Blackwood High School - Governing Council
Year 2008-09 from the Chair of the Governing Council.
The majority of the following text is my article from last year’s Cambium Magazine. While it reflects the outcomes of the last year of my office we have recently been given the chance to address some of the school’s needs. This opportunity arises from the financial stimulus offered by the Federal Government “Building the Education Revolution” or BER as it will be known. With co-operation from the GC and senior staff, the school has proposed some useful upgrades of the campus to provide shelter, shade and new teaching areas. These improvements will be undertaken as early as June this year. I am sure these initiatives will improve the school environment for all.
The cambium of a tree is its lateral meristem or growing point. Depending on what type of year it experiences it lays down different rings in its heartwood. From these rings we can tell what sort of environment and climate it has had to deal with that year. I am not sure what the years of 2007 and 2008 will portray of my time as the Chair of the Governing Council (GC) but I hope they and the rings that follow indicate that the school is healthy and has a long and sustainable life ahead. Certainly at this time we need to look at the world’s financial and environmental health and ensure that our children can adapt and prosper despite these difficult times. One can only hope that the disabling conflict between state government and the teachers union does not sap vital strength from our precious public education for too much longer and that the promised education revolution helps to add vital resouces for positive growth in the future education of our children.
In 2007 the GC allocated resources for the School to review its core values and to find out what was required for the present and future generations of Blackwood High School. The first few months of 2008 were used to progress this evaluation in readiness for further consultation with the greater School community that involved every group through their representatives. This process involved Gary Anderson of Tucker Creative and a selection of the newly elected GC, Parents, Staff and members of the SRC. The discussion and debate was strong and passionate and will be one of those experiences that will remain with me for a long while. I must congratulate all those involved for expressing their heartfelt views and opinions and respecting the democratic process. The process of change is in its initial stage but it is clear that the school identity will now evolve into one more attuned to our society and be focused on the dynamic modern world in which we live.
The focus on the school’s business also involved reviewing and progressing the Schools Strategic Plan. I feel that the GC has assisted the senior teaching staff in producing progressive but achievable targets for the coming years. I therefore would like to thank the Vice Chairperson Stuart McIntyre for his support and guidance yet again through the last year. I am also very grateful to all the GC members who supported the many positive outcomes that the GC delivered throughout the year. I would like to pay special thanks to Debbie George who continued as the Secretary and those members who headed the sub committees, the Treasurer Tony Lemish of the Finance Committee, Veronica Lowe of the Facilities Committee and Sarah Allen of the LINCS Committee.
All this, as I have mentioned numerous times over the past two years, would not be possible without the great input from the professional staff that also support, guide and encourage the working of the GC. It has also been very important that the GC has direct contact with the students themselves and I welcome the participation that the SRC supplies to the various committees. I must especially thank the following participants for their hard work Jess Dawson – Finance, Jake Gilham & Meg Ryan – Facilities, Thomas Allen – LINCS and Bryn Macomb – GC. Lastly, but definitely not least, thanks to Sam Lowe their leader, and congratulations to Sam on his Order of Australia Medallion.
A further meeting of the Mitcham Hills College was held on 8 September which progressed the aims of this progressive and supportive group of Governing Councils. This collective strengthens local schools by shared experience and knowledge whilst allowing the independence and individuality of each school to flourish. The evening speaker was Professor Martin Westwell who gave a very interesting insight into What is technology doing to the lives and learning of our children? If there is any certainty it is that we really don’t know what is around the corner and the possibilities are too dynamic to contemplate. All we can do is try and keep ourselves aware and not let our children fall behind in this ever accelerating part of modern life and learning.
In summing up my final year as Chair, I would like to reiterate that the GC has again worked hard on matters with the Principal Susan Hyde and other staff representatives on setting a mutual agenda for all aspects of the School’s business. This experience has been both a full and rewarding one and continues to support my confidence in the School’s professional and business standards. All should be commended for their diligent input and tireless application. The end of my term as chair is now over and so I wish the new GC and its leader well and hope they will be ready for 2009 and all the challenges it will bring.
John Sandham
Chair Governing Council
Blackwood High School
24 March 2009
Terms of reference for Govering Council Sub Comittees - (PDF)
Function of the Governing Council - (PDF)