Principal Report

Principal Report

Dear Williamstown High School families,

Welcome to this month’s edition of the W-Files. Students have been busily participating in a range of intra and interschool events, some of which include debating, robotics, Maths Week, sporting competitions, LOTE and NAIDOC weeks, and a number of musical events including the VET organised War Child charity concert. All of this while maintaining a relentless focus on their academic studies as well as involvement in 2023 counselling and subject selection.

We want our students to grow and excel in all areas, and this underpins our drive and purpose to provide students with a broad range of extracurricular activities. We have utmost confidence that this will best develop the student as a whole.

Below is a gallery of images from WARchild and NAIDOC week smoke ceremony.

Curriculum Day

At our most recent Curriculum Day the focus was on Student Engagement and Wellbeing. External presenters in the morning session explored how to help students develop a growth mindset.

Sessions 2 and 3 focused on Tier One behaviours, with areas looked at including how teachers play a significant role in creating positive classroom and school environments, highlighting at all times that behaviour is the focus and not the individual, and modelling positive language to use during these interactions. As a collective we restated our shared responsibility to create a safe space, looking at different scenarios, holding restorative conversations with all staff employing consistent responses. Our behaviour expectations of “Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be a Learner” underpin our beliefs in this area.

Staff at our recent Curriculum Day
Staff engaging in activities at our recent Curriculum Day

Professional Practice Day (PPD)

Due to difficulties in finding relief teachers during the current COVID environment, the Department of Education and Training has allowed schools to once again hold this term’s PPD on a common day with classes not running and students working from home. We found in Term 2 that this provided a positive opportunity for students and staff to finalise assessments, complete tasks and prepare other work. This term’s PPD will be held on Thursday, September 1, with further details to be sent out by the campus principals.

Willi High Student Wins Top Honour

Congratulations to Julian McIntyre, who has been recognised with a Premier’s VCE Award for his outstanding academic results in 2021. Julian received a Study Award for English. The annual awards recognise the top-performing students in the state. David Urwin and I represented the school and were in attendance to acknowledge this significant achievement. The entire Williamstown High School community is proud of Julian and we congratulate him on being the recipient of such a prestigious award.

Julian McIntyre receiving his Premier’s VCE Award

Recent Achievements

Some significant achievements by former students and current staff have come to our attention highlighting what a wonderfully talented community we have. I would like to formally congratulate the following individuals on behalf of the WHS community:

  • Former student Kallan Dawson for recently debuting for North Melbourne in the AFL

  • Former student Abby Zappa for receiving the significant Alumnae Awards Scholarship at the Women’s College, University of Queensland

  • Former Bayview student Celeste Mucci on representing Australia in this year’s Commonwealth Games

  • Bayview welfare coordinator Ann Hyland on receiving a 40 years of service recognition award from the Department of Education and Training

  • Geography teacher Simone Barlow on winning the 2022 Alex Lyne Fieldwork Award from the GTAV for her entry: Investigating the causes and impacts of air pollution on Melbourne’s Inner West. VCE Geography Unit 1 AOS 1 Hazards and Disasters: Air Pollution


Abby Zappa receiving her scholarship

Staff Wellness and Wellbeing Week

The Department of Education and Training has an increased focus on principal and staff wellbeing within schools. There is a strong correlation between staff wellbeing, a positive school environment and climate, and student success. Williamstown High School has developed - and staff have actively engaged in - a Staff Wellness and Wellbeing Week for a number of years now.

Across the week at each campus, staff participate and enjoy a range of activities including having a coffee van on site, shared lunches, after school exercise and meditation activities, and anonymous “buddies” to dole out acts of gratitude and small gift giving. Students also get involved by sending notes of appreciation to staff members. This was all very well received and appreciated, with the WHS community benefitting from the building and maintaining of a positive and supportive working environment.

Therapy Dog

This term we welcomed WHS’s very first fully qualified therapy dog, Lexie. It has been proven that therapy dogs can help individuals develop social skills, teach empathy and improve skills with human relationships. Lexie has passed Class 6 in obedience training and is also a promotions dog with the Rottweiler Club of Victoria. She has attended Moomba and several Dog Lovers Shows over the past few years, which attracts thousands of visitors wanting to pat and cuddle this amazing breed. Lexie is visiting our students once per week from Monday, August 1. Welcome Lexie!

Our students meeting Lexie


Bayview Campus Principal Report

Bayview Campus Principal Report

Dear parents and carers

This second semester now feels well underway and we, at Bayview, are in a privileged geographic position to be able to see the seasons changing over the Jawbone Conservation Reserve. Congratulations to all students who successfully completed Semester 1 and whose end of semester reports showed growth and achievement. Our data linked to these results shows punctuality, attendance, work ethic and resilience or ‘grit’ to be the key parts of this success. We look forward to continuing to support you with this work in second semester.

Our Learning Environment

We are continuing to work on maintaining and improving learning environments for our students. This has included repairs to the synthetic surface and basketball rings. Please speak with your child about respecting our environment and encouraging them to be a responsible member of our school community by making an appropriate choice for their litter. We will continue to address this issue as a school and as part of the local community.

