Principal's Message 

With the semester break upon us, we take a moment to reflect on the year to date. 

The highlights this term include the Year 8 and 9 camps, the Outdoor Education camp, numerous excursions across all domains, the Senior Pathways Expo, various Performing Arts productions, Theatre Studies performances, soirees and performances, Cultural Week, Work Experience, IDAHOBIT Day, a wide range of sporting events and outings, the German film festival, and the Year 12 Formal, to name a few. These activities complement our core focus of teaching and learning. None of this would be possible without dedicated teachers and staff committed to providing students with a vibrant and well-rounded educational experience. One personal highlight I’d like to share was the opportunity to team assess the Research and Investigation Projects. I was genuinely impressed with the quality of work produced by the outstanding Year 11 EBS students and how passionate they were about their individual projects. Congratulations to the students and teaching team. The presentations I was fortunate to observe were exceptional.

Year 10 -11 exams have come and gone, and we are very pleased with the commitment shown by students. The opportunity to plan and offer comprehensive exams is an excellent dress rehearsal for what will happen in earnest during Units 3 and 4 in the not-too-distant future for many. The feedback provided is vital in supporting the learning process.

For the Year 12 students, it’s been a very busy term, especially in recent weeks, with many important school assessments completed and sitting the GAT on June 17. The term break offers an opportunity to rejuvenate and reset, but as we know from experience, Year 12 is a marathon, so this is also a crucial time to consolidate learning. Perhaps a chance to summarise notes, finish homework, re-read the English texts, work through some past exam questions, or fine-tune an upcoming presentation. With Term 3 unusually short this year, only nine weeks, it won’t be long before the focus shifts to the end-of-year exams.

A reminder that these term holidays coincide with the 50th year of National NAIDOC Week (Sunday 6 to Sunday 13 July 2025), which provides the opportunity to learn more about and to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

End of Semester Reports

These reports should encourage a review and reflection on the progress made so far this year. They offer an opportunity to highlight positive aspects and discuss potential areas for improvement with parents or carers. I strongly encourage parents or carers to spend 20 to 30 minutes with their child reviewing their mid-year report. Showing genuine interest in your child’s learning and education is crucial for exemplifying the importance of a solid education. This is especially important in Years 7 and 8, where the foundations of a strong work ethic and high expectations are laid.

Building Updates

I’m pleased to report that the Sharman Hall and planned maintenance works have been separated. This is an important step because it allows the more complex Sharman Hall to be completed on a different schedule, while enabling the earlier start of the much-needed maintenance across the school. I expect we will see the temporary fencing near the arts/technology building and the central entrance of the south building finally removed later this year.

Lonsdale Street Campus

The preliminary rooftop plans for the Lonsdale St campus have been developed and significant feedback has been provided to the design team. We are awaiting a response to our recommendations before proceeding to the next stage. We are planning to have the rooftop space available in 2026.

Next term, the Lonsdale St campus will trial an early finish on Monday and Wednesday, a 2:35pm finish, considering the likelihood of more inclement weather. This will reduce lunchtime indoors but return this time to students at the end of the day. The teaching time will not change. Additionally, this will provide an opportunity for staff to travel to Story St for select staff meetings and promote greater collaboration between each campus.

At the time of posting, the new substantive principal had not yet been announced. I will provide an update via a Compass post during the term break once an announcement is finally made. 

A special thank you to our staff for their work and commitment during the first semester of this year to ensure that UHS students are given every opportunity to succeed and to make this school a great educational institution for families and the community. I’d like to acknowledge Mr. Toufas, Ms. Fejes, and Ms. Tan, who are leaving us at the end of this term. They have been a great asset to the school, and we have been fortunate to have them as part of our staff. Best wishes from everyone at UHS.

Finally, as my time as Interim Principal at University High School comes to an end, I want to take this opportunity to thank the UHS community for their support. I feel exceptionally privileged to have had the chance to work as an educator at University High School, and I have enjoyed meeting many students and staff throughout my tenure. I wish all students and staff continued success for the rest of the year, and I hope everyone enjoys a well-deserved break.

Kind regards,

Arthur Soumalias