The Lakes South Morang College Newsletter PRINCIPAL REPORT
STAFFING
We are very excited with their initial roll out and the difference the impact that the work will have on both student outcomes and College success.
I am pleased to inform you that we have an almost full complement of teachers to meet our curriculum program. Christine AM is leaving us after two wonderful years to pursue teaching in another school. Christine has led our Health/PE faculty with a high degree of enthusiasm and her commitment to student needs has been exemplary. Our College community will miss Christine. Our only vacancies, which we hope to fill over the next week or two, is a Humanities and a Health/PE position which we will fill with an extended emergency teacher in the interim. The employment of teachers across the educational community nation - wide continues to be a major issue for departments and the state governments. Therefore, our workforce planning for next year will begin in earnest as early as this term so we can best prepare to meet our curriculum needs moving forward. I would also like to welcome both Joseph S and Patrick M (Secondary Campus) and Dylan J (Primary Campus) who will work as Teacher Aides to support students and programs. Elise S returns from family leave to resume duties in the general office (Secondary) and Amanda K returns after some long service leave (Primary). Welcome to all of our new and returning colleagues!
FACILITIES
Over the holidays you may have noticed the work that has begun on the Secondary Campus along Gordons Road. This will be the site of the English Language School that is earmarked for completion so that classes can begin in semester two this year. There will be significant disruption in the immediate vicinity so please be careful in your travels. It is anticipated that the school will cater for approximately 80 - 150 new arrival students from Years P - 12, and they will be supported by approximately 8 - 10 teachers and support staff. We hope to forge a professional relationship with the school to complement our work on inclusion and diversity, share professional learning opportunities and together with Merriang SDS, bed down our educational precinct in the Mill Park Lakes estate. On the Secondary Campus, works have begun on re - carpeting the buildings and adding partitions in the pods. New lockers for students are estimated to arrive and be available for student use from the beginning of semester 2. And the landscapers will hopefully have cleared some land and created the seating and play areas which have been designated specifically for year 7 student use. On the Primary Campus, landscaping to beautify the areas inside the new fence line has begun, mulch and sand has been topped up in the playgrounds/sand pits, gutters have been cleaned and rubbish has been cleared to make way for a clean start for term 2 and the winter months. The College has made a submission to the Victorian School Building Authority for two adjacent synthetic basketball courts to be laid on the Primary Campus. This will add another active play and learning space to the campus. It will complete the outdoor facilities and enable us to begin some works on refurbishing toilets and internal spaces. The car parks have been re - marked with arrows clearly addressing entry and exits to both campuses. We want to present our students and our community with facilities that complement our learning environment and encourage us all to take care of our facilities and to value them.
CURRICULUM DAY SUCCESS – MONDAY, APRIL 24
On the first day of Term 2, all staff participated in a Curriculum Day. The following key Learning Intentions were addressed to support our work towards realising our 2023 Annual Implementation Plan (AIP):
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Begin the learning journey of a P - 12 College as a united group of staff.
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Use the positive climate for learning principles as the framework to address the importance of developing our four pillars: academic rigor, high expectations, school pride and community connections. Develop an understanding and build empathy amongst all staff to the various learning stages, cycles, transition points and expertise required to have learning success in a P - 12 College. Provide a sample template of what a great P - 12 College looks, feels and acts like using data informed evidence – official DE performance data & individual student and cohort data.
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Year 6 - 7 & VCE INFORMATION TRANSITION EVENINGS
Thank you to the families that attended important transition meetings last week on the Secondary Campus. The turn out from families was about 30% for Year 6 - 7 transition and 40% for VCE Information Evening. It is really important that families participate as learner agents in their children ’ s education. Parent/Carer involvement makes a significant impact on learning and student achievement. Whilst it can be difficult to attend, please make every effort to support the educational development of your children and contact us if you would like any information pertaining to these key transitions through school life.
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Build Teamwork through collegiate efficacy and a commitment to the philosophy of “ learner agency ”.
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Begin our commitment to improve Numeracy across the College.
The College has contracted the expertise of Dr Jayne - Louise Collins from Ed Partnerships to lead the work on “ learner agency ”. Her knowledge and direction will significantly shift thinking and prioritise our investment to individual learning plans and goal - setting strategies. We have also contracted Philip Whelan from Stride Education to lead the work on developing a high end and seamless P - 12 College concept which has been identified as a point of need from last year ’ s school review. Philip is renowned for his work on developing consistency of practice and developing a sustained culture of high expectation and communication through the various transitions in school life. Philip is supported by Performance Psychologist Anthony Klarica, who will support us by observing behaviours, analysing data and providing strategies to strengthen our whole College staffing profile, performance and structures.
PARENT/CARER SURVEY ON COLLEGE EVENTS AVAILABILITY
We are keen to ascertain the best times for parent/carer interaction at the College. Our School Council President, Amanda F, is in the process of preparing a survey on this important communication. It would be extremely beneficial if you could provide timely feedback to assist our planning moving forward.
Have a lovely weekend.
Bill.
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