Principal's Messages
Principal's Report - March 2018
by Rosina Fotia, Principal
How quickly the term has passed! Once again there has been no end of activities that student have undertaken throughout the term, both in and out of the classroom. Students and staff have engaged in academic, sporting, artistic and social pursuits in a very busy term.
Learning Focus
Students in Years 7 and 8 have completed OnDemand testing. Teachers are now using this data in their planning sessions. Data allows teachers scaffold the learning for all students to ensure that students needing extension are identified and that their learning needs are met. In addition to this, students needing support with Literacy and Numeracy have also been identified and supports for their learning have been put in place.
Curriculum Day
Friday March 9 was our first curriculum day for the year. Teachers worked in faculties over three sessions during the day. The main objectives achieved on the day included:
New Science, Maths and English subjects in Years 9 and 10
New VCE Study Designs in Health & Human Development, Legal Studies, Media, Outdoor & Environmental Education, Physical Education, and Product Design & Technology
Documenting Writing-to-Learn and Substantive Talk strategies that improve students’ subject knowledge as well as their writing and conversation skills
Educational Support staff also used this time to confirm their goals for the Performance and Development process. Thank you to Tracey Green and Tim Chapman for their work on this day.
Ota Daiichi Visit
Our sister school visitors (nine students and two teachers) arrived on March 9. They were kept very busy during their stay at the College: undertaking visits to Lilydale Primary School, meeting with the Mayor, visiting Phillip Island and participating in studies in an Australian school. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our College community. Thank you to those families who hosted our guests, staff who welcomed students into their classes and the organising committee led by Isabella Phillips and including: Kerry Barrett, Penne Evans and Michelle Pezzimenti.
Year 7 Camp
The Year 7 Transition Camp to Phillip Island is now completed. The camp was action filled and reports from staff and students indicate that it was a great success. Teachers’ jokes were poor. Activities were plentiful but most importantly, students have returned with newly developed and consolidated friendships. Peer Support students also joined the camp and lead a series of beach activities with students. Congratulations to the camp organisers, Mr Bryce Denny, Mr Henry Lees and all supporting teaching and ES staff who helped make this transition activity such a success.
Welcome Courtney Croxford (Adolescent Health Nurse)
Lilydale Heights College is pleased to welcome Courtney Croxford as the new Adolescent Health Nurse at Lilydale Heights College.
The Adolescent Health Nurse focuses on reducing negative health outcomes and risk taking behaviour of young people, through the implementation of health promotion activities and interventions. This may involve supporting health teachers deliver health curriculum, running student workshops in response to a health need within the school and assisting students in accessing local health providers.
Professionally, Courtney is a Registered Nurse and has a Masters of Health Promotion. She has spent the last five years working both clinically in hospitals and running health programs in primary schools, endeavouring to educate and empower people to make healthy life choices.
Whilst Courtney will work closely with teachers to identify and develop programs to support young children at risk, she is available to work with students one on one. Parents wishing their child to access support can do so by contacting Emily Gerson (Student Wellbeing Coordinator) on 9735 1133.
Attendance - Every Day Counts!!
We all want our students to get a great education, and the building blocks for a great education begin with students coming to school each and every day.
Students develop good habits by going to school every day – habits that are necessary to succeed after school, whether in the workplace or in further study.
Missing school can have a big impact on students academically and socially. It can affect their test results, including VCE & VCAL, and, just as importantly, it can affect their relationships with other students, and lead to social isolation.
There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes.
Each missed day is associated with falling behind in subject topics and assessment tasks, and lead to fewer subject choices and may impact on achievement in Years 11 and 12 and post-school pathways.
Being away from school for 1 day a fortnight equals missing 1.5 years over 13 years of school.
It’s never too late to improve attendance. Even in the middle years, when school can seem the most challenging for students and when attendance rates can be at their lowest, going to school more often can make a big difference. Every day counts.
