Welcome to the first newsletter of the 2023 school year. It was great to welcome back all our returning students and greet our wonderful new Year 7’s. After a well-deserved break the staff have returned with a spring in their step, ready for the year ahead.

As always, the first few weeks back can be a challenge for our students, adjusting to a new routine, making new friends, and finding their place. However, our new Year 7’s seem to be coping really well with the transition, settling into their new classes and finding their way around with ease. It was great to see so many parents at the Year 7 BBQ and Principal Welcome. I received some really great feedback from a number of parents which was much appreciated.

Our departing Year 12 cohort did the College proud and achieving some great results in their WACE. Our median ATAR reached its highest at 75.95, with an increase in students performing in the high and mid Triciles. We also saw an increase in the percentage of students achieving Certificate III qualification, accreditation increasing from 35% to 42%. Our strong OLNA results saw 97% of our WACE eligible cohort achieve the minimum standard in both literacy and numeracy.

Elevate Education revision seminars have taken place for our senior school students, supported with an after-school seminar for parents. These sessions have focused on getting good study habits in place early and forming a sustainable routine assisting students in being successful in the future.

I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our new staff to the college, Adele Walker (Science), Katherine Robinson (Home Ec), Connor Moldrich and Ella Sobey (Phys Ed), Alister Humphreys (Maths), Oksana Knysh-Kolomiyets (English) and Isabella Batka (Science). We also have some staff taking up new roles, Claire Green appointed AEP Coordinator and Janita O'Shea appointed as Literacy Intervention Coordinator.

We have some upcoming events which I encourage you to attend, these include:

• Parent/Teacher interviews - Wednesday 15 March for Year 7, 11 and 12
• Open Day Tours and Student Course Tasters for Years 4, 5 and 6 - Wednesday 29 March
• Enrolment Info Night - Wednesday 29 March
• Specialist Cricket Program - Trials Day for 2024 – Thursday 30 March

This term also sees our annual Belsurf event take place, I would like to thank our HPE team in advance for their efforts in the planning and preparation for such a huge event.  NAPLAN and OLNA are also scheduled this term (NAPLAN moved to March instead of May). At time of writing, we are ready to celebrate our Year 12 Ball at Frasers in Kings Park. I look forward to seeing our wonderful Year 12 students shine and can not wait to share the event with you in our next newsletter

If you need to reach out and contact the college, please see Talking with your College document that can be found on the college website to guide your enquiry. Other useful tools include the Parent/Student Handbook and the Connected learning plan that can be found HERE

If you have a child enrolling with us next year or know someone who is, please encourage them to complete enrolment paperwork by July 1, 2023 and register early for our enrolment events/student course tasters. It is so important that we have a clear idea of student numbers as this allows to plan and prepare early and get the best possible resources in place for each and every child.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Sharon Lyon
Principal