Principal's Report 

“The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice.” 

BE Program

Today our students started their 2023 classes in the BE program. They have made choices based on their interests and curiosity. We know that all of these choices allow students to grow and develop themselves as they transition through adolescence. It is always interesting to watch the changes in thinking when they try something new or do not want to continue to learn about something they may have previously loved. This is the journey of self-discovery and growth we would expect.

The BE program, which runs from Monday 28 November to Thursday 8 December*, is about becoming. This is where our Year 7s transition into Year 8 and into their new Learning Teams. Where our Year 8s become Year 9s and begin their Specialisms and where our Year 9s commence their new Specialisms and in many cases commence their first Unit 1 & 2 VCE studies. Our Year 10 and 11 students transition into full VCE studies based on a pathway they wish to pursue.

Students' ‘BE’ program timetables have been published to Compass. Years 8 and 9 students were emailed their 2023 Specialisms. This was sent to their Beaumaris SC email address. Our timetable is constructed on student choice of Specialisms and VCE Units to maximise student preferences where possible.

Please note that we are not able to make any changes to student Specialisms during the BE program.

At the conclusion of the program, on reflection, where a student feels strongly that they would benefit from a change then students/families are welcome to have a conversation with Assistant Principal, Peter Bartlett, prior to the end of the school year.

At Beaumaris Secondary College, we provide students with comprehensive individual pathways that are linked to the Victorian Curriculum and Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority VCE Study Designs. The curriculum sets out what every student should learn during their years of schooling. At Years 9 and 10, Communicate and Relate and Mathematics run as year level specific specialisms. All other learning areas provide curriculum that is a continuum across two years. This allows us to run combined learning teams of Year 9 and Year 10 students. 

Our offerings provide our students with a broad range of specialisms across all other learning areas. The Year 9 and 10 specialisms program prepares students for a rigorous academic senior pathway. Our VCE offerings across Years 11 & 12 build on the exceptional learning across Years 7 to 10.

*Friday 9 December is a Professional Practice Day - students are not required at school on this day.

Micro-credentials Week 

Our last week of school provides students with alternative learning experiences where they develop new knowledge and skills in a low-stakes environment (no official assessments). Students are expected to sign up via Compass. Students choose their own learning which may be a full day program or half day based on choices. We have a variety of engaging programs on offer for micro-credentials week, which will take place from Monday 12 to Friday 16 December*.  

*Tuesday 13 December is a Curriculum Day - students are not required at school on this day.

Project Ready Graduation

Another Beaumaris Secondary College first with three of our students receiving their Certificate II in Active Volunteering on Wednesday 23 November. The event held at Hampton Community Centre, acknowledged and celebrated student commitment to a range of community projects. Ashton W received the Most Enhanced Award for his consistent progress across all assessments in the program. Congratulations to all three students for their terrific work.

Year 8 Lacrosse & Handball Divisional Champions

We are very proud of our growing sporting culture that transcends beyond the traditionally played sports to include lacrosse and handball.  Read more on the Sports News page of this newsletter.

Y11 Beauy Bunch Senior Art and VCD Exhibition

Another Beaumaris Secondary College first - a gallery exhibition of student work. Our students showcased their creativity and critical thinking in their very striking and immersive art works. It was a wonderful experience and very positive to reconnect with the Beaumaris Arts Group. It will be the first of many burgeoning opportunities for our students to work alongside some wonderful local artists in the future. A special thanks to the Create Visual team for bringing this together, especially Konrad. Click here to take a look at their amazing work.

Modelling Best Practice Beyond Beaumaris  

Our teachers have once again contributed to the profession beyond Beaumaris Secondary College. The new text 'Activating Reading Capabilities in English' debuted at the VATE State Conference last week. It features work by the Communicate & Relate team and our students, which was done as part of VATE’s Community of Practice a few years ago. We are so proud of their outstanding teaching which is a model for others.

VCE Information Night (Year 12 2023)

On Wednesday 23 November, we held our first VCE information night for parents of 2023 Year 12 students. The night was live-streamed as well as recorded. It is great to have technology options that allow parents to keep connected when they have competing demands. However, it is even better to be able to bring families together again to share important information. We will be having further information nights in 2023 related to careers planning, exam preparation and more as needed.

Practice Exams

Excellent effort by our VCE/Year 10 students who sat their exams last week. We were impressed by their overall approach to study and preparation. They were confident going in and coming out. These practice exams are a great way for students to prepare and put together a study plan in preparation for next year.  

Parents' Association Election Day BBQ

Thank you to Clifford Francis and his team for organising the Election BBQ that was held on the weekend. It is an event that keeps growing and growing with parent commitment and connection. The 'democracy sausage' plays an important part of the election day experience for so many. We are so pleased that so many parents are volunteering on the weekend to support Parents’ Association.

Staffing Update

We are delighted to welcome teacher, Niamh Murphy (Business/Legal), to the team.

Estonian University Researchers Visit

A prospective parent who has done a school tour was so impressed by our teaching and learning spaces and philosophy that he recommended the college to a group of educators visiting Australia for a conference in Adelaide. The team of three researchers visited our school and Brighton Grammar. They were extremely impressed and were impressed with the college and our curriculum programs on offer. 

CORE Value - Respect

Students have unlimited access to beautiful learning spaces and grounds throughout the day and especially at lunchtime. Unfortunately, we are also seeing an increase in students littering outside and not looking after the buildings and grounds. We have highlighted with students the importance of looking after the buildings and grounds ensuring that litter is put in the bins provided, not chewing gum at school and reporting any damage they see around the school. We have a very important partnership with the Melbourne Cricket Club which ensures that our students have outstanding ovals, soccer pitches and grounds.  We want to maintain a positive and constructive relationship and ask that parents support this with open conversations at home about littering and respect.

Rapid Antigen Tests

In line with DET advice, we will be distributing boxes of Rapid Antigen Tests to students on Friday 2 December.

New School Term Dates for 2026

There have been changes to Victorian school term dates for 2026. This will provide an opportunity for Victorian communities to participate more broadly in the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place across regional Victoria from Tuesday 17 March to Sunday 29 March 2026, with Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton hosting a range of activities and events for 20 different sports and 9 para-sports.

The 2026 Victorian school term dates are:

• Term 1: Tuesday 27 January to Friday 13 March 2026 
• Term 2: Monday 30 March to Friday 19 June 2026
• Term 3: Monday 6 July to Friday 18 September 2026
• Term 4: Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December 2026.

For the list of school term dates until the end of 2030, refer to School term dates and holidays in Victoria.

Debby Chaves

Principal