Harmony Day
This SRC ran its first free dress day for the year and celebrated Harmony Day. Harmony Day is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. The College embraced the day and the SRC must be commended for its efforts. Well done!
Practice Evacuation Drill
The Department of Education and Training (DET) is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all students and staff. In order to ensure that this is the case, each school develops an Emergency Management Plan. A critical part of that plan is the planning for and practice of evacuation and lockdown drills. The College undertook a practice evacuation drill this month. The drill went very smoothly and the students’ response to the situation was impeccable.
KidzMondo coming to Yarra Valley
KidzMondo is an international edutainment concept, designed to provide a complete solution for children in a unique indoor theme park. It is a kid-sized city that is created with the intention to impart knowledge through playful learning. KidzMondo Yarra Valley, located at the Tech School site, will play a pivotal role in adding value to the role of our existing educational institutions. This will occur through edutainment (that combines education with entertainment and fun), with the aim to deliver careers and financial literacy experiences for children aged 4-14. I was present at the official signing of the contract with the Minister for Education this month and look forward to its anticipated opening late this year.
KidzMondo Coming to Yarra Valley
by Rosina Fotia, Principal
KidzMondo is an international edutainment concept, designed to provide a complete solution for children in a unique indoor theme park. It is a kid-sized city that is created with the intention to impart knowledge through playful learning.
KidzMondo Yarra Valley, located at the Tech School site will play a pivotal role in adding value to the role of our existing educational institutions through edutainment that combines education with entertainment and fun with the aim to deliver careers and financial literacy experience for children aged 4-14.
I was present at the official signing of the contract with the Minister of education this month and look forward to its anticipated opening late this year.
Principal's Report - February 2018
by Rosina Fotia, Principal
I would like to welcome everyone from the school community to the 2018 school year. I trust that everyone had a safe and restful summer break and is ready for the upcoming year. The school year has started smoothly, students have settled quickly and the focus in the classroom has moved to improving learning outcomes. We have also officially welcomed all our new staff and students at a whole school assembly. A special welcome must be extended to our 120 Year 7 students and their families.
2018 Learning Focus
The main focus areas in terms of students learning outcomes were developed during 2017 and were outlined to staff at the beginning of this school year. The College priorities this year include:
Improving literacy and numeracy outcomes for all students;
Improving curriculum and assessment practices;
Increasing students’ level of active engagement in learning;
Building student capacity to become more resilient, self-reflective learners and productive global citizens.
Professional Practice Days
As part of the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2017, teachers will receive one day per term when they are out of the classroom to focus on the improved delivery of high quality teaching and learning.
Your child’s teacher will spend four days per year further developing their skills in areas that are aligned to the school priorities. Your child will directly benefit from these improvements in their daily learning.
On these days, an alternate teacher will be provided with the learning plan for the day and be well equipped to assist your child with their learning needs.
We are scheduling the professional practice days ahead of time so there is minimal impact to students and, where possible, there is consistency in teaching.
If you would like more information on the professional practice days and when they are planned, please contact me at the College.
Professional Learning Community (PLC)
Lilydale Heights College has been selected to join the PLC initiative in 2018. This opportunity to join the PLC initiative, will allow a team of College leaders access to a comprehensive program of professional learning. The training aims to equip principals, school leaders and teacher team leaders with the PLC practices that reliably increase teacher effectiveness and student learning.
2018 College Student Leadership Positions
Congratulations to the following students who were elected into student leadership positions for 2018. They were officially recognised at a whole school assembly on Thursday February 22.
College Captains: Jack Day, Jonathan Burgham, Sophie Liszka
Year 12 Prefects: Kira Cassidy, Emily Hall, Maddy Ellis
Year 11 Prefects: Damian Dao, Rebecca Nel
Year 11 Vice Captains: Gen Bowen, Kacey Buller, Hannah Smith
College House Captains
Castella Captain: Prue Angove. Castella Vice Captains: Beaudon Nash, Connor Wishart.
