Principal's Report

As we head into the cold winter Ballarat months, it is perhaps understandable that those early morning wake up alarms in the dark are becoming a struggle to respond to. Frozen windscreens, freezing buses and the skin-soaking rain lack the same appeal as the warm rays of sun that ushered in the first term. What we know at BHS is that showing up is half the battle and if students are at school, we can give them the support that they need. I know from experience that a lot of us have been deprived of even that with illness sweeping through so many households across these last few weeks. That makes every second of the time that our students spend in the classroom, on the yard or out in the community precious. 

We want our students to be fit and well and taking advantage of the opportunities on offer at Ballarat High. This has been a testing couple of weeks for many and I want to take a moment to acknowledge and thank all members of our school community—students, families and staff—for your continued dedication, focus, and resilience. This time of year often brings with it challenges of energy and motivation, yet time and again we see our students pushing forward, staying committed to their learning and personal growth. Your day-to-day efforts do not go unnoticed and they make a lasting difference in shaping the culture and spirit of our school. 

I’d like to particularly recognise our senior students, who are now well into what is perhaps the most significant and demanding year of their schooling. The hard work you are putting in now—through study, exams, practical work, or planning for life beyond school—is a powerful investment in your future. It is not always easy, but the persistence and courage you show will serve you well in achieving the goals and dreams you have set for yourselves. In the middle of this journey, it is so important to pause, reflect and reconnect. I need you to recognise that there is still time to make a massive difference and the time that you utilise now will pay dividends when we arrive at the business end of the school year. Getting what you want from life never comes easy and hard work beats everything else. You have started off so well, let’s take it into the second half and smash it!

My only wish for our students is that, when all is said and done, they know that they have given their all. No BHS student should ever be defined by a number: they are all worth much more than that. What is important is that they know that they have given their best and we will support them at every step of the way. That’s why the upcoming Charity Fundraising Dinner is more than just a night of celebration and raising of awareness—it is an opportunity to honour how far you’ve already come, to share in each other’s company and to draw strength from the collective experience of your final year together. 

I am sure that it will be a night to remember and a well-earned reward for the effort you continue to show every day. As we reach the midpoint of the year, know that you are supported, you are capable and you are already well on the path to making your aspirations a reality.  Keep going—you are doing a brilliant job!

I also want to take this opportunity to thank our incredible staff for their unwavering commitment to student learning and wellbeing. As learners themselves, they have been grappling with an upward curve in their understanding as to how students learn. On top of this, the end of semester brings with it the substantial task of assessment, feedback, and reporting—and I know our staff approach it with professionalism, care and a deep sense of purpose. What they do really matters and can make a real difference in the lives of our students-from a happy hello, feedback that leads to action or instilling self-belief in a student, their influence is our impact.  

Beyond academic outcomes, they continue to provide daily support to our students, responding with empathy and skill to the many challenges young people face. Whether in the classroom, on the yard, on the sporting field, or through quiet moments of check-in, the influence of our educators is deeply felt and highly valued.

We are so fortunate to have a team of experts here at school— teachers, support staff and leaders—who bring a wealth of knowledge, passion, and creativity to their work. Their ability to connect with students and challenge them to grow is what makes our school a thriving learning community. We expect from ourselves that, always, we model the behaviours that we wish to see within our students. Resilience, drive and a willingness to challenge ourselves is at the heart of what it is to be part of BHS. One such person who has exemplified this is our PE teacher, Jill Muir, who recently achieved international honours in swimming in the 2025 Bali Ocean Swim. Jill represented Australia with distinction and humility, quietly balancing her elite sporting achievements with her everyday dedication to our students. Her modesty makes the achievement even more remarkable and though I risk being told off for sharing this achievement, we are proud to celebrate her success as a reflection of the excellence we see so often among our staff.

I also want to take a moment to celebrate the outstanding sporting achievements of our students throughout the recent SSV and BAS competitions. Our athletes have represented the school with pride, resilience and sportsmanship across a wide range of sports, with many progressing to the next stage of competition. When I think back to the term so far, highlights include our Senior Girls Football, Senior Boys Netball, and Year 7 Boys Netball teams all taking out top honours at the Greater Western Region level and now preparing for their respective SSV State Championship fixtures. We also commend our Eureka champions, including the Intermediate Boys Football, Intermediate Girls Netball, and Senior Girls Soccer teams, who have advanced to the GWR level in the coming weeks. These results are a testament to the commitment of our students and the dedication of our coaches and support staff.

We also extend our congratulations to the individual students who qualified for the SSV State Cross Country Championships—Sofia, Ruby, Ronan, Riley and Brooke—who demonstrated exceptional endurance and determination. Across all competitions, our students from Years 7 to 12 have embraced the challenges of team and individual events, earning placements, personal bests and strong finishes in football, netball, soccer, badminton, and cross country. A special mention goes to Year 8 student Alex Gladman, who finished runner-up in the BAS Badminton Singles Championships and this result bodes well for her future endeavours. These achievements reflect the strength of our sporting culture and our shared commitment to excellence, teamwork and personal growth. We wish all those progressing to state-level events in the coming weeks the very best and know that they will represent the BHS community with pride!

Stephan Fields

Principal