Principal's Report
Evan MILLER
Principal
End of Term Principal's Report
As we reach the end of Term 1, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible achievements of our students and staff over the past ten weeks. This term has been filled with exciting events, outstanding student accomplishments, and a strong sense of community spirit. Thank you to all our students, families, and staff for your dedication and contributions to making Highvale such a wonderful place to learn and grow.
Celebrating Excellence: Top Screens and Top Designs
The VCAA VCE Season of Excellence is a prestigious annual program showcasing the best student work across various creative and academic disciplines. This year, we are immensely proud of Ryan Ma and Alex Keep for their success in VCE Media. Ryan’s short film was one of only 13 selected from over 350 nominated films for Top Screen, while Alex’s photography piece was one of just two chosen from over 1,000 Top Designs nominations. Their selection is a testament to their creativity, hard work, and dedication. A special acknowledgment goes to their Media teacher, Adele McGain, for her invaluable guidance and support in helping them achieve this incredible milestone.
Alex Keep
Alex Keep
Harmony Day
On Thursday 27 March, our school celebrated Harmony Day with a fantastic student-led event that highlighted the incredible diversity within our community. It was amazing to see so many students and teachers proudly wearing their traditional cultural dress, embracing and showcasing their heritage. Harmony Day is a special occasion that promotes inclusivity, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone, regardless of their background. It serves as a reminder that our differences make us stronger and that we all contribute to a vibrant and united community. The energy and enthusiasm displayed throughout the day truly reflected the spirit of Harmony Day, reinforcing the importance of acceptance and cultural appreciation.
Twilight Tunes Concert
Our annual Twilight Tunes concert, held on Thursday 27 March, was a spectacular celebration of our school's musical talent. Students showcased their skills through solo and ensemble performances, creating a night of incredible entertainment. This year, the addition of a food truck added to the festive atmosphere, and we look forward to making next year’s event even bigger. Thank you to all our music and instrumental music teachers for their support and to Chris Mitchell, our Instrumental Music Coordinator, for organising such a fantastic evening. A special thanks also to Aysha McCoy for assisting our sound, lighting, and stage crew students.
Whole School Assembly
On Wednesday 26 March, we held our first Whole School Assembly in many years. It was wonderful to bring our entire student body together in the gym to celebrate our student leaders for 2025 and reaffirm our school values. Student leaders opened the assembly with greetings in multiple languages, highlighting the rich diversity of our school. I also had the opportunity to share insights about our school logo and introduce an exciting initiative next term, where we will seek student input on shaping our vision for learning and wellbeing. This assembly was a significant step in continuing to build our sense of connection and shared purpose, and we are excited for future gatherings.
Looking Ahead: School Strategic Plan and Curriculum Development
As we move into Term 2, our focus remains on our School Strategic Plan and Annual Implementation Plan goals. A key priority this year is the redevelopment and documentation of our school curriculum to align with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0. To support this work, we are partnering with Vania Tiatto from CT-Ed to guide our curriculum design. Our leadership team is undertaking professional learning in "Leading with Intent," while our Learning Area Leaders are participating in "Leading Learning," ensuring that our staff are equipped to drive curriculum improvements effectively.
Below is a visual of our school goals and priorities for 2025.
Curriculum Days – Important Date Changes
School Council has approved the following changes to our final two curriculum days for the year:
Tuesday 24 June has been moved to Friday 27 June to maximise teaching time before Semester Exams.
Wednesday 6 August has been moved to Friday 1 August to align with professional learning led by Vania Tiatto.
NAPLAN Success
During Weeks 7 and 8, our Year 7 and 9 students participated in NAPLAN testing, achieving an outstanding 98.6% participation rate. These assessments provide valuable insights into student progress, and we are proud of the strong academic outcomes we continue to achieve. Our commitment to using data to inform teaching ensures that every student is supported and challenged to reach their full potential.
Staffing Update
We warmly welcome Liam Hope, who will be joining Highvale next term to replace Adele McGain while she is on leave for the remainder of the year. Additionally, we welcome back Lawrence Yu, who will be teaching three days a week to cover the teaching allotment of Melissa Vujuovic as she commences family leave. We look forward to having them on board and supporting our students.
Looking Forward to Term 2
With an incredible first term behind us, we eagerly anticipate the opportunities that Term 2 will bring. From continuing our curriculum development work to engaging students in shaping our school vision, there is much to look forward to. I hope everyone enjoys a well-deserved break, and I look forward to seeing our students return refreshed and ready for another exciting term of learning and growth.