Welcome to the 2024 school year. It has been extremely pleasing to see the staff and students at both Bayview and Pasco begin the school year in a positive and settled manner. The spirit among students and staff at several events I have attended, such as the Year 12 Camp, Swimming Sports Carnival, breakfast club, student-led “Hold Fast Uno” tournament, etc, has been as positive and engaging as I have seen in my time at WHS.

Our family BBQ and information nights have also been enthusiastically attended and the positive feedback around our school culture and programs from families has been truly appreciated by both school leaders and staff. On this note, I would strongly encourage all families whenever possible to engage with these evening opportunities as it sends a strong message to each child/student that we are truly committed to working together in a three-way partnership to best support the young person’s secondary schooling journey.

We continue to focus on creating an environment where we all enjoy learning, working and socialising. We have continued to increase time for our Year Level Coordinators at each year level to allow not only reactive support but - just as importantly - time for proactive initiatives to ensure we have an environment where every student feels they belong, they are engaged, they are attending, and they have control and initiative over their learning.

I am very excited about the introduction of a new role, a youth worker, at school. The very talented Alanah will work with the well-being team, YLCs and the student leadership team, as well as any student or staff member, to ensure we continue to be a safe and inclusive school and one that honours our value of diversity.

This year we launch our STEAM education centre with all Year 7 and 8 classes to be timetabled in this space for at least one double per semester. During my visits to these classes in the first few weeks I have seen students highly engaged in the immersive activities involving the 25 VR headsets we purchased to enhance student learning experiences. This centre will continue to grow over the next 12 months.

Following student input last year, our new thicker material polos are due to be in stock at our uniform shop by mid-Term 1. We are also looking forward to grounds upgrades this year, with the Pasco Q block quadrangle completed and Bayview synthetic courts due to be upgraded next school break.

WHS continues to attract teachers of the highest quality and I am pleased to say that we start the year fully staffed with exceptional staff. A list of new and returning staff has been included at the end of my article.

Please enjoy reading about the range of student experiences that have already taken place this year in our first edition of W-Files for 2024.

Year 12 Study Centre and Stage 2 Performing Arts Centre

This year, after several delays, we will complete the building of stage two of our performing arts and VCE study centre. At the opening assembly, I promised the Year 12 students they would be moving into that space on day one of Term 2. I am pleased to say, at this stage, my promise will be easily met with final works slightly ahead of schedule. Both these facilities will be amazing additions to the Pasco environment, and we look forward to our students greatly benefiting from these additions.

2023 VCE Results

The results achieved by our Class of 2023 were exceptional. We were very pleased to see 28 Year 12 students achieving ATARs of more than 90, with 65 percent attaining over 70. We had four students achieve a perfect study score of 50 in the subjects of English Literature, Media, Outdoor & Environmental Studies, and Creative & Digital Media. Our dux, Sophie Page, achieved an ATAR of 99.15.

With 99 percent of the cohort successfully obtaining their VCE certificate, the Year 12s also achieved our equal highest median score of 32, which together with a WHS record 12 percent of VCE study scores over 40, continues to place us amongst elite schools in terms of VCE outcomes.

We also celebrated our first year of the VCE VM program, with students sharing they are now working full time in their chosen career pathways as a direct result of completing this program. Katie Hogan received the VCE VM outstanding student award.

A majority of our students continue to receive first round tertiary offers. It is pleasing to hear many of these individuals with their diverse pursuits attribute their success and the doors that have been opened to them to their time at WHS. We wish the Class of 2023 the best of luck with their future endeavours, and we look forward to hearing of their achievements in years to come.

School Council Elections

Please find in this edition of the W-Files information about the upcoming school council elections. Our School Council is dynamic and plays a key role in policy development and setting the direction of the school. I would encourage any interested parents or guardians to consider nominating for our School Council. Please note, all school councillors are required to have current Working with Children Checks or acquire one once elected (this is free for volunteer categories). Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions in relation to the election process.

Key Roles

Please see below the names of staff attached to key roles within the school:

Campus Principal Teams

Leading Teacher Positions for 2024

Learning Specialist Positions for 2024

2024 Year Level Coordinator Teams

2024 Student Wellbeing Coordinators

Mental Health Practitioners

Youth Worker

New Staff

I am looking forward to working with the following new and returning staff as they join our team in 2024:

Gino Catalano | Principal

Appendix A

Fact Sheet 1. School council elections – Information for parents

What is a school council and what does it do?

All government schools in Victoria have a school council. They are legally constituted bodies that are given powers to set the broad direction of a school in accordance with their constituting Order and the Education and Training Reform Act 2006. In doing this, a school council is able to directly influence the quality of education that the school provides for its students.

Who is on the school council?

For most primary school councils, there are several possible categories of membership:

• A mandated elected Parent member category – more than one-third of the total members must be from this category. DET employees can be Parent members at their child’s school as long as they are not engaged in work at the school.

• A mandated elected DET employee member category – members of this category may make up no more than one-third of the total membership of school council. The principal of the school is automatically one of these members.

• An optional Community member category – members are co-opted by a decision of the council because of their special skills, interests or experiences. DET employees are not eligible to be Community members.

• A small number of school councils have Nominee members.

For all schools with a Year 7 and above cohort, there is an additional category of membership:

• A mandated elected Student member category, two positions.

Generally, the term of office for all members is two years. The term of office of half the members expires each year, creating vacancies for the annual school council elections.

Why is parent membership so important?

Parents on school councils provide important viewpoints and have valuable skills that can help inform and shape the direction of the school.

Those parents who become active on a school council find their involvement satisfying and may also find that their children feel a greater sense of belonging.

Why is student membership so important

Students have a unique perspective on learning, teaching and schools. Having student members on school council allows students to have a say in the future direction of their school and ensures student input into decision making.

Student representation on secondary school councils will assist in the development of students’ skills, including leadership skills and communication skills.

