The school has faced growing concerns following a spate of violent fights which led to police and security patrolling campuses and several lockdowns including one involving a gel blaster.
A $130 million single campus is currently under construction on the old Shepparton High School site which will house all public secondary school students in Shepparton from next year.
In the interim, the old stand-alone schools have been merged, with different year levels attending three separate campuses: McGuire, Wanganui and Mooroopna.
Parent Karli Sutherland, who has had sons attend the old and new Wanganui campuses, said the Education Department had a lot to answer for over the early management of the transition, but her son Nate had not expressed any fears about going to school, even during a recent spate of fights that saw security guards introduced at the campus.
“We didn’t move Nate, we had the opportunity to do so but we had faith they would get it right and he’s very happy there,” she said.
“He’s never communicated to me that he’s felt unsafe, if he did, he wouldn’t be there.”
Negative publicity about the school, its culture and the impact of bullying, fights and lockdowns on students and teachers has fed the notion of a culture of fear. Mrs Sutherland said that had also hampered development of a strong culture.
“Nothing is perfect, but to bring people along on the journey you need teachers and parents having positive conversations,” she said.
“People don’t like change, to bring them along you have to sell the idea to people before they get on board and it wasn’t sold, it was shoved down people's necks and they stopped listening.”
“I have faith that they will get it right, hopefully sooner rather than later because the culture has suffered and that has filtered down to the kids.”
Sharon Ferrier has three students at GSSC and has experience with all three campuses.
“I just find all the negativity is not helping, all my kids are doing fine,” she said.
The loss of the Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL) program and a shift to Mooroopna was initially jarring and Mrs Ferrier said the transition could have been staged and less rushed.
“We would have preferred the SEAL program was finished but we couldn’t do anything about it, we accepted it but last year was very difficult with COVID and the initial merge, this year is much better,” she said.
“I asked my boys if they wanted to leave and they said no, I still think it will take a little time to settle, we just need stability and good leaders.”
Amy Hawking, who has children at McGuire and Mooroopna campuses, said they were both academic and well supported.
“My son was apprehensive about going to Mooroopna, but he really wanted to go because of the number of electives,” she said.
“He’s in a good group and he’s having a great time. My kids were at McGuire before the merger and there’s not much difference.”
Acting Executive Principal Barbara O’Brien said staff were working hard to maintain an atmosphere that was engaging for the kids and connecting the kids to the school.
“We have a way to go in developing connectivity and pride in the school,” she said.
“There are pockets of staff that feel quite vulnerable who we are supporting and there is a real pride in what we want to achieve. They are over all the negativity about the school, that can be quite draining.”
Ms O’Brien said the extreme behaviours were limited to a small group.
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