Principal's Report
End of Term 1
We have reached the end of Term 1 for 2025, and I want to thank all of our staff for their incredible work supporting our students. As we reflect on the term, I am particularly proud of the safe, orderly, and positive learning environment which has been created. Staff and students have embraced co-creating positive environments and classroom expectations, and our school has seen a remarkable change as we continue to improve the learning experience for all.
Our focus this year is on growth, and I am glad to see and hear the improvements happening in every classroom. The collaborative efforts between our teaching staff and students have set a strong foundation for success for the remainder of 2025.
Census
We completed our census on 28th February for 2025, and our official enrolment numbers for this year stand at 930 students. This includes 270 students in Year 10, 260 in Year 11, and 400 in Year 12. These numbers form the basis of our 2025 funding allocation.
Official Opening of Chirnside Building
We were delighted to host the official opening of our new learning wing, the Chirnside Building, this term. The ceremony was honoured by the presence of our State Member of Parliament, Mr. Dylan Wight MP, who officially opened the building. We were also joined by several distinguished guests from the Department of Education, including Executive Area Director Silvana Sena, representatives from the Victorian School Building Authority, and members of the construction team from Orion Builders.
Our Student Body Presidents, Nyapath and Erasti, led our guests on a comprehensive tour of the school's facilities, showcasing our new science rooms, technology spaces, and the impressive Chirnside Wing. The formal ceremony began with an address from myself, followed by a heartfelt Acknowledgement of Country delivered by our Student Body Presidents. Mr. Wight then delivered a warm and inspiring speech before officially cutting the ribbon to mark the opening.
As always, our school deeply appreciates the ongoing support from our state representative, and we remain hopeful that our continued partnership will secure funding approval for our paddock space, transforming it into a vibrant school and community recreational area in the near future.
Parent Teacher Conferences
We held our Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday, 27th March, from 11:30 AM to 7:30 PM. Many families took this valuable opportunity to connect with our teachers and receive feedback to help set their children up for success for the remainder of Semester 1. We welcome any additional feedback from parents who attended these sessions and encourage them to contact the school with their thoughts or suggestions.
Uniform Focus
I would like to remind all families that presenting in correct school uniform is imperative for the safety of our entire school community. We understand that uniform costs can be challenging for some families, and I want to highlight that the School Savings Bonus (SSB) of up to $400 can be used toward uniform purchases. Please contact the school if you require any support in obtaining the correct uniform.
We will be implementing a major focus on correct uniform compliance across our whole school community as we enter Term 2, and we appreciate your cooperation in maintaining these standards.
School Review
During Term 1, we conducted our comprehensive school review, which included five fieldwork days dedicated to collecting feedback, analysing data, and observing our school classrooms and learning environments. The school leadership team is eager to collaborate with our review team to implement improvements throughout the remainder of 2025 and to begin developing our new School Strategic Plan (SSP), which will guide our improvement initiatives over the next four years.
As part of this review process, our school has also undergone a thorough audit and has been approved as compliant under Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) standards, meeting a range of regulations covering Child Safe Standards, School Policies, and School Structures/Governance.
Leave & Acting Principal
I would like to inform our community that I will be taking Long Service Leave for the majority of Term 2. During my absence, I am pleased to welcome Mr. Reardo Luka as Acting Principal. He will be well supported by our experienced Principal Team. As I prepare to see the wonderful sights of Japan, I will say "Sayonara" for the end of Term 1.
Shane Cole-Hayhow
Principal