From the Principal 

It was wonderful to see the Cheltenham Secondary College community come together over the past few weeks, with many opportunities for students to celebrate, connect and participate in a wide range of experiences that make our school community so vibrant.

Our Year 12 Formal was a memorable milestone for our graduating students. The evening provided a great opportunity for students to celebrate an important stage in their final year of schooling. It was pleasing to see students enjoying the night and marking the occasion in such a positive and respectful way.

We also held our annual House Swimming Sports, which saw a strong turnout and enthusiastic participation from students across all year levels. The day was filled with House spirit, friendly competition and great encouragement from peers. Congratulations to Thalera House for winning the overall event this year. Thank you to all students who participated and to the staff who supported the running of the day. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Paul Sanders, Karly Hargreaves and our dedicated Sports Team for their outstanding organisation in the lead-up to the event. A day like this requires a great deal of preparation and coordination, and their work ensured everything ran smoothly. I would also like to thank all staff for their support on the day and for helping to ensure the event was enjoyable for our students.

During the week, the College also acknowledged Pride Week, providing an opportunity for students and staff to celebrate diversity and reinforce the importance of inclusion, respect and belonging within our school community. It was encouraging to see students engaging in conversations and activities that reflect these important values.

Our recent Leadership Assembly was a highlight, celebrating student achievement and leadership across the College. It was particularly pleasing to see a number of parents and carers in attendance to watch their children receive recognition. Celebrating student success as a community is a special part of school life.

Our Year 11 students are also looking forward to their upcoming camp at Phillip Island, which will provide opportunities for students to strengthen friendships, develop teamwork skills and take part in experiences beyond the classroom.

Year 12 Mentoring Program

Over the coming weeks, we will commence our Year 12 Mentoring Program, with members of the College Leadership Team working closely with our Year 12 students.

This program provides an opportunity for regular check-ins with students as they navigate the important final year of their secondary schooling. While academic progress is an important focus, the mentoring conversations are also designed to support students in thinking about their career pathways, post-school opportunities and preparation for life beyond school.

Year 12 can be both exciting and challenging, and this program ensures our students feel supported, connected and confident as they work toward their goals.

Staff Professional Learning – Ensuring Learning Happens

On Monday 9th February, our staff were privileged to engage in professional learning with Dr Nathaniel Swain, who focused on the Science of Learning through the lens of 

The Four Pillars of Learning:

1. Attention
2. Active Engagement
3. Error Feedback
4. Consolidation

The central question guiding the day was powerful and practical: How can we ensure learning truly happens?

Key messages included:

• We must check that students are genuinely listening and paying attention.
• We must regularly check for understanding throughout every lesson.
• Students must be able to demonstrate and apply their knowledge, showing their thinking, not just hearing information.

There were many practical, evidence-based strategies shared, and I have been impressed by how quickly staff are already implementing and refining these approaches in classrooms. Our commitment to high-quality teaching remains unwavering. Every lesson matters, and our collective focus is on ensuring learning is visible, purposeful and sustained.

School Uniform – Pride and Presentation

I know I have spoken about school uniform previously, but it has been very pleasing to see the vast majority of students wearing the uniform correctly and with pride. A consistent uniform strengthens our sense of identity and belonging.

Many students have grown significantly over the summer break. I kindly ask parents and guardians to check the length of trousers, dresses, shorts and skirts to ensure they remain appropriate for the school setting. Small details matter. Presentation reflects pride in self and pride in our College.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the college.

Principal

Karl Russell