We have once again visited Flexible and Remote Learning (FRL) as our community continues to respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Throughout 2020 our school community and the individuals that make it up demonstrated the ability to not only manage change but to make the most of the situation and to pivot and adapt practices.

Our staff team have been working diligently over the last few days to allow us to deliver remote Flexible and Remote Learning for this period of lockdown. The success of our students and your children during this time is heavily reliant upon us all working together as a team and communicating the expectations, the successes and the challenges. As such we ask that students and parents are regularly checking COMPASS as our main communication tool. COMPASS also allows parents the opportunity to communicate directly with our teachers.

Please try to stay positive, calm and remind your children that everything will be alright, we are doing this to ensure the safety of our community and so that we can return to normal schooling as soon as we can. We thank our school community for their support and flexibility in this time of change and look forward to welcoming students back on campus as soon as we can.

It was my privilege to induct the WHS 2021 prefects last week. Student leadership at Wangaratta High School truly reflects the quality of students we have in our wonderful school. Wangaratta High School students are leaders. We believe in enhancing the leadership skills of our students through programs that develop individual responsibility, promote independence and rewards success to enable every student to build on their confidence and to create responsible citizens.

For me as Principal, it is a high priority to maximise student participation in school decision making processes and incorporating student views into planning related to school climate, school organisation, school improvement projects and making our school a place where students want to be, where they have a sense of belonging to the whole school community.

I expect all of our student leaders to be positive role models, both in school and out in the community. This will involve leading by example on a daily basis through proudly demonstrating our agreed School values of Ready to Learn, Personal Best, Respectful and Safe  in all actions and behaviours; and inspiring others to seek leadership opportunities in the future. Great Leaders don’t set out to be a leader…. They set out to make a difference. It’s never about the role – it’s always about the goal.

Michelle Bootes
Acting Principal

On the advice of the Acting Chief Health Officer, Victoria will go into a 5-day snap lockdown from 11:59pm Thursday 15 July, until 11:59pm Tuesday 20th July.
Schools will close to most students and staff and will return to Remote Learning for tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday.

Attention all Year 11's and 12' - it's Deb Ball time!

Expressions of Interest for the 2021 Deb Balls are now being taken! As the balls did not go ahead in 2020 due to the COVID-19 situation we will be offering the first ball to this year’s year 12 students. We hope that all year 11 & 12 students will take this opportunity to participate and make this a great chance to acknowledge your achievements last year and to also have a mid-year celebration as you missed out on many celebrations and annual events in 2020.

The sign-up sheets are on Cate West's office window near the red chair area in the library. There is one sheet for the Year 12's and one for the year 11 students.
There will be an information session where the cost, timetables and participation requirements will be provided, on 4th May 2021 from 6pm - 7pm in the Senior School. Students interested in participating, along with a parent/guardian must attend. 
Payment MUST be made to participate as this covers the dance lessons and hall hire.

Just a few timely reminders regarding safe driving and parking around school. 

Please remember that parking in 5 minute parking bays, no stopping areas, etc. is illegal. Council officers will be undertaking parking enforcement, both morning and afternoon, on foot and in vehicles, in an effort to reduce this behaviour and make the areas around our school safer for all students, crossing and road users. 

Warnings will be given from 9th February until 19th February, after which infringements will be issued. 

Wangaratta Highway Patrol have also noted a significant amount of infringements being issued to speeing motorists. The enforcement action taken in relation to parking and speeding around school is purely to reinstate the safety of our school crossing users and supervisors that man them. 

We understand a marjority of parents and guardians do the right thing, however we believe it is important to highlight that enforcement is occuring and people will be caught if they are doing the wrong thing. 

School Sport Victoria will once again be offering the opportunity for students with emerging talent from our school community to register to trial for school sport Team Vic teams in 2021.

Registrations to trial will be opening very soon and remain open until Monday 1 March, 2021 for Team Vic Big 5 teams: 12 years and under Boys Australian Football, 12 years and under Boys Basketball, 12 years and under Girls Basketball, 12 years and under Boys Cricket, 12 years and under Boys Football (Soccer) and 12 years and under Netball.

Please note that registration to trial for these teams is limited to 3 students from each school. If there are more students than 3 seeking endorsement it is up to the school Principal to ensure a selection process is undertaken to choose the students most appropriate in 2021.

These are not Come ‘n’ Try opportunities. They are a process for selecting a Team Vic State Team going to School Sport Australia National Championships.

Attached are supporting documents to assist your school community in understanding the process for registration including:

1. Team Vic Big 5 process letter for parents and teachers
2. Team Vic Big 5 nomination letter to parents (for a maximum of 3 students per team)
3. Team Vic Big 5 not successful nomination letter to parents

A minor change to the process for 2021 is:

1. 12 years and under Girls Australian Football will be offered. All nominees will go direct to State Trials.
2. 12 years and under Girls Football (Soccer) will not be required to go through stages of selection. All nominees will go direct to State Trials.

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, applications are avaliable on our school website here.

Check with staff at the office if you are unsure, and please return completed forms to the school office as soon as possible.

Applications close on the 25th June for families holding an eligible Health Care Card that was valid on the 19th April 2021.