From the Principal

Welcome to the first edition of our electronic Parent Newsletter. If you know other parents who have not yet given us their email address please encourage them to do so as this will enable us to also send them a copy of the newsletters. This format allows us to include a large number of photographs. As a College we have to ensure that we have permission to publish photos of individual students. Those students who have not yet returned their media consent forms will have their faces blurred out. There has been a lot happening from sporting events to literacy carnivals to leadership opportunities and excursions during the term so please take the time to read the complete newsletter.

Interim Reports will be distributed on Thursday September 10. Interim reports provide a brief overview of your child’s progress, attitude and application in class. After you receive the report, you are encouraged to make contact with your child’s teachers if you would like more information or to discuss the report.

Year 10 students are in the process of making choices about their programs for next year. This is a significant decision for them and there is a high level of support for students and parents. If you need help please contact Mrs Pam Lambert at the College. VCE students are entering their final countdown before the end of year exams. The College has purchased a resource called ‘Edrolo’ that enables students to revise using a range of resources including video presentations and practice exams. The College has provided this free of charge to all VCE students this year as a trial. If it is successful then it will be placed on the booklist for VCE students next year. To ensure that the best possible use of this resource it is essential that all VCE students bring their charged laptops to all classes for the rest of the year.

A number of issues have been raised and School Council has made a number of important decisions in relation to these issues. The Canteen is currently not open on Wednesdays and Thursdays but from term four onwards it will be open on Thursdays. I will be conducting a survey of student and parent thoughts on the type of food they would like to see in the Canteen. Based on feedback already received from students we will be stocking ‘Heavenly Pies’. The Department of Education has healthy eating guidelines that we must follow. On Wednesday different groups will provide food out of the Food room. This will be a fund raising opportunity for various groups in the College. School Council has authorised the addition of a warm jacket to the College uniform in 2016. We are currently in the process of consulting with parents and students about the exact choice. There is a sample of the two options available in the school office for parents and students to look at. One of these options will be added to the uniform choices and should sell at about $50.

Bayswater Secondary College is a uniform school and it is our expectation that all students will be in full school uniform at all times. If students are not able to be in full school uniform then they must get a pass at the start of the day from a teacher in their Learning Centre. Normally a note would be handed in but they need to get a pass regardless of a note. We will then work with those students to support them to get into full school uniform. Runners are not acceptable as shoes; they must be plain, all black lace up shoes.

We are in the process of setting the direction for the College for the next four years. I am keen to run a parent focus group so I can understand the issues from a parent point of view. If you are interested in being involved please pass on your best contact details to our office staff and I will ensure that you receive the details of the parent forum.

We plan to introduce a 1:1 computer program in 2016 for our year 10 & 11 students. We are in the process of finalising the details and we will send out information on the program and run a parent information evening.

Athletic Sports Day