Principal's Message

We Grow Through Connection

Dear Families,

Welcome Back for Term Three – I hope that you all had a restful and enjoyable mid year break.

Term Three will be another busy term at our great school with so many opportunities for our students in the areas important to our College Community:

• Learning Growth and Pathways
• Sport
• Performing Arts
• Leadership and Our Community

We will again focus on an Orderly Learning Environment in Term Three. We expect our students to attend their classes on time wearing full school uniform, and to have the necessary resources for learning (eg fully charged laptop, books, etc).  We want our students to work hard across their subjects - we have high expectations of our students as they represent our great school to the highest of standards.

We have achieved some excellent results with respect to NAPLAN this year. For example, the learning growth achieved in Year 9 Literacy was outstanding.  We are proud of these results, and they align with Student Learning Growth as being our priority here at PSC.

We have a Whole School Assembly on Tuesday 5 August (8.55am).  This will be a wonderful opportunity to recognise student effort and achievement with Principal Awards and Learning Growth Awards being presented to students from Semester One.

Our College Production of Beauty and the Beast continues to grow from strength to strength with the recent school holiday rehearsals allowing students to further work through key aspects of the Production.  Our College Production will be held on the 28 and 29 of August at the Cardinia Cultural Centre, Pakenham.  Tickets are on sale - please visit this site below to book your tickets and / or contact our General Office for details.

https://cardinia.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/150941

We are again involved in the State Schools Spectacular, Saturday 13 September and John Cain Arena, Melbourne.  We have several students involved with James Nimaya again one of the Principal Performers, alongside his sister Joice Nimaya who will be member of the main choir.  We congratulate all of our students on their involvement and we wish them well with their participation.

Our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support Theme for Term Three will be Opportunities for All.  As a College, we continue to work well with families to provide opportunities to our students in areas important to them.  We encourage our students to make the most of these opportunities to further support them with their education and growth.

We are currently involved in a College Review to determine our Strategic Goals in support of further improving student wellbeing and learning.  All Victorian Government Schools are subject to a formal review process where a Strategic Plan is developed to guide us in our work leadership and work in support of students.  We are looking forward to the conclusion of the Review process and the Strategic Plan that will eventually result from this process to further improve student outcomes over the next four year period commencing in 2026.

We have a Parent / Carer Vacancy on our College Council.  College Council is involved in helping shape the future direction of our College so that we support our students in furthering their learning and wellbeing outcomes.  College Council typically meets twice per term (once per month, 5:30pm to 7:00pm) and it is a very rewarding role to be a member of the College Council team. Please contact the General Office on pH – 5945 1433 to express an interest and / or learn more about our College Council at PSC.

School Contributions are important to our College as they support student programs.  Recently on Compass, a message was sent out requesting School Contributions from families for 2026. Please contact our General Office (pH – 5945 1433) with any queries.

Our Buildings and Grounds continue to improve.  Over the mid year break we completed further painting works, added some new carpet and completed some general maintenance throughout the College. We are proud of our College Buildings and Grounds as we continue to work hard to ensure that they are maintained to a high standard.  Our Capital Works is largely on schedule.  It is hoped that our $11.3 Million Capital Works Program will be completed by the end of 2026.  Please contact our General Office (pH – 5945 1433) should you have any queries.

Over the recent mid year break, I was overseas in Vietnam and Cambodia as part of an International Education Delegation with the Department of Education and Training (DET) and representatives from several Victorian Government Schools.  The purpose of the trip was to promote Victorian Government Schools as a destination for International Students to further their education.  The trip was successful with our delegation meeting with interested International Student Migration Agents and families.  We hope to gain further International Student Enrolments to support our International Student Program because of this trip.

I thank families for their ongoing support of our great school and I wish all students all the very best with their studies across their subjects for Semester Two – We Grow Through Connection,

Regards

Aaron

Aaron Smith

College Principal – Pakenham Secondary College