
Telephone: 9488 1900 • Fax: 9481 6135 • info@fitzroyhs.vic.edu.au • Falconer Street NORTH FITZROY 3068
Our TeamsSapphire Indigo Jet Scarlet (Post Compulsory)

February 2008

Principal’s Report - 22 February 2008

School plans

Each year the school develops an annual implementation plan that guides what it does. School Council considered the draft plan for 2008 again at its meeting last night and will be confirming the plan at its next meeting in March. The plan is developed through the education sub-committee and if you are interested in having input please contact the convenor of that committee, David Brant, on 0402 540 383.

The three main focus areas this year are:

Improving student outcomes through a focus on the use of data to provide feedback
Developing stronger relationships within and without the school
Developing appropriate programs for post compulsory schooling

Cyber Security

Over the next few weeks we will be taking all students in the school through a series of exercises designed to improve their awareness of the need to be ‘cyber safe’. This will include an examination of our procedures as well as our expectations of acceptable use at school.

The reality is that we have a very sophisticated series of filters that block out inappropriate material as well as social networking sites Some students are surprised when I pay them a visit because an email they have sent contains inappropriate language. All such emails do not leave our system but are instead routed to me.

Such technical filtering serves a purpose but cannot cover all situations. That is why we insist on appropriate processes and behaviours to limit possible issues. I will continue to cover this topic for the remainder of term but provide below some advice from well known psychologist, Michael Carr-Gregg, on how to supervise your child’s use of social networking sites. Dr. Carr-Gregg runs a workshop annually at the school and we always find his insights helpful.

Keeping Your Kids safe on Social Networking Sites

Make sure that computers are in public places in your home -- not the child's bedroom – this can change when older.
When your kids are online, do a little ‘shoulder surfing’ from time to time, just so they know you're watching.
Check their social networking site profile regularly.
Ensure they do not post anything that would make it easy for a stranger to find them, such as phone number, address, school, netball team, IM screen name, or specific whereabouts.
Never allow them to meet people in person (they have met online), who they do not fully know, unless accompanied by an adult.
They should never post anything online that would embarrass them later, particularly photo or info they wouldn't want their parents, teachers, future boss or landlord to see!
Set profiles to private and never ever share your passwords with anyone

Information evening- new senior building

I would urge anyone interested in the design, construction and operation of our new senior building to attend the information session in the library at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday 26 February

Principal’s report - 15 February 2008

School Council Elections

A reminder that nominations are open for positions on the 2008 school council. Forms are due at the school by the close of business next Friday, February 22. Nomination forms are available in this newsletter, on the school website or at the office.

Sorry Day apology

There was an extremely respectful mood in the school on Wednesday morning as all students and staff watched/listened to the proceedings of federal parliament. This was an important day in our nation’s history and one where the school was glad to take the opportunity to expose students to our history.

Information Night

Thank you to all the Year 7 families who attended the information session and barbecue on Wednesday evening. It was an excellent turn out and I am sure many benefited from the combination of an informal social event and some intense ‘parent learning’ and our personalised approach.

Research

The school has always believed that an involvement in academic educational research enhances our capacity as a learning and teaching institution. At present we are involved in two major research initiatives. The first of these is with Latrobe University and focuses the examination of the potential of information and communication technology (ICT) in schools. The second is the department’s major ‘Design Teams’ project. I believe both of these will add to improved outcomes for students.
Darryn Kruse has also received funding to research the personalisation of the curriculum. In addition to this we have a number of staff undertaking Doctoral and Masters studies; learning never ceases!

Camps and Swimming

The Year 7 Camp is next Wednesday to Friday. The following Friday (February 29) we will have the school swimming sports at Northcote pool. All students are required to attend the swimming sports.

Principal’s Report - 8 February 2008

A warm welcome to all families for the 2008 school year. We have had a smooth start and I thank staff for their enthusiasm in working over the holidays to enable this to occur. We have reached our capacity in terms of rooms available for classes and will welcome the addition of additional spaces in the roof line of the gymnasium at the start of term two.

This year is a particularly important one in the history of the school with three milestones being reached:

Year 12

A small group of students will be undertaking V.C.E. Unit 3 and 4 studies this year. Undoubtedly they will develop significantly as the year progresses. Some of them had some experience at studying a Unit 3 and 4 subject in 2007 and will bring the knowledge gained to their work in 2008. I am sure all in the school community wish them well.

