Principal's Report 

"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration." - Nikola Tesla

Welcome to Term 3! It’s hard to believe that it is the last full term for our Year 12s. We began the term with a whole school assembly celebrating some of last term's events and achievements and welcomed 12 new students to the college. My speech centred around Nikola Tesla’s quote, “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” This reminded me that passion is energy - what you feel inside is based on what you are doing, and in the case of school, that is learning. If students follow their energy to cultivate the passion within, they will ‘find the secrets of the universe’.

NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Week took place from 7 to 14 July, with the theme ‘Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud’. NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians all over the country and overseas. 

Staffing Update

I am delighted to share the news that our Assistant Principal, Steve Bourbon, has accepted an Acting Principal position at Cranbourne East for the remainder of the school year. Steve has been an invaluable member of our leadership team, contributing immensely to the growth and success of Beaumaris Secondary College. While we will greatly miss his presence and leadership here, we are incredibly proud of his accomplishment and know that he will excel in his new role. Please join us in congratulating Steve on this well-deserved opportunity. We are sure that his passion for education and commitment to student wellbeing will continue to shine.

Steve's transition to his new position will take place immediately. We wish him all the best.

We will keep you updated once we have appointed an assistant principal to fill the role.

We are pleased to have Sarah Keating back to cover Deb Kirk's leave this term. Also, I am delighted to welcome Marcus Wright to the team. Marcus will be teaching Our World.

Student Wellbeing

Year 8 Wellbeing Day

On Monday, our Year 8 students participated in a range of engaging activities. They benefited from presentations by Stride Education on building positive friendships and resolving conflicts, took part in an Amazing Race by Urban Quest that challenged their teamwork, logic and problem-solving skills, and enjoyed a silent disco and a ‘Sketch & Snack’ session aimed at enhancing focus and awareness.

'Get Growing' Program

Last term, several students participated in the 'Get Growing' wellbeing program with a facilitator from GROW, a community organisation that runs mental wellbeing programs. Through this program, students gained insights into self-worth and the value of friendships. They discovered a supportive space at school, improved their relationships and learned how to set and respect boundaries. The program emphasised trust in seeking adult support, overcoming challenges and the importance of self-acceptance and mutual respect. The positive impact on their emotional growth and social development is evident from their feedback, which you can read on the Wellbeing Matters page of this newsletter.

Japanese Exchange, Year 9 Camps & Urbans Expeditions & Year 10 Work Experience

The last week of Term 2 was action packed from our first Japanese Exchange to Year 9 Camps & Urban Expeditions Week and Year 10 Work Experience which you can read more about in this newsletter. Be sure to check out Our Latest Facebook & Instagram Posts page if you are not on social media. I attended the Reef-to-Rainforest camp, which was an amazing experience, and it was wonderful to build connections with staff and students alike. 

A big thank you to the dedicated staff who made these enriching experiences possible for our students. Your hard work and commitment are greatly appreciated. Thank you also, to all the businesses that generously hosted our work experience students.

Regional & State Cross Country

I am so proud of our incredible athletes who showcased exceptional talent and determination at the Regional Cross Country on 25 June and State Cross Country on 18 July. We had 8 students representing the college at the state level; Kiara M, Amelie D, Angus D, Ada S, Eve A, Katie G, Olivia V and Edie D and our '16 years girls' were crowned State Cross Country Champions!

Art Show

Our Art Show, held on 27 June, was a huge success with over 500 people in attendance. It was wonderful to partner with our friends at Beaumaris Primary School, Black Rock Primary School, Beaumaris North Primary School and the Better Health Network to celebrate art together. It was lovely to receive the email below from the Better Health Network. Special thanks to Emily O'Keefe and the team for organising such a fabulous event.

I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks to you and your team for organising such a wonderful art show. The event was remarkable, bringing the community together in a vibrant celebration of creativity and artistic expression. And what a turn out you had!!

Our participants were thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase their art, and it was a joy to see them proudly share their work with their loved ones and friends. Your efforts in coordinating and hosting the event created an inspiring and supportive environment for all involved. Thank you once again for your dedication and hard work in making this event a success.

Safe Partying Presentation

It was wonderful to see parents across all year levels participate in the informative online session with Sonya Karras, one of Australia's foremost authorities on safe partying. Your engagement and support are truly appreciated.

NAPLAN Results

We have received our 2024 NAPLAN results for our Year 7 & 9 students which have been mailed home to families this week. We are pleased with the results and the number of students exhibiting high growth from Years 7 to 9 has increased across reading and numeracy.

Student Success

I am so proud of the remarkable achievements of our students which we celebrate regularly on Facebook and Instagram. You may have noticed that we are also celebrating students on our community board on the corner of Balcombe and Reserve Roads. We are thrilled to be nurturing confident, well-rounded students.

Student Attitudes to School Survey Results 

I will be sharing the results of the annual Attitudes to School Survey with students in each year level this term so we can work with them to continue to make Beaumaris better. 

2025 Course Selection

It was wonderful to see our Year 9 & 10 students and their families exploring the wide range of subjects and pathways available to them for 2025 at our VCE Expo & Course Information Seminar last night. Our current Year 8 families will attend a Year 9 2025 Course Information Seminar on 30 July. Our 2025 Curriculum Handbooks have also been made available to our families and can be found on Compass and on our website at: Curriculum Handbooks - Beaumaris SC

The 2025 Course Selection Timeline, which outlines crucial dates and deadlines relevant to the course selection process for 2025, is also available on Compass.

GOAL & VCE P/S/T Conferences

GOAL P/S/T Conferences will be held online via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 August, between 3.30 – 4.30pm. These are timed to support the course selection process for students currently in Year 8, 9, 10 and 11.

VCE Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday 20, Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 August, between 3.30 – 4.30pm. More information will be made available on Compass in due course.

Building Works

Over the school holidays, the gym floor was resurfaced, providing a renewed and safer environment for our students' physical activities. Additionally, new curtains and lighting bars are currently being installed in W5, which will greatly improve the functionality of this learning space for the performing arts.

Push Up Challenge

Well done to the staff and students who committed to the Push Up Challenge during June. Our team completed over 66,200 push-ups and raised over $1,400 for Headspace, supporting mental health in young people.

Curriculum Day

Please note that students are not required at school on Monday 26 August. There will be no scheduled classes or supervision on this day.

Other Upcoming Events

As always, we have another busy term ahead, with a strong focus on learning, development and student wellbeing. Our students engage in a variety of enriching activities that support their academic and personal growth.

• Pyjama Day – 1 August 
• Year 11 Formal – 2 August
• Year 10 Wellbeing Day – 5 August
• Astronomy Night - 7 August
• House Athletics Carnival – 12 August
• Year 9 Morrisby Interviews – 19 – 23 August
• Year 11 Wellbeing Day – 19 August
• Parents’ Association Meeting – 21 August
• Instrumental Music Soiree – 20 August
• Ensemble Soiree – 3 September
• VCE Music Soiree – 10 September
• Parent Webinar: Managing Anxiety (Headspace) – 10 September
• Kingston Division Athletics Carnival – 12 September
• Footy Colours Day – 16 September

Debby Chaves

Principal