Do I need special experience to be on school council?

Each member brings their own valuable life skills and knowledge to the role. However, councillors may need to develop skills and acquire knowledge in areas that are unfamiliar to them. It is important to have an interest in your child’s school and the desire to work in partnership with others to help shape the school’s future.

Code of conduct for school councillors

School councils in Victoria are public entities as defined by the Public Administration Act 2004. School councillors must abide by the Code of Conduct for Directors of Victorian Public Entities issued by the Victorian Public Sector Commission. The Code of Conduct is based on the Victorian public sector values and requires councillors to:

• act with honesty and integrity (be truthful, open and clear about their motives and declare any real, potential or perceived conflict of interest and duty)

• act in good faith in the best interests of the school (work cooperatively with other councillors and the school community, be reasonable, and make all decisions with the best interests of students foremost in their minds)

• act fairly and impartially (consider all relevant facts of an issue before making a decision, seek to have a balanced view, never give special treatment to a person or group and never act from self interest)

• use information appropriately (respect confidentiality and use information for the purpose for which it was made available)

• exercise due care, diligence and skill (accept responsibility for decisions and do what is best for the school)

• use the position appropriately (not use the position as a councillor to gain an advantage)

• act in a financially responsible manner (observe all the above principles when making financial decisions)

• comply with relevant legislation and policies (know what legislation and policies are relevant for which decisions and obey the law)

• demonstrate leadership and stewardship (set a good example, encourage a culture of accountability, manage risks effectively, exercise care and responsibility to keep the school strong and sustainable).

Indemnity for school council members

School councillors are indemnified against any liability in respect of any loss or damage suffered by the council or any other person in respect of anything necessarily or reasonably done, or omitted to be done by the councillor in good faith in:

a) the exercise of a power or the performance of a function of a councillor, or

b) the reasonable belief that the act or omission was in the exercise of a power or the performance of a function of a council.

In other words, school councillors are not legally liable for any loss or damage suffered by council or others as a result of reasonable actions taken in good faith.

How can you become involved?

The most obvious way is to participate in and vote in the school council elections, which are held in Term 1 each year. However, ballots are only held if more people nominate as candidates than there are positions vacant.

In view of this, you might consider:

• standing for election as a member of the school council

• encouraging another person to stand for election.

School council induction video

The school council induction video provides a summary of the purpose and responsibilities of school councils as well as the roles and responsibilities of school councillors. The video can be viewed on the Department's website at School Councils <;

What do you need to do to stand for election?

The principal will issue a Notice of Election and Call for Nominations following the commencement of Term 1 each year. All school council elections must be completed by the end of March unless the usual time line has been varied by the Minister.

If you decide to stand for election, you can arrange for someone to nominate you as a candidate or you can nominate yourself in the Parent member category.

DET employees whose child is enrolled in a school in which they are not engaged in work, are eligible to nominate for Parent membership of the school council at that school.

Once the nomination form is completed, return it to the principal within the time stated on the Notice of Election. You will receive a Nomination Form Receipt via post, email or by hand following the receipt of your completed nomination.

If there are more nominations received than there are vacancies on council, a ballot will be conducted during the two weeks after the call for nominations has closed.

Remember

• Consider standing for election to school council.

• Ask at the school for help if you would like to stand for election and are not sure what to do.

• Be sure to vote if the election goes to ballot.

Contact the principal for further information.

Williamstown High School Election Process and Timetable 2024

The following School Council members’ tenures conclude at this election:

Parent Members: Natalie Goroncy, Emma Harris

DET Employees: Daniel Pearce

Student Member: Will Noonan, Ethan Hammon

Seconded Community Member:

Gino Catalano - College Principal

Form 2: Notice of election and call for nominations

An election is to be conducted for members of the school council of Williamstown High School.

Nomination forms may be obtained from the school and must be lodged by 4pm on Thursday, February 29, 2024.

The ballot will close at 4pm on Thursday March 14, 2024.

Following the closing of nominations, a list of the nominations received will be posted at the school.

The terms of office, membership categories and number of positions in each membership category open for election are as follows:

Dear parents and carers

Commencing the school year and seeing our students begin and continue their secondary schooling has been wonderful. Our staff at Bayview are continuing to work in curriculum teams and in year level teams to challenge and support all students.

We have welcomed parents and carers of each year level to our school at information evenings since the beginning of term – each event with a year level appropriate focus. A sincere thank you to all families that attended – we hope it was valuable; it is important to us to meet you in person to continue our work together this year.

I look forward to continuing my work with our students and wider community as Bayview Campus principal and hope that the commencement of the school year has been successful for you and your family.

Our daily learning

Our school day commences at 8:50am and our grounds are supervised from 8:30am. Staff on duty in the grounds at Bayview wear a purple high visibility vest that has our logo on the front and the staff member’s name on the back. Please speak with your child about seeking support from the staff member on duty, if required.

Please encourage your child to arrive with sufficient time to access their locker and do what is required in readiness for the first two lessons. This term may be challenging for your child, supporting them to get back into a routine of daily attendance, being on time and focusing in class and learning. Please contact our engagement and wellbeing team to seek support, if required. Our team consists of Mental Health Practitioner Christina Frei, Student Wellbeing Coordinator Ann Hyland, Health and Wellbeing Coordinator Alex Robinson, and Youth Worker Alanah Meilak.

Please note our library is open for students before school from 8:20am, during recess and second half of lunch, and closes at 4:30pm.

Our learning environment

I am seeking your support to continue to provide a safe and clean school and learning environment for our students. We will be engaging your child with this through our Homegroup curriculum this year, particularly in regards to our spaces and grounds. Our Homegroup Student Resource 2024 details our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support expectations. Being respectful, safe and a learner will help us to achieve this – please speak with your child in this regard.