Staff Acknowledgement

Congratulations to teacher Gavin Clifford on his appointment as Acting Assistant Principal (Strategic) for the remainder of 2022. We look forward to working with Gavin in this role. Gavin will be supporting students at Bayview in literacy as part of the Tutor Learning Initiative. We also congratulate Ann Hyland on her recent recognition of 40 years of service as a teacher (and school leader) with the Department of Education. This shows an outstanding commitment to the learning, health and wellbeing of young people in government schools. Ann was able to receive this award in person from the former education minister, James Merlino. Congratulations and thank you Ann.


Ann Hyland accepting the 40 Year Service Award

Staff Farewells and Welcomes

We are ‘farewelling’ Kerri Wangeman who is due to take leave for the last four weeks of this term. Amanda Casey and Margaret Ross, who are both Food Technology and Textiles teachers, will largely teach Kerri’s classes in her absence. We are due to welcome back Garrett Drago and we thank science teachers Genevieve Percovich and Ellie Hammill for their work during his absence. We welcome Christina Frei, mental health practitioner, and Alice Arablou, integration aide.

Karen Anderson

Opportunity to provide feedback on school policy

Please contact Reception to obtain a draft copy of policy documents we are seeking feedback on. Feedback will be reviewed by school leaders and School Council. Please submit your feedback to either campus reception by Friday, August 19. The mandatory policies we are currently developing are:

  • Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

  • Child Safety Code of Conduct

  • Child Safety Responding and Reporting Policy and Procedures

  • Complaints Policy

  • Digital Learning Policy

  • Visitors Policy

  • Volunteers Policy

Please contact Karen Anderson for further information.

Pasco Campus Principal Report

Principal Report - Pasco Campus

Welcome to Term 3. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the school community. I am honoured to have the opportunity to step into the Acting Campus Principal role for the rest of the year and I look forward to working with students, families and staff to ensure we have a fantastic learning and working environment for all.

Students have made a great start and have settled into the term well. Term 3 is an especially important and busy time for our Year 12 students and I wish them all the best with their studies. There will be lots of work tasks and assessments coming up so it’s important for them to look after themselves, and I encourage all students to seek support from the school for both academic and wellbeing reasons as they need.

It was great to celebrate NAIDOC week at the start of the term. Without doubt the highlight of the week was the Smoking Ceremony performed by members of the local Indigenous land council. Our students are very aware of the challenges first nations people face and we can be proud of the respectful way our community engaged in the week. We have a terrific plaque at the front of the school created by former student Aretha Brown acknowledging the traditional owners of the land. If you’re walking past please stop and have look. It’s a fantastic piece of art.


NAIDOC week celebrations

The Alumni Club continues to run on Monday and Wednesday, with all students encouraged to seek support from our wonderful group of tutors.

Congratulations to all involved in War Child; an entertaining night with lots of fun was had by all. To finally have students up on stage performing after not being able to for so long was lovely to see.

Strategic Assistant Principal Report

Strategic Assistant Principal Report

Willi High wins the Victorian RoboCup Championship!

Over the course of Semester 1, our Inspire Robotics STEM Club students learnt how to build robots to play soccer against each other, and on Saturday, 23 July, they took this learning to a whole new level! Led by former student and Robotics coach Tamas Simonds, students Vasil Naumovich, Vince Mandado, Eli Culha, Max Dmytrenko and Matthew Medved represented Williamstown High School in the State Robotics Competition.

The students spent the first two weeks of the semester working incredibly hard to get the robots ready for this event and, after a few gruelling matches, won the tournament, making Willi High the RoboCup state open league champions! This is a tremendous achievement for the school as we are one of the only public schools ever to win the tournament. The students will now compete in a national competition in Adelaide with hopes of qualifying for the international competition next year!

Students attending the RoboCup Championship
Students attending the RoboCup Championship

Join STEM Club for Semester 2

Williamstown High School is very excited to announce that we are starting a new Semester 2 Inspire Robotics STEM club, with twenty available places for Years 7, 8 and 9 students. Commencing on Monday 15 August, the club will run at the Bayview Campus from 3.15 - 4.45pm until the end of the year and will again be hosted by former student and Australian Robot Soccer Champion Tamas Simonds. The program gives students the opportunity to build, design and program robots to play against each other.

Students participating in the program are expected to attend all sessions as the program builds on skills learnt in the previous session/s. There is a nominal cost of $25 attached to the program. Students wishing to join should complete the WHS Inspire Robotics STEM Club Semester 2 Application Form (WHS Google account login required). Successful applicants will be notified via email. For more information please visit the Inspire Robotics Website at https://www.inspirerobotics.com.au/williamstownhigh/ or contact Mr Clifford at the Bayview Campus.


