From the Acting Principal

Term 2 has begun with tremendous energy across the College, and it has been wonderful to see students so actively involved in the many learning, leadership, sporting and community opportunities on offer. The past few weeks have captured so much of what makes Parkdale such a special place — strong relationships, high expectations and a genuine sense of connection.

Camps, Programs and Student Experiences

Our Year 7 and Year 12 camps were a fantastic way to begin the term. The beautiful weather certainly helped, but more importantly the camps provided valuable opportunities for students to build friendships, challenge themselves and strengthen connections with staff and peers. It was pleasing to see such high levels of participation and positive engagement from students across both camps.

At the same time, our Year 11 Futures Program gave students valuable insights into future pathways through workshops, guest speakers and tertiary experiences. These programs play an important role in helping students think ahead and begin planning for life beyond school.

Celebrating Student Achievement

There has been plenty to celebrate across the College already this term.

Our debating team opened the season with a strong first win, continuing the excellent culture of academic challenge and student voice that exists at Parkdale.

In sport, we have had outstanding success in Netball, Soccer, Swimming and Diving competitions. 

We are also incredibly proud of former student Leftheri Tsitsiras (Class of 2025), whose filmmaking achievements continue to gain recognition. After previously being featured in VCE Top Screens, Leftheri has now been selected as one of only 50 students worldwide to participate in the Cannes International Student Film Festival — an extraordinary achievement.

The Unit 1 Theatre Studies production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was another highlight. The performances for local primary schools and evening audiences were exceptional, and the feedback from visiting schools was overwhelmingly positive. Congratulations to all students and staff involved.

Building Community

One of the defining strengths of our school continues to be the sense of community that exists between students, staff and families.

Our annual Mother’s Day Breakfast was a wonderful example of this. The event was incredibly well attended and featured former student and Olympian Nicole Livingstone as guest speaker. Nicole spoke warmly about her time at Parkdale and shared a heartfelt reflection on family and connection that resonated deeply with everyone in attendance.  What stood out most, however, was our students. Their confidence, warmth and sincerity throughout the morning made the event truly special. The feedback from families was overwhelmingly positive, with many commenting on how welcomed and connected they felt as part of the Parkdale community.  A huge thank you goes to Brooke Douglas who led the organisation of this event.

Our Student Voice and Agency Council (SVAC) has also continued its excellent work through initiatives such as the Share the Dignity Drive and fundraising efforts supporting World Vision. These activities reflect the strong culture contributing to those in need we continue to build across the school.

We also recently held our ANZAC Day Assembly, where students marked the occasion with maturity and respect. Our student leaders did an excellent job helping tell the story of Lone Pine and ensuring the significance of the day was recognised appropriately.

Welcoming Future Families

Our revised Open Night format earlier this term was another major success. Along with our regular school tours, we have now welcomed more than 750 prospective students and families through the College this year. The feedback from visitors has been extremely positive, particularly regarding the way our students present themselves — enthusiastic, respectful and proud of their school.

Around the School

A significant amount of work has taken place around the College grounds and facilities, including the removal of the portable classrooms near E-Block. While the space is currently fenced off, plans are being finalised for the space and we hope to begin construction soon.