Engagement with learning in class continues to be our focus. Our instructional model, SIMPLE, is implemented in all classes to ensure learning intentions are established, learning is engaging and challenging and evaluation occurs at the end of the lesson. Content outlines are available, at each year level, for our learning areas: English, Mathematics, Humanities, Science, Health and Physical Education, Technology, the Arts and Languages.

Our physical environment

Please support your child to bring food to school without packaging so that our school can be as free from waste as possible and, where not possible, that waste is recyclable and placed in the appropriate bins we have at school. There is no excuse for littering – put waste in the bin. We now have, around the school, multiple mixed recycling bins from Hobsons Bay City Council. Your children can now make the appropriate choice for their waste as they do so at home with you. We are seeking student interest again this year in establishing the Bayview Environment and Sustainability Team BEST, so we can work on this further.

Mobile Telephone Policy

Implementation of the State government’s mobile telephone policy is entering its fifth year. I ask that you continue to support us to implement the policy, particularly ‘students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and securely stored during school hours’ and ‘where students bring a mobile phone to school, the school must provide secure storage’. Our secure storage is our student lockers, so please support your child to always use their combination lock.

Communicating

Hopefully you’ve seen me outside the school entrance – please say hello if you can. Contact us via telephone – Reception is open daily from 8am until 4:30pm. Communication about important matters is more productive on the telephone or in person, in my view, as two-way conversations can flow.

Staff welcomes

Beginning with us this year we have: Annie Sophabmixay, reception; Ally Brown, student administration; Alanah Meilak, youth worker; and teachers Lincan Chen, Jonathan Griffin, Sam Konig, Rana Nahas, Lucy Pellegrino, James Riccobene and Clayton Warren. We have also had Ben Kirker, Connie Messina and Martyn van Reyk join us from Pasco.

We are currently in the Biderap season of the annual Eastern Kulin seasonal calendar, as described by Woiwurrung traditions - Dry Season. This time of the year is evident at Bayview Street with hot, dry weather and when the female Common Brown butterfly is flying.

Kind regards

Karen Anderson

Campus Principal

Welcome

I would like to welcome back all students and staff for the 2024 academic year and encourage our school community to look out for those new to the campus. Please take that extra minute or two to make a new friend, point someone in the right direction or say hello. Those acts of kindness can make a big difference for someone new to the school and go a long way to ensuring we have a safe, supportive and welcoming environment at Willi High.

We have made a wonderful start to the year and there is certainly a buzz around the campus with students focused on learning and building their skills, often in subjects they are doing for the first time. The Alumni Club will start from the middle of the term and be held in the library on Mondays and Wednesdays after school, with tutors available to support all students with their studies.

Parent Information Evenings

It has been great to see so many of our families attend the parent information sessions for each year level. They are a great way for families to meet important staff who oversee learning, wellbeing and pathways for their children. We strongly believe these sessions set up the year for our students. While they provide clear expectations for students, they also provide information on how to access support as it is needed throughout the year.

Year 12 Camp

As always, the Year 12 Camp is a special event for our senior students and brings the cohort together. Students took part in a range of academic and team building activities that allowed them to plan for a successful year ahead, bond with other students and teachers, and have a really good time together. It was lovely to see the genuine support that was shown by our students for each other. I am confident the Class of 2024 is ready to tackle the challenges of Year 12 and we will celebrate their achievements throughout the year.

Facilities

Several upgrades continue to be completed, most notably the Q-Block courtyard is now finished. The area has been transformed for students and will be enhanced as the trees mature. Other works include: the gym floor, which has been sanded and polished; extra seating at the front of the school; rooms and walls being freshly painted; installation of new data projectors; and, of course, we eagerly await the new Study Centre and performing arts buildings becoming part of our school from Term 2.

Hold fast.

Daniel Pearce

Pasco Campus Principal

Virtual Reality in Willi High’s “STEAM Education Centre” (Room 13)

Well they say the number 13 is usually an unlucky one, but in this case it is surely the opposite!

Our new “STEAM Education Centre”, taking shape in Room 13 at the Bayview Campus, now has its promised virtual reality sets, and already most Year 8s and some Year 9s have had a chance to experience them.

As has been previously reported, we have been on a journey to bring STEAM principles into the English and Humanities classrooms to enhance student learning outcomes, and one of the first ways we are attempting this is via the incorporation of virtual reality into the Year 8 English curriculum (Terms 1 and 2), and Year 7 Humanities curriculum (Terms 3 and 4).

Over the period from Monday, February 12, to Wednesday, February 21, teachers and students are being inducted into the ‘VR Space’ and engaging with content relevant to their learning. Year 8 English students have been engaging in a series of 360 degree experiences based on themes and settings from the brilliant Australian film “The Sapphires”, so they can build their understanding and confidence to construct essay paragraphs for their Learning Task later in the term. The engagement from students so far has been very exciting, and it’s clear that among them there are already several ‘VR experts’ with great understanding and skills around the system - something we are keen to tap into and promote.

Middle Years English Leader Ms Eliza Lawless has already been liaising with the the VR team to coordinate the induction sessions, and as we progress, English and STEAM Synergy teacher Mr Corey Genis will be supporting staff and students by liaising with ‘Mission Control’ to upload the very best content to enrich our teaching and learning experiences. Acting Teaching and Learning Leader Ms Sarah Barry will also be leading the integration of the VR content into our SIMPLE Instructional Model and lesson planning. These are certainly exciting times for Willi High as we begin to embark on a potential paradigm shift in our approach to enhancing student outcomes. If you see ‘VR’ mentioned in a few different sections of the W-Files in this and coming issues, please forgive us - we are all feeling a bit excited!

Gavin Clifford | Strategic Assistant Principal

Williamstown High School is very excited to welcome a new member of staff to the Student Engagement and Wellbeing Team: Alanah Meilak. Alanah has joined the team as a youth worker across the two campuses.