Inspire Robotics


‘Girls in Physics’ Breakfast

On the morning of Thursday, 28 July, Physics teacher Karen Moutray-Read took thirteen Year 10, 11 and 12 students to attend a ‘Girls in Physics’ breakfast run by VicPhysics. Astrophysicist Assoc. Prof. Katarina Miljkovic delivered a talk to the girls on: 'Impacts! Rocks from space colliding with planets' and provided activities relating to careers in STEM. The girls sat in groups with students from other schools, and with women who either work in the fields of physics or engineering, or are completing an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification. Our students asked questions about STEM careers and also about what study at university is like.

Highlighting the value of the experience, Year 12 student Lucy Newbegin said it was inspiring to hear from such accomplished professionals and academics. “It was a really exciting and uplifting experience which I would recommend to anyone who has the opportunity to attend,” she said. “It was incredible to spend time with other students who were as passionate about physics as we were.”

Charlotte Kolevski of Year 11 also commented that the Girls in Physics Breakfast was a wonderful and fascinating experience. “Prof. Katarina Miljkovic’s eye-opening speech taught us about collisions between rocks and planets, and how they allow us to discover more about the bottomless space around us,” she said. “More importantly, her speech inspired many of us to continue pursuing careers in STEM, and to never let others set us back in achieving our dreams.”


Girls in Physics Breakfast
Girls in Physics Breakfast



'STEM 4 GIRLS' - SCHOOL TO WORK PROGRAM

Year 11 and 12 students who identify as female have a wonderful opportunity to participate in the ‘STEM 4 Girls’ project - a new program focused on delivering career and employment opportunities to Year 11 and 12 students in the sectors of Engineering, IT and Industry 4.0.

You can register your interest on our Willi High Google Form at the following link so we can book you in to your preferred session (WHS login required):

https://forms.gle/YTqSodmPBr3C3Wq99



Girls STEM graphic



    Student Engagement and Wellbeing Report - Bayview Campus

    Student Engagement and Wellbeing Report - Bayview Campus

    While there have been some cold weeks of late, Term 3 has seen students from all year levels participate in a range of engagement activities both inside and outside the classroom to support their academic, social and emotional growth.

    • The Year 7 students have begun competing in an inter-homegroup volleyball competition. These friendly (yet also competitive) matches have delivered a lunchtime spectacle for classmates while also offering a chance for players to have fun during the winter months. An overall champion will be crowned at the end of term.

    • The Year 8s are having fun with a weekly Kahoot! quiz challenge, with classes matching their wits against other homegroups. All students in Year 8 (and Year 9) have also taken part in an important eSmart cyberbullying incursion.

    • The Year 9s have started what is their busiest term for the year. Students participated in a Transition program at Pasco, exploring subject options via the Subject Supermarket and having the opportunity to ask important questions of these subject teachers. Students have also received guidance through the Morrisby careers counselling sessions and related homegroup lessons, used to research and map out possible subject and careers pathways, with many students applying to complete an Early Access VCE subject in 2023.

    Breakfast Club has made a triumphant return to Bayview! Students and staff can get together from 8:00-8:45am on Monday mornings to enjoy cereal, toast, fruit and other yummy foods all in a friendly, social atmosphere.

    It has also been great to see so many students showing agency for their learning at the after school Homework Club on Wednesday afternoons. Running from 3:00-4:00pm in the Bayview Library, students are able to work with subject teachers – and classmates – to access extra learning support and collaboration opportunities.

    Mr Duker (Numeracy Leading Teacher) inspiring students at Wednesday Homework Club


    Student Engagement and Wellbeing Report - Pasco Campus

    Student Engagement and Wellbeing Report: Pasco Campus

    It’s been a busy and vibrant start to the term with NAIDOC week celebrations including a variety of activities to unveil the Acknowledgement of Country Plaque at the front of our school. Students were involved in the collaborative painting of two art pieces, designed to celebrate and acknowledge First Nations people, as well as a smoking ceremony held by members of the Bunurong Land Council.

    Student volunteers have also been helping put a smile on many students’ faces each Friday with their infectious enthusiasm running Breakfast Club. Foodbank has kindly offered to donate a variety of fruit regularly to our school. This will be available to all students upon each delivery at various areas within the school including the front office, library, study centre and wellbeing offices.

    Our students have been considering their future pathways and subject options with many Year 10 students attending Course Counselling interviews and an information evening with their families. Some of our Year 10 students also volunteered their time during the Year 9 into 10 Transition Afternoon to run tours of our campus with current Year 9 students, answering questions regarding different subjects, clubs and day-to-day life in Year 10. The Year 9s appreciated their time with the senior students and also learning more about subject options at the Subject Supermarket stalls in the library.

    Year 10 students are also excitedly preparing for the upcoming Phillip Island Camp. Students who are not joining the camp will be able to participate in an alternative program at school that week involving various activities across a range of subject areas.

    Year 11 students enjoyed the end of Term 2 excursion, participating in either Laser Strike or the Treetops Adventure Course followed by time for a late lunch in the city. Student feedback was positive and overall they enjoyed the opportunity to do something fun and different together as a cohort. Our Year 11s also took part in an important incursion with Fit to Drive, focusing on how to be a safer driver and how to encourage others to be safe drivers – particularly important as many of them already have their Learner Permit. They will also be participating in consent workshops with Elephant Ed as part of the Respectful Relationships initiative to learn more about healthy, respectful and consensual interactions with others.

