Feeling Most Welcomed!

Written by Mr Craig Rodgers (Deputy Principal)

05 March 2026

Just like our Prep students, I started the year at Aitken College as new.  While prep students (and their families) were interviewed and enrolled, I was employed while widely unknown but with great belief in what I might bring.  Assisting my transition was a purposeful induction and curated ‘getting to know you’ activities demonstrating the College’s curiosity and their willingness to see how we could, and how we will, work well together.

I feel most welcomed.  Assuming the Deputy Principal role from the much loved and highly regarded Kim Forward, I have a great sense of responsibility but also opportunity.  I wish to thank the many students, teachers, parents and non-teaching staff who have taken the time to introduce themselves along with their ideas and existing contributions.  This early trust is already facilitating partnerships in the interests of the wellbeing, safety and pathways for scholastic success this year.  I look forward to more car park, school yard, staffroom, bus stop and classroom introductions to learn more from you about aspirations you have for yourselves, our children and the College.

Josie Crisara has established a clear focus for the year: improving learning outcomes.  This invitation to all of us is my specific brief.  The first step before considering potential improvements is to identify and honour what works, what is valued and what will take successfully us into the future.  As Deputy Principal, as well as working with buses and canteen, I lead teams spanning wellbeing, operations and educational leadership.  The Educational Leadership Team has begun to address Strategic Operational Plan goals including building excellence through evidence informed teaching and learning strategies. To this end, we have mapped a draft review of learning programs including the scope and sequence of, literacy, numeracy, ICT and study skills, essential interdisciplinary skills at school and for life.  We do this while ensuring as a College we meet and hopefully exceed Victorian Curriculum 2.0 standards.  We are committed to rolling out the planned microcredentials program which formerly values learning outside the classroom realising mastery of skills and applications in areas as diverse as performance arts and media production, hospitality and horticulture/agriculture.  The College has already achieved the third main education goal obtaining authorisation for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) with an astounding nine commendations.  Rather than rest on our laurels, we are looking at how we can optimise implementation of this learning program through the units of inquiry.

Learning and wellbeing are inextricably linked.  Happy students learn well.  Realising success in learning gives children, staff and parents too, the courage and confidence to explore learning and to test thinking and to apply skills independently and in collaboration.  With the Wellbeing Committee, we are tasked with developing a wellbeing framework which seeks to provide for the wellness and safety of all students, staff and parents.  This will include strategies for ourselves and in our interactions with each other.  Our College’s values: Compassion, Excellence, Honesty, Kindness and Respect will guide us in this work.  We are inviting our student leaders to join this collaboration for a campus that invites, includes and realises safe, healthy relationships and success for us all.

Like our preps, already I have learned so much: about where and how I fit in, understanding new routines and how to work best with others.  I have enjoyed meeting parents at morning teas and Parents and Friends meetings.  I have been delighted to be asked to flip a pancake for Café Tuesday and to assist the transition of Kelly Club into our refurbished gym.  I am also looking forward to going to Central Australia with our year 9s.  Most importantly, I look forward to knowing more of you so that I will repay your generosity by welcoming others as they join our Aitken College.