursue their dreams in the face of any adversity. Whilst our core work will always be focused on producing literate and numerate students, we want each child to have compassion and empathy for those around them so that they grow into people that can connect their learning with the experiences that they have along the way. Over the course of this year we have seen time and time again how Woodmans Hill students have stepped up to any challenge and given their best. The public get to see it when they open the pages of the Courier, but we witness the Woodmans Hill attitude on a daily basis. Our kids care for each other and for their school and they believe that we can work together to make it an even better place to learn and to grow up in. Our students stand up against behaviour that they know is unacceptable and more and more are willing to not only do the right thing but to challenge their peers when their behaviour goes against our values. We see leadership with both a lowercase and uppercase L all the time and recognise what a privilege it is to see our students grow into young men and women willing to take action and contribute to their community. As principal of Woodmans Hill Secondary College, I am incredibly proud of how much our students have grown this year; proud of the way that they conduct themselves in public; and incredibly proud to support our hardworking staff in delivering an ever-improving opportunity to learn.

The obvious thing to be grateful for is the fact that our building work will finally be at an end by the end of this term! It is true, the access to specialist classrooms will enhance our provision and provide students with the space to express themselves in facilities that are designed for creativity. Such extensive building and renovation over such a long period of time puts significant demands on a school. Staff and students have taken this in their stride and the quality of the teaching programs has not suffered as a result of these challenges. However, new buildings need innovative teaching in order to engage students and I am indebted to the staff for how far they have pushed themselves throughout this year within their own professional learning. We have asked a lot of our teachers in 2019 and they have given more than I could have ever dreamed of. Even for experts in their field, teachers still have room for growth and the best teachers are still students at heart. Working in PLCs (Professional Learning Communities) throughout the year has provided our teachers with the chance to learn from and with each other. And this willingness to adapt and to grow and to improve can be felt throughout our staff: I rely heavily on our ES staff to ensure that we operate effectively and they have each given 100% to the cause of school improvement. I get so many kind words from visitors to our college with regards to the warmth and genuine care our staff show for them and their child: our strength as a school is our relationships and I am thankful on a daily basis for the good people we have in our team. This also extends to the support we have been given by our wider community: by our parents and partner groups who are willing us to be at the heart of their community.

And for these reasons, and so many more, I am really looking forward to 2020 and the challenges that it will bring. The trust that our parents have in us can be seen in the 125+ students who will be joining us in Year 7. They are joining a school on the rise; a school that believes every child can grow: a school that focuses equally on stretching high achievers and those that struggle and every ability in between. They will be joining a school in which we develop student leaders to be role models who have a real voice and say in the direction that their school is taking. They will have access to the best facilities and be taught by teachers who care enough to keep improving and challenging each other. 2019 has been the most rewarding year of my professional life, but I know it will be beaten into 2nd place by what we will achieve together in 2020. I look forward to keeping you updated, every step of the way.

Stephan Fields

2020 Student Enrolment Applications:

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