    The Year 12 students are focused on completing their VCAL competencies, portfolio inclusions and SACs as they navigate their way towards the end of their final schooling year. In a few weeks’ time Elevate Education will present strategies for stress management, time organisation and for preparing themselves to the best of their ability for their end of year exams. Students are encouraged to attend the alumni mentoring program in the library to obtain extra assistance as well as to organise with their teachers times they can be available to further help them and strengthen their content understanding.

    We are proud of how our students have been embracing the opportunities available to them on campus and in person, and also of how supportive they have been of each other. We wish them a productive and enjoyable rest of the term.

    Gallery below of pictures from our NAIDOC week celebrations and Year 10 camp.

    Student Leadership Report - Bayview Campus

    Student Leadership at our Bayview Campus

    The Bayview Student Leadership Team have continued their work into Term 3, leading with energy and the aim to make a difference in their school and local community. Some 52 students are undertaking formal leadership roles including in the Junior School Council (JSC), Events Committee, as House Captains, Curriculum Captains and School Captains.

    Student leaders also play a part in encouraging fellow students to contribute to a variety of projects and events across the campus, provide feedback on student and campus matters and help raise awareness for youth, community and societal issues. Further leadership development opportunities extend out to all Bayview students and include the School for Student Leadership, work with Hobsons Bay Youth Services, local primary schools and other community organisations.

    Enjoy a recap of all that has been happening!

    Amy Curran | Student Leadership Coordinator

    School for Student Leadership

    Hi, my name is Tyler and I am currently attending the Term 3 School for Student Leadership at Don Valley Campus representing Williamstown High School. School for Student Leadership so far has been the highlight of my life and is one of the greatest experiences I have ever done. While being here, I have become much more independent and have learnt a lot about collaboration, identity, emotional management and becoming a better leader. The school also has a great learning model of experiencing, reflecting, learning and applying, which will carry us through the program and help guide our learning. I have made so many friends here and have had some amazing adventures such as doing an expedition day hike and overnight camping. It’s also been great working with members of my school on our Community Learning Project, and making friendships with people I don’t usually talk to. It has been great learning new things and I am excited about where the program will take me.

    Tyler, Year 9

    Students at the Student Leadership School Don Valley Campus
    Students at the Student Leadership School Don Valley Campus

    Junior School Council

    The JSC has been collating data from a recent student survey and creating projects based on the findings. The first project is to implement a new lunchtime borrowing system so Bayview students can access a greater range of sports equipment. JSC members have discussed a range of options, completed an audit and created a final proposal that was submitted to Ms Anderson for consideration.

    The next project is focusing on student bathrooms - stay tuned!

    Events Committee

    The Events Committee is currently planning its next event, which is a dress up day! The theme is to come as a character - book, movie, TV show, theatre, game, etc. Students out of uniform will be asked to bring along a gold coin donation with all funds donated to the WHS Centenary Theatre Fund. The team is doing some amazing collaborative work to plan activities to also take place on the day, including a scavenger hunt, lunchtime movie and much more.

    Hobsons Bay Youth Change Makers Challenge

    A team of Year 9 and 10 students from our Bayview and Pasco campuses joined forces to participate in the Youth Change Makers Challenge run by Hobsons Bay Youth Service. This program aims to develop leadership and teamwork skills and have students work together to create a project for their school or local community. It involved two full-day workshops where students engaged in interactive activities alongside another local secondary school. The WHS team have also begun to plan a joint project together that is focusing on promoting multiculturalism and stamping out racism, which will continue back at school. Well done to our WHS team - Oscar, Tobie, Sam, Mariam, Avina and Latisha!


    Students at the Hobsons Bay Youth Change Makers Event
    Students at the Hobsons Bay Youth Change Makers Event

    House Captains

    The Year 9 house captains have been assisting our SEWT leader Mr Hartwig and the SMLs in running lunchtime sports competitions. The house captains have tried their hand at officiating duties across a range of activities including dodgeball, netball and volleyball.

    Williamstown PS Athletics Carnival

    30 of our Year 8 students put their leadership skills to the test by running events at the Williamstown Primary School Athletics Carnival. They did an amazing job!

    Students at the WPS Athletics carnival
    Students at the WPS Athletics carnival


    Student Leadership Report - Pasco Campus

    Pasco Student Leadership Report

    So far this term the Pasco Student Leadership Team has been focusing most of its efforts on projects that we think will further develop overall positivity around the school and bring all kinds of students together. This outlook began with the development of the Anonymous Student Feedback Form so that we could collect data on things that the student body actually wants to be changed around the school. The team will be working on these ideas throughout the remainder of the term.

    Given COVID-19 and the lockdowns that followed, WHS’s Breakfast Club (unsurprisingly a favourite of the student body) had to cease its activities due to the spreading virus. Yet towards the end of Term 2, the Student Leadership Team was informed that the club could once again commence its weekly morning routine. Both of us have been in attendance at Breakfast Club each week since, to set up and manage the yummy spread, the fun tunes and the good times that ensued. It’s definitely safe to say that each week we are seeing more and more smiling faces, happy to be greeted at school with hot drinks and various breakfast foods.

