Principal's Report & Captain's Corner

An ambitious start to the year at Coburg High

In the second week of the year, the Principal team held assemblies with students in all year levels focusing on our 2026 theme of ambition - we want our students to aim high and be the best version of themselves. In line with humanity's return to the moon, Gary Vella encouraged our students to aim for the stars. Our students have taken up this challenge with gusto throughout the first quarter of the year - maintaining high standards in and out of the classroom, getting involved in lots of activities including our new clubs program and having a great day of fun at the swimming carnival. It was apt that on the last day of term, students across many classes watched as the Artemis II astronauts took off for for their lunar journey.

Technology Building Progress

At the end of Term 1, I took a walk around our Technology Building under construction. Whilst it is still far from finished, you can begin to get a sense of what learning will look and feel like in this exciting new space in this video:

Australian Ballet collaboration

As part of our involvement in the Merri-bek North Education Plan, for the past two years Coburg High School students have been fortunate to work alongside artists from the Australian Ballet. At the end of Term 1, Year 9 and 10 students were able to participate in an incredible incursion, over the three days, being immersed in a choreographic process grounded in First Nations Australian storytelling and cultures. This workshop was an exemplary synergy of creative dance practices, guiding understandings of First Nations Australian cultures, connections to environmental sustainability, learner agency and collaborative learning. The students made incredible progress from start to finish which culminated in a high quality and refined performance. They were genuinely inspired to new heights of excellence in their creativity and dance performance. The entire experience has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on Coburg High School and our dance program. 

You can see the students' final performance below:

You can read more about this amazing opportunity later in this newsletter.

Live FM

This week our Year 11 VCE Vocational Major students are working with the team at Live FM to explore 'Coburg across the ages'. For those visiting us on Open Day, you will be able to see our students developing their skills in research, writing and engaging their interview subjects. We look forward to sharing their interviews with past students and other community members in a future newsletter.

CHS Trivia Night

Tickets for our CHS Trivia Night are selling fast. Thanks to our wonderful Coburg High School Parents and Carers' Association for putting this event together for the school. As they say, book now to avoid disappointment.

Alumni

Keeley Tennyson graduated from CHS in 2024 and made the big move to Sydney to accept a place a NIDA. Keeley is now performing in her first professional show, playing Young Tatyana in Opera Australia's production of Eugene Onegin at the Sydney Opera House.

School Council Update

Following on from the elections held in the first half of Term 1, office bearers were elected at the first School Council meeting of the newly constituted School Council for 2026. I thank all the parents, students, community members and staff listed below for their dedication to improving our school through involvement in School Council. With a state election coming up, this will be an important year for advocacy, particularly for improved facilities for our students.

CHS staff members

* Brent Houghton (Principal & Executive Officer)

* Gary Vella

* Melanie Buscema-Moore

Parent members

* Trent McCarthy (President)

* Lisa Leening

* Aaron Hemsley

* Michelle Fenwick (Treasurer)

* Hannah Turner (Vice President)

* Louis Ziras

Student members

* Adam Shields

* Sophie Ferguson

Community members

* Simon Wilson

Brent Houghton

Principal

School Captain's Corner

This term, the school Captains’ team have been super busy working on lots of exciting projects; planning Year 12 formal, organising events and much more!

One of these projects was advocating for a year 12 study space. At the end of last year we took the idea to the principal team and worked with them to figure out how to make it a reality. Now Year 12 students are able to enjoy a separate space from the rest of the school to study and prepare for SACs. This project has been a massive success, with students using the space daily for study and to receive support from teachers.

This term we also had an amazing time going down to Leadership Camp and getting to participate in fun activities with the younger leaders of the school. This included helping out with archery and the giant swing, and getting to judge the hut building contest. One of the highlights of the day was doing a Q&A with the students on camp. It was a really lovely opportunity for us to reflect on our journey and experiences throughout high school and we hope we provided some useful insights to younger students on how to navigate the next few years. We were also able to hear lots of great ideas on how to make our school a better place and are excited for the future projects the rest of the year will bring. 

Finally, we attended the teachers strike rally in the city on the 24th of March, in support of our teachers who we truly believe deserve to get paid fairly for all the hard work and dedication they put into teaching their students. 

Captains’ Support of the Rally

Astrid:

On Tuesday we attended the public school teachers rally in the city, in support of our teachers and their campaign for fair pay and a fair workload. Attending this protest was so important to me, as our teachers are currently incredibly under valued by the state government, despite their hard work and long hours. A reduced workload and better pay would benefit everyone including students, and I think it’s frankly ridiculous that Victorian teachers are the worst paid in the country. 

The protest itself had such lovely positive energy and was an incredible demonstration of people coming together for an important cause. I felt so proud to be there and to show my recognition for the commitment, enthusiasm and dedication of my teachers. I am truly so grateful for all my teachers throughout my school experience, they have taught me so much and genuinely shaped who I am. That’s why I believe wholeheartedly in the importance of us students showing our support for our teachers and this campaign in every way we can.

Evie:

Last week at the AEU teachers strike, our teachers and others across Victoria rallied to stand against unfair treatment of educational staff. With the last strike being 13 years ago, Tuesday marked a historic escalation in the fight for equity in a society so reliant on our teachers. From early education to VCE and all extra work in between, educational staff of Victoria are the pillars of learning and creativity, shaping youth into well rounded young adults. We should all feel so lucky to attend a school with such a strong Union presence of like minded and principled teachers who all choose to stand on the right side of history. 

I am optimistic that this unwavering collective action will see a more independent and well-funded public education system in the near future and that students across Victoria will all learn an exceedingly valuable lesson in standing up for unfair treatment and recognising where there is room to use their outside voices.  

Lucas:

On Tuesday the 24th of March, teachers from across Victoria marched off the job. For the first time in 13 years, teachers had to do what was necessary to fight for proper working conditions. As the son of a teacher, I see first hand the difficulties of working such an important job. Late nights grading and preparing work for students, weekends planning ways to make concepts interesting and digestible, post school meetings setting up school wide plans. As well as holidays spent putting hours upon hours of work that only benefit us students. All the effort done for our benefit to walk into classes dealing with challenge after challenge. This is why I felt the need to support my dad, the wonderful teachers at our school, and every teacher in Victoria by marching with them.

The day itself was a lovely day, with bright skies shining on the sea of red in support of the teachers. It let me demonstrate how important I believe teachers are, and how much students should value the amazing people that help them with their learning everyday. As well as let me be a part of gaining the eyes of the government, and everyone in Victoria to the critical point that teachers are facing, and the changes that need to be made to ensure a future where kids can learn as best as they can. I hope that the strike will be a wake up call for everyone to realise how key our teachers are, and the role we should all be playing in supporting them. 

Sophie:

The AEU teachers strike last week was an immense display of union strength! To see so many teachers out there striking really demonstrated the power unions can have, showing an important message that current conditions are unacceptable and that teachers have had enough of their treatment by the State Government. It is disgusting that Victorian public school teachers are the lowest paid in the country in the so-called “Education State”. Our teachers deserve better, and burnout, inadequate pay and staff shortages will not, and should not be tolerated. 

Being at the strike on Tuesday was incredibly important to me as I wanted to show up in solidarity with the teachers who do so much for us. It was incredibly powerful and moving to be surrounded by at least 35,000 teachers, the backbones of our education system. Coburg High School is so lucky to have such dedicated, compassionate, informed and devoted teachers who give their all to providing us with the education we receive. To march in solidarity with our teachers was the least I could do, and I felt very proud to be amongst them!

Images taken by Astrid at the rally: