School Council
Balwyn High School has an outstanding reputation as one of Victoria’s leading schools.
This reputation is founded on a long history of excellence which we continue to
celebrate.
The best educational outcomes are achieved through an active partnership between
all members of the school community - staff, students and parents. The partnership
with parents is vital in supporting the progress, growth and learning of your child.
Opportunities for parent involvement
Parents have many opportunities to contribute to the life of Balwyn High School,
including:
- involvement in parent bodies, such as Friends of Music, Friends of Sport, Friends
of Theatre Arts, and the Parents' Association
- participation in School Council and its sub-committees
- volunteer assistance in literacy and numeracy
- attending working bees (usually one each term)
- attending parent-teacher interviews
- offering assistance to the library
- assisting students in the school’s integration, ESL or special reading programs
- sports coaching or acting as an official at sports events
- accompanying groups on excursions or tours as a teachers' aide
- making financial contributions
Financial support from parents
Through strategic planning, the school is building on the foundations of the past
with the aim of providing a learning environment and programs which will equip students
for the challenges of the twenty-first century.
The school relies upon locally raised funds to support its curriculum and extensive
co-curricular programs, and to meet the expectations that parents have of an education
at Balwyn High School.
Financial contributions are sought for the tax deductible Balwyn High School Aim
High Building Fund and the Balwyn High School Library Fund. These contributions
are a significant way in which the school-parent partnership is activated.
The School Council
The Balwyn High School Council is responsible, within the framework of Victorian
Government policy guidelines, for the education policies and plans of the school.
Council’s responsibilities also include use of school buildings, employment of ancillary
staff, and use of school funds. The powers and duties of the School Council derive
from the decision of the Minister for Education and Training to give the school
community of parents, teachers and students much of the authority and responsibility
formerly in the hands of the state Ministry for Education and Training.
While teachers retain responsibility for deciding how to implement the details of
school policy, the School Council formulates policies on various matters, such as
curriculum objectives, and defines the school’s aims and values. Council decides
in broad terms the methods for implementing policies.
A close working relationship between Council, teaching and support staff assists
in promoting collaborative decision making and solving problems. The School Council
is constituted by:
- six parent representatives
- four other representatives
- the Principal
The Council meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month, and any member of the school
community is invited to attend. Special sub-committees of the School Council include:
- Finance
- Policy and Programs Subcommittees
School-Parent Partnership
Parents are encouraged to commit to the School-Parent Partnership, which will ensure
that the school provides for the current generation of students just as it has done
so proudly in the past.