PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
A very warm welcome back to Western Heights College for another year of learning and a special welcome to our new students and their families, especially our new Year 7 students. We have 221 new Year 7 students who have joined us this year and several new students across each year level. It has been wonderful to engage with you all and get to know understand your goals and aspirations for learning and pathways. Last Friday was our first opportunity to meet as a whole school in an assembly on our college oval where we started with a traditional welcome to country and smoking ceremony conducted by some First Nations Elders from Wadawurrung country. It was a terrific start to the new year as we heard from our student leaders and spoke about our theme for 2026 in “levelling up” our expectations and outcomes.
I hope you have all managed to enjoy a timely break with your family and loved ones during the new year period. Whatever you managed to do, I hope you are all feeling relaxed, hopeful, and excited for learning this year. I have certainly enjoyed time with family for the summer break back home in Port Fairy and was lucky to also visit the Sunshine Coast and enjoyed the great summer weather.
It has been a challenging start for many with several of you having friends or family in the area impacted by fires and floods. Our thoughts are with those impacted and I know you will be checking in and supporting them as best you can. Please reach out if there is anything the school could to do to support these friends and families.
This year we have also welcomed to our college several new staff and we look forward to learning more about them over the next few newsletters when we will profile each one of them.
New teaching staff include –
Amanda Heitmann (Mathematics/Digital Technology Teacher)
Lachy Plueckhahn (Science Teacher)
Brian Allen (English/Humanities)
Sarah Seeary (Art)
Maya Curtis (Food Technology/Health)
Liam Grills (PE/Maths/VM)
Michael Dundon (PE/Maths/VET Sport and Rec)
Annabel Mason (Art)
Troy Praklet (Product Design/Mathematics)
Annual House Swimming Sports
Our annual House Sports will be conducted on Tuesday 17th February at the Kardinia Pool. All Year 7 students and students who want to swim, along with our Sports Leaders will attend the swimming sports. All 8-12 non swimming students will attend school as per normal on this day. If you have any questions re: this event, please direct them to Michael Dundon (Sports Coordinator) at the college.
Congratulations Arlo!
Congratulations to Arlo Shawcross who recently finished runners up in the junior Australian Open Para Tennis competition. This is an outstanding result by 14-year-old Arlo who played off in the final against an 18-year-old from Great Brittain. We are so very proud of Arlo.
Parking and Traffic Management at WHC
With just under 1200 students now attending WHC. We have recently reviewed our traffic management plan for our school community.
A Parent drop off and pick-up area is in Vines Road and at the rear of the school where the main staff car park and visitor’s car park is located. There is limited parking and drop off/pick up space in the staff car park at the rear of the school whilst the new school gymnasium is being constructed.
A great place for parents and students to also meet is at the rear of the school at Hamlyn Park Reserve. There is ample parking in the reserve which is safe and a great place to meet your child.
I will look forward to your support on this matter so we can ensure safety of all our students.
Uniforms in 2026
A reminder to all students and parents/carers that students should be in full school uniform. It has been pleasing to see so many students in correct uniform to start the school year. Our uniform is gender-neutral and seasonal neutral meaning all items can be worn year-round. Please do not hesitate if you require support in obtaining pieces of uniform to contact the colleges well-being team by emailing info@whc.vic.edu.au;
Families may also request assistance with purchasing school uniform from the following organisations:
Smith Family Learning for Life provides support and financial assistance to help disadvantaged children stay at school. The program runs in select disadvantaged areas.
A Start in Life provides financial assistance to disadvantaged students and families to ensure they can access the same learning opportunities as their peers. For information phone (02) 9264 3017.
Opening the Doors Foundation provides education assistance for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in an independent educational institution in Victoria.
The Queen’s Fund Financial assistance with the cost of educational expenses for children. Applications must be completed by a social worker or a community agency that works with you.
Good Shepherd Micro-finance is a great initiative that has financial programs to assist families on low or limited incomes with educational costs and other expenses. One of their programs is the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) which gives access to fair and safe credit up to $1,200 for essential educational items.
Saver Plus This is financial education and up to $500 in matched savings for education costs for individuals and families who have at least some regular incomes from work. For information phone 1300 610 355.
Second-hand uniforms are also bought and sold by local families on our colleges facebook page, buy, swap and sell.
Breakfast Club “Grab and Go”
A free Breakfast Club will run at the school from the Food Technology centre (in the PAF building) every Monday – Friday from 8.15am -8.45am. There will be fresh apples and non-perishable foods available such as cereal, muesli, baked beans, toast, fruit cups and milk. All students are welcome!
Open Night for 2027 Prospective Year 7 Students
Our Open Night will be held on Wednesday 25 February between 5.30pm-8pm. This is a great opportunity for prospective parents and students to see our learning spaces and to hear about the rich program of learning and extra-curricular activities that we offer including our Specialist Sports Program and our Accelerate Program for High Ability Learners. Our leadership team will be visiting local primary schools with information for Grade 4, 5 and 6 students over the next few weeks.
There will be morning tours offered on subsequent Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 9.30am until May during term 2.
Insurance and Ambulance Cover for Students
Parents/carers are reminded that the Department (and the College) does not provide personal accident insurance, personal property insurance or ambulance cover for students. Parents/carers are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for their child/ren, including the cost of ambulance attendance/transport and any other transport costs.
Private property brought to school by students, staff or visitors is not insured and the Department does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage. Parents/carers can purchase insurance policies and ambulance cover from commercial insurers if they wish for their children.
Finally, thank you for your excellent support in ensuring that your children have been well prepared for the start of the year. We have had enjoyed a busy, yet positive start, and this is due to your efforts, especially with books, equipment, devices and uniform.
If you have any concerns or questions about how your child is settling in, please do not hesitate to contact their Learning Community Leader.
I wish you all well for the year ahead and look forward to working with you.
Fiona Taylor
College Principal
Child Safety at WHC
Western Heights College is a child safe organisation committed to protecting students from all forms of abuse. Our College has stringent protocols in place and endeavours at all times to be fully compliant with the Child Safe Standards set out under Ministerial Order 870.
Our College has the following documents and policies in place to achieve compliance with the Standards. All of these documents are available for downloading on our website.
Commitment to Child Safety
Child Safety Policy
Child Safety Code of Conduct
Child Protection Policy and Procedures
Annual Privacy Policy Reminder for 2025
Our school collects, uses, discloses, and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy (found on the college's webpage).
Please take time to remind yourself of our school’s collection notice, found on our website. For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents and carers on the webpage. This information is also available in nine community languages:
* Amharic
* Arabic
* Dari
* Gujarati
* Mandarin
* Somali
* Sudanese
* Turkish
* Urdu
* Vietnamese