Principal’s Newsletter Report 7/2/25

A very warm welcome back to Western Heights College for another year of learning and a special welcome to our new students and their families, especially our new Year 7 students. We have 210 new Year 7 students who have joined us this year and several new students across each year level. It has been wonderful to engage with you all and understand your goals and aspirations for learning and pathways. Last Friday was our first opportunity to meet as a whole school in an assembly on our college oval, where we started with a traditional welcome to country and smoking ceremony conducted by some First Nations Elders from Wadawurrung country, before hearing from our student leaders who shared their hopes and goals for 2025.

I hope you have all managed to enjoy a timely break with your family and loved ones during the new year period. Whatever you managed to do, I hope you are all feeling relaxed, hopeful, and excited for learning this year. I have certainly enjoyed time with family for the Summer break in Port Fairy and was lucky to also visit the NSW Riverina to enjoy the great summer weather.

New Staff

This year we have also welcomed to our college several new staff and we look forward to learning more about them over the next few newsletters when we profile each one of them. New teaching staff include:

Adam Ross (Year 7-8 Assistant Principal)
Monika Schaffner (English)
Billy Delawarr (Science/Maths)
Tom Botter (HAPE/OED/VM)
Tayla Welden (Learning Specialist)
Chris Elmslie (Mathematics)
Falk Davis (VET Sport and Rec/HAPE)
Amy Zhou (Chinese/Mathematics)
Tom Hunter (AFL Program/HAPE)
Sally Fitzpatrick (Science)
Niamh Moloney (Science)
Harry Melzer (Wood/Technology)
Kirsty Bekker (Humanities/English)
Simona Petrov (Mathematics)
Hannah Wilshier (VM/Humanities)

We also have several new education support staff joining us this year to support our programs:

Jordan Smart (Library Technician)
Caitlin Charles/Macie Hepburn (First Nations Trainees)
Ramzy Barbouses (Engagement Trainee)
Aaron Vacirca/Emmy Weir/Stephen Tomkins (Education Support)

Annual House Swimming Sports

Our annual House Sports were conducted on Monday at the Kardinia Pool. All Year 7 students and additional 8-12 students who wanted to swim attended the swimming sports, and it was a very successful day. A big thank-you to Campbell Bishop for his leadership for the day.

Parking and Traffic Management at WHC

With just under 1100 students now attending WHC, we have recently reviewed our traffic management plan for our school community.

A parent drop off and pick up area is located in Vines Road and at the rear of the school where the main staff car park and visitor’s car park is located. Parents and carers are reminded that the visitors car park off Vines Rd is not a drop off point. This car park is to small to be a drop off point and we ask parents to not use this car park as a pick up or drop off point.

A great place for parents and students to also meet is at the rear of the school at Hamlyn Park Reserve. There is ample parking in the reserve which is safe and a great place to meet your child.

I will look forward to you support on this matter so we can ensure safety of all our students.

Uniforms in 2025

A reminder to all students and parents/carers that students should be in full school uniform. It has been pleasing to see so many students in correct uniform to start the school year. Our uniform is gender-neutral and seasonal-neutral, meaning all items can be worn year-round. Please do not hesitate if you require support in obtaining uniform to contact the college's well-being team by emailing info@whc.vic.edu.au

Families may also request assistance with purchasing school uniform from the following organisations:

Smith Family Learning for Life provides support and financial assistance to help disadvantaged children stay at school. The program runs in select disadvantaged areas.

A Start in Life provides financial assistance to disadvantaged students and families to ensure they can access the same learning opportunities as their peers. For information phone (02) 9264 3017.

Opening the Doors Foundation provides education assistance for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in an independent educational institution in Victoria.

The Queen’s Fund is financial assistance with the cost of educational expenses for children. Applications must be completed by a social worker or a community agency that works with you.

Good Shepherd Micro-finance is a great initiative that has financial programs to assist families on low or limited incomes with educational costs and other expenses. One of their programs is the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) which gives access to fair and safe credit up to $1,200 for essential educational items.

Saver Plus This is financial education and up to $500 in matched savings for education costs for individuals and families who have at least some regular incomes from work. For information phone 1300 610 355.

Second-hand uniforms are also bought and sold by local families on our college's Facebook page 'Buy, Swap and Sell'.

Breakfast Club “Grab and Go”

Breakfast Club will run at the school canteen every Monday – Friday from 8.15am -8.45am. There will be fresh apples and non-perishable foods available such as cereal, muesli, baked beans, toast, fruit cups and milk. All students are welcome!

Open Night for 2026 Prospective Year 7 Students

Our Open Night will be held on Wednesday 26th February between 5.30pm-8:30pm. This is a great opportunity for prospective parents and students to see our learning spaces and to hear about the rich program of learning and extra-curricular activities that we offer, including our Specialist Sports Program and our Accelerate Program for High Ability Learners. Our leadership team will be visiting local primary schools with information for Grade 4, 5 and 6 students over the next few weeks.

There will be morning tours offered on subsequent Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 9.30am until May.

Insurance and Ambulance Cover for Students

Parents/carers are reminded that the Department (and the College) does not provide personal accident insurance, personal property insurance, or ambulance cover for students. Parents/carers are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for their child/ren, including the cost of ambulance attendance/transport and any other transport costs.

Private property brought to school by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage. Parents/carers can purchase insurance policies and ambulance cover from commercial insurers if they wish for their children.

Finally

Thank you also for your excellent support in ensuring that your children have been well prepared for the start of the year. We have had enjoyed a busy yet positive start, and this is in part due to your efforts, especially with books, equipment, devices and uniform.

If you have any concerns or questions about how your child has settled in, please do not hesitate to contact their Learning Community Leader.

I wish you all well for the year ahead and look forward to working with you.

Fiona Taylor

College Principal

Child Safety at WHC

Western Heights College is a child safe organisation committed to protecting students from all forms of abuse. Our College has stringent protocols in place and endeavours at all times to be fully compliant with the Child Safe Standards set out under Ministerial Order 870.

Our College has the following documents and policies in place to achieve compliance with the Standards. All of these documents are available for downloading on our website.

Commitment to Child Safety
Child Safety Policy
Child Safety Code of Conduct
Child Protection Policy and Procedures

Annual Privacy Policy Reminder for 2025

Our school collects, uses, discloses, and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy (found on the college's webpage).

Please take time to remind yourself of our school’s collection notice, found on our website. For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents and carers on the webpage. This information is also available in nine community languages:

* Amharic

* Arabic

* Dari

* Gujarati

* Mandarin

* Somali

* Sudanese

* Turkish

* Urdu

* Vietnamese

COMMUNITY