Principal's Report

Dear Homestead Community,

As Term 1 draws to a close, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on what has been an exciting and productive start to the year.

At Homestead Senior Secondary College, we continue to build a culture that encourages students to find their purpose, explore their curiosity, and engage deeply in their learning.

Our Athletics Day was a standout event this term, showcasing not only athletic talent but also the incredible house spirit and sportsmanship that define our school. In inter-school competitions, our students have also performed strongly across a range of sports. Congratulations to all involved.

Beyond sports, our debating teams have demonstrated impressive skill in competition, and our various clubs, ranging from F1 in Schools to Textiles and GameOn, have provided students with opportunities to pursue their passions and collaborate with peers.

I am also pleased to share how well our new Year 10 students have transitioned into the college. Feedback from teachers has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly regarding students’ learning behaviours and engagement in the classroom. Their enthusiasm and commitment are a credit to themselves and their families.

Sadly, this term also brought difficult news with the passing of one of our students, Vuk Stojic. Our thoughts remain with the Stojic family, and they know they will always have a place at Homestead.

Looking ahead to Term 2, we have much to look forward to, beginning with the highly anticipated Year 12 camp. Students will also take part in a range of extracurricular opportunities, including excursions, inter-school sport and Cultural Day. A key focus will also be preparation for exams, and we are ready to support all students as they work towards achieving their best. Term 2 will also include an important update to our approach to personal technology during the school day.

You may have seen recent news regarding the expansion of the mobile phone policy to include headphones, ear plugs, smart watches and AI glasses during the school day. 

Students at Homestead are already very aware of, and highly compliant with, the current mobile phone expectations. As an extension of this, students are already comfortable with not having access to headphones in class. As a result, Homestead intends to introduce these improvements early to ensure our community is well prepared before the policy becomes law. Schools have been encouraged to implement this at a time that suits their readiness, and we know that Homestead is well placed to do so due to the positive culture already established across the college. While we know this may not be popular with all students, we have long known that personal technology during the school day can negatively impact learning and relationships. We know that parents and staff will be excited to continue supporting students by providing at least six hours of distraction free time each day. We will begin this in Term 2, with further details to be shared with students and families soon.

Next term we also welcome Jessica Farrugia, our new Humanities teacher, to the Homestead team. Jessica comes to us from Hoppers Crossing SC with extensive experience, and we look forward to working with Jessica from Term 2.

Thank you to our dedicated teachers and staff for their hard work and ongoing commitment, and to our parents and caregivers for your partnership in supporting our students to thrive. We look forward to an even more rewarding Term 2.

Warm regards,

Danijel

Principal