Principal's Message

Good afternoon and welcome to the 2021 school year

 

We have had a fantastic start to the year, couldn’t be happier really. The staggered start for students has worked really well. The Year 7 students had a chance to settle into the Wargomerrin building and feel comfortable with the “whole secondary thing”, before the building was full with Year 8 and 9's as well.  On a normal school day, there can be 600 students in that building, so yes, it’s busy.

 

The Year 11 and 12’s simply flowed into classes, session 1, day 1. They are clearly showing a desire to make the most of the year. The transition program or “Kevin” as we called it is now paying us back tenfold. All the hard work, 2 weeks of transition, plus the Year 11 into Year 12 camp in 2020 has set us up for a fine start to 2021.

 

I have spent much time walking the corridors and classrooms in the past few days, and have been very pleased with the way they are rolling. You expect excellence from the College and we need to deliver. To ensure this is the case I need to be out and about to see and know what’s going on in every aspect of the College. Thinking that this is happening and then checking that it truly is, is the trick to knowing for sure.

 

Attendance

 

This is a regular topic for every school everywhere!  If we are going to make significant steps forward for every student in our College, then we need them at school and in class, every session, every day!  We endeavour to keep a really close watch on this and we also need your support.

 

A “day off” is not OK. It is not OK to be away. Of course we understand that students get ill and things come up.

 

Please have a read of the facts below. These absences are too high.

From Thursday 28th January 2021 – Tuesday 2nd February 2021  (4 days):

  • Year total of 235 students - 37 students have already had a day of absence
  • Year 8 total of 222 students – 39 students have already had a day of absence
  • Year total of 235 students – 31 students have already had a day of absence
  • Year 10 total of 202 students – 49 students have  already had a day of absence
  • Year 11 total of 160 students – 28 students have already had a day of absence
  • Year 12 total of 125 students – 10 students have already had a day of absence

Out of our whole College cohort of 1,179 students – 194 students have already had a day of absence!

 

Face masks at school

 

There is new guidance for the wearing of face masks issued by the Department of Education following the Government's announcement on the 3rd of February 2021 as per the snippet below:

 

Community Consultation Evenings

 

These are 3 really important dates that I would like you to lock into your diaries please. 

 

Year 7                                  - Thursday 29th April 2021

Year 8 and 9                      - Wednesday 5th May 2021

Year 10, 11 and 12          - Thursday 6th May 2021

 

Each evening will commence at 7.00  pm and conclude at approximately 8.30 pm.

 

Now what is a Community Consultation Evening?

 

As a parent you are invited to attend the relevant consultation evening to discuss different aspects of the College. I will pose several questions to tables for discussion, the comments and feedback will be noted and whatever actions need to be taken to follow up or discuss further will occur. This is a genuine and authentic way for parent voice to be heard. 

 

Typical questions might be:

Is the College catering for your child’s needs? 

What is the College doing really well, what do we need to consider changing? 

 

A table will be made up of parents, students, teachers, leadership members and also Principals from other schools and regional staff.

 

If you are eager to know more, then I am happy to chat to you (just call me) or if you are keen, then please call the College and register your intention to come along and on which night.  Registering helps us with knowing numbers and making sure that we have the evening well set up and Covid safe.

 

New Staff

 

Our new staff seem to have settled in well and we met during the week to have a very practical based Q & A session after they have had a week on deck! Pleased to say “going really well” and I hope you all enjoy the introduction piece that they have written and can be found on the New Staff page of the newsletter.

 

Something to Ponder

 

If you have the chance, please take the time to watch “The Social Dilemma” on Netflix, it runs for 90 minutes.  I watched it on the weekend and what happens behind the scenes of social media giants is truly scary.

 

Thanks and talk soon