Principal Welcome Week 4 Term 1
Welcome GHS Community,
The short return to remote learning, while expected at some point, happened much earlier than anticipated. Pleasingly our students and staff were able to adapt quickly and transition to on-line learning with a couple of hours warning. I am very proud of the way our school community accepted the reality and, for the benefit of the wider community, quickly made the necessary adjustments to enable this transition to occur. It is wonderful now to be welcoming our students back to on-site learning all be it with safety and hygiene restrictions in place.
New Principal class team.
I would like to warmly welcome Mr Andrew McConchie to our PCO Team and the Geelong High School community this year. Andrew joins us as a result of Mr Ken Stewart’s pending resignation in June this year.
Andrew is new to the principal class having taught extensively both in Australia and overseas. Andrew will take over responsibility for leading teaching and learning/curriculum in the school.
Andrew is a highly regarded English teacher in his own right, having won the state-wide secondary teacher of the year award last year. Welcome Andrew!
Face masks
As you would be aware, the wearing of face masks when indoors is mandatory and required outdoors when unable to socially distance.
Our expectation is that, apart from a small number of exceptions, all students will carry a face mask at all times and will be wearing a face mask when indoors. Students are required to be wearing a face mask when travelling to and from school on public transport. We ask that families please provide your children with a face mask on a daily basis (and a spare). While we do have some face masks we do not have sufficient to provide 1000 students on a daily basis. Thank you for your support in this regard.
Senior Schools Awards day
Due to the lateness of VCE exams last year, we had to postpone our senior school awards until this year. We ran the event on-site last Thursday and it was wonderful to welcome our year 12s from 2020 back. It was great to hear what they are doing and where they are going, whether that is to university or TAFE, employment or a gap year. My congratulations to the current year 11s and 12s who won awards. I am sure our current year 12s will exhibit just as much resilience as their predecessors.
Swimming Sports
Congratulation to Barwon House who reign supreme yet again in the house swimming sports. This is the fifth year in a row that Barwon has won, continuing a streak that commenced in 2017. Well done to all students who participated. It was great to have our school and house mascots making an appearance and having a positive impact.
Uniform Reminder
As you would be aware - the wearing of school uniform is compulsory at Geelong High School, as determined by school Council. Pleasingly the vast majority of students are in full uniform on a daily basis. Our biggest issue seems to be students not wearing plain white socks (or boys walk socks). Plain white socks are generally the cheapest available and can be purchased in most supermarkets and clothing stores. Another issue appears to be girls wearing the incorrect sports shorts. We have started issuing yard-duty detentions to students who come in incorrect uniform without a legitimate note.
School Council Elections 2021
Would you like to nominate for School Council?
School Council resolved at its December meeting of 2020 to have the new School Council for 2021 in place for the March meeting. We are therefore calling for any interested and energetic parents, community members, students and teachers to fill the three parent vacancies, four community vacancies, two student vacancies and two DET vacancies. Retiring councillors may be eligible for re-election.
School Council President Fiona Chipperfield and I would love to hear from any one prepared to nominate for the vacancies. Being a member of Council means more than attending a meeting once a month. It is a real opportunity to participate in developing policy and having direct input into the decision-making of the school at a very exciting period in the school’s development. Demanding certainly, but also richly satisfying.
We need people with drive and ideas to help the school achieve its Vision.
Thursday February 18th, is the last meeting of our current Council. There are 6 parent representatives; 4 DET (staff) representatives plus the principal; 4 Community reps (including two School Captains) and 2 student reps on council. Representatives are elected for two years with about half the representatives retiring each year, to maintain continuity of council.
For 2021 - Elected members continuing are:
Parents
- Ms Michelle Steans
- Mr Paul Davis
- Mr Paul Henshaw
Staff (DET Employees)
- Mr Glenn Davey (Principal, as Executive Officer)
- Ms Julianna Garcia
- Ms Bernice Brown
Student
Not continuing
Those retiring after their term has expired and eligible for re-election in 2021 are:
Parents
- Ms Jenny Trezise
- Mr Robin Eyers
- Ms Fiona Chipperfield
Staff (DET)
- Mr Steve Brown
- Mr Ken Stewart (retiring)
Community Representatives (not elected)
4 x Vacant positions (includes 2 positions reserved for School Captains/Vice Captains)
Student
1 x vacant position – 2 years
1 x vacant position – 1 year
There are therefore three Parent vacancies, two DET employee vacancies and two student vacancies.
Nomination forms may be accessed from the website or collected from the General Office in the week commencing 8th Feb. 2021.
Please note that nominations close at 4pm Friday, 5th March, 2021.
Glenn Davey
Principal
