Principal's Report
Centenary Celebrations: Centenary Concert 2026
On Wednesday 17 June, the Melbourne Recital Centre was filled with the sounds of the wonderful music of Eltham High School students, past and present.
600 people filled the auditorium for what truly turned out to be the music concert of the century.
The Centennial Concert began the series of centenary celebrations which will occur throughout this year culminating in the School Fete and Open Day on 11th October. All of our events are featured on the school website.
Current and past students, conductors and international guests came together to be part of an amazing celebration of Music at Eltham High School spanning over 43 years this century.
It was a night of celebration and connection. An opportunity to bring our community together, and demonstrate what can be achieved with a powerful vision, passion and hard work.
I take this opportunity to thank our Director of Music, Rick Keenan, our Music Secretary Grace Trebley, the music staff, the music program Alumni, our current students, our Alumni soloist (Double Bass player, Ben Hanlon), parents, carers, and friends for making this evening a truly memorable occasion.
In particular I wish to acknowledge and thank our guest conductors: Ken Waterworth, Sally Davis, and Manabu Inoue for their exceptional contribution to the night.
Centennial River is a work commissioned for our current Symphonic Band to commemorate the occasion. Composer Taran Carter, a member of the Eltham High School Music Program Alumni created a piece of music that really captured the past, the present, and the hope for the future for the Eltham High Music program. The performance of our students was exceptional, and I believe that everyone left the night feeling very proud to be part of the Eltham High School Community.
A great effort on the part of the organisers, an amazing performance on the part of the musicians and conductors, and an outstanding turnout on the part of the community. Well done!
Student Achievement
Congratulations to Miley Navuni (Year 11, Skipper House) who has again been selected to represent Victoria and Eltham High School at the Under 18 Australian School girls sevens rugby union championship in July. She is part of the 11-player squad selected from across the state.
This is one of the most prestigious national schools competitions in Australia and serves as a selection trial for the Australian schoolgirls 7’s who, in 2023, went on to win the global youth sevens on the Gold Coast. We wish Miley and her team every success in the competition and look forward to an outstanding outcome for Victoria, the team, and Miley.
State Schools Spectacular 2026
We’re proud to have Imogen McMahon (Year 12, Pakana House) representing us in the 2026 Victorian State Schools Spectacular – This Is Me. Imogen has the very important role of Rehearsal Stage Manager.
Students from across the state will take to the stage at John Cain Arena on Saturday 29 August (1pm and 6:30pm), performing to an audience of around 12,000. The contribution of backstage crew is essential to the success of the show.
Talented students will feature on stage, while many other students will work behind the scenes, gaining professional experience under the mentorship of Creative Director Neill Gladwin, Musical Director Chong Lim AM, and Dance Director Yvette Lee.
The show is filled with powerful pop anthems, moving ballads, high-energy choreography, awe-inspiring aerialists, and circus performers.
For a wonderful, family entertainment experience, and to cheer on students from across the state, be quick to secure tickets when they go on sale at 11am Thursday 16 July via www.ticketek.com.au/spectacular
Ticket prices:
Adult:$40
Child (under 15):$20
Concession:$30
Group Offer: Buy 10 tickets and get one adult ticket for free. Group Bookings can be made by calling 1300 364 001
Love Bites
On Thursday, 18 June, our Year 10 students participated in the Love Bites Respectful Relationships Education Program. Since 2024, Eltham High School has proudly delivered this program. This year, our Year 10 students became the third-year level to participate, reflecting our ongoing commitment to equipping students with the skills to build healthy, respectful relationships.
Developed by NAPCAN, Love Bites is a nationally recognised program that helps young people aged 15–17 develop the knowledge and skills to build healthy, respectful relationships, understand consent, and recognise unhealthy behaviours. It is delivered in schools across Australia.
The Year 10 curriculum focuses on key topics including:
Understanding and building respectful relationships
The impact of gender stereotypes on relationships
Recognising unhealthy, controlling or abusive behaviours
Relationships, consent and communication
How to seek help, support others and create positive change in the community
We believe that providing this education at school is incredibly important. Adolescence is a time when young people are developing their understanding of friendships, dating relationships, personal boundaries and consent. Love Bites gives students the knowledge, language and confidence to identify respectful and unhealthy behaviours, make informed decisions, support their peers, and access help when needed.
