Message from the Principal
Message from the Principal
As we reach the end of Term 2, 2026, it is important to reflect on several significant projects and celebrations that have brought our school community together.
This week, we celebrated the official opening of our new tuckshop, followed by the opening of our new gym facility on the oval. We are incredibly grateful to our P&C Association for their generous contribution towards the initial purchase of gym equipment, helping to create an exciting new space for our students.
Earlier this week, staff participated in a safety induction and training session to build confidence in the safe operation and supervision of the equipment. This is an important step towards opening the gym for student use during lunchtime activities. Several final additions to the facility will be completed during Term 3, and we look forward to sharing further updates as the project progresses.
Last week, our Balmoral leadership team participated in a leadership workshop series focused on exploring and strengthening our school's values directly with student representatives. During the workshop, students engaged in meaningful discussions about what our values look like in practice, identifying both examples and non-examples of these values being demonstrated through actions, behaviours, and everyday interactions within our school community. Following a review of student feedback, we have developed the first draft of our School Values Fact Sheet. This document will help guide the work of our student leaders and staff as we continue to embed our values into school operations, decision-making and daily practice. We look forward to refining this work further and using it to support our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and a positive school culture.
At the P&C meeting earlier this week, approval was given to expand our Student, Parent and Teacher Conferences beyond the traditional afternoon format. In response to parent feedback requesting greater access to interview times, we have worked closely with staff and the P&C to introduce an extended conference day on Tuesday 11 August, with appointments available from 10:00am to 5:00pm. This means no scheduled classes will operate on this Tuesday.
Each conference will be scheduled for 15 minutes, allowing approximately 13 minutes for meaningful discussion about student learning and progress, with a two-minute transition period between appointments. As in previous years, interviews will be held in I Block. When bookings open, we encourage families to carefully consider the location of staff rooms across all levels of the building and allow sufficient time between appointments when planning their schedules. When the bookings are open the location of staff will be identified to help support your booking process.
We also concluded the term with a wonderful Year 12 Formal held at Waters Edge, Hamilton. While the venue was different from previous years, it was fantastic to see so many families attend the pre-formal gathering and celebrate this important milestone with our students.
Our Year 12 students were exceptionally well presented and enjoyed a memorable evening together. I invited Deputy Principal Mick Baker to deliver the formal address, as he has worked closely with this cohort since they commenced high school in Year 7. It was therefore particularly fitting for him to acknowledge their journey and encourage them as they begin to consider the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead beyond school.
Mr Baker moving on means change in the office and we are excited to welcome Peter Whitby to Balmoral for Term 3 of 2026.
The conduct of our students throughout the evening was outstanding. They represented themselves, their families and our school with pride and maturity, further demonstrating the positive leadership they have provided as our senior students throughout the year.
As previously communicated, Semester 1 academic reports will be released to families shortly after the commencement of Term 3. Reports will be available on Thursday 16 July. Given recent staffing changes and movements, we have taken additional time to ensure that all assessment evidence and reporting information has been thoroughly reviewed and moderated across teaching teams. This process helps ensure the accuracy and consistency of reporting for all students.
Thank you to our students, staff, and families for a successful and productive Term 2. I wish everyone a safe and restful holiday break and look forward to an even stronger and more successful Semester 2 in 2026.
Timothy Barraud
Principal