Assistant Principals' Reports 

Simon Jones (Senior Assistant Principal)

It has been a long but productive and busy term.

 Senior students have completed a challenging exam program which is valuable and important preparation for final year 12 exams. The VCAA GAT was also held on Tuesday the 17th and around 430 senior students sat these exams. The GAT has 2 sections with a break in between and is quite a marathon, spanning 4hours and 15 minutes in total. The GAT is used as a moderation tool and to derive study scores in the event that students are unable to sit final exams due to medical or other unforeseen reasons. The students did a fantastic job across the exam period and approached them with the diligence required. We have now commenced semester 2 so new units of work have begun. For our year 12’s, the rest of the year will go very quickly with our Vocational Major and Further Learning students finishing at the end of term 3 and the rest completing their studies in readiness for final VCAA exams. It is imperative that students remain focussed and continue to work towards these deadlines and goals.

We have also undertaken course counselling and subject selection for all students in years 10-12 in recent weeks and all students should have submitted their online selections by now. If not it is important that they speak with their coordinators as soon as possible. The level of parent participation in the year 10 counselling sessions was exceptional and we thank all those who made the time to attend. 

Our year 10 students will be either going on the Central Australia Camp or participating in work experience, starting in the last week of term. Both programs will provide great learning experiences for our year 10’s and we wish them all well. Two highlights of the term for me were the Year 11 Presentation Ball in May and the Year 10 formal at Cape Schanck last week. Both events were thoroughly enjoyed by those in attendance.

I wish everyone a safe and warm mid-year break and look forward to seeing everyone back at school for the start of term 3.

Drew King (Junior School Assistant Principal) 

Year 7 Newsletter Update – Term Two

As Term 2 draws to a close, we are incredibly proud of how well our Year 7 students have settled into life at secondary school. Following a busy and exciting Term 1, our students have continued to build strong connections with peers and staff, develop positive routines, and embrace the many opportunities on offer at Dromana College.

One of the highlights this term was the Year 7s Got Talent show, where students showcased a wide range of impressive talents in front of the entire cohort. It was a wonderful celebration of courage, creativity and community spirit. A big congratulations to our winners:1st – Ritchie Butler (7NU)2nd – Casey Chapman (7TH), 3rd – Kaiya Stewart and Lola Wilson (7YU). Judging was conducted by our Year 7 Pastoral Teachers, Year 7 Coordinators and Mr King. We commend all students who took to the stage – your bravery and enthusiasm were truly inspiring.

We also celebrate the achievements of students who represented the college in Term 2 Interschool Sport, competing in netball, soccer, football and badminton. Our Year 7 teams showed great skill and sportsmanship, with outstanding success in several competitions. Dromana College Year 7s secured wins in boys soccer, boys football, and both girls and boys badminton, earning places in the upcoming division finals.

We are so proud of the way our Year 7 cohort continues to embrace college life with confidence and positivity. We look forward to seeing what they will achieve in Semester 2.

Year 8 Newsletter Update – Term Two

Congratulations to all of our Year 8 students on a fantastic and productive term! We’ve been so impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment shown across all areas of school life. A special thank you to students and families for the outstanding attendance at the Year 8 Information and Subject Selection Evening — it was wonderful to see such strong engagement with the next steps in each student’s learning journey.

We’d also like to acknowledge the students who completed and returned their subject selection forms promptly. Your organisation and responsibility are truly commendable.

This term, we’ve been thrilled to see so many Year 8 students getting involved in a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities. From the Dance Enhancement Evening and music soirees to District Athletics, Cross Country, Athletics Enhancement, Sailing Enhancement and Aerobics – the energy and effort from our students has been inspiring.

A special shout-out goes to Aklin Stent for proudly representing our school – and the country – at the 2025 Optimist European Championships in Turkey. What an incredible achievement!

Well done, Year 8 – we’re proud of you all and look forward to an exciting Term Three ahead!

Term 2 Newsletter Report – Year 9

As we wrap up a busy and productive Term 2, we’d like to acknowledge the excellent approach and effort demonstrated by our Year 9 students.

A particular highlight has been the mature and thoughtful engagement with the Attitudes to School Survey (AToSS). Students approached the task seriously and responsibly, recognising the importance of their feedback in shaping our school’s future directions.

The subject selection process for 2026 was approached with care and responsibility. The majority of students submitted their preferences on Edval by the due date, reflecting a genuine engagement with their pathways planning. 

Additionally, students participating in Year 10 F Block subjects demonstrated a commendable level of focus and maturity in their recent exams, giving their best effort throughout the assessment period.

We’re proud of the growth, responsibility and resilience that our students are showing as they continue their secondary school journey.

We look forward to another positive and successful term ahead. Enjoy the winter break and stay warm😊

Matthew McLaren (Assistant Principal-Strategic Delivery)

Term 2 Reflection – Teaching, Learning and Wellbeing

Term 2 has been a significant and energising chapter in our year of learning at Dromana College. Across classrooms and staffrooms alike, there’s been a powerful focus on growth — academic, professional, and personal — as we continue to strive for the best outcomes for our students and community.

This term, staff have engaged in targeted professional learning centred on High-Impact Wellbeing Strategies, evidence-based literacy practices, and improving outcomes in numeracy. Teams have also undertaken collaborative moderation of student work, participated in peer observations, and visited one another’s classes to deepen collective capacity and share what works. Our goal remains the same: high-quality, high-impact teaching and support in every room, every day.

We were also pleased to receive our preliminary NAPLAN results for 2024. While full results will be released in mid-July to August, early indicators are extremely positive. Congratulations to our Year 7 and 9 students for their efforts in these assessments. For our Year 9s especially, we look forward to building on this momentum as they continue their learning journey into senior school.

Students across all year levels have been recognised regularly through our Dromana College Merit Program, which celebrates those who exemplify our school values of Respect, Responsibility, Personal Best, and Integrity. It’s fantastic to see students from such diverse year levels and programs earning daily merit points — a reflection of their hard work and commitment both in and out of the classroom.

In terms of curriculum, our subject offerings continue to expand in response to student voice and interest. In 2026, we’re pleased to introduce new VET courses and the addition of Economics at Year 11. All students have now undertaken course counselling to support informed and aspirational decision-making about their future learning pathways.

This term also saw our senior students complete their mid-year exams with focus and determination. Congratulations to all involved on the effort and organisation shown throughout the assessment period.

Looking ahead, Term 3 promises continued momentum. Staff will participate in professional workshops on a range of differentiated topics, including a renewed focus on numeracy. Our parent–teacher interviews will take place on Thursday, 25 August, and I encourage all families to engage in these valuable conversations.

Finally, we wish safe and enriching travels to the students and staff heading off on our Central Australia, Japan, and Indonesia trips — fantastic opportunities to build cultural awareness, resilience, and connection beyond the classroom.

Thank you to all students, families and staff for a purposeful and productive Term 2. Enjoy a well-earned break, and we look forward to a strong start to Semester 2.