Principal's Message

We Grow Through Connection

Dear Families,

It has been a very busy time at our great school with so many opportunities afforded for our students -  we thank our hard working staff for providing these opportunities.

We want our students to attend school every day – Attendance Matters.  Higher levels of attendance supports improved learning and wellbeing outcomes for our students and we appreciate our families working so well with us in this area. 

Importantly, Learning Growth Is Our Priority.  We are proud of the co-curricular opportunities we provide, however Leaning Growth by our students across their subjects is Our Priority. Recent NAPLAN Data (2026) reveals our Year 9 Students demonstrated some very pleasing Growth Data in Literacy - we thank parents and carers for working with us to support our students in their Learning Growth.

We continue to strive for and expect an Orderly Learning Environment.  Our students can thrive when there is a sense of routine, predictability and consistency across their classes.  We expect our students to demonstrate high rates of school attendance and getting to class on time, being in full school uniform and being prepared for all classes, completing all set work and submitting it on time, and using their class-time effectively and continuing to be respectful of others.

We do rely on families being able to make Voluntary Contributions.  We are dependent on Voluntary Contributions from parents and carers to achieve the best possible outcomes and support for our students.  These Contributions support the curriculum program, school services and other resources, together with ensuring the operation of the school’s extended learning and co-curricular programs; your support here plays a crucial role in maintaining a high quality, well resources, and supportive learning environment.  Please note that the payment of 2026 Voluntary Contributions can still be made through Compass.  Furthermore, Semester 2 (2026) Elective payments can also be made through the Compass Portal.

The Performing Arts is an important area of the College.  There is so much for students to do including in the classroom, participation in ensembles, bands and our instrumental Music Program, and in major events such as our annual Production and involvement in the State Schools Spectacular.  Our College Production this year of Mary Poppins Jnr was an outstanding success!  Our College Production is a wonderful showcase of student talent, achievement and effort.  We had huge involvement from staff, students and local primary school students in this year’s Production.  We are proud of what our students have been able to achieve with their participation, and we thank local primary school students for their involvement in the Production this year – such a great means of strengthening important connections with our community.  We thank Genelle Lentini (Leading Teacher, Performing Arts) and her team for all their wonderful work throughout the year to ensure the Production’s success in 2026. Well done everyone! 

The State Schools Spectacular will be held on Saturday 29 August at John Cain Arena and we have many students involved again this year.  We thank Jamie Gourley (SSS Co-ordinator) and her team for their outstanding work through the year to prepare our team of students – we wish them all well with the Spectacular this year.

Sport is another important area of the College with many recent Interschool Competitions of late.  For example, we have several teams representing the College in Basketball and we thank our students for their participation.  Our Netball, Basketball and Volleyball Development Programs continue to be successful, and we wish our students representing the College in Division Athletics on 8 September all the best with their participation.

Teaching Staff are busy correcting key assessments in preparation for the release of Term Three SOAR Point Averages to Families via Compass.  These SOAR Point Averages (which are a measure of Learning Behaviours) will be released later this term in order to coincide with our Parent – Teacher – Student Conferences on Thursday 17 September.

Our $11.3 Million Capital Works Program is now largely complete with landscaping out the front of the new build to be finished by the start of next term. Furthermore, we are expecting two new Science Portables to be delivered and installed in the coming weeks.  We are expecting to hold an official opening of our new Capital Works Program will be held early in Term Four (the date and time are still to be confirmed).

Given the huge interest in our great school, enrolments continue to grow.  In 2022, our total enrolment for Year 7 to 12 inclusive was approximately 785; in 2027, we are projecting a total enrolment of approximately 1220 students.  We are proud of our College and the outcomes that we in partnership with our families are achieving for our students.  As a result of this further growth, our new Sub School this year in Murnong will have another year level added to it in 2027 making it a Year 7, 8 and 9 Sub School like Warreeny and Yawa.  Please be reminded that our Sub Schools throughout the College align with Indigenous names.

The Department of Education and Training (or DET) have released their 2026 Parent Opinion Survey.  Parents and Carers have been sent details via Compass with a link and login details to access the Survey.  The feedback received from the Survey is invaluable; if Parents and Carers can please complete the Survey by Friday 18 September that would be appreciated.

I would like to acknowledge the efforts of our hardworking staff.  Our teaching and support staff are incredibly committed, and they work in the best interests of our students.  Our staff continue to provide outstanding levels of teaching and support and I am proud to be a part of such a dedicated team of colleagues.

We continue to provide a high quality and engaging Teaching and Learning Program. Our students are polite, positive and proud members of our school community – they represent our College incredibly well.  Please visit our Social Media Platforms, Compass and Our Website to learn more about student effort, achievement and involvement in a range of classroom and co-curricular activities at our great school,

Regards

Aaron

Aaron Smith

College Principal – Pakenham Secondary College