Collingwood College

Principal's Report

Hello to all Collingwood College Community Members. 

I would like to extend a warm welcome to our many new families and students who have joined our great school community over the last week. I also welcome back the many familiar faces after a well deserved summer break.  The students all look so happy to be back.

The planned school start looks like being our best for many years with high levels of excitement and enthusiasm at all levels in the school. Our numbers indicate an increase of 20-30 students at this stage with our total enrolment exceeding 850.

The school will continue with the new structure of operation with some tweaking in the secondary area which will allow each of the primary and secondary sectors to be more autonomous in operations.

 

STAFFING

 I welcome the following new staff to our College:

Jessica Todero - Operation Newstart

 

Cally Perkal – Secondary Maths

 

Stephanie Woodroofe – Secondary Humanities/Legal

 

Michelle Bregar - Secondary Maths

 

Jeremy Pietsch -  Secondary Art/Visual Communications

 

Sarah Alexander – Steiner Maths/Science

 

Tarryn McRae - Admin

 

Guillaume Desmons – Main Program (MP) Primary 3/4

 

Margaret Doucas – Literacy/ Acting AP (Prep – Year 2)

 

 

Ariana Starr – Steiner Prep

 

Judith Clelland – Secondary Assistant Principal (commencing early March).

 

 

I also welcome back:

 

Emma Kefford (MP) 1/2

 

Katie McLachlan (MP) 1/2

 

Charlotte Ghai (MP) 3/4

 

Bianca Maxwell (MP) 3/4

 

Greg Burdett (Facilitator)

 

Ciara Gardiner (LOTE)

 

Felicia Peh (LOTE).    

               

Pamela Tonkin - Craft

 

The office admin restructure is complete and we are very pleased with our recruitment program over the summer with a good mix of experience and skills. More information relating to new staff will be released over the coming weeks.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE - SCHOOL TIMES

PRIMARY

8:45 - 10:45 am  

SESSION 1 & 2

 

10:45 - 11:10 am

RECESS

 

11:10 - 1:05 pm

SESSION 3 & 4

 

1:05 – 1:55 pm

LUNCH

 

1:55 – 3:00 pm

SESSION 5

 

 

SECONDARY

8:45 - 10:45 am  

Advisory + SESSION 1 & 2

 

10:45 - 11:10 am

RECESS

 

11:10 - 12:40 pm

SESSION 3 & 4

 

12:40 – 1:30 pm

LUNCH

 

1:30 – 3:00 pm

SESSION 5 & 6

 

***Classrooms will open their doors in the Primary School from 8:30am

To ease the possible congestion in the corridors the School library will be open and supervised each morning from 8:00am.  Students who attend early are welcome to attend the library area for quiet comfort and before school study. NO STUDENTS should enter the school grounds before 8:00am.

 

 

ASBESTOS

The state government is current ramping up its promise to address the issue of asbestos in schools. Schools in Victoria have a major asbestos audit once every 5 years. As part of this audit, schools that contain asbestos must now display signage indicating such. Please do not be alarmed by this signage – “This school contains asbestos”- as most schools built before 1980 now share the same signage.  The most common forms of asbestos are found in eave sheets, AC cladding sheets (Pre 1980), mastics and insulations. Most of our asbestos items are in the service shafts, plant room insulations and in the raised eaves. Students and staff do not have access to these areas. Asbestos items are not generally removed from schools unless they present a risk by being broken, exposed or damaged. Our school has been very vigilant in conducting regular asbestos inspections of asbestos items. All staff have been briefed on our asbestos obligations and risk management.

 

BUILDING WORKS

It has been a very busy summer with the following works being undertaken:

  • Tender Documentation for our new $8.3M stadium nearing completion
  • ICT precinct on the top floor has been completed as 5 new rooms
  • Our self funded $750K Science precinct of 9 new refurbished classrooms to be finished next week. Our grand opening is only weeks away! Stay tuned.
  • Music storage facilities completed.
  • Terraced learning wall in MP 1-32 completed
  • New carpets for 7 learning areas.

 

I would like to extend  a very special thank you to our super committed groundsman, Trevor Andrews, who worked throughout the summer period with just a handful of rest days making sure all these works happened (on time!). We cannot thank you enough Trevor.

 

 

POSITIONS VACANT

The College has the following positions vacant and seeks expressions of interest for:

  • Volunteer reading support
  • Volunteer Garden Support
  • Volunteer KG support

 

VALUABLES

Parents are reminded that our college does not have insurance covering valuables brought to school. Our school accepts no responsibility for any lost, stolen or broken valuables whilst at school.