Principal Report

Welcome back to Term 4

It has been my pleasure to look after the staff and students for the first week of Term 4 whilst Mr Hogan has been on Long Service Leave. I hope the school holidays were relaxing and re-energising for all community members as we move into the final months of the school year. 

I would also like to extend my gratitude to Mr Nigel Adkin, who assumed the role of Acting Deputy Principal for Student Wellbeing, along with the leadership team and staff who continued their outstanding work in Mr Hogan's absence.

Class of 2025: Expectations for the Final Weeks of Year 12

Our Year 12 students have been completing trial examinations during the school holidays and practising ongoing pieces in class this week, before embarking on the final weeks of their secondary schooling. Our Vocational Major and Unscored VCE students have been participating in a Work Readiness program to further develop their skills in real-world activities. Below are our expectations for all year 12 students to finish the year strongly.

To celebrate the conclusion of their secondary school journey, we have organised several formal celebrations that will bring together family, friends, and teachers to honour the Class of 2025. Completing their VCE and VM certificates is a significant achievement, one that deserves celebration as a community. 

Our school values treating people with dignity and respect, including respect for school property, which benefits all members of our community. Therefore, our simple expectation is that individuals and property will always be respected. Should any students be found responsible for inappropriate behaviour, the school reserves the right to exclude them from participating in their final exams at St John's College, attending the Graduation Mass and Dinner, and other formal farewell functions.

Over the years, we have taken pride in our students' conduct, and I have every confidence that this year's group will maintain the high standards we set for them. They will finish the year enhancing their personal and our school's reputations.

I also want to take this opportunity to emphasise to parents the importance of supervision for any informal celebrations that may occur at family homes in the coming weeks. Year 12 celebrations often attract large numbers of young people, making adequate adult supervision necessary to ensure a safe environment for all participants. As part of our school policy, staff have been instructed not to attend any informal Year 12 celebrations. From a legal perspective, staff in such circumstances could be seen as being in a supervisory capacity, regardless of the intended arrangement.

The last day of timetabled classes for scored VCE students is Monday, October 20, with the day concluding as normal at 3:20 pm. All Year 12 students are required to be at school on Monday, 20 October, at 10 am for an Assembly rehearsal and the issuance of Graduation gowns and stoles. A final College Assembly highlighting the contributions of our graduating students will be held on Tuesday, October 21, at 10:00 a.m., and all parents of the graduating class are invited to attend. A BBQ for our Year 12 students and their parents or guardians will follow this event and conclude at approximately 1 pm on the school grounds. 

Graduation rehearsal is scheduled for Thursday, 20 November at 11:00 am and is compulsory for all Year 12 students. Graduation gowns, stoles and tickets will be distributed to students at this rehearsal. The Year 12 Graduation Mass, followed by dinner, will be held on Friday, 21 November 2025, at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and at the MCG Olympic Room from 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm, respectively. For the Graduation Mass, students (and families) are asked to arrive by 5:00 pm to enable time for a group photo to be taken. 

On Wednesday night, 3 December, the Annual Awards Night will be held in Br Leo Scollen Stadium. Once again, all parents and students of the Class of 2025 are invited to attend this celebration of student achievement and excellence for the 2025 school year.

We look forward to these wonderful family celebrations, an essential time to celebrate our students' achievements in completing their schooling and to express gratitude to their families and teachers who have supported them throughout.

Mr Greg Van Es

Acting Principal