Southern Campus Principal Report by Caroline Tompkin
A warm hello to our community, and congratulations to our students for continuing to aim for high standards in their learning journey at OSG Southern. It is a credit to them that striving for excellence and being their best remains our norm.
This fortnight, our campus has been a busy and vibrant hub of learning. We were very fortunate on Monday to welcome Mrs. Mary Baxter, Regional Director of Teaching and Learning (Secondary); Mrs. Julie Murray, Regional Director of Teaching and Learning (Primary); Mrs. Louise Goette, Regional Director of Student Support; and Mr. Michael Verheyen, Sub‑Regional Director of Teaching and Learning (Secondary). Their time spent supporting our students and staff was greatly valued.
We were also delighted to welcome Mrs. Meena Allen (Mathematics) and Ms. Natalie Freedman (Art) to our campus this week. We thank them for taking the time to work alongside our students, supporting them in understanding and completing their assignment work.
It is always a joy to have visitors on our campus. Knowing that we are so strongly supported by our leadership and wider teaching team is a real strength, and one we should celebrate. Thank you to all our visitors for taking time out of your busy schedules to be with us. It is very much appreciated by both students and staff.
Next week, we look forward to welcoming Mr. Jay Wallis, Regional Team Leader; and Mr. John Carmody, Regional Principal, to our campus. I know our students will continue to exemplify excellence as we welcome these special guests to our school.
As a campus, our intentional focus has been on understanding, applying, and taking ownership of the Learning2Learn Framework. Staff have been working together to clarify expectations for both students and staff within learning spaces, and we are intentionally bringing students into these conversations. By understanding the negotiables and non‑negotiables, students are increasingly taking ownership of their learning. Each day, we are seeing growth in students’ planning habits and a clear understanding that the effort they put into planning directly impacts their success. Planning is becoming an effective tool that supports students to complete work to a standard they can be proud.
Our SLT have been particularly important in this focus, assigning secondary mentors to students across all year levels. Last week, the mentors visited the primary learning space to support younger students in understanding the importance of planning. Identifying what tasks need to be completed, when they are due, and which learning spaces will best support them in completing their work. This was a reciprocated learning experience, with mentors reflecting on and reinforcing their own planning habits. Mentors will continue to support their peers and visit the primary classes regularly, helping all students become confident, independent learners who strive to be their best.
Our Year 7, 9, and 11 students travelled to Northam this week to participate in the first session of the OSGAware program. Thank you to our parents for transporting students to the Northam campus. It was a genuinely rewarding and worthwhile day for all involved, with students travelling from Adelaide, Perth, Dalwallinu, and Southern to make the day truly special. Mr. Hewitson facilitated the Year 11 program, Mrs. Hendry worked with Year 7, and I had the pleasure of working with our Year 9 students.
I am incredibly proud of the way our Southern students presented themselves — in their adherence to uniform expectations, through their exemplary manners and behaviour, and in their genuine engagement with all activities. A huge thank you to Mr. Michael Hewitson, Campus Principal at Northam, and the Northam staff and students for such a warm and welcoming experience. We look forward to many more CCVs together throughout the year.
Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome our mums and the special women in our students’ lives to our Mother’s Day Morning Tea on Monday. Further details can be found below.
As we wrap up Week Two of Term Two, I continue to be encouraged by the kindness and care our students show one another. Seeing friendships and camaraderie across year levels while on duty is a reminder of how fortunate we are to be part of the educational journey at OneSchool Global.
Thank you to our staff for their ongoing excellence and willingness to support one another, and to our families for their continued partnership.
Have a fabulous weekend.
Mrs Caroline Tompkin
Campus Principal – Southern Campus
Last term, OneSchool Global launched Precious Cargo, a new global safety campaign for all volunteer bus drivers.
The campaign includes a powerful safety film that highlights the responsibility our drivers carry every day and reinforces key expectations around seatbelts, fatigue, distractions, speed, and substances.
Our drivers play a vital role in keeping students safe, and this campaign supports them with clear, consistent safety standards across all 20 countries in our network.
Families are welcome to view the film here:
Precious Cargo | Driver Safety Film
Please note, aspects of this film may be confronting.
For our students, please remember the important role that you play as a passenger on our buses.
Here are a few simple ways you can make a real difference:
* Wear your seatbelt properly every time you’re on the bus
* Stay seated while the bus is moving
* Keep noise at a reasonable level so your driver can concentrate
* Avoid distracting the driver – their focus keeps everyone safe
* Look out for each other when getting on and off the bus