Melba Captain: Amy Boyce. Melba Vice Captains: James Mann, April Jeeves, Jess Jeeves.
Yarra Captains: Chloe O’Hea, Emily Hall. Yarra Vice Captain: Kacey Buller.
Olinda Captains: Lisa Breslin, Jack Day. Olinda Vice Captain: Shae Scott.
College Music Captains: Jack Hudson, Prue Angove, April Buttress. College Music Vice Captains: April Farkashazy, Taylah Griffiths, Joshua McKinnon.
VCE Results
The 2017 VCE cohort completed a very successful year of study and again produced some exceptional results. The top ATAR achieved at Lilydale Heights College in 2017 was 91.65, ranking this student in the top 9% of students in the state. 76% of the class of 2017 indicated that they wished to continue with further study in 2018 and received a first round offer.
In addition to this 16 students completed their Senior VCAL certificate and have transitioned to full time employment/training in 2018.
Soaring Start Camp
Preparation for the Year 12 VCE class of 2018 is well underway with students already having completed their “soaring start” study skills and careers camp. Year 12 VCE students spent three days at Ormond College based at the University of Melbourne where they undertook study skills tutorials as well as visited Melbourne University and other city based universities etc such as RMIT, ACU, William Angliss and Swinburne.
Yarra Valley VCE Creative Arts Showcase
This regional showcase occurs each year and is held at the Red Earth Gallery in Mooroolbark. The showcase is open to the public from Feb 16th of this year. Eight of our VCE students will have their works showcased at this year’s exhibition. Congratulations to the students and their amazing teacher Laura Morley!
It has clearly been a very successful start to the school year and we look forward to many more successes and positive opportunities for students.
College Council Elections
Nominations for vacant positions on the College Council close at 4pm on Friday Feb 23. If necessary, an election will be held in the week beginning March 5th, 2018. Details are below.
Notice of Election and Self-nomination Form
Structured Workplace Learning
Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) is on-the-job training that allows students to develop their work skills and understand employer expectations. SWL is available to Lilydale Heights College students undertaking a VET program as part of their VCE or VCAL studies.
Principal's Welcome - January 2018
I would like to welcome everyone from the school community to the 2018 school year. I trust that everyone had a safe and restful summer break and are ready for the upcoming year.
Principal's Report - December 2017
Another year has very quickly come and gone. It is difficult to believe that this is the final newsletter for the 2017 school year. It has been a very busy year and December has been no exception. While the College is busy preparing for the 2018 school year, many programs and activities have continued to be prepared and delivered to students still at the College.
Principal's Report - November 2017
The business end of the year is upon us with final assessments and examinations being completed by students in many levels across the College.
Principal's Report - October 2017
Welcome back to Term 4 everyone. The weather is warming and the festive season will be upon us shortly. The College continues to work at full pace and planning for 2018 is well underway.
The History of Lilydale Heights College - The Official Display Opening
by Rosina Fotia, Principal
Mike Waddell, Year 11 Personal Development VCAL teacher and his wonderful group of students have fished through old archives to create a display which outlines the History of Lilydale Heights College from 1970 to the present. The official display opening was attended by past staff and students. The display is open to the public and is located outside the Lilydale Regional Library through until Sunday October 29th
The College would like to acknowledge the support of the following associations: OELLEN, The Mustard Tree, Box Hill Institute.
Principal's Report - September 2017
Another term has ended, the days are longer and the weather is warmer (slightly). Lilydale Heights College continues to be an active learning environment where learning and extra curricular opportunities continue to be presented to students by highly committed staff.
Principal's Report - August 2017
The recent Curriculum Day saw teachers refining Semester 2 unit plans and embedding writing-to-learn strategies in the curriculum as part of the College’s literacy plan. These strategies are highly effective in improving students’ subject knowledge as well as their writing skills.
Principal's Report - July 2017
Welcome back to Term 3. I trust everyone had a warm winter break. The school term has started well and students are now well engaged in their classes as we move into the second half of the school year.
