19 December 2011

Dear Parents

I am delighted to report that once again the school year has finished positively with students from all areas of the school having fun, contributing to the wider community and celebrating the finish to their 2011 year. 

In the Junior School there were many highlights including Year 4 Graduation, a visit from Father Christmas for the ELC students, the Visual Arts Showcase, camps, the Nativity Play and carol service, the final assembly and Asha Fair where the students raised over $2000 for the Ryder Cheshire Foundation. It was a hectic and enjoyable final few weeks of school.

The Middle School similarly maintained a diverse schedule between classes, with Years 5 and 6 going on camp while the Year 9s completed the Melbourne Experience.  Their year climaxed with the Middle School Presentation Night and the House Performing Arts competition.
 
While this was occurring Senior School students were engaged in two weeks of VCE classes.  If you visited the Senior School Centre you would have been struck by how focussed our most senior students were as they began their final academic years at Clarendon.

Recently the school received media attention related to our application for a building permit for our new $6.5M Science Centre.  The Ballarat City Council rejected our application on Heritage grounds and comment was passed that we needed to have a master plan for development of the Sturt Street site.  I recently met with Central Ward councillors Craig Fletcher, Mark Harris and Judy Verlin to reassure them that the school does have a master plan that has been developed over the last decade.

I also was clear that Clarendon takes its Heritage responsibilities very seriously. We are supported in fulfilling our responsibilities by architects Williams Boag whose Founding Director, Peter Williams, has been a member of the Heritage Council of Victoria for 6 years.  Before we began the detailed design of our Science facility we engaged Bryce Raworth, conservation consultant for the cities of Melbourne and Stonnington and the Melbourne Heritage Fund, to undertake a heritage review of the proposed site on the corner of Ajax Street and Murray Street. 

After an extensive review of the area and its buildings, Mr Raworth concluded that the demolition of 6 houses and the construction of the Science Centre were appropriate and consequently we proceeded with our planning. 

The school fully understands the role of the City Council and respects its decision to reject the proposal and will now follow the process required to obtain a building permit.  We will proceed to Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal as soon as possible for a review of the decision.

The Science Centre is only one project of a number in the Clarendon physical master plan that is currently being enacted.  We have a building permit for a new multi-purpose pavilion on the western edge of the Sturt Street oval.  This will provide us with a wonderful meeting space and will also be available for a number of activities that currently occur in the gym, lessening disruption to physical education programs.
 
The current pavilion will be replaced by a building in the quadrangle on the eastern side of the swimming pool.  It will be a multi-purpose physical education space that will also house a weights room.

The IT facilities have been rationalised and the refurbishment of 3 classrooms will be finished by the beginning of 2012.  Students will have access to an upgraded computer laboratory and a refurbished IT support centre. 

The appointment of Susan Jackson as Head of the Junior School has provided us with the opportunity to draw on her expertise to complete a master planning exercise for the Mair Street campus.  This process has taken into account the plans for the Child Care Centre and the increased needs of a projected 3 classes per year level Junior School.  It has been exciting to review our needs and place them into a physical plan for the next 10 years and I am looking forward to sharing this plan with parents early in 2012.

By many measures the school has had a successful 2011 but we cannot afford to rest on our laurels.  The Senior Staff, supported by a forward thinking Board of Directors, is always planning for the next stage of our development.  We aspire to be a world class school. In all aspects of our operation we need to be seeking out the best thinkers locally, nationally and internationally, bringing their ideas to our planning and then translating this thinking into the day to day lives of our most precious resource – the students.  It is an exciting and uplifting.

1. VCE RESULTS

I am delighted to announce that the VCE results for the Class of 2011 are excellent.

The highlights of the results are:

• 28% of all study scores were 40 or over.
• 7 students achieved ATARs above 99.
• 28 students achieved ATARs above 95.
• 48 students achieved ATARs above 90.
• the median ATAR result was 85.2
• Brendan McDougall won the Dux of the College Award with an ATAR score of 99.60.

The school is extremely proud of all the students in the Class of 2011.  It is pleasing to see our students develop a clear understanding of the relationship between hard work and achieving extraordinary results.

In particular it has been gratifying to see the positive result from our focused approach to improvement.  In the early 2000s the average ENTER for boys was nearly 10 points below the girls’ average.  Over the years we have implemented a number of initiatives to successfully close this gap.

Last year we were disappointed when a differential of 6 points reappeared and after extensive analysis we planned carefully for how we were going to work with our boys throughout 2011.  I am delighted to report that the average ATAR for our boys was 82.8 and that of our girls was 83.0.  This is a terrific result for all our students and clearly shows that with appropriate instruction all our students can achieve high quality outcomes. 

As I have stated on numerous occasions these outcomes are a result of the dedication and teamwork of staff, students and parents, and I thank all those involved for their commitment, expertise and patience in teaching and guiding these students during their time at Clarendon.

Academic achievement is just one measure of success in any school.  We believe that being involved in a range of activities enriches students’ lives and hopefully provides a road map to finding out what really is their “heart’s desire”.  Those who believe that it is not possible for students to dance, sing, shoot goals, public-speak or hike along a pristine King Island beach and also make optimal progress in their learning in the classroom are selling young people short.  At Clarendon we truly believe we can do it all and have fun while we are doing it.  The results of our students over the last decade indicate that our approach works.

