Our School | Point Cook Senior Secondary College

Our
Vision

PCSSC students are supported at their point of need to achieve academic and social success.

We value respect, effort and responsibility and prioritise the intersection of wellbeing, learning and engagement.

Principal's
Message

Meet Shaun Sleep

Welcome to Point Cook Senior Secondary College

On behalf of all the staff at Point Cook Senior Secondary College, I would like to extend a warm welcome to students, parents and community members. At PCSSC, we are not just an educational institution, but a vibrant and diverse community that takes pride in nurturing the minds of our young adults.

Through our commitment to excellence we are dedicated to achieving high quality student outcomes. We aim to create an environment that encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and a passion for lifelong learning. We provide opportunities to participate and excel in academics, arts, sports or other endeavours, in order to support every student's journey towards success.

Diversity is a big aspect our school’s identity and it is one of our greatest strengths. The school community is an exciting mix of cultures, backgrounds and perspectives. This diversity enriches the experiences of our students and prepares them for the globalized world they will soon be a part of.

At PCSSC, we understand that each student has their own path to follow. That's why we are dedicated to providing a wide range of pathways that cater to individual strengths and interests. As a Senior Secondary environment, we work tirelessly with students to plan their future pathways. From academic programs in the VCE to vocational courses in VET, we ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive and work towards their future aspirations.

We recognise that academic success is just one part of the picture for successful student outcomes. We believe that a balanced education includes a strong focus on student wellbeing. A happy, healthy student is better equipped to excel academically and make positive contributions to the community. Our teaching and learning environment, counselling services and varied wellbeing initiatives are designed to ensure that each student feels supported, safe and confident in facing life's challenges.

As the Acting Principal of Point Cook Senior Secondary College, I strive to create an environment where all students can fill their potential, where diversity is celebrated and where student wellbeing is paramount. I invite you all to join us in this exciting journey of growth, learning, and personal development.

Shaun Sleep

Acting Principal

Point Cook Senior Secondary College

School Captains' Message

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all the returning students and staff as well as those who are beginning their journey here at Point Cook Senior Secondary College. After witnessing the growth and resilience of the school through a number of challenging years at home, we are not only proud but also beyond excited to represent Point Cook Senior as the School Captains for 2023.

After a year of rebuilding connections and community in 2022, we aspire to further strengthen the school community by instilling a sense of Respect, Effort and Responsibility, the values of our school. We look forward to the strong relationships and connections that we will build with our peers and teachers, and we are excited for the possibilities this year will bring.

There is not one word that describes how thrilled we are to work with the 2023 Student Representative Council. Point Cook Senior prides itself on our inclusion of student voice in each and every aspect of the school, and our 2023 SRC demonstrates that. Each student is passionate, dedicated and determined in their individual roles and commits themselves to working collaboratively amongst other leaders to be the change they want to see. The SRC takes pride in knowing that it is not our badge that makes us leaders, but instead the progressive actions and changes that we bring to the school to influence positive change and growth.

Point Cook Senior is not just a school, but it’s also a place where students and teachers can come to grow as individuals as they are presented with an endless array of opportunities. We are proud to acknowledge how Point Cook Senior has shaped our identity as young people, ready to make a difference in the world.

As we embark on our final year, we look forward to opening up the possibilities for all our peers as well as reflecting on those that were open to us throughout our time here. We are grateful to have received such a position and hope to be an inspiring example to others like those who have been and continue to be for us.

We cannot wait to see what 2023 brings for the Point Cook Senior Secondary College community.

Vrinda Rani & Keziah Magele

2023 School Captains

Meet the Team

Acting Assistant Principal, Learning Specialist

Kate Phillips

I started teaching in Wales in 1998 and migrated to Australia in 2017. I had a great education as a student and was inspired by my teachers who encouraged me to choose a career in education.

In my classroom I push students to achieve their academic best; offer opportunities for deep learning and encourage students to form a love for my subject area.

Year Level Leader

Anna Dansie

I started teaching because I enjoy working with young people. 45 years later, nothing has changed. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and inspiring students to adopt a love for learning. I believe that you never stop learning and am committed to sharing my expertise and experiences with my colleagues.

ES - Accounts Receivable and Admin Support

Marta Candido

My name is Marta and I am from Sao Paulo- Brazil. I migrated to Australia with my family in 2006.

I speak Portuguese and a little bit of Spanish.

I have been working here since 2009. I enjoy helping students, parents, and staff. It is rewarding to be part of this community and being able to support and assist students and their families during their time here at Point Cook Senior.

Health and PE Leader

Tom Noonan

I coached football, basketball and many other sports for as long as I can remember; coaching sports was my first job when I was 13. My love for coaching and mentoring young people inspired me to pursue a career teaching Physical Education and Health.

In my classroom, I aim to develop young people into leaders and motivate them to get out of their comfort zone. I like to get students outdoors and moving and am passionate about creating opportunities for life learning.

