Principal's Report

Ben FRANKLIN

Assistant Principal

Welcome to Term 4

Welcome to Term 4! I hope all students and families enjoyed the term break and had the opportunity to rest, recharge and spend quality time together.

Term 4 is always one of the busiest, yet most rewarding, times of the school year. Across the College, students and staff are focused on maintaining momentum in teaching and learning, supporting students through examinations and assessment, concluding key programs, preparing reports and continuing our planning for 2027. It is also a valuable opportunity to reflect on just how much our students have learned, grown and contributed throughout the year.

As we move through the term, I encourage all students to remain focused on making the most of every learning opportunity. The feedback provided through Progress Reports, Learning Conferences and ongoing classroom learning remains an important tool for growth. Success is rarely about a single assessment or result. More often, it comes from consistently acting on feedback, seeking support when needed and continuing to improve over time. Our teachers, Year Level Leaders and support staff remain available to help every student strive for their personal best.

Farewelling the Class of 2026

This week marked a significant milestone for the Class of 2026 as they celebrated the conclusion of their formal secondary schooling. On Thursday evening, students, families and staff gathered for the Year 12 Graduation Dinner. It was an opportunity to reflect on friendships, achievements, challenges overcome and memories created across six years at Highvale Secondary College.

On Friday morning (16th of October), our Year 12 students came together one final time for their Farewell Assembly and breakfast. These occasions provide an opportunity not only to celebrate individual achievement, but to recognise the people who have shared the journey alongside them. The classmates who became friends, the teachers who challenged and supported them, the education support staff who helped them navigate both the highs and the lows, and the families who have walked beside them every step of the way.

A particular highlight of the day was the final guard of honour, as our Year 12 students exited the hall for the last time as Highvale students. Lined by their Year 11 peers and applauded by staff, it was a fitting and memorable send-off that reflected the pride and gratitude of the entire College community. It was a powerful reminder that while their time at Highvale may be drawing to a close, they will always remain part of the Highvale community.

I would like to acknowledge and thank Ros Patti, Richard Shelley, Andrea Weinbergs, Karnel Ahmet and Jenny Smith for their leadership, organisation and support in delivering both the Graduation Dinner and Farewell Assembly. These events provide important opportunities to celebrate our students and recognise their achievements, and their work behind the scenes is greatly appreciated.

As a College, our vision is simple: Learning Today. Growing Together. Leading Tomorrow. Looking across our graduating class, it is difficult not to see that vision reflected in their journey. Over six years they have developed not only their academic knowledge, but also their resilience, character, confidence and capacity to contribute positively to the communities around them. They have left their mark on Highvale, and we thank them for the contribution they have made to our school.

Finishing Strong: VCE Examinations

While celebrations have begun, there is still important work ahead. VCE examinations are now rapidly approaching, and students should ensure they are familiar with all examination dates, times and locations by referring directly to the official VCAA examination timetable.

The next few weeks are an opportunity for our Year 12 students to consolidate their learning and finish strongly. As I shared with the graduating class at their Farewell Assembly, the goal from this point is not perfection, but commitment. It is about giving their best effort, making the most of the opportunities available to them, supporting one another and finishing this chapter with pride. Whatever success looks like for each individual student, their effort between now and their final exam remains firmly within their control.

Our Year 12 students do not undertake this journey alone. I would also like to acknowledge our VCE teachers and support staff for the significant work they continue to undertake in supporting students through this period. The additional revision sessions, feedback, practice examinations and guidance provided behind the scenes are greatly appreciated and make a genuine difference to students as they prepare for their final exams.

Encouragingly, many students have already taken advantage of revision sessions, practice examinations and feedback opportunities provided by their teachers. These efforts, combined with the commitment shown throughout the year, place them in the strongest possible position to achieve success.

On behalf of the entire Highvale community, I wish our Year 12 students every success in the weeks ahead. We are proud not only of what they have achieved, but of the people they have become. We look forward to celebrating their future successes and know they will always remain an important part of the Highvale story.

Strong Starts to Every Lesson

As we begin Term 4, our staff have renewed their focus on the classroom routines that help every student learn at their best. At our first staff meeting of the term, teachers revisited the Highvale Teaching & Learning Model, which guides how lessons are structured across the College through four phases: Engage, Explicit Instruction, Purposeful Practice and Reflect.

This term we are paying particular attention to the Engage phase, which covers how every lesson begins. Research and experience tell us that the first few minutes of a lesson set the tone for everything that follows. When students enter a classroom that is calm, organised and predictable, they are able to settle quickly and focus on their learning.

In practice, this means students can expect each lesson to begin with a Do Now. This is a short task waiting for them as they arrive, often asking them to recall something they learned in a previous lesson. Teachers will then share the Learning Intention and Success Criteria (LISC), so that students know what they are learning, why it matters and what success looks like by the end of the lesson.

The Do Now also connects with our Professional Learning focus this term on retrieval practice. Regularly bringing previous learning back to mind is one of the most effective ways to strengthen long-term memory, and it is a habit that benefits students well beyond the classroom, particularly as they prepare for exams and assessments.

Over the coming weeks, members of the Principal Team and leadership team will be visiting classrooms to see these routines in action and to support our teachers in their work. Families can help at home by asking their child, “What was your Do Now today for this class today?” or “What were you learning about in class?” These simple conversations reinforce the importance of learning and help students consolidate what they have learned.

Uniform: Pride in Our College

Our uniform is one of the most visible ways we show pride in Highvale and a sense of belonging to our community. It also contributes to the calm, focused learning environment we want for every student.

This term, we are placing a renewed emphasis on correct uniform. During Period 2 each day, teachers will check uniform when marking the roll. Where a student is out of uniform, this will be recorded on Compass. The same process applies to students arriving late to class.

Our aim is simple: consistency and clear expectations for everyone. We ask families to support us by checking that your child leaves home in full and correct uniform each day. If there is a reason your child is unable to wear the correct uniform on a particular day, please provide a note or contact the school so we can support them. If your family is experiencing difficulty with uniform, please reach out to your child’s Year Level Leader. We are always happy to help.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to make Term 4 a positive and productive term for every student.