Principal's Report 

There is a place for everyone at Beaumaris — and at Beaumaris, everyone can find their place in the world.

Today, I attended the 2026 Government Schools Principals Conference held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The conference provided valuable professional learning opportunities, with principals and assistant principals from across Victoria coming together to hear from leading voices in education, reflect on effective leadership practices, and engage in evidence-informed discussions focused on school improvement and leadership excellence. The event also provided valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration with colleagues across the government school sector.

Keynote speaker Lisa Alexander AM shared learning from her leadership journey through schools and elite sport in her address, Sustaining Excellence in Leadership and Collaboration. Lisa was a World Cup and Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning coach of the Australian Diamonds Netball team. She was a teacher, and her husband was a principal, so Lisa understands both education and high performance. Lisa’s children are of Indigenous heritage from Tasmania, and she spoke about working deeply with a therapist who shared Indigenous heritage and perspectives. Together, they explored insights into leadership through a different lens to the one often used in conventional Western culture — a more Indigenous perspective. They explored leadership as a “gathering of elders”, bringing together varied areas of expertise, and a collaborative approach that seeks to hear the expertise and insight of many, rather than one. A deeper and richer process of leadership, best encapsulated by the maxim:

In essence, one of us is never as good as all of us together.

This is a profound and powerful way to think about leadership, and I think it describes our community approach at Beauy. We genuinely believe and live the truth that it takes a village to raise a child, and our college will continue to flourish if we keep this at the centre of our hearts, minds, decisions and actions.

Student Opportunities and Engagement

Throughout Term 2, our students have continued to benefit from the breadth of opportunities available at Beaumaris Secondary College. Whether through The Arts, sport, leadership, academic pursuits or community involvement, our students are continually encouraged to explore their interests and challenge themselves. These opportunities are only possible through the dedication and passion of our staff, who work tirelessly to create engaging and meaningful experiences for our young people.

Arts Week

Arts Week provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate creativity across the college. Thank you to our Create team for co-ordinating the many moving parts that brought the week together, culminating in another successful Battle of the Bands event. 

Please see The Arts Update and Our Latest Social Media Posts pages of this newsletter for highlights from our Arts Week activities.

Student Voice in Action

It was fantastic to see student voice in action last week as a group of Year 9 students presented to school leadership as part of the ‘Teach the Teacher’ program. Using data from the Attitudes to School Survey, students analysed feedback, identified key areas of importance for their year level and led thoughtful discussions focused on creating positive change within our college community. I commend the students on the confidence, insight and leadership they demonstrated throughout the process and thank them for their genuine contribution to school improvement.

Year 10 Beyond Community Connections Program

This week, some of our Year 10 students visited Fairway Bayside Aged Care to host a trivia event and share musical performances with residents as part of our Beyond Community Connections program for Term 2. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to connect with the wider community and bring joy through conversation, music and teamwork.

As part of the program, some students have also been participating in weekly visits to Beaumaris North Primary School, along with other volunteering opportunities, further strengthening community partnerships and providing valuable opportunities to engage with younger learners.

Students involved in the Beyond program have also been developing their entrepreneurial thinking through a Shark Tank-style challenge, where teams designed and pitched innovative products aimed at solving real-world problems. The presentations showcased creativity, collaboration and critical thinking, with students confidently presenting their ideas to a judging panel.

In addition, another group of students hosted a large afternoon tea for fellow students at the college this week. Students were involved in planning, preparing and running the event, creating a welcoming opportunity for students to connect socially and further strengthening the sense of community within the college.

Intermediate AFL Division Champions

It has been fantastic to see the success of our Intermediate AFL teams over recent weeks, with both our Intermediate Boys and Intermediate Girls teams crowned Division Champions in their respective competitions. The boys claimed their title on 7 May, while the girls went undefeated on 18 May to secure their Grand Final win. Congratulations to all students and staff involved.

Divisional Cross Country 

Divisional Cross Country was held on Wednesday 27 May, with our students achieving some excellent results. Congratulations to all students who participated and to those who have progressed through to the Southern Metro Regional Finals. A special congratulations to Sophie T, who finished 1st overall in the Girls 13 event. Congratulations also to Zara K and Yianni S, who both achieved outstanding 3rd overall finishes in their respective events. We wish all qualifying students the very best for the next stage of competition.

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week is held from Tuesday 27 May to Tuesday 3 June each year. The 2026 theme, All In, reminds us that reconciliation is everyone’s responsibility and calls on all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every day.

I encourage families to learn more about National Reconciliation Week and its importance by visiting the National Reconciliation Week website.

Progress Reports

Progress Reports were made available to families via Compass on Friday 22 May. These reports provide a snapshot of each student’s progress and highlight areas of achievement and opportunities for growth. Families are encouraged to review the reports and discuss them with their child and their teachers. 

Year 10 & 11 Exams and the GAT

As we approach the examination period from Tuesday 9 June to Friday 12 June, I encourage all Year 10 and 11 students to establish consistent study routines and make effective use of their home learning time. Students have also been supported with preparation and revision activities throughout their classes.

All students studying a Unit 3/4 subject this year will participate in the General Achievement Test (GAT) on Tuesday 16 June. This includes students enrolled in the Year 12 Vocational Major and students completing a Unit 3/4 subject without the calculation of a study score.

Communication Guide for Families

To support clear and consistent communication between home and school, the college has introduced a new Communication Guide for Families. The guide outlines key communication channels, appropriate contacts for different enquiries and expected response times.

The guide can also be accessed via the Contact Us page on our website and within our Communication Policy.

Looking Ahead

As always, the final weeks of term are incredibly busy, with many opportunities for students to be involved in performances, sport, learning experiences and co-curricular activities alongside their academic commitments.

• King's Birthday Public Holiday - Monday 8 June
• VCE Unit 1 Exams - Tuesday 9 - Friday 12 June
• Year 10 Exams - Thursday 11 & Friday 12 June
• General Achievement Test (GAT) - Tuesday 16 June
• Instrumental Music Soiree - Tuesday 16 June
• Parents' Association Meeting - Tuesday 16 June
• Regional Cross Country - Thursday 18 June
• Arts Festival - Thursday 18 June
• Year 9 'Choose Your Own Adventure' Week - Monday 22 - Friday 26 June
• Year 10 Work Experience - Monday 22 - Friday 26 June
• Last Day of Term 2 - Friday 26 June (2.30pm dismissal)
• Curriculum Day - Monday 13 July
• Term 3 Commences - Tuesday 14 July

Thank you to our students, staff and families for the positive way in which they continue to contribute to our college community. I look forward to seeing our students finish the term with continued focus, enthusiasm and involvement.

Mr Stephen Bourbon

Principal