    On the last day of Term 2, an exciting volleyball match between the Year 12s and staff was held, after some quick preparations were made by Mr Russell and the Student Leadership Team. The game was a welcomed celebration to end the term, and with the entertaining (albeit slightly vexing) commentary provided by our vice captain, Connor, the boisterous crowd of Year 10s and 12s was roused into a frenzy and left with high spirits. The game ended in a smashing victory for the Year 12s. Better luck next time, teachers! Stay tuned for more fun lunchtime tournaments.

    Term 2 flew by and we began Term 3 with recognition of NAIDOC Week. Every year in July, NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) Week celebrates the history, culture and accomplishments of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In honour of NAIDOC Week at the Pasco Campus, a Smoking Ceremony was performed by a local Elder. This was a moving experience to witness and partake in, and both Matt and I were honoured the read out the words of Aretha Brown, an Indigenous person and former WIlliamstown High student, beforehand in order to commemorate both the Smoking Ceremony and the Acknowledgment of Country plaque that was installed. We’d like to thank Lakeisha and Shane Jr. for their time and for conducting of the ceremony, as well as Mr van Reyk for organising the event. Alongside the Smoking Ceremony, NAIDOC cookies were made by the Year 11 food studies students and beautiful artworks from students were created to help celebrate. Thank you to everyone who participated.

    Upcoming events that the Student Leadership Team will be planning include Wear It Purple Day. Students will be invited to wear purple to honour diversity and young LGBTQIA+ members of the community. The concept of humanity, honesty and integrity, as well as sincerity while discussing all varied identities within the LGBTQIA+ community, is encapsulated in the 2022 theme. It attempts to serve as a reminder that, despite the tendency for people to focus on labels, the news story, the target or data, we should never forget that we are, at our core, just people.

    We wish the best for everyone and for a fun and successful Term 3.

    Silvery Moon Thein and Matthew Cameron | Pasco School Captains


    The gallery below includes images from NAIDOC week celebration activities including hand painting and the smoking ceremony.

    Teaching and Learning Report

    Teaching and Learning at Williamstown High School

    This semester our teachers formed new Professional Learning Teams. The overarching aim of the PLT cycle this semester is focused on “The pedagogy of our instructional model (SIMPLE) embedded in a guaranteed and viable curriculum”.

    Our goals are to share best practices, such as using HITS (High Impact Teaching Strategies) throughout each stage of the instructional model and that the instructional model is visible in our planning and practice.

    Alongside this is continuing to develop our culture for learning in every classroom with a focus on the 4Rs embedded in every classroom (Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships). Students will use anchor charts in classrooms to maintain focus. Our students will continue to use development assessment tools to check where they are at in their learning and set goals to support achieving success.

    Strategic Plan
    WHS Teaching and Learning 2022



    Inclusive Education Learning Specialist Report

    Inclusive Education Learning Specialist Report

    Supporting Students With Additional Educational Needs

    Williamstown High School offers students with a diagnosed learning need such as dyslexia, ADHD, dysgraphia, autism spectrum disorder and other conditions the opportunity to have an Individual Education Plan to support them with their learning. This plan is developed by the Additional Educational Needs Coordinator at the student’s campus with input from the student and their parent(s), and recommendations made by treating specialists are also included.

    The Individual Education Plan is a guide for teachers to support the student in the classroom and to provide tailored provisions for tests, SACs and exams. Williamstown High School follows the recommendations of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) when granting assessment provisions to students. These provisions allow students to complete timed assessments in a manner that best supports their diagnosis. Further information about VCAA special exam assessment provisions can be found by following this link:

    https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/administration/special-provision/Pages/SpecialExaminationArrangements.aspx

    If your child does have a diagnosed learning need and does not have an individual education plan, please contact Kerri Wangeman at Bayview Campus or Melinda McKeegan at Pasco Campus. A written diagnosis from a treating specialist is required.

    Late last term Kerri Wangeman with the support of Isabella O’Malley ran assistive technology workshops for Year 7, 8 and 9 students with dyslexia. In the workshops students were shown how to borrow free audio books from Wheelers ePlatform, how to use voice typing in Google Docs, and how to use the Immersive Reader Chrome app to read text aloud on web pages and in e-textbooks. These workshops will be offered at Pasco Campus later this term.

    Rest breaks during exams is the special assessment provision most frequently granted by VCAA to students who apply for VCE Special Exam Provisions. To assist our students in Years 10, 11 and 12, a presentation on ‘Rest Breaks’ was offered to show them how to use their breaks effectively under timed conditions. I would like to thank the students who attended the presentation and who then practised using rest breaks in their Semester 1 exams. The feedback from students was that rest breaks were most helpful. Thank you also to Ann Goller who co-presented with me.

