PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

A message from our Principal

A warm welcome to our school community, we are quickly heading toward the end of term 1 and I am so pleased with the beginning of 2019.  We have a wonderful and curious group of Year 7's and they have all transitioned well into secondary life. Their approach to learning and commitment to our school values has been impeccable. The Year 7 camp is always a brilliant way for staff and students to get to know each other and I was delighted to receive great feedback from the Year 7 camp teachers – “The kids were all amazing and really enjoyed themselves. The camp was constantly filled with laughter and lots of talking. All the students got to know each other across each of our four programs which was great to see.” 

Our theme this year is ‘This Is Us’ which focuses entirely on one of our four school values ‘Community’ and how as we learn to journey together, we can do amazing things.

On our very first day of the year our College Captains and Vice-Captains addressed the students with a call to action. They urged their peers to support each other with kindness, gratitude and self-confidence. There message was that if we are brave enough to play our part we can individually and all together make RSC a sensational school experience for everyone.

As Principal, my hope is that together we can be the village for every child in our community, where we as adults are the custodians and protectors and educators for the next generation of adults. To do this we ask ourselves lots of questions in order that we might learn how best to accomplish this goal.

• How do we create an ethos where everyone strives to be “nothing but their best”?
• How do we get to know each child deeply as an individual, supporting their hopes, dreams, strengths and challenges?
• How do we all connect so that everyone feels a sense of belonging, security and well-being?
• How do we talk to young men and young women about forming great relationships, relationships based on respect and integrity and the dignity of every person?
• How do we support young people to be aspirational and excited about their future?

Rowville Secondary College has unique structures and programs specifically designed to answer these perennial questions as we focus on the whole child. Our learning mentor program is the heart of the RSC Vertical House model. Within this program each and every student has a staff member who is a daily point of contact for students and their parents/guardians. Learning Mentors are committed to the ongoing support of the “whole child”; a relationship that places equal value on our students’ social, emotional and cognitive growth and success.

We are extremely proud of our school’s academic achievements. Over the past 22 years our top ATAR scores have ranged from 95.00 to 99.90 with our Dux in 2018, from the Rowville Sports Academy, achieving an ATAR of 95.25. An outstanding achievement for our student and school community.

We are working extremely hard updating our buildings at the college, so that the classroom environment supports Curiosity and Powerful Learning. This is an ongoing focus for the school and we are excited with the new changes we are seeing. Our Year 7 Commons will be opening soon.

Our School Captains, Vice Captains and House Captains have already established themselves as a group of exceptional leaders. They have shared stories of themselves as powerful learners at whole school assemblies, attended the Knox Schools Expo to talk to prospective new families about our school and played an active part in our open nights - just to name a few. 

This week we held our school open nights on both campuses and had an impressive number of families come through our doors to see our school in action.  We also held our program information nights a few weeks ago with a fantastic turn out. I am extremely proud of all the hard work the teachers, staff and students put in to make these nights a success and the feedback I received from prospective students and their families on the night was all glowing.   

We have a busy term 2 ahead, with our RIA play ‘Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon’ performances, Whole School Athletics Day and Naplan in May and Semester 1 Showcase coming in June. Make sure you pop down to Stud Park to check out our talented students ANZAC Day Art Work Display starting on 15 April and running to 26 April.  

I wish everyone a Happy Easter and safe holiday and I look forward to seeing everyone back for an exciting term 2 ahead. 

Ms. Julie Kennedy 

College Principal