Supportive & Orderly Learning Environment (SOLE)
Creating and maintaining SOLE is essential for student learning. Improving SOLE is the number one goal of the school.
If students have:
- a sense of belonging
- high, clear, and consistent expectations
- positive and genuine relationships with staff
and are:
- actively engaged in the curriculum
- encouraged to persist for success
- provided with interesting ways to learn
- supported with high, clear, and consistent expectations.
They will be able to:
- Teenagers who are
- Happy
- Resilient
- Inquisitive
- Valiant
- Empowered
Below are a list of strategies implemented in the last 18 months to enhance SOLE at Fairhills.
- Sub school structure
- Our approach to creating a positive learning environment (see photo)
- LEARN Instruction Model
- Positive Behaviour Matrix
- Student Management plan
- Student curriculum voice
- Positive behaviour points recognition
- THRIVE classes – emotional and social wellbeing and transferable skills
- House groups
- Respectful Relationship lessons
- Consistent entry routines
- Principal team learning walks
- Non-negotiable & 5R red card system
- Restorative conversations
- Out of class passes
- Bullying prevention strategies
- Upstander and Kindness movement
- Bullying prevention programs
- Respectful Relationships
- School-wide bullying response process
- Stymie – online reporting platform
- Change to bell times
- After lunch – one period (and House group – Tuesday & Thursday)
- no transition times outside of recess and lunch
- Yard duties
- More extensive supervision around potential hotspots
- Staff more visible and mobile
- Dedicated space to heat up food
School Contributions
Fairhills High School would like to thank all parents who have contributed towards the school contributions this year.
Paying school contributions is an essential aspect of supporting the education system. These contributions go specifically towards items and activities that will help to improve your child’s educational experience and opportunities. These resources can also be used to purchase new equipment and upgrade facilities. This can have a significant impact on the quality of education that students receive.
In addition to providing tangible benefits, paying school contributions also helps to foster a sense of community among parents and guardians. When everyone contributes to the education system, it creates a shared responsibility for ensuring that all students have access to the best possible education.
If you have yet to contribute this year, you are able to do this through Compass Payment Centre. Compass Payment Centre allows you to pay the contribution in full or you may pay off in smaller amounts throughout the term. Contributions may also be made directly at the office.
If you would like to set up a payment plan, please contact the General Office on 9758 5022.
We continue to make physical improvements across the school which include:
School funded works
- New carpet in the Middle School – beginning of 2023
- New vinyl in the Technology and Art Learning Hub – Easter 2023
- External facade improvements e.g. painting – by end of 2024
Capital Works
- State-of-the-STEAM and Senior School Learning Centre – ready in 2024
- Music Learning Hub – ready in 2024
- Extensive landscaping around the new building – ready in 2024
It’s great that the Victorian government has invested over $8 million for Stage 1 of our Capital Works and as a result Fairhills will have some amazing new learning spaces. However, due to building inflationary pressures and other factors outside of our control, the school will have to pay for most of the furniture and equipment. This does not come cheap.
As dedicated and passionate educators we will continue to develop programs and provide opportunities in line with our vision “inspiring and empowering members of our school community to reach their full potential in an inclusive and supportive environment.”
We ask that you help build our vision by making your contributions. Please contact the General Office if you require further clarification.
2024 State-wide Enrolment Process
David Howes, Deputy Secretary Schools and Regional Services presented to principals the DET new enrolment policy at the start of this year. He was very clear that unless exceptional circumstances, students should be attending their local schools. Subsequently many larger secondary schools in the Knox and Monash areas now have a school enrolment plan and as a result are reducing their numbers to their capped requirement.
Fairhills High School is proud of being a medium size school and we believe that our size allows us to challenge each student at their point of need whilst providing a breadth and depth of engaging opportunities and subjects. We do not have a school enrolment plan so will enrol students with positive learning habits who are outside of our zone.
A link to the Enrolment Placement policy can be found here
Below are a few key Q&A responses from the DET FAQ document
What is a designated neighbourhood school (referred to as your local school)?
Your designated neighbourhood school (local school) is generally the government school closest to your child’s permanent residential address. Each residential address has both a local government primary and secondary school.
All children of compulsory school age have a right to be enrolled at their local school.
Which schools have a school zone?
All mainstream government primary and secondary schools have a zone. Some campuses of multi-campus schools also have their own school zone.
How does a school decide who gets a place?
All children have the right to attend their designated neighbourhood school (known as their local school).
In some cases, a school may not have enough space to enrol all students from outside their zone.
In these cases, schools must manage enrolments using the department’s Placement Policy and priority order of placement. This outlines how to prioritise out of zone applications when limited places are available.
The priority order of placement for out of zone enrolments is:
- students with a sibling at the same permanent address who are attending the school at the same time.
- all other students in order of closeness of their home to the school.
In exceptional circumstances, a student may be enrolled on compassionate grounds. Applications on compassionate grounds are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Schools can only enrol students who do not live in the school zone if they have sufficient accommodation. How do I know if a school has enough space to accept my child?
Your child is guaranteed a place at their local school, regardless of the school’s capacity.
If you are seeking enrolment at another school, you can reach out to the school directly and ask if they are accepting out of zone students. Schools should be able to indicate if they are under enrolment pressure and only able to enrol local students and siblings.
Can I seek placement or enrolment for my child under ‘curriculum grounds’?
No, enrolment of out of zone students cannot be prioritised on curriculum grounds. However, schools continue to have the flexibility to focus on particular learning areas depending on the needs and interests of their community.
Ian Van Schie
Principal