2. BUSES FOR BEGINNING OF THE YEAR

Each year we separate our school population into two groups to ensure ease of entry at the start of Term 1.  ELC, Prep to Year 4, Year 5, Year 7, Years 10 to 12 commence school on Monday 30 January with the remainder of the student population (Years 6, 8 and 9) commencing the following day Tuesday 31 January.

The College starts its school year on the days before many schools in Ballarat have returned from holiday. We do this to avoid the administrative bottleneck schools experience when all of the year groups arrive on the same day.

Unfortunately, this means there will be limited buses operating on Monday 30 January and Tuesday 31 January 2012.  There will be further information posted on the College website when it becomes available. 

3. SCHOOL ORGANISATION 2012

 Principal    David Shepherd
 Deputy Principal   Jan McClure
 Head of Senior School  David Parker
 Head of Middle School   Nicholas Stansbie
 Head of Junior School   Susan Jackson
 School Chaplain   Arthur Drummond
 Business Manager (Financial)  Jenelle Oldaker
 Business Manager (Operational) Robert Burns
 

4. SCHOOL YEAR DATES 2012

 TERM 1 (9 weeks)
  Monday        30 Jan  ELC, Prep to Year 4, Years 5, 7, 10, 11 and 12 commence
  Tuesday       31 Jan  Years 6, 8 and 9 commence
  Monday        12 Mar  Exeat (Labour Day)
  Friday          30 Mar  Term 1 concludes

 TERM 2  (11 weeks)
  Tuesday       17 Apr  All students return
  Wednesday  25 Apr  Anzac Day Public Holiday
  Monday        11 Jun Exeat (Queen’s Birthday Holiday)
  Friday          29 Jun  Term 2 concludes

 TERM 3 (9 weeks)
  Tuesday       17 Jul  All students return
  Friday          17 Aug  Exeat
  Friday          14 Sep  Term 3 concludes

 TERM 4 (9 weeks)
  Tuesday        9 Oct  All students return
  Wednesday  24 Oct  Year 12 final classes - Presentation Night
  Thursday     25 Oct  Valedictory Day
  Friday          26 Oct  Exeat
  Thursday       6 Dec  Term 4 concludes

 

 

5. ORIENTATION

 Please refer to your orientation pack for detailed information; however, I draw your attention to the following requirements in an occupational health and safety context:

 • Preparatory grade immunisation: Parents of Prep children are reminded that they must furnish evidence of their immunisation program prior to the commencement of Term 1.
 • Medical examinations: Parents of new students are asked to organise a medical examination before they start school to check on such aspects as sight, hearing and general fitness for physical education and sport.  If there is reason for  concern, we would appreciate a note by the end of January 2012.

6. CO-CURRICULAR

 Student Participation Policy

 All students in Years 7-10 are required to participate in the co-curricular program at Clarendon – this includes both Performing Arts and Sporting activities.  Students can choose from a wide variety of sports, ensembles and activities to  satisfy participation in the compulsory co-curricular program.

 This policy is designed to ensure that a student contributes to, and benefits from, the co-curricular life of the school.  Ballarat Clarendon College places a high priority on a holistic education and as such we are concerned with our  students’ spiritual, moral, physical, social and emotional development.

 Regarding Co-curricular Performing Arts
 For all students learning an instrument at school, including vocal students, it is an expectation that they will participate in a relevant ensemble or choir.  All students enrolled to learn an instrument are allocated a relevant ensemble at the  start of the year.  This does not preclude students from participating in a sporting activity; however, students are asked to check the time of their allocated ensemble before choosing their sporting activity.  Where there is a clash with  students’ preferred sporting choice, the Head of Sport and Head of Performing Arts will work together to enable participation in both activities.

 Regarding Co-curricular Sport
 The school forms the primary community for the student and, as such, school teams will take precedence over state, district, town or local clubs.  A student is not permitted to participate in such competitions at the expense of the  school team.  Where a clash occurs, the school team and commitment must be the priority.  Students in Years 11 and 12 are required to play school sport if selected by a team coach.
 Exemptions from School Co-curricular
 A co-curricular exemption request form must be submitted to the Head of Sport or Head of Performing Arts for discussion with the Learning Mentor, House Teacher, Head of School and Principal.  It must be noted that approval of this  application is not automatic; the exemption will usually be granted for one school term and in some instances it may be necessary for the Head of Sport or Head of Performing Arts, Head of School and Principal to interview the applicant.

7. PARENTS & FRIENDS and JSPG

 On Monday 30 January 2012 there will be morning tea for parents of students in Years 5, 7, 10 to 12 from 8.45am in MacFarland Hall at Sturt Street and for Junior School parents from 9.15am at Mair Street.  On Tuesday 31 January 2012  there will be morning tea for parents of students in Years 6, 8 and 9 in MacFarland Hall at Sturt Street.

8. COLLEGE OFFICES

 The Sturt Street and Mair Street Offices will be closed from 3.45pm on Wednesday 21 December 2011 until 8.15am on Tuesday 3 January 2012.

Thanks go to the staff for their hard work and positive teamwork displayed throughout the year.  Thanks also go to all parents who have supported a variety of Clarendon programs.  This support makes it possible for the students to enjoy the best possible learning opportunities available.  In conclusion I thank the students for the cooperation and support they have provided for each other, the staff and the school in general.

I wish all in the community a happy and safe Christmas.

Yours sincerely
 

David Shepherd
Principal