Our Professional Learning Day on April 26 was very successful. Groups of teachers were able to commit some significant time to reviewing the progress of our Extension and Enrichment Program and consider and plan for its development into Year 8 in 2014.
Domain areas focussed on planning units of work across all levels, ensuring that we are meeting one of our own WHSC Essential Practices: providing examples of excellence and teaching the process and skills required to enable every student to achieve their best outcome. We were also able to build our skills in using learning technologies to enhance student learning. We have very few opportunities to work together in large teams and the professional interaction and development of skills, knowledge and resources is always very much valued.
I regularly mention the proven significant impact that parental involvement can have on improving student learning. This impact can take a range of forms and one of these is simply the communication with and connection to the school. We are very keen to build our links with families in ways which are practical and positive. Whilst we have some ideas about what might be beneficial, I am really keen to hear from parents about what types of activities or communications might be helpful for them. Please take a few moments to complete the survey through the link below. Your feedback will help us to develop relevant connections!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9KSHYCP
We are really pleased to have been able to provide new chairs and tables to R-block and VCE classrooms this week and we are also very close to engaging contractors to renovate student toilets in the coming months. It is terrific to be able to fund significant improvements like this and I wish to thank School Council for their support with financial management over several years and our parent community for their support in the payment of levies. This enables us to enhance resources for all of our student programs, maintain excellent facilities for our students and plan for the future.
Regards,
Marie Ghirardello
College Principal
Welcome to 2013 at WHSC!
We have had a brilliant start to the year, with 530+ local and 18 International students settling in very quickly last week and showing great promise for the year ahead. 123 new Year 7 students arrive with smiles, lots of energy (and a few nerves) and rapidly got involved in their transition program; meeting people, learning about our school and finding their way. It was also a great opportunity for us to get to know them a little more.
We also welcomed new staff: Mr Aaron Smith (Assistant Principal), Mrs Sarah Kambouris (Middle School Leader), Mr Tan, Ms Moyle, Ms Humphrey, Mr Kho, Mr Bragge, Ms Pastor and Mrs Colvin. On behalf of our whole community I warmly welcome all new students and staff to WHSC and look forward to all becoming valued members of our school. We also wish Mr Chanter and Ms Yan-Lung all the best as they go on leave.
On Monday of this week we ventured to Oakleigh pool for our annual swimming sports. It was a terrific day. Fantastic organisation on the part of Miss Lay and Miss Pryde laid the basis for some exceptional competition and great support from House groups. Congratulations to Scott house on their win! Oakleigh outdoor pool was a new venue for us but the weather was perfect and the facility excellent and we have already received terrific feedback from the pool about the quality of our carnival and how well our students and staff represented our school.
We have also had some success in providing some extra bus seats from Stud Park to WHSC. With the support of Nick Wakeling (MP) and Ventura buses, an additional bus will travel to Brentwood SC via WHSC each morning. We encourage our students to take advantage of the extra seating capacity.
We look forward to working with all of our families throughout 2013. I seek support from all parents and guardians in having high aspirations for their students. The home environment can be a nurturing place for the achievement of students and positive expectations can be critical to the success of children when they come to school. Stay in touch through newsletters, emails, phone calls, student planners and parent interviews. Have your student at school on time every day, knowing that you have high expectations for them. Together we will encourage your child to do their best in all that they do.
Dear Parents and College Community,
Only 8 school days into term and the September break is long forgotten!
Year 12 teachers and students are strongly focussed on exams. Some teachers have worked here with students during the holidays, October tests and feedback have been completed, finals lessons for revision are underway and everyone wants more time, more effort and better results. The atmosphere impacts across the whole school as the Senior team ‘hold the ship steady on course’ and students get caught between the hard work and the celebration. I encourage all of our families to continue to support our students at this difficult time. Keep them fit, healthy and happy; share their celebration as they complete their final year and, most importantly, keep encouraging the effort and commitment to study that will be determine their results.
