Principal's Report

‘Excellence: Challenging yourself to achieve your best’

As many of you are aware, our focus this year is on ‘Excellence: Challenging yourself to achieve your best’.     I am pleased to share with you some highlights from the previous month that showcase our focus and commitment to ‘Excellence.’

Amazing Learning Results

Schools recently received data that indicated how their school performed against other schools in 2022 in a range of areas. I am delighted to announce that our school has surpassed our Network schools in a number of these data sets. These results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers and support staff, who have shown an unwavering commitment to academic excellence.

According to the results released, Lilydale Heights College is the top secondary school in our Network in the following areas:

• Year 9 Numeracy – Top 2 Bands
• Year 7 Reading – Top 2 Bands
• Year 7 Writing – Top 2 Bands
• Year 9 Writing – Top 2 Bands
• Exit Destination data
• School Attendance

Our school has a clear focus on providing a high-quality education that emphasizes the importance of literacy and numeracy skills. We believe that these foundational skills are essential for success in all academic disciplines and in life beyond the classroom. We are thrilled that our efforts have been recognized by these impressive results.

Our attendance data shows that our students have consistently high rates of attendance, which is a testament to the positive culture and supportive learning environment that we have created at our school. Our teachers and staff work hard to create a safe, welcoming and supportive learning environment where students feel motivated and engaged in their studies. Our success is a result of a collaborative effort that involves our teachers, parents and students. 

As a school, we remain committed to continuous improvement and will continue to focus on providing our students with the best possible learning experiences. 

Sustainability – ResourceSmart Schools Awards 2023

Lilydale Heights College has been named as a finalist in the ResourceSmart Schools Awards for ‘Curriculum Leadership School of the Year (Secondary).’ The ResourceSmart Schools Awards recognise Victorian schools for their efforts to embed sustainability into the curriculum.  Our College has had a strong commitment to sustainability education and we are proud to be recognized as a finalist in this category. Our teachers have implemented innovative and engaging sustainability programs across subject areas, providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to become environmentally responsible citizens and make positive contributions to their communities.

Congratulations to Shannon Sargeant, Lauren Cuzens and our Student Sustainability Team for their commitment to sustainability education and for their efforts to make our school a more environmentally sustainable place. We are honoured to be named as a finalist in the ResourceSmart Schools Awards for ‘Curriculum Leadership School of the Year.’

Athletics Carnival

Our recent Athletics Carnival was a huge success. Despite the less than ideal weather conditions, our students demonstrated remarkable resilience, perseverance and respect as they participated in a range of athletic events.

The Athletics Carnival is always a highlight of the school year and this year was no exception. Our students competed in a variety of events, including track and field, long jump, high jump and shot put. Even with the rain, our students showed a positive attitude and challenged themselves throughout the day. They supported each other, offering words of encouragement, demonstrating respect for their peers and teamwork. 

The Athletics Carnival is not only an opportunity for our students to showcase their physical abilities but also an opportunity for them to develop important life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and perseverance.

I would like to thank all the teachers, staff and students whose dedication and hard work were essential in ensuring that the event was a success.

Berry Street Education Model

On Monday 22 May, our staff participated in professional learning on the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM). BSEM is an evidence-based approach to supporting student self-regulation, relationships and wellbeing to enhance educational outcomes. During the day, our staff explored practical strategies for implementing the Berry Street Education Model in their classrooms that focussed on creating a positive and inclusive learning environment. This learning provided our staff with valuable skills and knowledge to address the diverse needs of our students. By integrating the Berry Street Education Model into our teaching practices, we aim to enhance student wellbeing, resilience, and engagement, which are fundamental to academic success. 

                        Shane Kruger, Principal.