School review

The school this year undertakes its first full scale review since its re-opening. As the school’s performance data over the last few years has been at a more than acceptable level the department proposed that we undertake a ‘negotiated’ review. Such a review involves the school examining its own data and working with an external reviewer with a ‘light touch’.

School Council and I have successfully asked the department that we undertake a ‘diagnostic’ review, a much more comprehensive and expensive analysis of school data. We believed that it was important that we have as comprehensive a view of the school as possible. More information will be made available in future newsletters.

Building program

There will be three stages to the further development of school facilities this year:

The work in the gymnasium is currently taking place and will be completed early in Term Two - estimated cost $450,000
Once the gymnasium work is completed we will install the hard court at the rear of the gymnasium in the area that is currently grassed (or more accurately, the area that is mostly dirt) - estimated cost $130,000
Once the hard court is in it will be time to start work on the new senior building- estimated cost $4,000,000

This project timeline ensures the least disruption to the school program.

Email newsletter

It is our desire to improve both the number of families who receive the school newsletter and reduce the amount of paper that it generates. As such we will be progressively emailing the newsletter to more families and only handing out hard copies to children where we do not have an email address.

New staff

I would like to welcome the following new staff to the school:

Canteen and Food Technology

Jenny Douglas
Lyn Lowe will be helping Jenny in the canteen and working in the Food Technology area

Teaching Staff

The following teaching staff have joined us on a short or long term basis:

Ben Lyons - Sapphire
Cate Mills - Indigo
Reiner Parker-Stebbing - Indigo
Ruth Knights - Jet
Matthew Nieuwenhuizen - Scarlet
Matthew Thomas - Drama Specialist
Micaela Marabotti - Academic Facilitator- Language Assistant

Education Aides

Tamara Gaspar
Terry Howells

Attendance

A reminder that Advisory and tutorial classes now take place before recess. School commences at 8:45 a.m. each day and finishes at 3:00 p.m. Some senior classes may finish at 3:30 p.m.
It is important that all students attend school as much as possible. We use an electronic roll marking system that records a student’s presence or absence for every session at school. As part of our process to reduce the number of unapproved absences advisory and tutorial teachers have been asked to follow up regularly with families where an acceptable reason for non attendance has not been provided.
This year we will progressively roll out at all year levels a system where parents may opt to be contacted by SMS if their child is not at school by recess.

Being sun smart and the school dress code-a safety reminder

Thongs and unsecured sandals are considered a safety risk within the school. From next week students may be sent home if they arrive with unsuitable footwear or will not be able to take part in a number of activities in specific classes. Students who wear secured sandals must also bring fully enclosed footwear if they have an Art, Technology, Science, Physical Education or Sport class that day.

The school is very conscious of the long term danger posed by exposure to the sun. We provide sunscreen at all our outside activities. As part of our Sunsmart policy it is inappropriate for students to be wearing singlets inside or outside at school unless there is a tee or long sleeved shirt covering the singlet. We also ask all families to ensure that their children have a suitable hat to wear at school during terms one and four.

Ambulance Cover

We strongly recommend that all families take out ambulance cover. Though serious injuries are rare we have a policy of calling for an ambulance when in doubt about a student’s welfare. The minimum charge for an ambulance is around $500. On all such occasions we attempt to contact a family member for advice but often parents or carers are not available. Families are liable for any ambulance costs.

School Injuries and Insurance

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) has asked that we make all families aware of the following:

Parents and guardians are generally responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including any transport costs. Most medical costs will be refundable by Medicare. If you are a member of an ambulance or health insurance fund, you may also be able to claim transport or other expenses from the fund.
The Department of Education and Training does not hold accident insurance for school students

Other insurance cover is available:

The Department is aware of two insurers, JUA Underwriting Agency Pty Ltd and Willis Australia Ltd, that provide accident insurance policies for students. These policies provide specific benefits for students who are injured in accidents for a reasonably low cost. Other insurers may also do so.

School Start Bonus

A reminder to all Year 7 parents, if you have not already done so, you are now able to cash your School Start Bonus Voucher ($300) at any Post Office with banking facilities. Photo ID is required.

Stop Work

Teachers are taking industrial action and will stop work next Thursday, 14 February. A detailed notice will be sent home on Tuesday but at this stage no students are required at school on that day.

February - March 2007

October - December 2006

Telephone: 9488 1900 • Fax: 9481 6135 • info@fitzroyhs.vic.edu.au • Falconer Street NORTH FITZROY 3068