From the Principal

We are now at the end of Term 1, and it has been fantastic to see our students engaging in a range of activities with enthusiasm and dedication.

Our annual House Swimming Carnival was a huge success, and it was wonderful to see so many students giving their best in the pool, participating in the 3 on 3 basketball competition or our inaugural “egg and spoon” challenge and cheering for their House. As always, some of our Year 12 students added to the carnival atmosphere with their creative costumes and students from our NAP program, many of whom were attending their first swimming sports, participated strongly too. Congratulations to all our race or event winners and to Callistemon for becoming our Swimming House Champions for 2025. A big thank you to our staff and student leaders for their efforts in organising the day.

Thank you to all the families who attended our Year 7 Welcome Picnic earlier in the term. It was fantastic to meet so many new faces and a great opportunity to build connections within our school community while enjoying ice cream. The VCE Information Session took place later on the same afternoon and the families who attended reported gaining valuable insights into the expectations and support available for senior students. If you were unable to attend and would like access to the presentation materials, please contact the school office.

Term 1 has been a particularly busy time for our 7 and 9 students who have worked incredibly hard during NAPLAN testing. We are proud of the positive attitude they displayed, tackling each assessment with focus and determination. This year for the first time, all students completed testing in the Melaleuca gym in exam conditions which gave them a small taste of what will await them in the senior part of the school and is good preparation for their learning in the later years. While NAPLAN provides important data on student learning, I do also want to remind students that it is just one measure of their progress. Well done to all students for giving it their best effort!

Our Year 12 student leaders, together with me and other members of the school leadership team, have recently returned from our Leadership trip to Canberra. This experience provided students with valuable insights into our nation’s history, government and culture, and an opportunity to learn about what leadership looks like in action. They also had time together to identify what their vision for their year of office will be and what contribution they can make in shaping the future of our school. I am looking forward to sharing more photos and stories of what we discovered on our travels.

I encourage you to read through this latest edition of our Newsletter and find out more about our latest exciting events and achievements. Thank you for your ongoing support in making Dandenong High School such a vibrant and inclusive community.

Best regards,

Susan Ogden

Principal