Since stepping into the new youth worker role on January 29, Alanah has been buzzing around both campuses connecting with students in the bustling halls of the junior campus on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and among the senior campus’s lively vibe every Tuesday and Thursday.

Alanah’s mission over the past few weeks has been to make every student feel right at home. From heartfelt one-on-one chats, to restarting our fabulous Breakfast Club at Bayview, all the way to joining our amazing Year 12 students on their camp at Lady Northcote in Bacchus Marsh, including joining students during the student leadership-led Rodeo Night!

As a fresh face among our wonderful school staff, Alanah is beyond thrilled to be part of this fantastic community. So, if you see Alanah roaming the halls or need a friendly face to brighten your day, don't hesitate to say hello.

Students can access short-term counselling at both our Bayview and Pasco campuses with our Wellbeing Team, which includes school-based specialists, mental health practitioners, student wellbeing coordinators, student health and wellbeing coordinators and a youth worker.

Williamstown High School is a dynamic and inclusive community committed to the personal, social and emotional wellbeing of each student.

We recognise the intrinsic link between wellbeing and effective learning and have adopted a whole-school tiered approach to support all students.

If your child is having difficulties or concerns at school, please contact your child’s homegroup teacher or appropriate year level coordinator first. They may make a student referral to the SEWT where discussions with the student wellbeing coordinator and mental health practitioners will take place.

Welcome to the Year 7s of 2024 as you begin your journey at Williamstown High School. The students have been busy settling into their new school community and finding their space within it.

We would like to thank all of the families that were able to join us for our Family BBQ on February 9. It was wonderful to meet so many new families to the school. Our wonderful singers and musicians created a welcoming ambience as families entered the atrium. Our ES staff cooked up a storm and our homegroup teachers, student leaders and principal helping with serving. Hopefully families also took the opportunity to get more familiar with our campus.

We have already had our Swimming Carnival and are looking forward to our Athletics Day. School photos were taken last week and camp is around the corner.

We are looking forward to working alongside all of you in supporting your child.

We would like to take an opportunity to tell you a little about ourselves:

Isabella O’Malley - Year 7 Leading Teacher and Coordinator

I have worked at Williamstown High School since 2016 in many different roles. It is a wonderful school to work in. I am Irish and moved to Australia in 2010 for the weather! I now have two children: a 10-year-old girl and an 8-year-old son. I am a teacher of Product Design Wood and Mathematics and am fortunate enough to be a tutor this year.

James Riccobene - Year 7 Coordinator

I came across to Williamstown High this year and have enjoyed an exciting and positive start to the year. I myself grew up in the Hobsons Bay area, am a passionate PE teacher, and have a personal interest in fitness and sport. Outside of work, you will find me playing soccer, on the golf course or fishing. I’m looking forward to working with the Year 7 cohort and maximising their learning.

Welcome to 2024. The start of the year always brings excitement and some nerves, but I would like to congratulate the Year 8s on the positive start to the year with students coming ready and prepared to learn. Teachers have recognised the effort that all students have put into their work and in being respectful to others in their classes - you may have noticed your child receiving a positive post from a teacher on Compass.

Parents and Carers Information Night

It was pleasing to see and interact with so many families at our parent/carer information night earlier this term. We appreciate the time you took to continue to support your child’s learning. The presentation slides were sent home via Compass with useful links for your reference.

Lockers

Over the past few weeks, teachers have been reminding students of the importance of locking their locker in order to keep their contents secure. Students need to store their phones in their locker throughout the school day and having a reliable (and locked) lock is imperative to keeping those valuables safe.

Challenge Units

Students had the opportunity at the end of last year to make preferences around this unit, with a vast majority getting their first or second choices. Some of the Year 8s have started their challenge unit this semester, already producing the dishes featured in the Hold Fast Café elective.

Stewart Wilson

This is my fifth year at Williamstown High School. I am a Physical Education and Mathematics teacher but this year I have year 8 and 9 Physical Education. I love sports and am a passionate Collingwood supporter and also play cricket over the summer. I’m looking forward to getting to know all the year 8s this year.

Jenny Fsadni

My name is Jenny Fsadni and I joined the Williamstown High School community last year. I am currently teaching Science, Physical Education and Sport at the Bayview campus. Midway through the 2023 school year, I joined Isabella O’Malley and stepped into the Year 7 co-ordinating role. I have followed the students into Year 8 am looking forward to a great year and helping the students grow a positive mindset! In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, watching movies and baking.

We and I are looking forward to a positive year with the Year 8 cohort and have high expectations for the year to come.

Stewart Wilson and Jenny Fsadni

The Year 9 Coordinators, Tyson Hartwig and Carmen Wiseman, would like to welcome all new and returning students and their families to Williamstown High School in 2024. We are very pleased and excited to coordinate this cohort for what is an action-packed, exciting time in the students’ high school careers.

In Year 9, students participate in a range of interesting and immersive programs that broaden their learning. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Student leadership opportunities

• Year 9 Immersion program and community service

• Immersion Camp

• A broad range of elective subjects

• Morrisby careers profile and research

• Year 9 exams

We have already noticed – as have numerous classroom teachers – the positive start that the students have made and are optimistic about the learning and growth in maturity that can be associated with this stage of young people’s lives. At our first Year 9 assembly for the year, we were thoroughly impressed by the 188 students that had already received Positive Acknowledgements from their teachers. Four of these students received a prize/reward from the coordinators, following our “wheel of names” draw. It was also terrific to see so many families present at the Year 9 Parent and Carer Information Evening, which was held recently.

We see our role as being an advocate and moral guide for students – helping them to navigate various situations and to be aware and accountable for their comments and actions. Supporting us as always are the reliable homegroup teachers, who act as the first point of contact for both students and families. We also have a fantastic Wellbeing Team – Ann Hyland, Christina Frei and Alex Robinson – that work in a more individualised capacity, supporting students’ wellbeing needs in the school.

