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The 1979 school year began with students in Years 7-9. All the portables were
in position at the start of the College Year and
essential services were connected. Basic site works, such as asphalt and paths,
were carried out in February and March.
Twenty-five teachers and five ancillary staff were appointed to the school and
during the early part of the year six relocatable
classrooms, a new administration block and a canteen were sited. The Public
Works Department increased the asphalt playing
area, constructed the car parks and concrete paths and the State Schools Nursery
carried out general beautification of the
grounds with the planting of lawn, shrubs and trees.
In 1980 the student population had increased to 416 and staff numbers had risen
to thirty-six. Approval was then given to employ
a Domestic Arts Aide for the Home Economics Centre and a Technical Assistant
for the Science Department. To cater for the
increase in the student population many relocatables were sited - six general
purpose classrooms, two science rooms, a
woodwork room, two fabric rooms, a careers room, and a locker room. The paths
and covered ways were extended to service
the new buildings and the area east of the school was graded and prepared for
an oval.
In 1981 the School offered Year 12 for the first time, with forty-six students
studying for their Higher School Certificate. The
student population increased to 540 and staff numbers to forty-three.
As was anticipated, plans for further new buildings were drawn up and finalised
during the year. Tenders were called for in
October. The first stage was completed by the end of 1983. This stage included
a gymnasium, an art/craft block, science rooms
and home economics rooms.
Stage two was completed early in 1985. This included a new administration block,
a Library, a stenographic centre, music and
drama area as well as a canteen. As well as these specialist rooms, there were
six multi-functional class rooms.
The School was officially opened on the 4th April, 1986, by the Hon. Ian Cathie,
M.P., Minister of Education. The School's first
Principal, Mr. G. J. Widdowson, retired in August, 1986. From August 1986 to
August 1987 the College had an Acting Principal,
Ms Sue O’Connell. Mr K. A. Fitt assumed the position of Principal in August,
1987. He retired in April 1994. Mr L. N. Sinnott
assumed the position of Principal in July 1994 after having been the Assistant
Principal since 1988. He retired in April, 2003
when Mr Doug Macrae became Principal.
From the start of the 1990 school year Lalor North High School became known
as Lalor North Secondary College.
Lalor North Secondary College is now a co-educational college with a multicultural
student population of 735. Situated in the
outer northern suburbs of Melbourne, students and their parents are from some
44 different ethnic backgrounds and are drawn
from over 23 feeder primary schools. There are several secondary colleges in
close proximity; Mill Park, Epping, Lalor and Peter
Lalor as well as the Catholic secondary school, St Monica's. Over 90 staff includes
large integration and support staff
components, a multi cultural aide, a DHS school nurse and a gardener/handyman.
Lalor North Secondary College is in Like School Group 9 indicating a high EMA
component and a high proportion of LOTE
speakers at home. In response to the needs of its disadvantaged students LNSC
offers comprehensive Literacy, Numeracy and
English as a Secondary Language support programs.
LNSC pursues the vision, "Lalor North Secondary College promotes the principles
of equality, opportunity and excellence" by
expecting that its students will:
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be committed to achieving high academic standards and working to achieve
their full potential
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display a consistent commitment to improving skills and knowledge
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develop self-discipline by completing class work and homework tasks
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value quality performance by taking pride in work completed
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treat all members of the College community with respect
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respect the workplace and College environment
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participate in, and contribute to a range of student activities available
within the College.
A challenging, comprehensive and flexible curriculum provides for the needs
and individual differences of each student. All
students are able to participate in an environment which values and respects
their achievements.
Students in Years 7 and 8 study a core curriculum of English, Mathematics,
Science, History/Geography, LOTE, Art, Health,
Physical Education, and Sport. Music was introduced into the curriculum in 2004
for students in Year 7. A number of crafts and
technologies were also studied in a rotational block of a term length, changed
to semester length in 2004. Music was introduced
in 2004 to enable all Year 7 and 8 students to participate in classroom music.
Individual students were able to take instrumental
music classes. A College band was established in 2004.
Year 9 and 10 students study a core curriculum of English, Mathematics, Science,
History, Geography, LOTE and Physical
Education. There is also Sport at Year 9 and Commerce at Year 10. Students also
complete eight electives over the two years.
Year 11 and Year 12 students choose individual programs from a wide range of
traditional VCE subjects, VET subjects and a
Work Program which was incorporated in the VCAL in 2004. There is an extensive
Careers and Work Experience Program,
including individual counselling, an annual VCE Expo and Australian Business
Week which assists students in making subject
choices.
LNSC is a member of the Whittlesea Youth Commitment supported financially with
MIPs funding. This includes
employment of a Transition Broker who advises students at risk of leaving school
on career paths and actively assists students
to find courses or employment opportunities outside Lalor North Secondary College.
This commitment has seen a strong focus
on enabling traditional VCE pathways to exist side by side with the LNSC Work
Program, VET studies and New Apprenticeships.
An Integration Program delivered by dedicated and professional staff includes
more than 30 students receiving integration
funding over each of the Self-Evaluation years. Smooth transition for many students,
especially those with significant needs
begins halfway through the student's grade six year.
A comprehensive Welfare and Discipline policy was in place with change being
implemented in 2003 to enable whole school
improvement in the area of behaviour management. This included a series of PD
sessions run by Dr Ramon Lewis in 2004.
Students are encouraged to participate in a broad range of activities such as
the Victorian Youth Development Program, Peer
Support Program, Annual Art Exhibition, Australia wide subject competitions,
the SRC, Sporting competitions, Chess Cub, Book
Club and Book Week.
The College buildings include permanent Administration Facilities, Art and
Technology rooms, a Science and Home Economics
wing, a Library, Gymnasium, Drama rooms, Computer labs and Canteen. During the
Self-Evaluation period new permanent
Humanities (including computer pods), Technology, Mathematics, Drama, Music
and locker facilities were progressively opened.
There are still a number of general purpose relocatable classrooms on site.
Outdoor sporting facilities include one playing field, a
multi purpose area for netball, basketball and tennis, basketball courts and
cricket nets.
Parents are welcomed and given opportunities to participate in a number of
College activities. The College encourages parents
to become co-operative partners with teachers in developing positive educational
outcomes for their children.
Staff are given ongoing opportunities for Professional Development that complement
the College's priorities.
Lalor North Secondary College is committed to the principles of merit and equity
employment. These principles are applied to all
people employed or seeking employment at the College.
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