Euroa Secondary College

Euroa Secondary College is a year 7 to 12 co-educational, state-run secondary college located in the Victorian north-eastern town of Euroa, Victoria in Australia. Euroa Secondary College is the only secondary college located in the local government area, the Shire of Strathbogie, and thus takes in students from a wide-spanning area including Nagambie, Violet Town, Ruffy, Avenel and Strathbogie. A school bus service provides transport for many students in outlying areas. It has an estimated enrolment of approximately 360 students in 2009. Mr Scott Watson is the schools acting principal. The current assistant principal is Kevin Bott.

Facilities

The College provides a number of facilities for education. The school consists of the main classroom block, the B-wing, as well as the new Science-Technology building, the Learn-IT Centre. The Learn-IT Centre was completed in late 2008. It consists of two spacious integrated science lab/classroom areas, one dedicated senior science laboratory, two wood/metalwork/automotive technology rooms, one art room and a small computer lab containing high-end computers for graphic design and engineering. The Learn-IT Centre also features a common area which can be utilised for a number of purposes such as school events and products. The school’s gymnasium, the Euroa Community Sports Centre, contains a main court area for games such as basketball and netball, as well as squash courts, a canteen facility as well as recently renovated classrooms. As part of part one of the school’s building plan, the Senior Student Study Centre was constructed and provides a facility for senior VCE students to study. Euroa Secondary College is equipped with information technology equipment, including interactive whiteboards, data projectors, videoconferencing facilities as well as two computer laboratories. The school also features a computer suite in the main corridor. All school classrooms are connected to the school’s computer network, also via a wireless connection. The school features a new curriculum resource centre where all students have the opportunity to borrow resources, such as books, and where they have the opportunity to access the internet via school computers. There are also areas for private study, study group congregation and student photocopying and printing facilities.

Leadership

The school is managed by the school principal and the assistant principal. The College has approximately 54 teaching and non-teaching staff. The College is split into the junior and senior sub-school, which are managed by sub-school co-ordinators, and then split further into year levels, managed by year-level co-ordinators. These leaders, as well as the principal and assistant principal make up the school leadership team. The Leadership Team meets to discuss DEECD initiatives, Strategic Planning, Curriculum, Student and Staff Welfare, Professional Development and administrative matters pressing at the time. School affairs are also managed by the official school council which consists of sixteen members, including school management, teaching and parent representatives.

In terms of students, the school is split into three houses: Forlonge (yellow), Creighton (green) and Kirkland (red). These houses each have a male and female leader at each a junior, intermediate and senior level. They are led by the male and female senior captain. Each year, students compete in houses in athletics and aquatic sports carnivals, as well as cross-country running events. The College has a student representative council (SRC) where all students over all year levels are given the opportunity to have input in the school community. The aim is to make the life of students as fulfilling as possible through the foundation of College policies, organising of school or lunchtime events, social services and their action is school and student issue. The College has also recently implemented the Student Forum, which 14 senior students who look after student welfare and school issues. The Student Forum meets monthly and provides a report to the student council via its members. The students are represented by the College Captains who are chosen by a universal student and teacher vote after being passed through an application process. The College Captains duties include arranging school assemblies and representing the school at numerous other events. There are also many opportunities for all students to participate in leadership development programmes.

Principals

2009: Mr Michael Bell

2011–Present: Mr Scott Watson

Assistant Principals

2005–2008: Mr Phil Squire

2008 – 2011: Mr Scott Watson

2011–Present: Mr Kevin Bott

College Captains

2007: Jesse Robinson and Laura-Jane Corker

2008: Neal Smith and Lauren Mackrell

2009: Daniel O’Brien and Amanda Walters

2010: Kate Harcourt and Andrew Bell

2011: Megan Furphy and Luke Kleinig

All year 12 students have the opportunity to apply for school captain, all the applicants are interviewed by a panel made of students and staff from Euroa Secondary College, two males and two females are then chosen to be voted on by the entire student body and staff.

