WELCOME TO TERM 2
As the long days of summer retreat in our minds and the daylight hours shorten with ever-increasing momentum, our attention turns to the busyness of this slightly shorter term. Over the coming weeks our Girls and Boys winter teams will take the field in the traditional team sports of AFL and Soccer, the House and All Schools Cross Country will be run and TCE students will focus their minds on the mid-year exam season.
Throw in NAPLAN, Mothers’ Day Breakfast, Ed Outdoors programs for Years 8, 9 and 10, Autumn Concert, Work Experience, Year 10 Dinner and TCE College Ball, Principal’s Lunches and the myriad of other cultural, academic and cocurricular opportunities and events and you will begin to understand what lies ahead.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Next week our talented Middle School performers take the stage in an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox in the Horton Auditorium, Penquite Campus. Roald Dahl’s much-loved story follows the vain attempts of three farmers, Boggis, Bunce and Bean to outsmart a fox who regularly steals food from their farms. Outwitted at every turn, the farmers’ ploys backfire. Fantastic Mr. Fox devises a plan to ensure full stomachs for all his family and friends.
Students have been working throughout Term 1 under the guidance of Ms Evie Chalk and Mr Andy Prideaux and look forward to thrilling you with their accomplished performances.
Tickets for the daytime performances have been very popular with local primary schools and the evening performances are selling fast. Be sure to secure your tickets here.
Teachers as Learners
Earlier this week our teachers spent the day continuing the work of transforming Scotch Oakburn College into a Professional Learning Community, comprised of Professional Learning Teams. The notion of teachers as learners may initially seem incongruent; however, is fundamental to the ongoing professional growth of every teacher.
Gavin Grift, a renowned expert in developing collaborative teams that work, challenged teams to implement cycles of learning focused on improving our teaching practices and, ultimately, student achievement.
Safeguarding Children Accreditation
Last year Scotch Oakburn College partnered with Australian Childhood Foundation on a three year accreditation process to become a Child Safe Organisation. The recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse were clear that all organisations working with children and young people need to be vigilant and proactive in developing a safeguarding culture, aligned to the National Child Safe Principles.
The consistent message is that organisations, including schools, that engage broadly with all levels of their community in promoting a safeguarding culture, from the Board Room to volunteers and families, achieve the strongest outcomes. While this is not a comfortable topic for any organisation, it is important that we understand we all have a responsibility to uphold a culture of safeguarding children and young people in our care. Over the coming months there will be opportunities for families to contribute to the process.
Finally, I remind everyone that SchoolTV is an invaluable designed tool to empower parents with credible and sound information with realistic, practical ongoing support strategies. I encourage every parent to make the time to review this rich resource. This month we shine a light on surviving the final year of school.
I wish everyone a safe, positive and rewarding Term 2, and look forward to seeing you at one of the many Term 2 College events.
Ben Marsland
Deputy Principal