Principal's Report

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Our college production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a wonderful celebration of student talent, creativity, and community spirit.

The performing arts provide extraordinary opportunities for young people. Through rehearsing and performing, students build confidence, develop creativity, learn to collaborate and experience the joy of contributing to something larger than themselves. A college production also brings our community together, creating shared memories and allowing students to discover talents both onstage and behind the scenes.

I would like to congratulate our outstanding student and staff performers, whose energy, commitment, and talent brought this magical story to life. We also acknowledge our exceptional backstage crew and technicians. Their skill, teamwork and countless hours of preparation ensured that every scene change, costume, prop, lighting effect, and sound cue contributed to the magic experienced by our audiences. A production of this scale is only possible because of the remarkable people and organisations who generously contribute their time, expertise, and resources.

Our biggest and most heartfelt thank you goes to our extraordinary Performing Arts team, led by Amanda Egglestone. The team’s vision, expertise, energy, and unwavering commitment provided our students with an exceptional opportunity to perform, learn and shine:

• Amanda — Producer and Director, whose outstanding leadership guided every aspect of the production
• Lucinda — Choreographer, who brought energy, movement, and imagination to the stage
• Nick — Technical Director, who led the technical elements that helped create the production’s theatrical magic
• Wendy — Music Director, who supported our performers to bring the memorable music of the show to life

We also sincerely thank:

• Sonja , El and Katherine, who worked with our VCE Vocational Major students to cater for the VIP event
• Tony, who coordinated the sponsorship that provided such valuable support for the production
• Gabe, whose photography captured the excitement and memorable moments of the show
• Daniela, who coordinated all our publicity and helped share the story of the production with the wider community
• Skylah, who supported our technical crew
• Katrina, who assisted with choreography

We sincerely thank the Rotary Club for once again supporting our Year 11 VCE Vocational Major students to cook and bake for the VIP evening. This gave students a valuable opportunity to apply their learning in an authentic setting. Special thanks also go to Mr David Rosenwax for helping to make this possible.

A huge thank you to our major sponsor, VICPROP. Its generosity has been extraordinary. VICPROP funded our programs, posters, banners, and billboards and donated items for our canteen. This support helped lift the standard of the entire production, and we are incredibly grateful.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to Jack Jones from Outlook Communications for the enormous support he provided in training our students and staff in the technical aspects of the production. This investment in the skills and confidence of our technical team will have an impact well beyond this performance.

We are especially grateful to the volunteers who contributed so generously despite not having children involved in the show:

• Heidelberg Theatre Company and Wendy, who once again led our costume department alongside our Lyrebird Award-winning alumna, Georgia
• Brooke, who generously assisted with makeup
• Kristina, who joined us through Carol and provided wonderful assistance with costumes and props

Our parent volunteers also played an invaluable role. Carol worked alongside our facilities guru, Tom , to create set pieces and many of the wonderful props seen onstage. We also thank Nat for taking responsibility for running the canteen.

To every performer, crew member, technician, staff member, sponsor, volunteer, parent, and community supporter: thank you. Your generosity ensured that our students had this opportunity. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory demonstrated what can be achieved when a community comes together with imagination, dedication, and a shared belief in its young people. We are incredibly proud of everyone involved and deeply thankful for the wonderful support our college continues to receive.

NAPLAN results for Year 7 and Year 9 students

NAPLAN results have now been released, and our Year 7 and Year 9 students will have received their individual outcomes. NAPLAN provides valuable information about students’ achievement in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy. It helps families and teachers understand how students are progressing against national standards, identify areas of strength and determine where further challenge or support may be beneficial.

At a school level, NAPLAN data helps us evaluate the impact of our teaching programs, monitor growth in literacy and numeracy, and plan targeted improvements. However, NAPLAN is one assessment conducted at one point in time. Results should always be considered alongside classroom assessments, teacher observations, and each student’s broader learning journey.

Results are reported using four proficiency levels:

• Exceeding: The student’s achievement exceeds expectations at the time of testing.
• Strong: The student’s achievement meets challenging but reasonable expectations at the time of testing.
• Developing: The student is working towards the expected level of achievement.
• Needs additional support: The student is not yet demonstrating the expected learning outcomes and is likely to benefit from additional support.

These proficiency levels are not grades or labels. They provide a starting point for conversations about what a student can currently demonstrate and what their next steps in learning may be. When comparing results across testing years, it is also important to remember that expectations become more demanding as students’ progress through school. A student who remains within the same proficiency level may still have made meaningful growth because the knowledge and skills required at each year level have increased.

We encourage families to discuss the results positively with their child. You might ask:

• What are you most proud of?
• Which area has shown growth?
• What would you like to strengthen next?
• How can your teachers and family support you?

Further guidance is available in the official NAPLAN information for parents and carers.

Welcoming Educators from Monpo Hangli High School

On Thursday 13 August, our school had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation of Korean educators from Monpo Hangli High School. The visit provided an opportunity to share our experiences, showcase our school and discuss how schools and the broader education system operate in Victoria. During the tour, our visitors explored aspects of school life and learned more about Victorian educational practices. The delegation greatly valued the warm welcome, generous support and thoughtful explanations provided throughout the visit.

Following the tour, the group expressed their sincere appreciation:

“The Korean educators greatly enjoyed the visit and gained a much better understanding of how schools and the education system operate in Victoria. They were very impressed by what they observed and learned, and I am sure they will take many valuable ideas and insights back to their schools in Korea.”

The visit was a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge, perspectives, and experiences across two education systems. We hope it marks the beginning of an ongoing relationship, creating further opportunities for collaboration and exchange between educators and schools in Victoria and Korea. We thank the educators from Monpo Hangli High School for visiting and wish them well as they share the insights from their experience with their school communities in Korea.

Regards,

Glenn Morris

College Principal