School Profile
Maffra Secondary College is situated in Gippsland, approximately 230kms east of Melbourne. The town of Maffra is in a rural setting and is in close proximity to Sale and Traralgon. The 750 students who attend our College are not only from the township of Maffra but are transported in from a number of outlying towns and rural communities. The College has an excellent reputation in the area and the local community takes great pride in “their school” and its achievements.
The College is set on an attractive sloping site amongst landscaped grounds. Our recent $5.3million upgrade has seen the development of a Middle Years precinct, an Arts / Music / Multi Media Centre and a new Administration building. These buildings consist of open and interchangeable learning spaces which are complemented by a Gallery and outdoor performance space and a Learning street which contains modular furniture for the students to work on. Other facilities include a number of dedicated specialist rooms such as: Food Technology equipped with industrial kitchens, Fabrics, a Gymnasium, a Theatrette, a relatively new Science and Technology Centre and an impressive Library / Information Resource Centre. Through the use of the local Memorial Hall, Sports Complex and Swimming Pool we are able to extend the physical and learning environment beyond the school site. Parents and friends are encouraged to participate directly in school activities including camps, excursions, the Debutante Ball, canteen, library, working bees and fundraising activities.
Our College purpose states that “we will provide a hub for our community to engage in stimulating learning. We will operate in an environment of mutual respect and cooperation to build the skills, knowledge and attributes that empower all for a successful future as informed global citizens”. In line with this at Maffra Secondary College we value:
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RESPECT
Valuing self and others.
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LEARNING
Promoting persistence, creativity, flexibility, excellence and initiative.
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ENVIRONMENT
Respecting our physical and personal surroundings.
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COMMUNITY
Creating trust, cooperation, honesty and commitment in a diverse community.
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These four areas form the basis of everything we do here at Maffra Secondary College where students are placed at the centre.
Maffra Secondary College is actively involved in the Wellington - Assessment Learning Partnership with professional learning teams in both literacy and numeracy. The network Teaching and Learning Coaches work with PLT leaders and teachers to support the implementation of this work in PLTs and classrooms. The college has expanded this model in 2010 and all teachers now belong to a PLT related to their learning area. Teachers work in Professional Learning Teams on a weekly basis and use protocols to examine student data and work samples and to plan, implement and review explicit teaching based on students’ zones of proximal development. The college is also using a range of other data and e5 to examine teaching and learning and in response to this data is working to implement the use of Learning Intentions and Success Criteria in all classrooms.
The school also prides itself on its ‘holistic’ approach to wellbeing. Both Middle and Later Years students are supported by Year Level Coordinators, Sub-school Leaders, Assistant Principals and a proactive Welfare Team which consists of; a Wellbeing Leader, Youth Worker and School Nurse.
‘Habits of Mind’ is currently being introduced into the Year 7 curriculum and will complement our School Wide approach to Positive Behaviours which has been introduced this year across the College. Our Year 9 program called eXeL, is staffed by a small group of teachers. This program offers students the opportunity to choose interest based pursuits (integrated units which are comprised of a range of subjects), Pre-VET and Pre-VCE subjects as a way of allowing students to get a taste of possible career directions. This year the Year 9 students will embark on a 1:1 Netbook Learning program. This will complement our ICT rich learning environments throughout the school. Years 10 -12 are blocked together, so selected students can select an accelerated program of one or two subjects. Students have a wide range of VCE subjects, but can also choose to do a VCAL program from year 11, or a VET course from year 10. In 2010, the Year 10 curriculum was revamped to cater for a diverse range of academic and hands on Learners. Aspects of this curriculum have been an outstanding success. Historically the Careers / MIPs program have been and continue to be extremely positive, supporting students with sound advice and opportunities during their later years in the College and beyond. We pride ourselves on our excellent track record of placing students into relevant and suitable work choices, such as apprenticeships and our tertiary placements have been outstanding with a majority of students receiving first round offers.
Through our vast array of innovative programs, dedicated staff and parents we will continue to put our students at the centre in order to develop ‘lifelong learners’ who have the skills to succeed in the 21st Century.