PRINCIPAL REPORT 

While students and staff have been experiencing a lot of illness in recent weeks- I am proud of the way students have endured the 11-week term! It has again been a busy one with interschool sport, the production crew preparing for The Little Mermaid in term 3, numerous formal assessments in senior school and preparing for 2026 subject selections. Our students are so fortunate to have such caring and professional teachers around them- creating many academic and extracurricular experiences for them.

It has been a busy term being a Principal as well! As you will have seen in recent correspondence, I have embarked on an inquiry of my own- researching with a team of staff the impact that the new VTLM.20 will have on us as a college. It was a big decision to let IB go, professionally and personally. I was the Assistant Principal that supported the application, inception and with the support of Celeste Lombardi and Kylie Russell, embedding into the college. I am confident after hearing what the school community values about our school and the research that has been conducted into VTLM 2.0, that we will continue to support our students with excellent teaching and learning.

We are saying goodbye to a few staff this term, they will be greatly missed in our community – but again I am confident that this will provide growth and opportunity for others.

Brenda Barker, our Business Manager has been successful in being appointed as Business Manager at Mornington Secondary College. Brenda has been a part of our college for over 10 years. Brenda has been instrumental in leading finances at the college in a particularly challenging and complex landscape post COVID and community financial hardship while building an exemplary Education Support team culture. I know myself; many families and staff have been supported by her, she will be terribly missed.

Cassie Willis, Student Management Assistant Principal was planning to move to Western Australia in 2026. She has been offered a position for term 3 and has accepted. Cassie has been the ‘pocket rocket’ we needed to reflect, revise and implement up to date and strategic responses to support students, families and staff in a time of student growth and change in adolescence. Cassie came to work each day positive and willing to do what she could to make this place feel supported. 

We welcome Dylan Johnson - Turner as Acting Assistant Principal for the remainder of the year.

Rachael Schembri who has been an English classroom teacher and year level coordinator, is going back to her roots of Primary School teaching. She remains as a part of our Mount Eliza community, picking up a position with Kim Jackson at Kunyung Primary. We will miss her vibrant and caring nature, excellence in teaching of literacy. 

We have new staff starting in term three to replace these teaching positions. While it continues to be challenging to recruit in education, we are utilising different initiatives by the department to have teachers in front of classes. The Victorian Government is investing in employment-based teaching degrees to fast-track student teachers into classrooms.

These programs are often referred to as Teach Today and Teach Tomorrow programs and have undergraduate and postgraduate degree options available. Participating students will be employed in a government school while they study to get real hands-on experience.

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Have great break, stay safe- hopefully you are heading to sunshine and warmth!