Pakenham Secondary College News

Community News

Sub School Structure @ PSC

For any Well-being or other concerns, please speak with your child(ren)'s Team Leader in the first instance.

Class of 2025 Valedictory Dinner 

Important Information:

If you have CSEF, please speak to Brooke at the Student Window before making your booking.  To book, please scan the QR code or click on the above image.

Information Night | Transition Days | Passion Projects

INFORMATION NIGHT

We would like to invite all parents and carers of our Year 7 2026 students to attend an Information Night on Wednesday, 15th October. Students are also welcome to attend.

 

Important transition information will be provided on the night, including a presentation by Edunet, our preferred education laptop provider.

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The Information Session will take place in our Gymnasium and will commence at 6pm. The evening should conclude by 7:15pm.

 

TRANSITION DAYS

Tuesday 9th December is the State-wide Orientation Day for the 2026 Year 7 students. To make the transition as stress free for your child as possible, we will also have an extra Transition Day on Monday, 8th December. We understand that some primary schools may have events on this day, however, we do encourage students to attend. For further information, please visit our website at: pakenhamsc.vic.edu.au/transition

 

PASSION PROJECTS FOR YEAR 7 2026 STUDENTS

If you have not as yet completed your paper form (which was provided to your primary school) to choose your child's 2026 Passion Projects (for semester 1 and 2, 2026), it is now overdue and urgent - to ensure that their choice is taken into account. Please complete the electronic form by clicking here.  If you have completed the paper form, please ignore this message, no further information is required at this time.

 

New Absence Lines for PSC

Dear Parents/Carers,

 

In the first instance, the easiest way to log your child’s absence is to enter it directly on Compass. Instructions for doing this can be found here. 

 

We now have another way for parents and carers to notify us of absences; we have two dedicated absence lines - one for the Junior Sub Schools and one for the Senior Sub Schools. These lines are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

Parents and carers can either call or text as soon as they are aware their child will be absent - whether it's for the current day or a future date.

 

WHICH LINE SHOULD I USE?

 

  • Junior Sub School (Yawa and Warreeny):

  • Phone or send a text message: 0459 970 912

 

  • Senior Sub School (Balam Balam and Bunjil):

  • Phone or send a text message: 0486 218 220

 

When contacting the school, please include:

 

  • Your child’s first and last name

  • Their home group (or year level, if you unsure)

 

 WHY REGULAR ATTENDANCE MATTERS 

 

Regular school attendance is critical for students to succeed. At Pakenham Secondary College, we are committed to supporting student learning through consistent attendance.

 

In our Senior Sub Schools, students enrolled in VCE, VCE VM or VPC must also meet VCAA attendance requirements - a minimum of 90%

attendance per unit is required to pass.

 

Being absent even once a fortnight can result in missing up to four weeks of school per year. Where possible, we ask that you:

 

  • Book appointments outside of school hours

  • Plan family holidays during school breaks

 

Under state legislation, students under 17 must attend school for at least 200 days per year. Parents/guardians are legally responsible for ensuring this requirement is met.

 

 NOTIFYING THE SCHOOL OF ABSENCES

 

In line with Department of Education guidelines, all schools must know when and why a student is absent. If we do not receive notice of an absence, we are required by the Department to contact families on the same day to ensure the student is safe.

 

You can notify us in one of the following ways:

 

Compass:

Log the absence through the Compass School Management System (Instructions available here)

 

Phone or Text: 

Leave a message on the junior or senior school absence line

Only parents or legal guardians can authorise absences.

Notifications from other individuals will not be accepted.

 

Thank you for supporting your child’s education and wellbeing through consistent attendance. If you have any questions, please contact the College on 5945 1433 or via email at: pakenham.sc@education.vic.gov.au.

Help keep school leavers safe for schoolies

PREPARING FOR SCHOOLIES

We know that some students are already excited to celebrate their final year of secondary school with their friends.

 

The tragic deaths of 2 Victorian teenagers, Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, from methanol poisoning while holidaying together in Laos in 2024 remind us of the importance of staying safe and being aware of risks.

 

This year, schoolies celebrations will run from Saturday 29 November to Saturday 13 December in Victoria. Beyond these dates, some students may be traveling interstate or overseas for the occasion.

 

SPEAK WITH YOUR CHILD EARLY

We encourage parents and carers to speak with their child early about any plans for the end of the year.

 

Providing appropriate and accurate information about alcohol and other drug use, sex and consent, and personal safety can be the key to reducing risks and minimising harm. 

 

The Raising Children Network has information to help families start talking about schoolies, including expectations and how to stay safe.

 

Red Frogs Australia, a volunteer group that help young people stay safe and seek help at events like schoolies, has tips and advice for students and families.

 

You and your young person can also refer to the following resources that promote staying safe for schoolies, events and travel: 

 

New PSC Sub School in 2026

 

Murnong Daisy
Murnong Daisy

Our College continues to grow as more families choose to be part of our wonderful school community. In 2022, our enrolment stood at approximately 785 students across Years 7–12. By 2026, this number is expected to reach around 1,150 students.

 

To support this growth, we are excited to announce the introduction of a new sub-school in 2026, named ‘Murnong’. The name comes from the Boon Wurrung language and refers to the Murnong Daisy.

 

The naming of our new sub-school was undertaken in consultation with our Student Representative Council and our Koorie Engagement Support Officer, ensuring that both student voice and cultural perspectives were at the heart of the decision. The name honours the rich cultural heritage of the Boon Wurrong people and their deep connection to the land. The Murnong Daisy, known for its beauty and resilience, symbolises growth, renewal, and strength - qualities we see in our students every day.

 

Our College is surrounded by native vegetation, and like these plants, our students are growing, adapting and striving to reach their potential. The name Murnong reflects our commitment to nurturing this growth, deepening our connection with the natural environment, and showing respect for the culture and land on which we learn.

 

Moonlit Sanctuary Holiday Programs

 

 

Talking to your child about the Social Media age restrictions 

As we approach 10 December, when the new Social Media Minimum Age law comes into effect, it’s important for families to start preparing for the changes. 

 

If you have children under 16 who currently use age-restricted social media platforms, they will be directly impacted by the new law.

 

To support your children through this transition, it’s helpful to: 

 

  • Talk openly about the new age restrictions and why they’re being introduced. 

  • Understand how your child currently uses social media and explore how these changes might affect them. 

  • Reassure them that these changes are about safety and wellbeing, not punishment. 

     

To help guide these conversations, eSafety has developed practical tips for parents and carers to start these conversations to support you in starting and managing discussions in a calm and constructive way. 

 

Helping families stay safer online

Do you want to feel more confident in supporting your children to have safer online experiences? eSafety's live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to help understand and navigate the online world.  

 

Past attendees have found these webinars incredibly helpful:  

“Loved it. Gave me the much-needed knowledge on algorithms for my kids.” 

“It was terrific, very practical and positive.” 

“Useful information to help parents understand teens and technology.” 

 

Please see the eSafety schedule of upcoming live webinars:

 

Algorithms and adolescents: The rewards and risks of recommender systems for young people

Wednesday 15 October, 3:30-4:15pm AEDT Find out more

 

AI-assisted image-based abuse: Navigating the deepfake threat

Tuesday 21 October, 12:00-12:45pm AEDT Find out more

 

The changing face of cyberbullying: Protecting your child in 2025

Wednesday 29 October, 12:30-1:15pm AEDT Find out more

 

Understanding and using parental controls to help protect your child online

Thursday 6 November, 12:30-1:15pm AEDT Find out more

 

Supporting healthy tech use as your child transitions into secondary school

Tuesday 18 November, 12:30-1:15pm AEDT Find out more  

 

Disruptions on the roads in and around Pakenham

LONG TERM CLOSURES

  • Bald Hill Road is closed at the Racecourse Road/Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road on the western side until early October.

  • Lane closures, speed reductions and footpath closures will be in place on Bald Hill Road, Racecourse Road and Healesville-Koo Wee Rup Road while we upgrade Racecourse Road. 

Please click on the below button for information on other disruptions in Pakenham and surrounding areas. 

Pakenham Construction Update

 

Disruptions on the Pakenham Train Line

BUSES WILL REPLACE TRAINS ON THE CRANBOURNE AND PAKENHAM LINE FROM 8:30PM ON FRIDAY, 1ST AUGUST, TO THE LAST SERVICE ON WEDNESDAY, 13TH AUGUST.

 

Please click here or on the image above for further information on the disruptions on the Pakenham and Cranbourne Train Lines.

 

Connecting with Us

FACEBOOK

https://facebook.com/pakenhamsc

 

INSTAGRAM

https://instagram.com/pakenhamsecondarycollege

 

WEBSITE

https://www.pakenhamsc.vic.edu.au

 

NEWSLETTER

Our College Newsletter is distributed monthly (usually the last Friday of the month) through your Compass newsfeed and our Website.