Sandra Hiscock (second from left) meets year nine students Andrew Hansen, Emily MacKinnon and Lucy Bucknell at Yass High this week.
Yass High’s new principal has high expectations for students and wants them to have high expectations of themselves.
Sandra Hiscock has spent the past week getting to know the school and its students, their families, the staff and community.
She said she sees herself as privileged to be appointed principal, not only because of the reputation of the school and town but also because she’s a staunch believer in the comprehensive local high school.
She said Yass High was “best equipped to meet the diverse educational needs and expectations of the community it serves and reflects”.
The teacher has stepped into the job after a stint as deputy principal in Cessnock, after being an executive and classroom teacher in mainly country high schools.
Ms Hiscock and her partner Neil have bought a house in Yass and she said they were looking forward to settling into the country lifestyle again.
“We’re very keen on being part of the town,” she said. “He’s very supportive about coming to Yass and also for me and my career.
“[Becoming a principal has been] something that I’ve been looking forward to doing over the last couple of years,” she said.
“For me it’s about leading and managing a comprehensive public school.”
In particular the principal wanted to focus on keeping Yass students in the town for high school.
She said she was aware that children were travelling to Canberra for high school and urged parents who are contemplating their options to get in touch with Yass High.
“It concerns me that people might think that there are better opportunities in Canberra, where I don’t think that’s the case,” Ms Hiscock said.
She said the school was working on a plan to integrate year six students from primary schools into the high school.
The principal said her plans would involve meeting the needs of every student, whether it’s the high achievers or those not so keen on hitting the books.
“It’s about students reaching their full potential,” she said.
Ms Hiscock said she was impressed by the reception she’s had at the school and was looking forward to connecting with other schools in the area.
Yass High will be involved in a combined teacher development day with other schools around the region at the start of next term.
She said it was about “building that community of schools where we can share ideas and resources”.
The principal wanted to work with existing strengths in the school to create a positive environment for learning and children’s welfare.