I would like to start by extending a warm welcome to our families with whom we have had a long term association and to those who have joined our school community for the first time in 2021. The school year has commenced with a very positive vibe from both staff and the college is looking great after all of the work completed over the break. I would also like to welcome our new staff in 2021. The following staff have joined us and are a welcome addition to our school community.
- Rainda Yang (Digi Tech / Accounting), Anthea Papamanos (ART / VCD), Olivia Cirillo (Drama / ENG), Nikki Richardson (ART), Ella Francis (HUMS / EAL / Literacy Tutor), Judy Bailey (Maths Tutor) and Mary Koulbanis (English Tutor).
- We also have three staff members returning from family leave – Lauren Christian, (HPE), Amanda Lister (SCI) and Jo Eric (Literacy Tutor)
I had the pleasure of being involved in the Year 7 Orientation program during the week including presenting to all of our Year 7 students and outlining a little bit about who I am and my journey to Lalor Secondary College. It was a fun week and our school has welcomed all of the Year 7 students throughout the week with a variety of activities including a BBQ, house activities and having stories told by some of our long serving staff.
I hope the transition into Secondary School has been made a little easier as a result of this new program and thank all of the staff involved in delivering this program.
The school will again be undertaking a significant building project throughout 2021/22. Lalor Secondary College was allocated $26 million dollars at the end of 2020 to upgrade and modernise our facilities. This means you will see some substantial changes to the facilities in the school over the next two years. This also means that there will be some disruptions to the usual operations of the college while the construction takes place. This has already started with the following changes:
- The 100’s (multi-story building) is now closed and staff and students can no longer access this building.
- The administration / general office is now located in the portables near the Science Centre carpark on Dalton Road. Visitor parking has been allocated for parents in the carpark directly in front of the administration buildings.
- 14 additional classrooms have been established on the soccer pitch to replace the classrooms that were in the 100’s building.
These changes are temporary while the school establishes what the needs are of the school and the wider community. The planning process has commenced and we hope to move to breaking ground by the end of the year.
PRIVACY STATEMENT
Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.
Please take time to remind yourself of the school’s collection statement, found on our website [add link to your school’s collection statement].
For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. This information is also available in nine community languages:
- Amharic
- Arabic
- Dari
- Mandarin
- Somali
- Sudanese
- Turkish
- Urdu
- Vietnamese.
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund applications
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.
If you have a valid means-tested concession card, such as a Veterans Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. There is also a special consideration category for asylum seeker and refugee families.
Payment amounts this year are $225 for eligible secondary school students. Payments are made direct to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions and sporting activities for the benefit of your child.
If you applied for CSEF through our school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.
If you would like to apply for the first time, please contact the school office on 9463 7300 and ask for an application form.
You can also download the form, and find out more about the program and eligibility, on the Department of Education and Training’s Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund web page.
Check with the school office if you are unsure, and please return completed forms to the school office as soon as possible.
CORONAVIRUS – Covid-19
I remind all members of our community to please practice social distancing and hand hygiene when entering the college. Any member of our community who is displaying symptoms including students are to remain home until the symptoms have cleared. I would encourage any member of our community who displays symptoms to have a Covid-19 test as part of their treatment plan.
School Council Elections
School council elections for DET representatives, parents and students commence today. Any interested member of our community who are considering nominating for a role on school council can now collect a nomination form the general office. Parents will also receive some information and a nomination form in the mail. All nominations must be received by Monday the 15th of February at 3pm. The timeline is listed below.
| SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTION PROCESS AND TIMETABLE | ||
| EVENT | DATE | |
| a) | Notice of election and call for nominations
Letter to all parents Compass email |
Monday, 8th February 2021 |
| b) | Closing date for nominations | Monday, 15th February 2021 |
| c) | Date by which the list of candidates and nominators will be posted | Tuesday, 16th February 2021 |
| d) | Date by which ballot papers will be prepared and distributed | On or before Tuesday, 16th February 2019 |
| e) | Close of ballot | Friday, 26th February 2021 |
| f) | Vote count | 01 / 03 / 2021
(Insert a date immediately after the close of ballot) |
| g) | Declaration of poll | 01 / 03 / 2021
(Insert the vote count date or a date immediately after the vote count) |
| h) | Special council meeting to co-opt Community members (the Principal will preside) | / /
(Insert a date immediately after the declaration of poll) |
| i) | First council meeting to elect office bearers (the Principal will preside) | 25 / 03 / 2021
(Can be the same date as council meeting to co-opt Community members or another date soon after) |
If you have any questions about any of the formation listed above please contact me via the general office or on 9463 7300.
Best regards,
Corey Jewell
College Principal
