Principal's Report

It has been a great start to Term 3 with several rich learning opportunities for our students.  

These have included welcoming our Japanese sister school, our performing arts students participating in a 3-day camp preparing for our production of Spamalot, the Green Team planting 1500 trees along Scotchmans creek and throughout the school after hosting other student leaders at the school and participating in the Career Launchpad on Regenerative Economy at Monash University. We also had students participating in the German Model UN Conference in our first week back and a number of sporting teams representing the school at all levels of competition from local, zone and state!  

We are lucky to have such dedicated staff who provide these rich and authentic learning opportunities for students each week whilst also ensuring students experience the best possible lessons each day. Thank you!  

NAPLAN Results: 

As you may have noticed in the media this week, the 2025 NAPLAN results have been released across the country. I am pleased to share a summary of our school’s NAPLAN results which show that many of our students are not only demonstrating strong results but also great improvement from Years 7 to 9.  

The following is a summary of our NAPLAN data which shows the percentage of students achieving in the exceeding or strong proficiencies compared to similar schools in Victoria and our local Network schools: 

Percentage of YEAR 7 Students in the Exceeding or Strong Proficiencies (2025 NAPLAN) 

Percentage of YEAR 9 Students in the Exceeding or Strong Proficiencies (2025 NAPLAN) 

These results show that there were a higher proportion of students in the top two proficiencies in 9 out of 10 categories when compared to similar and network schools. 

Most pleasing is that our data also shows that approximately 75% of our students are achieving high or medium growth from Years 7 – 9 on their NAPLAN results.  

Our challenge and expectation of Brentwood students is to continue to grow as learners and people. The data shows that our students are very capable learners and we want to see them continue stretching themselves to achieve their potential by striving to achieve the highest level they can on all of their learning tasks in class and demonstrating highest level of learning behaviours possible in all their subjects.  

Whilst we congratulate and recognise our students for their efforts in their learning, these results also recognise the wonderful work of our teaching and support staff and parents who also strive to do their best supporting student learning. 

Thank you for all that you do for our students.  

ONO Senior High School Exchange Program: 

On Friday July 25 we welcomed the Mr. Yoshitaka Ando (Principal), Mr Kazuyuki Hattori (English Teacher) and Ms. Sachiko Matsumoto (PE Teacher) along 18 students from ONO Senior High School in Japan.Our partnership with ONO Senior High School is strong and long lasting, with reciprocal visits occurring since 2002.  

The ONO students are living with Brentwood host families this week, attending classes at Brentwood and visiting various sites around Melbourne as they practice their English skills and immerse themselves in the Australian Culture. 

I would like to thank and acknowledge the staff and students who support this rich learning opportunity for both Brentwood and ONO students.  

Staff Professional Learning Day: 

On July 29, our staff engaged in a full day of professional learning focused on the ongoing work of teachers to build their expertise in implementing the Brentwood Teaching and Learning Model in all classrooms. Staff participated in sessions aimed: 

• Enhancing the knowledge and skills of teachers to utilise proactive and responsive classroom management techniques to support student wellbeing and readiness to learn.  
• Build teachers’ capacity to further develop positive relationships with students and foster student self-efficacy 
• Further enhance our practices consistently adopting whole school routines 

A highlight of the day was that this learning day was planned and designed by our own staff which demonstrates the expertise we are fortunate to have among our teachers. It was very much a day where teachers were learning with and from each other. These professional learning days are critically important for teachers to collaborate, reflect on their practice and identify adjustments that they can make which will further support student learning and wellbeing outcomes in the classroom. The focus on building positive relationships with students has a direct impact on student learning outcomes as it helps establish the classroom environment where students are more confident and motivated to stretch themselves in terms of their learning and ultimately demonstrate greater learning growth.  

Thank to you to the staff for their leadership and engagement across the day. We look forward to seeing the various strategies in action over the coming weeks, months and years ahead as we continue to implement the Brentwood Teaching and Learning Model as best we can.  

Student Merits: 

We were very excited to acknowledge 24 special students who were recognised for being awarded the highest number of student merits for their House in their year level. These students have been recognised most frequently by teachers for demonstrating our school values for learning and community. Living our school values leads to students achieving positive learning and wellbeing growth and we are very proud of each of these students’ achievements so far this year. It was wonderful to present each of them with their certificate in front of parents and celebrate with some light refreshments afterwards.  

We hope that this recognition encourages these students to keep striving to be the best learner and person they can be.  

Update to Suspension and Expulsion Powers in Victorian Government Schools: 

Our school is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all students and staff. You may be aware of recent changes announced to suspension and expulsion powers have been available to Victorian principals from the beginning of Term 3 (July 21).  

We know that students’ behaviour outside of school, particularly online, can sometimes impact the safety of students and staff at school. 

In exceptional circumstances, principals of Victorian government schools will be able suspend or expel students for behaviour that occurs outside of school grounds and/or hours including online, if it poses a significant danger to the safety and wellbeing of students or staff. 

These powers apply only to serious incidents where there is a clear and close connection to the school and the behaviour of a student outside of school unreasonably impacts the safety and wellbeing of students or staff at school, and their ability to learn or work. Please note:  

• They do not apply to behaviours unrelated to the school or school community. 
• They only apply to behaviour which occurs from Monday 21 July 2025 onwards. 

It is important to note that suspension and expulsions are part of our approach to supporting students and not used in isolation. Our primary approach continues to focus on proactive and positive behaviour support, including working with parents to teach students the behaviours we expect of them in school and in life.  

John Ballagh 

Principal