    Learning Specialist: Mathematics Report

    Learning Specialist: Mathematics Report

    Dare I say it? I think we have had a relatively normal start to Term 3! Of course, there have been some disruptions as students and staff are still unwell at times. However, I have been incredibly impressed with many, many students as they have continued to push on, challenge themselves, and grow in their mathematical understanding.

    One excellent example of this was the recent Year 9 exams. Year 9 students, for the first time, experienced a formal examination process that involved a longer exam across multiple topics. This can be quite a daunting scenario for many. However, I witnessed so many students work hard to revise and apply themselves to these exams. Specifically, we had a number of students do well in what was a difficult mathematics exam - well done! I also want to congratulate those who did not do quite as well as they would have liked, and have taken steps to improve their understanding.

    Recently, our Mathematics staff ran three ‘exam review’ sessions at the Bayview Homework Club across three consecutive weeks (which of course is welcome to all on a Wednesday afternoon at the Bayview Campus library). I was blown away by the number of students who attended wanting to understand where they had made mistakes and eager to rectify any misconceptions. You can see some photos below of one of these sessions:


    Students attending our exam review session
    Students attending our exam review session

    Finally, I do want to mention our continued use of Mathspace for Years 7-9. This is a fantastic tool that students can use to grow their mathematical skills. As teachers we are getting our students to use Mathspace quite frequently as a way to practise the skills being taught in class. However, this is also a great tool for students to work on independently to grow their knowledge. Students have the capacity to search through the relevant curricula within Mathspace and work through associated mini-lessons, worked example videos, and a large array of practice questions.

    If you would like information on how you can also support your child’s mathematics growth through Mathspace at home, please get in touch with myself (cory.duker@education.vic.gov.au) or speak to your child’s mathematics teacher.

    As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, concerns or thoughts regarding mathematics here at Williamstown High School.

    Curriculum Report

    Bayview Curriculum Report

    Semester 2 got off to a busy start with our Year 9s preparing to select many of their subjects for 2023. The preparatory work involved completing Course Selection Passports in homegroup, attending the Transition Night and Subject Supermarket at the Pasco Campus, and having many informed discussions with peers, parents and teachers as well as reading the WHS Later Years’ Course Selection handbook. This week all Year 9 student decisions are finalised as they submit their final selections.

    From Week 6, the attention will be on Year 8s, then Year 7s, to select their electives for 2023. I have been working closely with Bayview subject leaders and their teams as they update and extend their elective offerings for 2023 and I am very excited about the courses available for students to choose.

    Year 7 and 8 students will also receive detailed information about the elective classes available to them and have the opportunity to speak with teachers who can provide more specific information. They will be given instructions on how to submit their elective preferences and the timelines to do so will be published. More information on how and when to submit elective selections will be made available to Year 7 and 8 students and their parents in the coming weeks via Compass and year-level assemblies.

    I can’t wait to see what elective subjects our Year 7s and 8s choose!


    Mathematics Report

    Maths Report

    Maths on the Pasco Campus in Term 3 is running at full steam! See below a snapshot of what our maths students have been up to.

    Students in Unit 4 Further Maths are preparing for their second last SAC of the year (first for Unit 4) on graphs and relations, with many attending another free after school revision session designed and presented by Mr Craig and Ms McKeegan.

    Year 12 Further Maths revision with Mr Craig


    Year 10 Maths A are immersed in mathematically representing parabolic motion, having kicked off the topic with a juggling investigation that explored the axis of symmetry and the turning point while playing with juggling.

    Year 10 Maths A students mathematically representing parabolic motion

    Year 12 Methods students have just completed their Top Gun themed SAC and are now in the midst of the logic and reasoning of probability. There is a strong chance that exam revision is not far away now!

    Year 12 Methods students completing their Top Gun themed SAC


    Year 11 Maths Methods students are running parallel to their Year 12 peers and are also hard at work exploring probability.

    Year 11 Maths Methods student Valentina hard at work


    Science Report

    Bayview Science Report

    STEM has definitely found its way into Year 9 Science classes this term, with the inclusion of NeuLog data sensors into the Year 9 Responding Systems unit.

    Students have begun to use these data loggers to record external body temperatures as part of a Thermoregulation Experiment. With this state of the art technology, students are able to collect temperature data in real time and view graphs of temperature vs time on their computer screens, allowing for analyses to occur.

    Thank you so much to the Parents & Friends’ Association for their generous grant which allowed the purchase of these digital loggers at WHS.


    VCAL Report

    VCAL Report

    The end is in sight for our VCAL students. Our Year 12 (Senior) students will be aiming to have all coursework and learning outcomes ticked off by the end of this term, while our Year 11s (Intermediate and Foundation) will finish in early Term 4. Currently our students are running a range of projects such as the Tiny Homes Project, Community Project, Year 12 Camp 2022, Year 12 Camp 2023 Planning Project. Students are working collaboratively in teams, communicating with outside school workplaces, students and staff. This is an important time to stay on top of tasks and to ask for assistance if unsure.

    From 2023, more students will study the VCE. That’s because the VCE will include the Vocational Major, a two-year program that sits within the VCE. This is a transition from Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) to the VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM). Below is more information explaining how this will look in 2023.