English Leader

Joseph Karaoutsadis

I am passionate about providing students a platform to express themselves. I have a love of history and utilize literature and the theater-club as vehicles to help students explore ideas and societal values.

My Anglo-Indian-Greek heritage highlights the nexus of different cultures and ideas and the importance of being open to different cultural ideas and blending these values together.

Learning Specialist

Shani Wu

I like to make learning in my classroom a group effort and I want my students to have a say in how they learn and (if the curriculum permits) what they learn about. I like encouraging my students to share their ideas in class so that all students can appreciate each other’s strengths in the classroom.

I enjoy working with young people and I’ve always enjoyed reading. Being able to spend most days discussing novels, films and poems with students was very appealing to me.

Science Leader

Simon Schorback

My classroom is often quite busy with talking and discussion. I teach a lot of Biology and we like to conduct practicals and get hands-on. Other teachers will often visit to see what is happening. Hopefully, there are a few jokes as well... as long as I've had a coffee.

I enjoy working with young people. I like that I can be an important step in a student's journey as they then go on in pursuit of other goals into adulthood. Along the way, I get to share some of my passions in Science.

Acting Principal

Shaun Sleep

I became a teacher because I had a big interest in sports as a teenager and loved coaching younger kids. That transferred into a passion for helping people get better at whatever they wanted and I figured that working in schools would be a good place to pursue that.

SWPBS

What is School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS)?

The aim of School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) at Point Cook Senior Secondary College is to create a positive school climate, a culture of student determination and an open, responsive management system for all school community members.

SWPBS provides a clear framework of expected behaviours that the school community sees as essential to creating an environment that fosters social and academic excellence.

What behaviours does PCSSC value?

All members of the school community exemplify the behaviours that PCSSC values. At our school, we value

Respect
Effort
Responsibility

Our Behaviour Expectation Matrix explicitly sets out what these values look like in various areas of the school community. Demonstrations of these behaviours are recognised, reinforced and rewarded.

The Behaviour Expectation Matrix

PCSSC’s Behaviour Expectation Matrix provides a clear framework of positive behaviours that our school community has identified as being essential to enhancing individual growth, social interactions and academic achievement.

Our expected behaviours will be explicitly taught in class, are regularly positively recognized and will be displayed around the school in early 2017. Please see Behaviour Expectation Matirx here.

Explicitly Teaching Our Expected Behaviours

Teaching, modelling and reinforcing positive social and academic behaviours is essential to creating a harmonious learning environment that bolsters student success.

When Do We Teach Our Expected Behaviours?

At the beginning of the school year

In our daily conversations with members of the school community

As an embedded part of classroom learning

At teachable moments

Positive Behaviour Expectations Matrix

Respectful Relationships

Since 2017, Point Cook Senior Secondary College has been a lead school in the Respectful Relationships program. Respectful Relationships support schools and early childhood settings to promote and model respect, positive attitudes and behaviours. It teaches our children how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence.

PCSSC Respectful Relationships Commitment Statement

Point Cook Senior Secondary College is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment that promotes gender equality, celebrates diversity and encourages respectful and healthy relationships. Through the teaching of Respectful Relationships, the school will influence the development of a healthy community culture.

As part of this commitment:

Our principal will actively promote gender equality and speak out against gender-based violence.
Our school will provide:

professional learning for leadership staff for the planning and implementation of the whole school approach to promote respectful relationships and gender equality
professional learning for teachers delivering Respectful Relationships curriculum in the classroom
professional learning for all school staff on gender equality, the prevention of gender-based violence and Respectful Relationships Education.

Our school will undertake a thorough assessment and planning process to identify gaps and limitations in existing culture, policies and practices in gender equality.
Our school will create mechanisms for staff feedback on gender equality in the workplace.
Our school will identify, resource and implement key actions to promote gender equality and prevent gender-based violence.
Our school will engage with external experts for advice and support in promoting gender equality and respectful relationships among staff and students.
Our school will build partnerships with expert family violence services to increase school capacity to respond to students and staff who experience, witness or perpetrate gender-based violence.
Our school commits to continual improvement and evaluation of Respectful Relationships Education.

Child Safety

Point Cook Senior Secondary College is committed to the Victorian Child Safe Standards. The school regularly reviews child safe strategies, policies and practices to strengthen the culture of child safety and to protect children and young people from abuse.

For more information please see:

Ministerial Order 1359 - Implementing the Child Safe Standards -

Managing the risk of child abuse in schools

Protecting Children - Reporting and Other Legal Obligations

Student Sexual Offending and Problem Sexual Behaviour

Working With Children Checks and other Suitability Checks for School Volunteers and Visitors

PCSSC Bullying Prevention Policy

PCSSC Child Safety Code of Conduct

PCSSC Child Safe Policy

PCSSC Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy

PCSSC Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

PCSSC Inclusion and Diversity Policy