2010 School Representative Council (SRC)

President: Jake Tunks

Vice President: Megan Furphy

Secretary: Scott Starkey

Treasurer: William Murry

Study Structure

In years seven and eight, students each study a core curriculum interspersed with integrated interdisciplinary projects. Students are grouped separately in Mathematics and English in order to challenge and provide support according to individual needs. Although Japanese is part of the core curriculum, it is not compulsory for all students. In year nine, students take part in the revolutionary “Year With A Difference” programme which is designed to keep students engaged in, or re-engage them in, their school studies at a point where statistics show students’ begin to lose interest. This programme also exposes students to a vast range of life skills which will prove invaluable in life. This programme consists of a core curriculum including English, Mathematics, Science, The Arts, Technology, LOTE and Personal Development. Alongside the core studies, the students complete one expedition per term (to be worked on during each Wednesday) which all comply with the Victorian Government’s Essential Learning Standards. In year ten, students begin to select their elective subjects (in addition to the compulsory English and Mathematics units) and begin their pathways planning. Many year ten students also choose to “accelerate” into VCE units, which then earn them credit towards when they gain their Victorian Certificate of Education. In year eleven, the VCE programme begins and students are given a wide range subject selections in many curriculum areas. The VCE is usually completed over a two-year period, until year twelve, and can also be completed with the addition of VET subjects. The College also offers more hand-on and practical-orientated students the opportunity to gain their Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL).

VCE Studies

Ethos and Culture

Euroa Secondary College recognises that all students are different and acts to provide for each students individual needs.

Sports programme

Euroa Secondary College has a sports programme. Every year, the school runs its annual athletic sports carnival, swimming sports carnival and cross-country run. Participation is recommended, but not compulsory, for all students. Euroa is part of the GSSSA – Goulburn Secondary Schools Sports Association. Through this, students compete in summer and winter round robin sporting competitions in baseball, badminton, basketball, cricket, football, golf, netball, soccer, squash, table tennis, tennis and volleyball. Teams in the GSSSA include Alexandra Secondary College, Broadford Secondary College, Euroa Secondary College, Mansfield Secondary College, Seymour Technical High School, Wallan Secondary College and Yea High School. Kilmore International School also competes on an invitational status. From these competitions, students can proceed to zone, state or even national level, depending on their merit.

Music programme

The college also operates a music programme and has four bands: the year seven band, the intermediate band and the College Concert Band and VCE Band . The Concert Band travels around surrounding schools and performs at community events and competitions and has achieved many prestigious awards in the past. All students are offered the opportunity to learn one of many instruments and are offered a place in each band as they progress.

Other opportunities

Students are also offered an opportunity to compete in debating in the junior or senior debating competitions and various speaking competitions. Each year level has its own annual camp which all students are encouraged to attend. Excursions and visiting educators is also another opportunity for students. Students are given the opportunity to sit national competitions in English, Mathematics, Science and Information Technology. This gives them the opportunity to gauge their skills and talents in each field against those of students around Australia. After gaining their VCE, the school offers students the opportunity to stay on through one of few traineeships within the school, in roles such as sports or science.

Policies

School uniform

It is policy of the school council that all Euroa Secondary College students wear school uniform to school everyday. The uniform consists of a standard light blue polo shirt with the school logo as well as navy blue shorts or slacks, with skirts or dresses for girls. In winter, dark blue school jumpers, jackets or windcheaters with the school logo are to be worn. This must be accompanied by white socks and black shoes. During the Summer months, a blue school brimmed hat must be worn outdoors. For formal occasion, such as when representing the school at events, the school formal uniform must be worn. This consists of a white button-up shirt and a V-Neck woollen jumper with the school logo, as well as navy blue slacks and black shoes. A royal blue shirt and navy shorts are required for physical education classes and sports events.

References

External links

• Euroa Secondary College official website
• Euroa Secondary College @ Teachweb
• Euroa Secondary College @ Schools Online