Message From 

The Principal

One of the great privileges of working in a school community is witnessing students pursue their interests, develop their talents and challenge themselves in new ways. Over recent weeks, our students have continued to do exactly that, demonstrating commitment, creativity and a willingness to make the most of every opportunity.

Principal Leadership Update

As many members of our community are aware, our substantive College Principal, Karen Terry, has been serving as Acting Principal at Viewbank College during 2026.

The original arrangement was expected to be for approximately six weeks. However, the process of appointing a substantive Principal at Viewbank College has taken longer than anticipated, resulting in Karen's placement being extended through to the end of Term 3.

I am pleased to advise that Karen will be returning to St Helena Secondary College in readiness for the commencement of Term 4. I know many members of our community will be looking forward to welcoming her back to the College.

I would like to thank our staff, students and families for their ongoing support and partnership throughout this period. While there is still plenty to look forward to over the final weeks of Term 3, I know our community will be pleased to welcome Karen back to St Helena Secondary College at the commencement of Term 4.

One of those highlights is our school production, Singin' in the Rain, which opened last night and showcases the extraordinary talent, commitment and teamwork of our students and staff.

Singin' In The Rain - School Production

Our school musical, Singin' in the Rain, opened on last night, and what a show it was!

Congratulations to Laura Zinghini, Stephanie Gardiner, Leif Street, Matilda Walpole, Zoe Maslin and Patrick Broadbent for bringing this outstanding production to life. Events like this require an enormous amount of work and dedication, and it truly shows in the quality of the final performance. A special thank you also goes to Carol Dixon for running our canteen throughout the production season.

It has also been wonderful to see past St Helena students returning to volunteer their time and support the show. Seeing our alumni give back to the school community is one of the things that makes events like this so special.

A huge congratulations must also go to our students, both on stage and behind the scenes. Their talent, commitment and hard work have been evident throughout the rehearsal process and in the performances themselves. For many of our lead performers, this will be their final production at St Helena Secondary College before they begin their Year 12 examinations, making this opening night all the more memorable.

The show runs until 12 September, and tickets can be purchased via TryBooking: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1621625

Real Industry Job Interview (RIJI)

As a College, we are always grateful for the support of our wider community in helping prepare young people for life beyond school. One program that embodies this partnership is the Real Industry Job Interview (RIJI) program, coordinated by the Banyule-Nillumbik Local Learning and Employment Network (BNLLEN). 

The program provides students with the opportunity to apply for a mock position, participate in a one-on-one interview with a community volunteer and receive valuable feedback on their application and interview skills. This authentic experience helps build confidence, strengthen employability skills and better prepare students for future pathways. 

I would like to acknowledge our School Council President, John Fecondo, who has been a long-time supporter and participant in the RIJI program. John often speaks of the rewarding nature of the experience, seeing students grow in confidence throughout the interview process and having the opportunity to support and encourage the next generation of young people as they prepare for the world of work.

This year, more than 1,500 students from local schools are expected to participate, and additional volunteer interviewers are currently being sought for upcoming interview days in October. If you have experience in industry, business, government or the community sector and would like to support local young people, I encourage you to consider volunteering. Further information can be found in the RIJI flyer included in the 'Community News' section of this newsletter.

Parent / Carer Opinion Survey

Have you completed the Parent Opinion Survey yet?

We are keen to hear from as many families as possible. The survey is anonymous, takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, and provides valuable feedback that helps shape future decisions and improvement priorities at St Helena Secondary College.

If you have not already done so, please consider taking a few minutes to complete the survey before it closes on Friday 18 September. Every response helps us gain a more representative understanding of parent and carer perspectives.

To complete the survey:

1. Visit: https://research.orima.com/parent
2. Select St Helena Secondary College as both the School and Campus.
3. Enter the School PIN: 800645

The survey can be completed on a computer, tablet or smartphone and is available in a range of languages.

Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback and support the ongoing improvement of our College.

Daniel Stephens

College Principal (Acting)