    VCE Vocational Major

    The VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) is a vocational and applied learning program within the VCE designed to be completed over a minimum of two years. The VCE VM will give students greater choice and flexibility to pursue their strengths and interests and develop the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in further education, work and life.

    It prepares students to move into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, university (via non-ATAR pathways) or directly into the workforce.

    The purpose of the VCE VM is to provide students with the best opportunity to achieve their personal goals and aspirations in a rapidly changing world by:

    • equipping them with the skills, knowledge, values and capabilities to be active and informed citizens, lifelong learners and confident and creative individuals; and

    • empowering them to make informed decisions about the next stages of their lives through real life workplace experiences.

    What must students complete to achieve the VCE Vocational Major?

    To be eligible to receive the VCE VM, students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 16 units, including:

    • 3 VCE VM Literacy or VCE English units (including a Unit 3–4 sequence)

    • 2 VCE VM Numeracy or VCE Mathematics units

    • 2 VCE VM Work Related Skills units

    • 2 VCE VM Personal Development Skills units, and

    • 2 VET credits at Certificate II level or above (180 nominal hours)

    Students must complete a minimum of three other Unit 3–4 sequences as part of their program. Units 3 and 4 of VM studies may be undertaken together over the duration of the academic year to enable these to be integrated.

    The VCE VM can be tailored to the needs and interests of the student, to keep them engaged while developing their skills and knowledge. Students can also include other VCE studies and VET, and can receive structured workplace learning recognition.

    Most students will undertake 20 units over the two years.

    • 4 VCE VM Literacy or VCE English units (including a Unit 3–4 sequence)

    • 4 VCE VM Numeracy or VCE Mathematics units

    • 4 VCE VM Work Related Skills units

    • 4 VCE VM Personal Development Skills units, and

    • 4 VET credits at Certificate II level or above (180 nominal hours)

    Structured Workplace Learning

    The VCAA has determined that Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) is an appropriate and valuable component of all VCE VET programs. SWL involves on-the-job training in which students are required to master a designated set of skills and competencies related to VCE VET programs. SWL experiences help students relate theory to a real world work environment while developing their skills. All students will undertake structured workplace learning as part of the VCE VM. This will be linked to their VET course. Students in Year 1 of the VCE VM will undertake their work placement on a Wednesday and Year 2 of the VCE VM will undertake their work placement on a Thursday. Students are expected to investigate their own work placement with the support of the school and should be planning this well in advance of the school year starting.

    Assessment in the VCE Vocational Major

    Each VCE VM unit of study has specified learning outcomes. The VCE VM studies are standards-based. All assessments for the achievement of learning outcomes, and therefore the units, are school-based and assessed through a range of learning activities and tasks.

    Unlike other VCE studies there are no external assessments of VCE VM Unit 3–4 sequences, and VCE VM studies do not receive a study score. If a student wishes to receive study scores, they can choose from the wide range of VCE studies and scored VCE VET programs that contain both internal and external assessment components.

    The VCE VM studies do not contribute to the ATAR.

    Enrolment options


    School Production

    War Child 2022

    The return of War Child did not disappoint - Live music is back and we welcome it!

    Congratulations to all VET Music students for their effort and enthusiasm in making the return of War Child a night to remember. The attention to detail from VET Music students resulted in a night of music that was enjoyed by all. Students across all year levels performed a range of punk, rock, R&B and pop music that affirmed the classics of the 70s to 90s are here to stay – rocking the iconic Substation venue.

    Months of planning begins at the start of Term 2. VET Music Sound Production students form a vision for the event, arrange auditions, design posters, and ensure all technical equipment is operational. The Unit 3&4 students also put their audio engineering skills to work as they sound check and mix the bands for the evening.


    Events like War Child provide students with valuable industry experience, as well as giving context to the knowledge and skills learnt in class. They successfully set up and operated all sound/lighting equipment and provided instrument and stage support for the bands. Unbeknown to the audience, the VET Music team dealt with issues swiftly and showed absolute professionalism. Our students can be proud of hosting an event that was smooth, fun, energetic and inclusive.

    Thank you to our Instrumental Music staff and Mr Commons (Drama) for assisting on the day and providing lighting support respectively. Thank you to the Williamstown High School community for attending the event and supporting Arts events such as War Child.


    We look forward to inviting you back in 2023.

    Sport Report

    Sport Report

    Senior Sport Update:

    Senior sport has enjoyed a busy start to Term 3 with our second round of winter sports kicking off and a number of Western Region Finals from our Term 2 sports.

    Basketball:

    Our girls’ basketball team played really well but unfortunately lost in a close game in the semi, which could have gone either way. Tyra Hindle led the team in points and showed great composure under pressure. The boys team won the division comfortably with strong performances from Finn Chapman and Liam McFerran. In the next round, however, both students were out injured meaning others had to step up. The depth of the team really shone through with Charlie Meddings and Cooper Wardrop showing great leadership and teamwork. They played as a team and progressed to the final of the Western Region. Unfortunately they were beaten in a close battle, ending their dream of a state final’s birth.

