Weekly Wrap

Upcoming Dates

Last Day Term 2 Friday 24 June

First Day Term 3 Monday 11th July

Dear all,

Welcome to the final week of Term 2. In a busy week where we have had a lot of media attention on education and the Minister for Education standing down, it is worth acknowledging James Merlino’s success. He shone a light on education, as a key priority of this Government. He secured additional funding for infrastructure and programs to support students. We at FHC wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

In relation to a running commentary on a range of issues in Education, we have continued to lobby for funding to upgrade facilities. Our Executive Team has been working towards securing funding for an upgrade to Science/ IT, the Library, the Canteen and C Block. These spaces have been identified by DET as the most in need of upgrade, hence, also the most likely to be successful in lobbying DET for funding. We are pleased with the way our local candidate, John Mullahy, and current sitting member Neil Angus have listened to our needs.

We have also been working with the Nunawading Spectres, Local, State and Federal Governments, to construct 4 more indoor basketball courts. It was terrific to see John Mullahy at the College during the staff vs student basketball match last night (incidentally the staff won- again). John is advocating for us to secure this development. If we hear any news, we will let our community know.

The importance of hiring facilities, is to generate revenue to put back into reducing class size. Into 2023, we have been hearing a lot of noise around the new Teaching Service agreement, and the challenges it may bring to the running of camps and excursions. Please be assured, FHC is always well planned and prepared. Our extra and co-curricular programs will remain. These programs provide so much learning for our students, and I encourage you to block out inflammatory, media dialogue designed to cause debate. Our College will always run a full suite of camps.

Last night we held our Basketball Marathon. The event is held in honour of a staff member who passed away from leukemia in 1973, Geoff David. He was a popular PE teacher who loved basketball. Since 1973, the College, by running the Basketball Marathon, has worked in collaboration with the Leukemia Foundation, to raise much needed funds for accommodation for families struggling with leukemia and research to find a cure. This morning we were thrilled to have Pooja Ingle from the Leukemia Foundation speak with the student body about how they use the funds we raise. Around 120 students stayed overnight, and many more participated through the day. We are excited to see the event back on the calendar after 2 years impacted by covid. The event s a significant event for us, with a particular focus on the concepts of gratitude, empathy, optimism, and hope. These are such critical concepts to assist our students to be able to demonstrate. The spirit of volunteering time to help others in need cannot be underestimated.

Term 3 sees the commencement of our Course Counselling process for our families and students.

It’s at this time that the work our Careers Practitioner has been completing with our students across the year is able to be realised through students electing the most appropriate courses.

Our Course Expo evening on Thursday 14^th July at 6pm allows parents and carers the chance to learn about courses, check pre-requisites, ask questions and consider the future learning of our young people.

Across Week 1 of Term 3 all students will be talking with teachers about the way forward to ensure a successful future pathway. We strongly recommend parents attend the evening to enable you to fully support your dinner time conversations about course selection for the 2023 academic year.

For now, enjoy your break. There is no doubt this has been a very disruptive Semester. I know lots of students have reported frustration with the amount of replacement teachers we have had to use. This experience is the same in every school at the moment. To be honest I feel this Semester has been, in its own way, the most challenging of the pandemic. Things will continue to evolve and improve. We will be operating as normal, but we do acknowledge the impact teacher absence due to illness and isolation, is difficult for students in the classroom. For two years our students have struggled to learn at home, in the absence of normal routines. They have been isolated at home, and have forgotten how to socialise. Returning to onsite learning has meant we have had to “retrain” our students to thrive inside our routines and to re learn how to socialise. This has been challenging, but we are pleased with progress. Our classrooms have been productive.

I wish everyone well for the break and I look forward to a very exciting Term 3.

Dave Rogers

Principal

FHC Sport Semester 1 2022

Forest Hill College has experienced a great start to the return of interschool-sport for 2022. A total of 26 Sporting teams went out and represented the college across Cricket, Tennis, Volleyball, Swimming, Soccer, Table Tennis, AFL, Netball, Badminton, Cross Country and Senior Basketball.

A huge thank you to Ms Baucke, Ms Enticott, Ms Fraser, Mr Mascitti, Ms Mimmo, Mr Pain, Ms Savige, Mr Stone, Ms Sutherland, Ms Tau, and Mr Rogers, who accompanied students on the day as well as running training sessions at lunchtimes. It would not be possible for students to attend these sport days if it wasn’t for their support. A big thank you also to Ms Woolard for organising all the first aid kits and other behind the scenes administrative tasks.

Both the Senior Mixed Cricket and Senior Mixed Badminton teams came runners up at Division level. Congratulations need to be given to the following teams who made it through to Regionals; Intermediate Boys AFL, Senior Girls Table Tennis and Year 7 Girls Tennis. These teams will be representing the College at Regionals during terms 3 and 4, and we wish them all the best.

Special congratulations need to be given to the Senior Boys Tennis and Intermediate Girls Tennis teams who have represented the College at the highest level this year making it through to the State Championships. This is an incredible achievement, and we congratulate both teams on being runners up.

Two students deserve individual acknowledgement for their sporting achievement this semester – Madeleine C, who represented the College at Regional Swimming and Ethan C, who represented the College at Regional Cross Country.

Looking ahead we have the following sports coming up in term 3 for years 7 – 10 students – Hockey, Basketball and Table Tennis. Students are encouraged to begin organising teams now as sign-ups will be held early in term 3. Additionally, the Division level Athletics Carnival will be held towards the end of term 3.

Congratulations everyone for a great start to Inter-school Sport in 2022.

Ms Bristow