Our ILEARN Values in action
Our college values are ones that we hold dear and are for all members of our learning community to uphold. As per what is occurring in our State health system and in other sectors of employment, schools are finding it increasingly hard to cover classes when staff are away.
So far, we have done an amazing job with the hard work of our two Daily Organisers Mr Scott Smith and Mr Greg Campbell and our many casual relief teachers who we employ to help fill these gaps, as well as teachers who are taking extra classes and support staff who are picking up extra tasks.
I would ask parents and carers to realise the challenges we face and to think about the way in which you address a member of my staff whether it is in person, on the phone or via email during these challenging times.
We all want the same thing and that is to support your children in their learning, but we cannot control when people get sick or must be absent to care for their own children. Last Tuesday I counted 38 staff members away. Your support and understanding would be much appreciated and can be demonstrated in a respectful and caring way.
All State Jazz Gala Concert
On Saturday 21 May our Stage Band performed at the All State Jazz Gala Concert. Our Stage Band were asked to perform as they won their division in the competition held the previous week. Performances from all the other winning jazz big bands and choirs from across the State took place and we were one of only two government schools that were represented. Thank you to Mrs Tijtje Keatley, Director of Music who conducted the band and Mr Damien Maughan and Mrs Melissa Knowles, instrumental teachers who were there to support our students. Thank you also to the many families who attended the concert to support our great instrumental music program.
VCE Northern Hemisphere Examinations
I would like to thank Mr Matt Cara, Senior School Leader and our Chief Examiner, Mrs Trish Reid and her team for the smooth way in which they ran the VCE Northern Hemisphere Timetable examination process from Tuesday 24 May until Monday 30 May. Our students were involved in Unit 4 English, Further Mathematics and Biology exams. The examiners stated how well behaved our students were, which is a great credit to our school.
Reconciliation Week
Mount Waverley Secondary College celebrated Reconciliation Week over the past two weeks. The theme this year was ‘Be Brave. Make Change.’ Many activities for both staff and students were held which were organised by our Reconciliation Action Plan Committee lead by Ms Jane Carter. A very important day occurred on Thursday 26 May which was National Sorry Day and students were informed about the important significance of this day. This day is the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, and we all need to understand its importance in Australia’s wider reconciliation journey.
Lifelong Learner
Congratulations to Mr Sam Butterfield our Head of Pedagogy who was recently engaged in an international teaching, learning and leadership debate. Sam took part in the ‘Pixel Leadership Bookclub’ podcast. Pixel is a school improvement network in the UK that Sam has previously worked with. The podcast involves two school leaders and the CEO of Pixel who all read a non-fiction, non-education book and then discuss its implications for schools.
This podcast discusses ‘The Culture Code’ by Daniel Coyle which looks at patterns in highly successful cultures. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pixl-leadership-bookclub/id1502747058
Student Voice Activities
Thank you to Mr Jacob Myers Acting Head of Student Voice who has been encouraging and supporting our students to attend many activities over the last two weeks. Examples of this have included students competing in the VCAA Plain English Speaking Awards held at Melbourne High School, students attending the Monash Women’s Business Network Lunch with Mrs Julie Cain, Campus Principal and students participating in the ABC’s Q&A show as members of the audience.
Star Performer
In April this year, Maya C of Year 10 was chosen to be one of only about fifty students from Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia participating in the ‘ICH SO DU SO’ project through the Goethe Institut Malaysia (the international German language institute). The project aims to raise awareness and celebrate diversity amongst students in the region and beyond.
Maya was recently completed the project with a very interesting short film entitled ‘Flügel’ (Wings). Congratulations Maya.
Please find the link attached. http://blog.trickmisch.de/?tag=2022.05.trixmix.ichsoduso.goethe-institut.mittelstufe
Work Experience Week
It is wonderful to see that our Year 10 students can complete work experience this week.
Work Experience is an opportunity to give our students:
- an understanding of the work environment and what employers expect of their workers
- an opportunity to explore possible career options
- increased self-understanding, maturity, independence, and self-confidence
- increased motivation to continue study and/or undertake further training
- a better understanding of how the school curriculum can help prepare young people for work
- an introduction to workplace recruitment practices
- enhanced opportunities for part-time and casual employment
- the opportunity to include the employer’s work experience evaluation in future job and course applications
- opportunities to develop work-related competencies and acquire skills
- the chance to ‘try out’ a workplace.
Source: Work experience manual for Victorian Secondary Schools
Can I sincerely thank Mrs Jo Hall, Careers Education Manager for overseeing this program and Mrs Victoria Tortopidis, Careers Education and Alumni Coordinator for her work in organising all the documentation required to send our students into the workplace. Special thanks to all of the staff who visited our students whilst on their placements.
Preparing for Examinations
At this time of year our students are diligently studying for their outcomes and exams. It has been pleasing to see students studying in the library and VCE Centre, attending Homework Club, catching up with teachers for additional support and attending revision classes to ensure they are thoroughly prepared for their exams.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish each student all the best for their SACs and exams. I am sure they will be rewarded with results that reflect the hard work that has been undertaken throughout the first semester. Our learning community is proud of the way our students approach their learning, whether it be academic studies, learning a musical instrument, mastering a drama performance, or representing our college in one of our many leadership programs. Our students and teachers approach all activities with great enthusiasm, matching this with hard work and knowing they will achieve success by giving their best.
School Review
As 2022 is the last year of our current Strategic Plan we will be undertaking the School Review process in Term 3. I am therefore seeking feedback from parents and carers as part of our 4-year self-evaluation via Compass. If you can complete the short KEEP, STOP, START survey by 6pm Sunday 5 June, I would be most grateful.
Correction Day
Please note that Correction Day will take place on Friday 17 June, and this is a student free day. This day will enable teachers to finalise their Semester 1 assessments. Our Semester 2 classes will begin on Monday 20 June which is the last week of term.
Mrs Karen Wade
College Principal