Welcome back to all of our Foxwell families.

We are looking forward to a great term focussing on success for our Foxwell learners. As a staff team, we have been busy planning over the holidays and are looking forward to engaging students in their subject learning.

This term, we will be undertaking strategic planning and implementing a range of actions to celebrate, refresh, review and align our College ways of working for this term and for the next four years. I have already begun spending time with each staff member to learn and understand more about our organisation and the specific teaching and learning occurring across our school. Opportunities for whole of College input through different modes of communication will be available to assist in this process. It is important to me, as our new Principal, to understand our College community values, hear about the wonderful work undertaken in establishing our College and embrace the opportunities that a new strategic plan provides for focusing on our Foxwell Learners in the next phase of our establishment into the Fusion Senior years of Year 11 and Year 12, and then beyond as we grow a wonderful place of learning for our students. 

Yesterday, we welcomed students back to school with year level assemblies and reminded them of our high expectations in academic effort and achievement, being on time and ready to learn, and uniform and behaviour for learning. Our teaching team will be monitoring that our students are ready to learn when they enter their classrooms each lesson. As part of our dedication to our learners and student well-being, we will be greeting students and engaging them quickly in their learning. Students will need to be at their classes on time and have their required equipment for class, be wearing the uniform appropriately and presenting respectfully.  We are dedicated to ensuring all students have the opportunity to be successful learners at our College. 

This morning, during Good Morning Mariners, we undertook a sun safety hat and uniform check. Unfortunately, a significant amount of students did not have their hats with them today. They have been reminded to ensure they have their hats tomorrow. Could we please get you to ask your child if they have their hats or know where they are in their rooms. (Yes, I have a teenager too). Students are to bring their hats tomorrow to avoid a uniform consequence. We have quite a few lost property hats with names in them at Student Services that we have attempted to get back to students today.  As the days warm up and we head into summer, we do need to ensure our students are following the sun safety guidelines provided by the Department of Education to wear hats during outdoor curriculum activities and during breaks, and our College policies of wearing their hat to and from school. It is also a timely reminder, for our students as responsible learners that they are to be in the correct uniform on the correct day.

Next week, we will be holding a full school assembly where we will take the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our students’ learning and our high expectations. We will be providing a positive reminder to students of our College values. We will also be addressing the importance of appropriate safe behaviours for all students and unfortunately, having to also reinforce that bullying and violence in schools is not appropriate, and that these behaviour choices do have significant consequences according to our Foxwell SSC Student Code of Conduct, as they do in all state schools. We have a significant number of support staff and services offered to students within the College, and we will remind students of how to access them and who to see should they require support. Additionally, families are able to connect with our Head of Year team to access support or advice for their students.

We appreciate your support for our College community values to be responsible, respectful learners who uphold these high expectations at school and whenever representing our College within the community. 

We are looking forward to celebrating our Foxwell Learners at our end of year Awards presentations and our Year 10 students for completing their compulsory years of schooling, the Compass Years, at the Semi-Formal later in the term.  

Best wishes to all of our families for a great term ahead. We look forward to working alongside of you to ensure the best possible learning outcomes for your child / children.

Kind regards,

Melanie Harth

Principal