Wishing all our staff, students and families the very best for the school year ahead.

Tyon Hartwig

I am now in my ninth year of teaching, and eighth year as a Year Level Coordinator, at Willi High. My main teaching methods are PE and Health and have recently been enjoying my time leading the Year 9 Immersion Program. Outside of school, I enjoy keeping active by playing Aussie rules, ultimate frisbee, going to the gym and for bike rides along the Maribyrnong River. If I could invite any three celebrities to dinner it would be Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks and Will Ferrell.

Carmen Wiseman

I have been teaching at Williamstown High School’s Bayview Campus for four years. I’ve taught a range of subjects over these four years; this year I teach Humanities and Make a Movie. It is my second year being a Year Level Coordinator, and I’m looking forward to working with the Year 9s again this year. I’m a keen traveller and went to Japan over the summer break. I listen to pop music, and was lucky enough to get tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour.

Tyson Hartwig & Carmen Wiseman | Year 9 Coordinators

Welcome to our first contribution to the W-Files for 2024. We are incredibly excited to be working in partnership with you to create the best learning environment for our students.

Our Year 10s have made a fantastic start to the school year, showing great enthusiasm and engagement in their classes. They are already thriving and sharing positive experiences they have had in their new electives such as business and entrepreneurship, photography, war and peace, fashion design and more.

The students have settled into their new routines and, in particular, their new homegroup classes, where our students have been actively engaging in their HG curriculum each morning and during Thursday Period 4. Notably they have been participating in a daily morning circle, where they positively interact with their peers and teachers creating a safe and supportive space for engagement.

The students have also enthusiastically taken part in fierce and healthy homegroup competitions, from “minute to win it” to trivia and music quizzes. We are also excited to expand to a cohort level our first dodgeball competition, which will take place next week.

Furthermore students are focusing on the Respectful Relationships and Resilience Project, enhancing their life skills in building positive relationships, worldly understanding and classroom confidence.

Please note the following upcoming events for our Year 10s:

• February 27 - School Photos

• February 29 - Athletics Carnival

• March 21 - A Whole New World Seminar

• March 26 - Immunisations

• March 28 - Parent-Teacher Interviews

We also want to remind you that the Gold Coast Camp is nearing in Term 2, and payments will be made available on Compass along with a parent information night to be held closer to the date.

We are delighted with the cohort’s transition to the senior school environment and looking forward to a very exciting few weeks as we get to know them further and help support them to achieve their goals for Term 1.

Finally, we thought we would start the year by introducing ourselves as the Year 10 Year Level Coordinators:

Demi Geary

Hello, my name is Demi Geary and I am the year level coordinator for the Year 10s at the Pasco Campus, where I have been working for the past two years supporting students in their education, wellbeing and transition to the senior school environment. Along with this role, I also teach VCE Health and Human Development as well as Year 12 Work Related Skills at the school.

In my personal life, I have a passion for travel, which I recently had the opportunity to indulge in during the school’s World Challenge trip to Borneo. It was a real highlight hiking through the jungle with students, visiting orangutans, and experiencing the beauty of Borneo. I am excited to be working with parents and families to support their needs and help young people reach their full potential for the remainder of 2024.

Chris Blattman

I've recently embarked on a new journey at Williamstown High School, following seven years at my previous school where I taught subjects HPE, Outdoor Education, Duke of Edinburgh, Science and Maths. My role here will encompass teaching P.E., Outdoor Education, and VM Numeracy, as well as coordinating for year tens. I'm genuinely looking forward to meeting each of you and integrating into the fabric of this vibrant school community. Outside the classroom, I find solace and adventure in activities like mountain biking, skiing, hiking, and currently, ice hockey.

The first few weeks of Term 1 is always a whirlwind start to the year. Here is the perspective of Elijah Makitae-Marlow, a Year 11 student:

“This year has thus far commenced mostly to plan, thankfully getting through a gruelling first round of Maths Methods SACs. We have hit the ground running since day one, with the whole school assembly reminding us of the successes of the class of 2023. We are able to overcome the rigours of the start of the year by investing in our wellbeing and embracing the opportunities of the extracurricular activities and support available to us.”

Thank you to the parents who attended the Year 11 Parent/Carer Information Evening. The focus of the presentation was to underscore the importance of establishing good study habits and routines that lay the foundation for the VCE journey. The presentation slides were shared with parents via the Compass newsfeed.

As communicated to all parents at the end of last year and the beginning of this, there will be a consistent focus on students wearing the correct uniform to school. Particular focus areas include: tracksuits pants, trainers and jumpers that are not within the guidelines. Please speak with your child to address any items of uniform that need to be purchased.

In homegroup, students will soon be engaging in programs from the Resilience Project, which provide evidence-based and practical wellbeing strategies to build resilience. If you have not already done so, please purchase the ‘Homegroup Student Resource’ from JP Books to facilitate participation in this program.

Congratulations to the following students who have received five or more positive posts in the first two weeks of term: Maddison Camillo, Meera Kavar, Lachlan Reynolds and Jack Thurston. Thank you also to all staff who have taken time to issue positive posts, in particular Mr Cork, Ms McKeegan, Mr Clifford and Ms Jacobs.

Like last year, homegroups are competing against each other in challenges and weekly trivia to win the prize of a Hot Wings lunch at the end of the semester. 11B has set the early pace, but there is plenty of time for the others to catch up.

Finally, in the W-Files throughout this year we will be introducing you to a slightly different side of your child’s homegroup teacher. Firstly though, we thought we would start the year by introducing ourselves as the Year 11 year level coordinators:

Mr Patchell

This is my second year at Williamstown High School, where I teach English and VCE VM Literacy. I have two cats called Lily and Buttons, and enjoy long distance running and road cycling. I like listening to ’90s and ’00s UK indie rock. I follow Southampton FC, West Coast Eagles and Melbourne Storm, and my top Netflix recommendations are: Ozark, Peaky Blinders and Black Mirror. My favourite travel destination is South America, and I have simple culinary tastes with a parma, burger and chips, or a meat lover’s pizza being my favourite meals.

