Assistant Principals' Reports 

Simon Jones (Senior Assistant Principal)

It has been a long but productive and busy term. Senior students have completed a challenging exam program which is valuable and important preparation for final year 12 exams. The VCAA GAT was also held on Tuesday the 16th and around 400 senior students sat these exams. The GAT has 2 sections with a break in between and is quite a marathon, spanning 4hours and 15 minutes in total. The GAT is used as a moderation tool and to derive study scores in the event that students are unable to sit final exams due to medical or other unforeseen reasons. It also assesses the VM students for Literacy and Numeracy levels, which is reported on in their final statement of results. The students did a fantastic job across the exam period and approached them with the diligence required. 

 We have now commenced semester 2, so new units of work have begun. For our year 12’s, the rest of the year will go very quickly with our Vocational Major and Individual Learning students finishing at the end of term 3 and the rest completing their studies in readiness for final VCAA exams. It is imperative that students remain focused and continue to work towards these deadlines and goals.

We are also undertaking course counselling and subject selection for all students in years 10-12  and all students should have their online selections submitted before the end of term. 

Our year 10 students will be either going on the Central Australia Camp or participating in work experience, starting in the last week of term. Both programs will provide great learning experiences for our year 10’s and we wish them all well. 

Two highlights of the term for me were the Year 11 Presentation Ball in May and the recently held school production of Grease at Frankston Arts Centre. Both events were thoroughly enjoyed by those in attendance and showcased the fantastic students and staff at our school.

The VCAA are seeking input from stakeholders in relation to VCE studies to inform future planning and decision making. VCE students and parents are encouraged to participate in this VCAA survey via the link in the attached letter.

I wish everyone a safe and warm mid-year break and I look forward to seeing everyone back at school for the start of term 3.

Drew King (Junior School Assistant Principal) 

YEAR 7 - Term 2 Highlights

Term 2 has been another busy and exciting term for our Year 7 cohort. Following on from the wonderful experience of Year 7 Camp, it has been fantastic to see new friendships continue to grow and students becoming increasingly settled and connected within the school community.

A major highlight of the term was Division Athletics Day, where a select group of Year 7 students represented the school with enthusiasm, determination and outstanding sportsmanship. We were especially proud to see some incredible record-breaking performances from our Year 7 students. Congratulations to Florence Seith, who broke a long-standing 2009 discus record with an amazing throw of 25.88m, surpassing the previous record of 20.96m.

A huge congratulations also goes to Noah O’Connor, who broke not one, but two records on the day. Noah broke the 200m record from 1994 with a superb time of 24.89 seconds, beating the previous mark of 26.30 seconds. He also broke the 1998 triple jump record with a jump of 10.74m, surpassing the previous record of 10.60m. What an incredible achievement from both students!

We also held our Progress Report Celebration Assembly, where students were recognised and rewarded for their progress reports, improvements, attendance and positive contributions throughout the term. It was a great opportunity to celebrate students who have been consistently showing responsibility, respect and personal best in their learning and school routines.

Another standout event this term was Year 7’s Got Talent. We really levelled up this year with a full stage set-up, and it was wonderful to see so many students confidently share their talents with the cohort. Congratulations to our first-place winners, Olivia Frangi Mendez and Ember Haley, who performed a beautiful duet of Dandelions. Well done to every student who participated, as well as our support team who helped make the event possible. 

It has also been great to see so many Year 7 students continuing to attend the lunchtime activities run by our wellbeing staff and student engagement team. These programs provide students with a chance to connect with others, try something new and enjoy a positive break in their day.

Our sporting teams have also been training hard throughout the term, with students involved in soccer, football, netball and badminton. It has been excellent to see students showing commitment, teamwork and enthusiasm across these opportunities.

This term, students were also introduced to SmartLabs, an online platform aimed at improving literacy and numeracy skills. SmartLab provides differentiated learning activities to meet each student’s individual needs and support their ongoing growth in key learning areas.

As we head towards the end of the term, we are looking forward to the much-anticipated Girls vs Boys Netball Game - the ultimate showdown! It is sure to be a fun and energetic way to finish off what has been a very successful Term 2 for Year 7.

Year 8 Term 2 Highlights

Term 2 has been a busy and successful term for our Year 8 students.

In the classroom, students have continued to work diligently across all subject areas, embracing challenges and striving for their personal best. We also acknowledged our Student of the Month recipients, who were recognised for consistently demonstrating our school values of Personal Best, Integrity, Responsibility, and Respect.

