Shane Gemmola

Acting Principal

As we move toward the end of Term 3, it’s been clear just how busy — and relatively short — this term has been. Both students and staff have done a terrific job of keeping focus in and out of the classroom, and it’s been great to see the energy and commitment right across the school. I am really proud of what Brunswick Secondary College showcases in this newsletter. It is a great representation of what happens day in and day out in our school.

Achievement

Over the past few months, we’ve seen some fantastic achievements across the arts, sport, and academic programs. The Performing Arts Gala was a standout, with many saying it was the best yet. It was wonderful to see a full theatre of families and community members celebrating the talent and hard work of our students. The Battle of the also Bands added to the excitement, with students performing to a packed crowd and showing the strength of our music program.

There have been many achievements on the sporting front, one in particular I would like to mention is that of our Senior Girls Soccer team reaching the State Finals — an outstanding effort. They went down in a penalty shootout, but they represented the school proudly and were grateful for the strong support from staff and peers back at school. Read more about their stellar performance in this issue.

Community Connections

Our Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences were an important opportunity to connect with families and discuss progress, goals, and areas for growth. Thank you to staff for the preparation and professionalism you brought to these conversations and indeed, thank you to the families and students who have shown a real engagement in the feedback available.

Other highlights include the annual Trivia Night, run brilliantly by the Parents Association, and the monumental success of our Community Planting Day - a joint project between the Parents' Association and Tended Earth. This project has been made possible by fundraising efforts initiated by our very active, and much appreciated, Parents' Association. Thank you to all the students, staff and family members who worked so hard on Planting Day, and to the many who have contributed funds in order to make it happen! See the results in this issue.

Special thanks to Allison Berry and Jo Keeble, both of whom are instrumental in initiating and running the entire project.

Student Engagement and Wellbeing

Student engagement and wellbeing has remained a particular focus this term.

Wear It Purple Day was celebrated with a casual clothes day, highlighting our commitment to inclusion and belonging for LGBTQIA+ students. Year 8 students continued to participate in the Oxygen peer leadership visit, further building their capacity as leaders within the community. Outdoor Education students attended the Bogong Alpine Program in the Victorian High Plains, which provided rich opportunities for personal growth and resilience. Staff and students also took part in the BSC World’s Greatest Shave, to raise funds and awareness for the Leukaemia Foundation while reinforcing the spirit of giving back - read all about it here. RUOK? Day brought a wonderful sense of connection, reminding us all to check in and support one another.

The Homegroup Celebration at the end of the term was another chance for students to celebrate together. There was a great feeling around the place with bands playing, ice cream vans, henna tattoos and plenty more to enjoy. It was a fantastic way to recognise the efforts and achievements of our students. As always, I was particularly impressed with the student-led assembly, which showcased the leadership and energy of our young people here at BSC.

Key Events

The School Leadership Forum took place earlier this term, engaging students in broader conversations around voice and leadership.

A Child Safe Standards professional learning session was also delivered to all staff, reinforcing our shared responsibility for the safety of all students.

Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences provided valuable opportunities for families to engage with staff this term. These conversations are designed to celebrate student achievement while also highlighting areas for growth.

Alongside this, Subject Selection processes for Years 8–9 and 11–12 have continued, supporting pathways and future planning for students.

Work now begins on building the grid that contributes to the timetable construction for 2026. It is a huge piece of work with the ultimate goal of providing the best opportunities for all students.

Teaching and Learning

Our community of practice continues with Sam Steinkrug (Assistant Principal) leading the work around designing of developmental rubrics.

The Teaching & Learning team is deep in development for our upcoming curriculum day to be held on Melbourne Cup Day. We are committing to some work around our Unit Plans with a focus on embedding and documenting adjustments, differentiation and student agency.

and finally...

As we head into the Term 3 break, our senior students who are undertaking exams or finishing off their last assessments are in full preparation mode. The focus and effort from both students and staff during this time is something of which they can be proud. I hope you all get the chance to rest, recuperate and head toward a great final stint.

Thank you to all staff, students, and families for everything you’ve contributed throughout this busy term. It’s been a great effort from everyone; we have finished the term strongly and celebrated more successes together.

On a personal note, I am pleased to be extended in my role as Acting Principal at BSC for the remainder of the year. My time at Brunswick Secondary has been an absolute pleasure and I thank the staff, students and families who have made it so enjoyable. I wish you all a safe an happy break, and hope that we see you back at the beginning of Term 4 ready to tackle all that the end of the year brings.

Communications