    Table Tennis:

    Once again, we had a number of students try their hand in table tennis. Everyone had a ball but unfortunately no teams progressed to the next round.

    AFL:

    I had the joy of coaching our Senior Girls AFL team in the Western Region Finals. The team was led by Hayley Borg, Sarah Dickie and Stella Cossey, who were strong in the contest and used the ball effectively moving forward. We lost our first game in a tight contest but won our next with some forward brilliance from Grace Drooglever, who took a number of strong contested marks that resulted in goals. We unfortunately did not progress to the state finals. With a team full of Year 11s, it will be very exciting to see what the team can do next year.

    The Senior Boys team also lost in the Western Region Final. Standouts were Sam Shepherd and Jordan Raymond, who competed all day with their head over the ball, winning contests and providing the forwards with excellent service. They are two to remember and watch in the local league if you get a chance.

    Soccer:

    Similar to our AFL teams, our Senior Soccer teams won a couple in the Western Region but were beaten in the final. A number of late outs hurt the chances of the teams. However, we look forward to seeing what they can produce next year.

    Intermediate Update:

    Intermediate sport kicks off this week and I will be providing an update in the next W-Files.


    Parents and Friends Association Report

    Parents and Friends Association Report

    Many thanks to Erin Immell and Chris Frei, WHS’s mental health practitioners, who were our guest speakers at the most recent PFA meeting. Erin and Chris gave us insight into how referrals are made, and what levels of support they can provide to support our students’ mental health.

    Outdoor Table Tennis Table – Pasco Campus

    Thanks to your continued support, the PFA has been able to provide funding for an outdoor table tennis table for use by students at recess and lunch. It will be located at L-block at the Pasco campus, which is an area primarily used by Year 11 students.

    Bunnings Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser

    The PFA’s first fundraising sausage sizzle at the Millers Road Altona Bunnings store on Sunday, July 24, was a great success. We had glorious weather and our school community was very generous with their time, easily filling our volunteer roster. Thanks to everyone who contributed towards the day. The PFA made more than $1700, which will go towards the new table tennis table mentioned above.

    Parents & Friends Fundraising event at Bunnings
    Parents & Friends Fundraising event at Bunnings

    Scout and Schools Monster Raffle

    Tickets are now available for the PFA’s major fundraiser of the year – the Scout and Schools Monster Raffle. Once again, tickets are available digitally via the link below, with winners to be drawn on November 11. First prize is a car, with travel experiences and a huge range of other great prizes on offer. Simply click on the link below to purchase tickets and help the PFA to keep providing extra resources for WHS students.

    https://scoutsvic.raffletix.com.au/willyhigh?q=buy

    Next Meeting

    The next PFA meeting is on Tuesday, September 6, at 7:30pm via an online platform. Cory Duker, from the Maths Department at the Bayview Campus, will be our guest speaker.

    We welcome all new families.


    Home-Start Volunteers

    Victoria Police: E-Scooters

    A message from Victoria Police: E-Scooters

    Williamstown High School W-Files Issue Five, 2022 - 12 Aug 2022

    Sport Report

    Angus Rodda

    Year 12 Coordinator

    9062

    Sport Report

    Senior Sport Update:

    Senior sport has enjoyed a busy start to Term 3 with our second round of winter sports kicking off and a number of Western Region Finals from our Term 2 sports.

    Basketball:

    Our girls’ basketball team played really well but unfortunately lost in a close game in the semi, which could have gone either way. Tyra Hindle led the team in points and showed great composure under pressure. The boys team won the division comfortably with strong performances from Finn Chapman and Liam McFerran. In the next round, however, both students were out injured meaning others had to step up. The depth of the team really shone through with Charlie Meddings and Cooper Wardrop showing great leadership and teamwork. They played as a team and progressed to the final of the Western Region. Unfortunately they were beaten in a close battle, ending their dream of a state final’s birth.

    Table Tennis:

    Once again, we had a number of students try their hand in table tennis. Everyone had a ball but unfortunately no teams progressed to the next round.

    AFL:

    I had the joy of coaching our Senior Girls AFL team in the Western Region Finals. The team was led by Hayley Borg, Sarah Dickie and Stella Cossey, who were strong in the contest and used the ball effectively moving forward. We lost our first game in a tight contest but won our next with some forward brilliance from Grace Drooglever, who took a number of strong contested marks that resulted in goals. We unfortunately did not progress to the state finals. With a team full of Year 11s, it will be very exciting to see what the team can do next year.

    The Senior Boys team also lost in the Western Region Final. Standouts were Sam Shepherd and Jordan Raymond, who competed all day with their head over the ball, winning contests and providing the forwards with excellent service. They are two to remember and watch in the local league if you get a chance.

    Soccer:

    Similar to our AFL teams, our Senior Soccer teams won a couple in the Western Region but were beaten in the final. A number of late outs hurt the chances of the teams. However, we look forward to seeing what they can produce next year.

    Intermediate Update:

    Intermediate sport kicks off this week and I will be providing an update in the next W-Files.


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