Mr Bernardi

I am in my second year at Williamstown High School and am currently teaching Year 10 Mathematics, Year 10 Science Mind and Body, Year 11 VCE VM Numeracy. My favourite travel destination is New Zealand and I love listening to house music when I can. I follow the Geelong Cats and my top TV recommendations are: You vs. Wild, Hyperdrive and Car Masters: Rust to Riches. I have two whippets that keep me pretty active and my favourite food is caesar salad, sushi or a nice scotch fillet steak.

The year has well and truly begun for the Year 12s and the recent holidays seem like a distant memory. To start the year, it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces at the Parent Information Session and we hope that everyone walked away with a few tools that they can use to support the students this year.

For those who could not make it to the info session, we shared with everyone our theme for the year: “So Fresh - The Hits of Year 12”. We hope the name “So Fresh” rings a bell with the parents/guardians, more so than it initially did with the students. Every few weeks we will be releasing a new song off our album, relating in some way to the time of year for the Year 12s, reflecting the power of music to get us through different parts of life. We started with Get Inspired by Genesis Owusu, followed by Spice Up Your Life by Spice Girls, which brought us to our first interlude, the Year 12 Camp.

The Year 12 Camp is always a special experience and this year was no exception. Once again, the talent show proved to be the highlight of the three days and we were treated to exceptional performances from a number of students, including a world record attempt by Marcus Breet! Another special mention has to go to Luke Bell-Andrews, who challenged School Principal Gino Catalano to an arm wrestle. Mr Catalano put up a brave fight but Luke ended up the victor, showing Mr Catalano’s arm-wrestling days might be past him. He did mention though that he was looking forward to teaching the Year 12s a few lessons in table tennis later in the year in the Homegroup Games. One to look out for!

In my discussions with the Year 12s about their experiences on camp, I believe one of them summed it up perfectly. They said there was a moment on the first night when the whole cohort was up, singing and dancing to Taylor Swift, when they realised how beautiful it was watching the group they had been with since Year 7 coming together in this exact moment as the Class of 2024. That is the power of the Year 12 Camp and leads us to the next song on our compilation album: Come Together by The Beatles.

Finally, we thought we would start the year by introducing ourselves as the Year 12 year level coordinators:

Hi there. My name is Angus Rodda and, along with David Urwin, we are the Year 12 year level coordinators for 2024. This is our second year together as Year 12 coordinators and we feel incredibly privileged to support these students in what is arguably their most significant year at school.

David has been working as a Year 12 coordinator for six years now, which means he is an expert in knowing exactly what the cohort needs at different stages throughout the year.

My expertise lies within knowing each of the students this year thanks to being their Year 10 coordinator two years ago. Outside of school, I am a diehard North Melbourne supporter in the AFL and love to get away to the outdoors whenever I get a chance.

Dave loves reading, is an avid movie buff and enjoys spending his time complaining about the music young people listen to these days and would prefer everyone revisit and cherish the Hottest 100 from 20 years ago.

The 2024 school year is off to a fantastic start, with students experiencing the diverse curriculum offerings at the Bayview Street Campus. By now, students will have joined their subjects’ Google Classrooms and have started to use their online platforms, as well as having had practical learning opportunities, been involved in group activities and completed written and verbal classwork.

All our subjects directly enhance and promote “Be a Learner”, one of WHS’s three key school values. The teachers at Bayview are always working to offer variety when planning units and delivering courses. They aim to make their lessons engaging and informative and offer something for every student. Our course accreditation process also ensures our subjects are aligned to the current Victorian Curriculum.

A wonderful addition to the school’s resources to further create engaging curriculum is the class set of virtual reality headsets that our English and Humanities classes will be utilising. We will continue to extend the use of these headsets into other subject areas in the near future.

Over the next few weeks, your child’s Semester 1 Learning Tasks will appear on Compass. This will allow you to see the name and description of the tasks on which your child will be assessed for all their subjects. These can be found by clicking on the Learning Tasks tab in Compass. There will be between one and three Learning Tasks for each subject in Semester 1.

Other ways to keep up to date on your child’s progress in each subject is via the Progress Reports that will appear on Compass before the Parent-Teacher-Student conferences in Term 1 and Term 3. These can be found by clicking on the Reports tab in Compass. And, of course, feel free to email your child’s teacher if you have specific questions any time during the semester.

Clayton Warren

Curriculum Leader Middle Years

For the Student Leadership Team, the year always starts with a bang: attending the Student Leadership Conference. The 36 senior-school leaders attended a day of leadership development, community building and planning. The priority during these events is ensuring that Williamstown High School’s leadership team is a force to be reckoned with. We begin with team building activities, and a reminder of the responsibility they have as leaders. As the day goes on, students are encouraged to access their creativity, designing events the student population will love. Finally, we put our “practical hats” on and imagine what challenges we might face in enacting our grand plans, to make sure they all go off without a hitch.

Here’s what our Debating Captain Vince had to say:

Another year, another leadership conference. At the start, the team got to know one another more through team building activities such as the classic marshmallow challenge. Afterwards, students had the opportunity to express their ideas, and views of certain plans for the year. Once the senior leadership council decided on the major events that they were going to undertake, the team was split into groups; through this, we were able to efficiently and effectively draft the tasks, etc. necessary for the plans ahead.

The environmental group, led by the captain, is organising and creating a thriving club, while the art captains are liaising with other captains regarding the creation of logos, etc. Besides that, activities for Harmony Day and International Women’s Day are being actively organised by students like the Social Justice captains. Lastly, the preparations for the Athletics Carnival are being laid out, cooperatively, by the sports captains and the like.