A major highlight of the term was the school production of Grease, which featured many Year 8 students both on stage and behind the scenes. Their commitment, creativity, and teamwork contributed to a highly successful and memorable production.  Year 8 students also shared their musical talents at the Music Soirée, performing for families and the school community.

Students also completed their Year 9 subject selections for 2027, taking an important step in planning their future learning pathways.

In sport, students represented the school with pride in football, netball, badminton, and soccer competitions. The Cross Country event provided an opportunity for students to challenge themselves physically and demonstrate resilience and determination. A standout experience was the opportunity for our Junior Football Team to compete against the Victorian Under 12 Football Team, allowing students to test their skills against high-level opposition.

The Indonesian and Japanese Food Evening was another memorable event, where students prepared and served a range of authentic dishes for their parents and guardians. The evening was a celebration of cultural learning, collaboration, and practical application of classroom skills.

Cyber safety and responsible digital citizenship remained a key focus throughout the term. Through the Digital Thumbprint program and a presentation delivered by Victoria Police, students developed their understanding of online safety, digital footprint awareness, respectful communication, and responsible decision-making in online environments.

We congratulate all Year 8 students on a highly successful Term 2 and look forward to their continued growth and achievements in the semester ahead.

Year 9 Term 2 Highlights

Term 2 has been a busy and rewarding term for our Year 9 students. Throughout the semester, students have continued to develop their learning habits, build positive relationships, and demonstrate resilience as they navigated a range of academic and extracurricular opportunities.

In the classroom, many students have shown increased confidence, independence and organisation, taking greater responsibility for their learning and embracing new challenges. It has been pleasing to see students striving to achieve their personal best and supporting one another both in and out of the classroom.

This term has also provided an opportunity for students to begin thinking about their future pathways and subject choices. Through career exploration activities and discussions about future learning opportunities, students have been encouraged to consider their strengths, interests and aspirations. These early conversations are helping students to make informed decisions as they prepare for future subject selection and pathway planning in the years ahead.

Beyond their studies, students have enthusiastically participated in sporting events, excursions, enhancement programs and school activities, helping to create a vibrant and positive school community. Their willingness to get involved and represent the college has been a credit to them.

A particular highlight this term has been the involvement of many of our students in the school production of Grease. Students have dedicated countless hours to rehearsals, learning lines, songs and choreography while balancing their academic commitments. Their commitment, teamwork and enthusiasm have been outstanding, and we are incredibly proud of the effort they have invested in bringing this production to life.

As we approach the end of Term 2, we congratulate all Year 9 students on their achievements and growth. We thank families for their ongoing support and look forward to another successful semester filled with new opportunities and experiences.

Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing winter break. 

Matthew McLaren (Assistant Principal - Strategic Planning Delivery)

Term 2 Reflection: Teaching, Learning and Wellbeing

Term 2 has been a busy and productive term at Dromana College. Across classrooms and staffrooms, the focus has been on growth, for our students and for our staff, and on getting the best outcomes we can for every young person here.

That focus is evident in the students recognised through our Dromana College Merit Program, which celebrates those who live out our values of Respect, Responsibility, Personal Best and Integrity. Students across a wide range of year levels and programs have earned merit points this term, in and out of the classroom.

We have received our 2026 NAPLAN results, and they are strong. Congratulations to our Year 7 and Year 9 students on the effort they put into these assessments. Families will receive their individual student reports from mid-July. Our Year 9 students have good reason to build on this. In 2027, as they move into senior school, they will again have an expanded range of subjects to choose from. Our senior students also completed their mid-year exams this term. Congratulations to them on the focus and organisation they showed throughout.

Staff have spent this term on professional learning focused on domain-based curriculum outcomes. Teams have moderated student work together, observed one another through learning walks, and visited each other’s classes to share what works. The goal is the same as it has always been: high-quality teaching, learning and support in every room, every day.

Term 3 will continue that work. Staff will participate in professional development on a range of topics, including a renewed focus on formative assessment. Parent-teacher interviews are on Monday, 24 August, and I encourage every family to take part.

A real focus this semester has been wellbeing: working to ensure every student has a reason to come to school and a purpose once they are here. The results are strong, and so is participation: this is our highest level of extracurricular involvement ever across sport, music, enhancement classes, and our production of Grease. Attendance has improved across the college alongside it. Thank you to our parents, carers and community for the support behind all of this, from late-night pick-ups to help with study, we know that you, as our students, go above and beyond. 

Thank you to all students, families and staff for Term 2. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Term 3.