There is currently much being said about Australia, Victoria and education. This week has seen strong articles published questioning the value of NAPLAN data and the integrity of the results, questioning the valuing of PISA and the National goal to get into the top 5 in world rankings, strongly questioning the decimation of central support for schools and increasing the workload of schools, teachers and Principals under the banner of ‘autonomy’ and decrying the enormous cuts to TAFE and VET programs and the increased costs in those areas. It is a very challenging time in schools. There is no doubt that we will all be trying to do more with less while so many of us know and believe that one of the most important investments in the future must be the education, development and wellbeing of our youth. Wherever you have the opportunity, add your thoughts to the budgetary and education debates in our governments and communities.
Good luck Year 12!
Regards,
Marie Ghirardello
College Principal
Dear Parents and College Community,
As you may be aware, Mr David Gonski has been heading up a federal government review into the funding of schools. The review is expected to come to government in December. Many of the those who are stakeholders in government education, including both primary and secondary teacher unions and Principal professional bodies, state and national, as well as the Australian Council of State School Organisations, are seeking support from all parents, teachers and students of government schools to send a message to Mr Gonski about the benefits of greater investment in public schools. That message can be sent via the website www.forourfuture.org.au.
Dear Parents and College Community,
This week teachers have been preparing Interim Reports for all students and parent/student/teachers interviews were available again. We plan these evenings expecting to see every parent and child. All of the current research supports what we believe – students achieve best when their parents/guardians are active partners in their learning.
Council elections for 2013 are now completed and I thank those parents who have decided to represent our community and work with us to continue to develop our great school. Please note the list of 2013 members published below. Office bearers for 2013 will be elected at our March meeting.
Whilst we continue to manage with no EBA sorted between government and unions and no state or federal commitment to the funding and support of government education, some of our usual practices are compromised. Our staff continue to take a very professional approach, doing their utmost to ensure the best possible student learning outcomes every day. Some extra-curricula voluntary work is reduced and we have had to cancel some events and make some adaptions.
Whilst we had no Year 12 Study Camp, we are running a Year 12 Study Day in the coming weeks and will continue to build a strong, supportive and committed Year 12 group. The Year 7 Transition Program took on some of the aspects of the Year 7 camp and we will continue to look for opportunities to nurture our newest students. Some Year 12 parents have taken on the organisation of the Year 12 Formal (thankyou!) and we have taken on a new external organisation to manage our 2013 Presentation Ball. We continue to plan some programs in the genuine hope that industrial matters will be sorted and I encourage you to use any opportunity to influence our political and industrial leaders. At the present time the strongest advocates for state schools are state schools and we must work together to support our schools and strive for a strong government education sector.
At census on February 28 we have 543 local and 19 International students enrolled – an increase of 38 local students from 2012. This is a great outcome and indicative of our growing presence in the community. Already we are running tours for 2014 and 2015 prospective students and our Open Night at 6 pm on May 2 will see hundreds of visitors to the school. Please promote us and Open Night in your area.
Regards
Marie Ghirardello
College Principal
This week our Year 7 students are experiencing a week of innovation as they depart from regular classes to consider (and create!) their future and all the options and opportunities available.
Year 11 and 12 students continue with their exams and preparation is underway for the Year 11 into 12 Transition program. English and Mathematics teachers are trialling units for our 2013 Extension and Enrichment program and currently 9 selection panels are running as we appoint staff for 2013. At the same time, it is only 7 days until a small group of intrepid travellers set off for Thailand and Laos on the 2012 World Challenge Experience and the G’Day USA team go forward with their planning for the January trip. As always, there is much happening!
Dear Parents and College Community,
The great work continues.
Dear Parents and College Community,
As we reach the end of Term 3 there is much to celebrate with all that has been achieved in recent weeks. In August our production of Grease was a major highlight for the term and an outstanding example of student talents, family support and teacher commitment. In addition, students in mathematics and science have had some outstanding success in national competitions.
Dear Parents and College Community,
Whilst we continue our strong focus on achieving best outcomes for 2011, planning for 2012 is also well underway.
This week Year 10 and 11 students have had an Information Evening and received their handbooks for subject selections for 2012. Extensive pathways counselling is available to students and parents and we encourage all students to attend University and TAFE Open Days so that they are able to make considered and well-informed decisions for their VCE courses.