As Vince says, we have some amazing fundraising events on the cards:

• February 29 - World’s Greatest Shave on Athletics Day

• March 8 - International Women’s Day

• March 21 - Harmony Day (as a part of Humanities Week)

Not to mention the work we’ve already completed:

• A lunchtime Uno tournament,

• The poster design competition for our upcoming school production “Lady Liberty” is under way,

• The Environmental Club has had their first meeting and are preparing for Clean-Up Australia Day on March 1.

• The library has been decorated with posters acknowledging Black History Month, and themed homegroup trivia is on the way.

All in all, the student leaders are showing their amazing school spirit and determination to make their mark on Williamstown High School.

Welcome to the 2024 school year everyone! My name is Martyn van Reyk and I am new to both the Mathematics Learning Specialist role and to the Bayview Campus. We also welcome the following teachers to the Mathematics Team: at Bayview, we introduce Lincan Chen, and a return to the team for Rachel Roberts and Isabella O’Malley; at Pasco we introduce Ronald Hackney and Zhiyin Deng, and have Tim Wraight joining the team.

Term 1 is always a big one for teachers, with new classes to get to know and the need to identify their level of understanding as soon as possible. With a new cohort of Year 7s joining the school, the Mathematics Team felt the need to utilise a new assessment tool to identify their level of Numeracy skills and understanding. The program, Scaffolding Numeracy in the Middle Years, required all Year 7 students to complete five open-ended tasks, which required them to deeply explain their thinking and reasoning. This has allowed us to better understand each of our students’ level of Multiplicative Thinking, a key skill in mathematics.

I would also like to take this opportunity to announce that NAPLAN testing will be taking place across Weeks 7 and 8 of Term 1 this year. Our Year 7 and 9 students will complete assessments in Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy from Wednesday, March 13, through to Tuesday, March 19. The testing will continue to be run as an online assessment. With that in mind, we ask that all parents check to ensure that all student devices have the NAPLAN Locked Down Browser installed, as it will be needed for the assessment. Instructions for installing the browser can be found on Compass, as well as on the Year 7 and Year 9 cohort Google Classroom pages. The browser icon will look like this:

Homegroup teachers will be checking student devices for the browser over the coming weeks, and there will be support available to any students experiencing difficulties with the installation.

2023 was a spectacular year for the Maths department. Students and staff embarked on brand new study designs across all three maths, where in General Maths more than 20 percent of the study design was new for WHS. The challenge only seemed to inspire the group, with statistics like 25 students achieving a study score above 40 and almost one in every three students achieving a study score of 35+.

However, a rolling stone gathers no moss and in 2024 the Maths department will continue to seek opportunities for growth. We have already reviewed the Maths A program to add additional extension programs to facilitate a smoother transition into Year 11 Methods. We have also looked into further differentiating maths in Maths S to both support and extend students here, among a raft of other esoteric objectives.

Once again VCE students have access to MaffsGuru, so please check in with your child to make sure they have set up their log in. These video tutorials may have only cost $11, however they represent infinitely more value, with students gaining access to a super teacher who can reteach students any topic they may have missed, forgotten or are seeking clarification on.

This year we welcome Ms Molly Deng as an ongoing teacher to the campus. Molly will be taking students for 10 Maths, 11 Methods and 12 Methods. Molly is an exceptional talent and I have already heard a rumbling of praise for her work from students, we have been very lucky to secure her work here at WHS. Over the break Ms Bonnie Wong left the school to fulfill an alternate position in a public school. In a sliding doors moment, we have been lucky enough to secure Ronald Hackney, who was by chance returning home to Melbourne having been teaching in NSW. WHS continues to be a destination school for teachers and I am humbled by the privilege we have.

2024 can only get better for senior Mathematics. I look forward with excitement to the year ahead.

Senior School Maths Coordinator,

Brett Russell

The Bayview English department has had an exciting start to the 2024 school year.

This semester our Year 8 English cohort will be the first to experience the new STEAM Education Centre at WHS. In response to the ever changing and complex demands of 21st century education, STEAM presents opportunities for developing students’ creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills within the discipline of English.

In preparation for using this space, Mindflight visited WHS to introduce staff and students to the new virtual reality equipment. There was a buzz of excitement around the school as students awaited their opportunity to experience VR. Some highlights included an immersive 3D experience of First Nation art and music, a 360 degree tour of landscapes in Vietnam, and a viewing of historical interviews, all intended to enrich students’ understanding of their text unit The Sapphires.

We look forward to the learning opportunities the STEAM centre will present for our English students this semester.

“It was a very immersive experience. My favourite was the 360 degree view of Vietnam. I’ve never been to Vietnam but it felt like I was there. It was really cool!” – Dane Tippett (8I)

Eliza Lawless

English Curriculum Leader, Bayview Campus

2024 marks a change for the English study design. At the Pasco Campus, the unit comparing two designated texts is ‘out’ and the chance to complete more fiction and non-fiction writing is ‘in’. This allows much more independence for students to think, create and explore their own ideas and place in the world.

The focus theme for Year 12 is ‘Personal Journeys’. This allows broad scope for students to explore a range of stimulus material - books, articles, films and multimedia to reflect and be stimulated by what a Personal Journey means for others and then, themselves. At a time of rapid growth in curiosity and maturity this should provide inspiration for our students’ thinking and writing.

Students will be encouraged to consider the multiplicity of perspectives that a Personal Journey could involve. Abundant sources disseminate and explore historical voyages of exploration and adventure. Two Australian women come immediately to mind: Sorrel Wilby, who recorded her 6500 kilometre journey across the Himalayas in 1991, in her book ‘Across the Top’; and Jessica Watson, who from October 18, 2009, to May 15, 2010, sailed solo around the world as a 16 year old. But their achievements in spectacular, courageous journeys are not the only way that personal journeys can be interpreted.

