This publication provides a range of useful information for parents of children beginning secondary school. It will also help you understand the range of opportunities available at Victorian government secondary schools.

Every school is supported by a solid education system, so you can be confident that statewide standards in education are maintained. At the same time, each school has the flexibility to tailor its programs to meet the individual needs of students and the local community.

Government schools are an important part of their local community. The people who make our schools great places for your child – principals, teachers and other staff, and school councillors – make every effort to be involved in and connect with their community.

Everyone has clearly benefited from a long and relaxing holiday. We look forward to another great year in 2012.

I would particularly like to welcome those students, parents and staff who have joined the College Community this year. I hope you find our school to be very warm and welcoming and that your time with us is happy, productive and successful.

VCE Results 2011

I begin by celebrating the wonderful performance of the Year 12 class of 2011. The last week of the 2011 school year was one of great excitement, Once again Glen Waverley Secondary College was recognised as the best performed non-selective government school in the state. We are very proud of that success and proud of our students and staff who worked so hard to achieve it.

Congratulations Year 12 Class of 2011

15 ATARs over 99

154 (46.4%) ATARs over 90

5 perfect study scores

19% of study scores over 40

DUX Amila Sedarage 99.85

Brilliant!

80% of the group achieved an Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranking above 70

Not surprisingly, these excellent results have ensured that a very high percentage of the cohort have been able to gain entry to the tertiary course of their choice. 98% of the class of 2011 have received tertiary offers. Of these offers 96% are university offers and 4% TAFE offers. Over 60% of the university offers are to Melbourne and Monash. This is as very impressive outcome. I extend to all of our graduating students the best wishes of the College as they move on to the next important stage of their education.

School photos

School Photos have been taken – Order Online www.arthurreedphotos.com.au/schoolorders.asp.

School Password is available on this issue of GWSCNews on Clipboard. Any queries please call Arthur Reed on 5243 4390

Leadership Changes

A very important change to the Leadership Structure of the College is the promotion of Mr Vin Penso to the position of Acting Assistant Principal to replace John Roodenburg who has taken long service leave for the 2012 academic year. Mr Penso has extensive experience and has held the position of Director of Students in the Senior School for many years. As a consequence of this change Ms Sue Simadri has assumed the position of Director of Students, Ms Fiona Bui takes over the Director of Learning in the Senior School and Mr Richard Phillips has been appointed Head of Science for 2012.

New Staff

It is always exciting to welcome new staff into the community and 2012 is no exception. I extend a very warm welcome to the following new staff and trust they will enjoy working and learning at Glen Waverley Secondary College.

Athena Romanas – Maths

Amy Wert – Director of Music

Jane O’Callaghan – Legal Studies/ Global Politics

Louisa Hare – Accounting/Humanities

Bo Chen – Chinese

Barry Haines – Biology/Science/Maths

Kate Watkins – PE/Outdoor Ed

Jemma Burt – Humanities/ESL

Geoff O’Neill – Accounting/Humanities

Marina Marinias – Maths/Science

Adriana Falconieri – Italian/Humanties

David Storen – Science/Maths

Clipboard

Clipboard provides parents and students with information about what is happening in the school. Photographs of recent events, the latest sports stories and reports of the wonderful things being done by so many people make it a useful read and it will enable you to keep your finger on the pulse of Glen Waverley Secondary College. Access to Clipboard will be through the College Extranet on the user’s start page. This parent newsletter, “GWSC News”, is published twice per term and will contain more detailed reports from the subschools, the Principal’s Column, Careers News, sports news and notices. Copies of current and past newsletters can also be found on Clipboard.

School Council and AGM

The College is seeking nominations for THREE parent vacancies on the 2012 College Council. Parents wishing to nominate can collect the appropriate nomination form from the General Office from 13th February. Forms must be returned to the College by 20th February.

The results of the School Council elections will be announced at the Annual General Meeting of the Council which will be held on Wednesday 14th March at 7.30pm in the Professional Learning Centre which is located in the administration building. The AGM is an open meeting of the College Council, parents are welcome to attend.