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Term 1 2016
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT As we come to the end of Term 1 2016, I would like to acknowledge the outstanding participation and performance of our students this term. Many of the highlights appear in the following pages. Term 1 always “sets the scene” for the rest of the year and, starting with the smooth enrolment of 1120 students, through to the Excellence Assembly and annual reporting, to the carnivals, excursions, peer support, debating, sporting knock out competitions and, of course, Harmony Day, this term has been an opportunity for us to work and learn together. We chose our PERSIST value of Teamwork and Leadership to be the focus of 2016 and, in so many ways our staff, students and parents have responded with a big commitment to collaboration – a key 21st century skill. We have had hundreds of parent contacts, culminating with Parent/ Teacher Night on 4 April and we were delighted to welcome almost 100 parents and ex-students to help or take part in Harmony Day, along with all the students in Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4) at the partner primary schools. At the same time, students have continued to learn using the Google
Classroom, with more and more learning resources being accessible online. Congratulations to Years 7 and 8 for starting their digital portfolios this term – we look forward to seeing the shift as students understand their own learning skills and capabilities. At a school level we have formed new partnerships in school to work transitions with Social Ventures Australia, United Way and Western Sydney University. We have been chosen as a focus school by the University of Sydney Compass program and we continue to have close relationships with UNSW. One very special partnership we have formed is with 13 other comprehensive high schools, the Mitchell Institute and Professor Yong Zhao from Harvard to develop 21st century skills in entrepreneurship and collaboration. The result is that we have significantly increased opportunities for students in Years 10, 11 and 12 to receive traineeships and scholarships when they leave school. These are exciting times, reflecting the needs of a very different generation of parents and students.