Cultural or spiritual journeys provide fascinating and thought provoking ideas. 2.3 million Muslims every year (between 2013-2023) have undergone ancient rites, honoured their God and returned home presumably spiritually replenished after a Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca. Other pilgrimages abound, such as the Kumana Kodo trail in Japan, which winds through a UNESCO world heritage site on a route traversed by the emperors of Japan. It links three sacred Shinto shrines - Hongu, Shingu and Nachi. The journey incorporated holy stops where pilgrims may engage in dance ceremonies, prayer sessions and ritual baths. Australian indigenous young men have traditionally ventured into the Australian bush to be mentored by their elders and to learn the crafts, skills and knowledge necessary to transition into the adult world of their communities. This could be for up to six months.

Not all personal journeys are arduous or involve long distances though. Creative or artistic personal journeys can be unique and intimate. Billie Eilish’s often introspective and quirky songs have mostly been written in her bedroom with her brother. Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, which has recently taken Australia by storm, charts her own turbulent musical journey of the past 20 years. We engage with her personal journey every time we hear her songs.

Some personal journeys involve a commitment to a scientific goal and can result in inventions used worldwide. It may surprise us to learn that Google Maps was developed in Sydney in the early 2000s, and other technological inventions such as WiFi, heart pacemakers, the Cochlear ear implant, spray on skin for burns victims and ultrasound were developed here. Perth-based Professor Fiona Wood’s invention of spray on skin, which uses the patient's own skin cells that have been grown in a lab, was used to save 28 lives after they had suffered burns in the 2002 Bali Bombings.

So, whether it involves artistic experimentation, adventurous exploration, spiritual devotion and enlightenment or scientific investigation, a personal journey can manifest in myriad ways. They may even stem from hardship, such as the forced journeys of refugees or those whose lives have been challenged by physical or mental ordeals. We look forward to exploring this idea of Personal Journeys with our senior students.

Our Science Team is excited to be back in the lab room and seeing students engaged in the ever-intriguing world of science once more.

To welcome our Year 7s to their scientific journeys, they will first start with our unique Marine Science curriculum. In this unit, students immerse themselves in studying marine life with an emphasis on flora and fauna from our local Port Phillip Bay.

In the first few weeks of Year 8, students have been exploring Physical and Chemical Reactions in the lab. In this unit, students will be completing a range of practicals to observe different chemical reactions while refining their scientific report writing skills.

Meanwhile, our Year 9 cohort have begun their last year on Bayview Campus. Students will be studying a short unit on Acids and Bases, before leading into a series of experiments for Chemical Reactions. During this semester, students will explore Ocean Acidification, which is one of our biggest global issues.

This year’s 5x7 Art Prize, with Hobsons Bay Art Society and Louis Joel Gallery, is based on the theme of ‘That Song’. The Year 7 students in Art this semester are busy preparing their canvases to paint their favourite song, tune or piece of music.

It’s been great combining Music with the Visual Arts, where students are listening and interpreting the lyrics of a song, to then visualise into a painting. This is visual literacy at work, combining listening, reading, writing, discussion drawing and painting into a final artwork. Creative problem solving, making critical judgements, finding aesthetic solutions and making connections with their ideas are just a small fraction of how much academic thinking goes into artistic practice.

The Year 7s involved are excited about producing a painting that relates to a piece of music they like. They are able to use mixed media, paint and collage as part of the brief. Their art teachers are looking forward to the final outcomes, and selecting the best 24 pieces to be exhibited at the Louis Joel Gallery in April.

The Year 7s have been involved in this competition every year since it started in 2017. The image below displays last year's work, based on the theme of ‘Movement’.

Helen Bacon

Technology l Design Area Leader

Visual Art

The PFA are friends and parents interested in connecting with the school community and contributing toward enhancing the school experience for all Willi High students. The meetings are a relaxed and informal forum where you can air concerns, chat with other parents, and enjoy listening to regular guest speakers, such as specialist teachers and principals.

The PFA meets twice a term. Meetings are run in-person at the Bayview Campus and online. Dates of meetings are on the PFA page of the school website, and we send reminders via Compass before each meeting.

Guest speakers are a very popular part of PFA meetings. It is a great opportunity to learn more about different aspects of Willi High, to meet these leaders and teachers, and to present any queries or concerns that you may have. Guest speakers scheduled for 2024 include Garrett Drago, our resident marine biologist, who’ll be showing us the new aquariums that were funded by the PFA in 2023; and Anna Bovdis, who’ll talk us through the all-important subject selection process for VCE students.

Please join us at our next meeting on March 19. The guest speaker is Curriculum Middle Years Leading Teacher Clayton Warren, who’ll be discussing the subject selection options at the Bayview Campus year levels, and the Year 9 exam process. Further details will be sent via Compass, or email us at presidentwhspfa@gmail.com to receive PFA updates.

Student Accident Insurance Arrangements

Main points

· The DET does not provide personal accident insurance OR ambulance cover for students.

· Parents/carers of students, who do not have student accident insurance/ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance or transport as well as any other transport costs.

· Parents/carers can purchase insurance policies from commercial insurers.

· Parents/carers are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including any transport costs.

· These costs may be recoverable where an injury is caused by the negligence (carelessness) of the DET, a school council or their employees or volunteers.

· Student accident insurance policies are available from some commercial insurers. These cover a range of medical expenses not covered by Medicare or private health insurance.

· Private property brought to school by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage.

Action Required

Parents/carers of students, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance or transport as well as any other transport costs.

Parents/carers can purchase insurance policies from commercial insurers.

The DET does not hold insurance for personal property brought to schools and it has no capacity to pay for any loss or damage to such property.

Annual privacy reminder for our school community

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or, where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy and the Schools’ Privacy Collection Notice.

Please take time to remind yourself of the school’s collection statement, found on our website.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn.

We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school. For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy - information for parents.