PRINCIPAL REPORT

“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about”. Margaret Wheatley

This term has begun with a strong focus on community, and the work we can do together to foster deeper learning, connection and positive change. I’ve had the real pleasure of meeting with our candidates for 2025 college captain positions, and have been most impressed with our students’ maturity, their desire to support the college’s improvement journey and their passion to engage our community so that we can work together towards shared success. It’s been inspiring to listen as they have shared their ideas and insights, and for the first time this year we are including a year 11 student vote, so that we can take into account our students’ perspective on who might best represent them. This input will extend into the wider senior school years from 2025, ensuring we are listening to and building opportunities for students to have a voice in the college.  

Earlier in the term a number of our parents came together to officially establish our Parents’ Association - Brighton Secondary College Community Connect, or BSCCC for short. Family engagement is an integral part of student support and growth, and the BSCCC will form an increasingly important link between home and school as they establish their role within the college. Families are warmly welcomed to join our BSCCC events, the next opportunity being our ‘coffee, cookies and community’ event on Thursday August 15. Please come along to the college from 8.15am for a coffee and a chat before your day begins!

Our Year 10 students have been out and about in our local community undertaking work experience this week. It’ll be no surprise when I say we’ve had great feedback from their placement supervisors so well done to our students for their excellent engagement with this program, giving them invaluable insight into the world of work. 

Of course, our community extends well beyond the school gates, and it was wonderful to welcome our friends from Tokoname Senior High School back to BSC last week. Their time in Melbourne was packed with fun and friendship, as you’ll read  in our next edition of Highlights, and I know our staff and students are already looking forward to their reciprocal visit in 2025.

As a community of learners, it’s not only our students who have been developing their skills and knowledge; our staff are also lifelong learners, and last Friday, as our students enjoyed a long weekend, our staff came together for a professional learning day focused on the implementation of our new behaviour framework and building positive relationships for learning. It was terrific to see our staff sharing skills, strategies and practices so that we have a clear consistent approach and common understanding of how best to support our students. 

Despite the winter chill, a number of our students have been braving the early mornings to participate in our extra-curricular programs; our BSC Basketball Academy has begun with gusto, and our concert band continues their Friday morning rehearsals with enthusiasm. Sports and Music are just two of the ways our students can engage beyond the classroom and it is never too late for interested students to get involved and connect with the college through a new activity.

Finally, congratulations to Year 12 student, Matthew Ward, who received a Premier’s Award for VCE Product Design and Technology earlier this term. Matt enjoyed a great afternoon sharing his success with his family and we were incredibly proud to see Matt’s achievement recognised. 

Anne Stout,

Interim Principal