Acting Assistant Principal Report
Year 7 and 8/Support
by Brooke Douglas
Year 7 and 8
What a wonderful start we have had to the 2026 school year! It has been a genuine pleasure welcoming 203 new Year 7 students into our community. Our Class of 2031 has approached this significant milestone with courage, positivity and determination.
In just a few short weeks, students have:
Met new teachers and support staff.
Built new friendships with students from many other primary schools.
Navigated their way around the vast grounds of Parkdale Secondary College.
Becoming skilled with their new locks, lockers and daily routines.
Navigated the energy of recess and lunchtime here at Parkdale.
Starting secondary school brings excitement, nerves and many new experiences, and our Year 7 students have taken it all in their stride. We are incredibly proud of how confidently they have embraced life at Parkdale Secondary College.
It was also a pleasure to meet so many families at our recent Meet the Tutors evening. Opportunities like this remind us of the importance of partnership between home and school. The conversations, questions and shared aspirations for your children reinforce the strong, supportive community we are building together.
To our Year 8 students, thank-you! You have returned to school with maturity and leadership, setting a positive example for our newest students. We have witnessed many thoughtful acts of support and encouragement, and it has been heartening to see you guiding our Year 7 students with such care.
As we move further into Term 1, we continue to emphasise the importance of preparation and consistent homework completion. Students are being supported to use their Student Organiser to plan their week and manage their responsibilities. We encourage families to establish a simple evening routine of reviewing the Organiser together, discussing upcoming tasks and planning manageable timelines.
These small but consistent habits help students develop independence and balance — juggling schoolwork alongside family time, sport, hobbies, friendships and importantly, rest.
Finally, my sincere thanks to our Student Management, Inclusion and Wellbeing teams for the extraordinary work they do behind the scenes. The first few weeks of secondary school are pivotal, and their care and dedication has ensured that every student feels known, supported and ready to ‘Strive and Achieve’.
We are looking forward to a year of growth, connection and achievement in the Junior School at Parkdale Secondary College.