The program also aligns with our commitment to student wellbeing, safety and respectful relationships education. By encouraging open discussion and critical thinking, Love Bites helps students develop the skills needed to foster healthy relationships throughout their lives and contributes to the prevention of family violence, gender-based violence and coercive behaviours in the wider community.
A special thank you to the program organisers and facilitators, Madeline Gaitanis, Student Services Leader, and Nadia Devlin, Student Agency and Growth Leader, for their leadership and coordination of this important initiative over the years.
We also extend our sincere appreciation to our trained school facilitators Erin Knight, Lucy Ennis, Alice McKinnon, and Nicholas Allison, as well as the Department of Education’s Secondary School Nursing team for their invaluable support and contribution throughout the program.
We are proud to offer this important learning opportunity to the students of our school as part of our ongoing commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive school community. Through initiatives such as Love Bites, we empower young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to build healthy relationships, make informed choices and contribute positively to the wellbeing of those around them.
Enterprise Bargaining and In-principle Industrial Agreement
I am sure that by now you will be aware that the AEU membership has voted to reject the in principle Industrial Agreement that was delivered by the state government to teachers and support staff.
The Union executive has asked the Department of Education to return immediately to the negotiating table to work through a new agreement based on the priorities outlined to them by the membership win the log of claims.
What this also means is that in term 3 we will be faced with a range of industrial actions some of which will be the reintroduction of a decrease in meetings for teachers, the absence of comments on assessment that appear of Compass, objection to Labor politicians entering a school site, and potential stop work action.
I know that you will see a great deal published in the media; however, I want to reassure you all that the reason for rejection of the in-principle agreement was not purely to do with pay. It was to do with teacher and support staff work conditions which were not considered in the in-principle agreement as well as the overall funding shortage for government schools which impacts on the learning programs that schools can run.
It was recognised that the words “Student Learning” were absent in the agreement and in fact the membership’s claim is that what it wants to see is students at the centre of any new agreement, schools being funded properly, teachers and support staff conditions to be improved in order to support student learning, and recognition of the work that teachers and support staff do through a new pay scale.
There has been no definite direction set as yet in terms of industrial action but it will happen as we return to Term 3. I will keep you informed of what this will look like.
If you do engage with the media, I urge you to do so in a way that exposes you to a range of viewpoints.
I want to reassure you that we will work with our Union Branch to support minimal disruptions to student programs and student learning.
End of Term 2
Once again time has passed us by and we have come to the end of Term 2.
There will be some minor staffing changes for Term 3: Mrs Bronwyn Salton has resigned from her position at Eltham High School and the Department of Education. I thank Ms Salton for her contribution to learning at our school. We have been fortunate enough to fill the vacancy with a new teacher joining us for the first time.
Grace Trebley , Music Secretary will be moving to take up a position with the Tasmanian Symphony. She has been a true asset to the Music program and she will be missed. Again we have been fortunate to appoint a replacement in this vacancy.
I will introduce our new staff to you in the first edition of the Term 3 Newsletter.
I am pleased to say that we have managed to fill at least the first teaching allotment, and we are in the process of filling the second hopefully for the start of Term 3 or very close to this time.
As we return in Term 3 we will be fully engaged in our planning for 2027
As is customary, on the last day of term, school will finish at 2:30pm. I ask that parent/carers arrange safe travel home for all students.
On our last day, Friday 26 June, with the exception of VCE classes which will remain at the teacher’s discretion (all students who have SACs must attend the SAC) all period 5 classes will be cancelled and instead, with the support of the Education Department, students will be given the opportunity from lunchtime to the end of the day to watch the second half of the Socceroos match against Paraguay. There is a great deal of excitement in the air and students are encouraged to wear their green and gold.
As is customary, on the last day of term, school will finish at 2:30pm.I ask that parents/carers arrange safe travel home for all students.
I feel that we end Term 2 on a positive note and take this opportunity to with all students, staff, and families a wonderful, restful, and relaxing break
Term 3 begins on Monday 13 July.
Vincent Sicari, Principal
Eltham High School Reminders, including:
Protecting Against Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Staff Outside of Work Hours
Mobile Phone Policy
Privacy
Student Accident Insurance
Approved Student Exchange Organisations
Camps Sport & Excursions Fund (CSEF)
School Drop Off and Pick Up Times