Need to Know 

I’d like to bring your attention to a few important updates and reminders regarding school operations, uniform expectations, and student wellbeing.

Firstly, a reminder that hoodies are not permitted as part of the St Helena Secondary College uniform. This is a safety measure designed to ensure students are easily identifiable and that our duty of care can be upheld. Hoodies worn to school will be confiscated and held until the end of term or until a parent collects them, whichever comes first. We ask for your support in reinforcing this with your child.

You may have seen recent media coverage about changes to school uniform regulations. While the Victorian Government has announced changes to the requirement for branded logos on pants and shorts, these changes do not come into effect until 2026. In the meantime, all students are expected to comply with our current uniform policy. School Council is in the process of reviewing the policy, but exemptions will only be granted by Council in cases of genuine medical need, not for reasons such as discomfort or preference. If your child requires an exemption, please ensure that the uniform exemption form, available on our website www.sthelena.vic.edu.au, is fully completed by a medical practitioner and returned to me for submission to School Council. Students are expected to remain in full uniform unless and until an exemption is formally approved.

Please also note the following important dates:

• The last day of Term 2 is Thursday 4th July, with students finishing at 12:15pm. Buses will run as normal at that time.
• Semester 2 commences on Monday 23rd June, and students should be aware that this may involve elective changes where applicable.

Lastly, we are currently managing an outbreak of COVID-19 within the school community. While we continue to emphasise the importance of regular attendance, if your child is unwell or experiencing cold/flu symptoms, please keep them at home. The current variant is highly contagious and has resulted in a number of staff and student absences lasting a week or more. Your consideration for the health and safety of others is greatly appreciated.

A Road Safety Plea

I have received a few concerning emails from parents over the past few weeks concerning driver behaviour both in the school grounds, and in the vicinity of bus stops.

When in the school grounds, please observe the 5 km/h speed limit and the requirement to drop your child in the drop-and-go zone and immediately move into the traffic flow to exit the school grounds.

The only vehicles permitted to access the school via the front driveway between 8am and 9am are (a) office and principal class with designated parking spots in the front carpark, (b) parents/staff accessing the disabled parking spaces, and (c) buses.  

If you find the queue to the drop off zone and out of the school too slow, I suggest you drop your child a couple of streets away and let them walk the remainder to school.

PLEASE DO NOT DROP  YOUR CHILD IN THE MIDDLE OF WALLOWA ROAD and expect them to cross a lane of traffic to get into the school!!!  This is an accident waiting to happen.

The following is an example of the correspondence I have received regarding driver behaviour near a bus stop:  I have seen a St Helena parent driving dangerously on multiple mornings this year, and the same driver this morning disobeyed basic road rules to cut through the intersection, cut off other cars that could have potentially been moving forward and drove with such speed and thoughtlessness that I have registration details and am prepared to go to the police. This driver's entitlement, and complete disregard for other road users, including pedestrians - students! - is seriously concerning. I understand that you are not in control of this, however I am passing this on in the hopes that something can be communicated to parents. There are significant road works that are due to commence imminently at that same intersection, making access even more congested. 

I know we are all invested in the safety of our children; please work with us to obey basic traffic rules so that every child arrives at school, and home again, safely.  

Would you like your child featured in our newsletter?

We don't always hear about the great achievements of our students in arenas outside of school.  If  your child has excelled in sport, performing arts, community service or any other area outside of school and you would like them featured please email AskLeadership@sthelena.vic.edu.au

Daring to be excellent is an important characteristic to recognise in our young people, both in and outside of school.