Principal's Report

It has been a fantastic start to Term 2, with students and staff returning refreshed and ready for the term ahead. The beautiful autumn weather has certainly been a welcome bonus, and it has been great to see our community enjoying the sunshine as we settle back into school routines.

Japan Tour

Over the holiday period and the first week of Term 2, a group of our students and staff embarked on an unforgettable journey through Japan. From historic sites to vibrant cities, the group experienced a rich mix of culture, history, and everyday life across destinations including Kurashiki, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Himeji, Osaka, and Tokyo. Many in our community followed along via our social media updates, which captured the highlights of this incredible experience.

The tour concluded with a visit to Tokyo Disneyland before the group returned home to Melbourne, bringing with them many memories and experiences. A HUGE thank you to Ms Kubota, Mr Myddleton, Ms Evans, and Mr Wright for their leadership and dedication in providing this outstanding opportunity for our students.

Playground Update

There has been plenty of excitement around the College as our new playground continues to take shape. The structure has quickly come together, and we are now nearing the final stage with the installation of the soft-fall surface. We look forward to officially opening this new space next week and know it will be a popular addition for our students.

Staff Greenies

As you may know, students receive Green Chronicles to recognise their positive contributions to the College and their demonstration of our values. What you may not realise is that we also celebrate our staff in a similar way through Staff Greenies. 

Staff Greenies are a way of recognising the incredible work our staff do each day. They are awarded to staff who go above and beyond — in the classroom and beyond — making a meaningful and positive difference to the lives of students and colleagues.

Up until now, only staff could nominate other staff for a Staff Greenie. But that is now changing….. Students can now nominate staff!

So, to our students: if you see a staff member doing something outstanding, showing kindness, supporting others, or making a real difference, this is your opportunity to recognise them! You can find details on how to nominate a staff member in your Compass Newsfeed and the Daily News.

We have been overwhelmed by the number of Staff Greenies we have been receiving from students over the last week. We have received 150+ nominations! Some of the comments we have received from students about staff for their Staff Greenie include: 

Always trying to get the best out of her students, pushing them to try their hardest and will always try to explain something a different way if it didn't calibrate with me. Gives good feedback and communication, providing me with additional personal study resources if I ask.

…comes to study periods all the time to see if people need help with PE. Last term before our SAC he put in a lot of noticeable effort to help us achieve the best result we could, he marked our questions really fast and gave helpful feedback.

…is a very supportive teacher who consistently encourages students to do their best. She shows great respect by valuing every student’s ideas and understanding that everyone learns at different paces. … is an amazing teacher who makes a positive difference every day, and she truly deserves this recognition.

He clearly understands what he is talking about and is passionate about what he is teaching. He strives to inspire the younger generations to be more creative and works hard to make lessons interesting.

She has pushed me to be my very best, she always encourages class discussion and activities, she keeps class engaging and entertaining. She is an awesome teacher and I'm so glad to be nominating her.

Thank you to our students for their nominations and congratulations to our staff!

ResourceSmart School Awards

Lilydale Heights College is proud of our ongoing commitment to sustainability. In 2023, we were awarded Curriculum Leadership School of the Year, followed by the prestigious School of the Year Award in 2025.

This week, we were excited to learn that we have once again been recognised as finalists in the 2026 ResourceSmart Schools Awards in two categories:

• Student Action Team of the Year 

• Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) Vic Excellence Award 

   

To be named finalists in two categories is a fantastic achievement. I would like to congratulate our Sustainability Student Team, along with Ms Lim and Ms Sargeant, for their continued leadership and dedication in this important area.

Winners will be announced on Thursday 11 June — Fingers crossed!

Student Free Day

We have a Student Free Day scheduled for next Thursday 07 May. Students are not required to attend school on this day. Our staff will be using this day to undertake professional learning focused on our assessment practices (Learning Pathways), checking for understanding and supporting students to set their own learning goals by identifying their next steps in learning.  

Holy Fools 

Our SIRC run a range of programs and events throughout the year to support LHC and the wider community. This term, the SIRC are looking for our community to support Holy Fools by donating non-perishable foods. The SIRC are collecting food to support local individuals and families. They are accepting non-perishable items to ensure no one goes hungry.

📢 DONATIONS WANTED!

Help support HOLY FOOLS in our mission to feed the community.

We are collecting food to support local individuals and families. We accept non-perishable items year-round to ensure no one goes hungry.

WHAT ARE "NON-PERISHABLE" FOODS?

These are items that are shelf-stable, meaning they:

● Do not need a fridge or freezer.

● Have a long shelf life (months or years).

● Are usually in cans, jars, or sealed packets.

● Please ensure all items are within their "Best Before" dates!

URGENT SHOPPING LIST:

● BOTTLED WATER (Highest Priority)

● UHT (Long-Life) Milk

● Canned Meals (Stews, soups, curries — Ring-pull lids preferred)

● Pasta & Pasta Sauce

● Rice

● Tinned Tuna, Salmon, Sardines, or Ham

● Breakfast Cereals & Breakfast Bars

● Muesli Bars & Kids' Lunchbox Snacks

● Instant Noodles (In a cup or bowl)

● Sandwich & Cheese Spreads

● Stir-Fry Sauces & Tomato Paste

● Biscuits

● Teabags, Instant Coffee, & Milo

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📍 HOW TO DONATE

Drop-off Location: Main office. Drop-off Times: before/after school or lunch/recess

A little goes a long way. We encourage low-salt and gluten-free options where possible to help everyone in our community!

Shane Kruger

Principal