Principal's Report
Student Achievement: Year 12 Results 2024
Congratulations to the Class of 2024 for their outstanding VCE results. Student were able to access their results and ATAR Ranks early on Thursday 12 December. I am sure that most would have been pleased with their performance.
Most of our students undertook a scored VCE and I am very pleased to communicate that 14% (25 students) achieved an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Ranking) above 90. Four perfect study scores of 50 were also received. I congratulate our Dux, Rudy Ranganathan, having received an ATAR Rank of 99.35. Rudy is aiming for a career in medicine.
Whilst ATARs are used as a basis for entry into university courses, it is the students’ hard work, effort, and commitment that I would like to applaud. Regardless of the result, every student (both scored or unscored VCE as well as those undertaking VCE-VM or the Victorian Pathways Certificate) who worked hard, with persistent effort and commitment needs to be very proud of their achievement and continue to display these qualities and skills as they embark on their next journey towards a career.
We are very proud of your effort and what you have been able to achieve throughout not only 2024, but through the last six years at Eltham High School.
I commend the work of the teachers, a very dedicated and hardworking group of professionals who consistently put their students first and did everything in their power to support their students’ learning, understanding and preparation for the exams and conclusion to the year. I feel honoured to be the principal of such a dynamic and collaborative learning environment leading such a group of dedicated professionals.
Well done everyone!
The next stage of the process is when offers to tertiary studies are made. We know that several of our students received early offers into the courses of their choice and I congratulate them as we await to hear from the others in due course.
Swim Squad Christmas Giving
The Eltham High School Swim Squad has a long tradition of raising money at Christmas time to provide gifts for the many people in our community who need this support. The student swimmers have been conducting an annual Lap-a-thon for the past 20 years (missing one covid year!) Each student seeks sponsorship for continuous laps swum in one hour at this event held in October.
Earlier in the year the students chose the Nillumbik ‘The Wishing Tree’ as the charity they wish to support. With the support of our students, the Lions Club of Eltham makes up meals which along with the presents purchased by the swimmers make up big hampers for families who may otherwise miss out on a special Christmas day.
In addition to the students and their families and friends, the project could not go ahead without the dedication of teachers, Phil Boyd and Michael Nicassio.
The Swim Squad is a co-curricular activity conducted on Thursday mornings starting at 7:00am and is open to all students. Contact Phil Boyd (Philip.Boyd@education.vic.gov.au ) for more details
Thank you to all members of the Swim Squad for a great effort this year.
Farewells 2024
I wish to acknowledge the work of the following staff members who will be leaving Eltham High School this year:
Staff Retiring
Natalie Heath
Rhonda Malone
Jim Petridis
Staff Leaving
Vidya Kusuniyanto
Karolina Franczak
Mikayla Burley
Eliza Brown
Lily Chan
Elisa Smith
Georgina Morris
Ai Ling Sim
Hannah Ryan
Tracey Parker
Harry Twyford
Jacqui Harrington
Claire Delaney
I thank all of them for their contribution to the education of our young people and wish them all the very best in the future.
Staff taking extended leave
Dylan Meddings
Matthew Hapsberg
Amanda Saliba
Lauren McNally
Danielle Cotter
Julie McDonald
I wish all of these staff the very best during their period of extended leave.
Several new staff will be joining us at the start of the new school year. I will introduce the new staff to you early in 2025.
End of the School Year
As the year ends, reflecting on the 2024 school year I can say that it has been a very busy year.
I congratulate all the students, the staff and families for your concerted effort and support.
We are all looking forward to the start of the 2025 school year where in March we will begin the process for the School Review and the establishment of our next School Strategic Plan.
I am so proud of the partnership that we have built with our families and look forward to continuing to strengthen these relationships in the coming year.
The last day for Years 9, 8 and 7, is Thursday 19 December. As is the case on the last day of Term, students will be dismissed at 2:30pm. I ask parents/guardians to organise safe travel home for the students.
Season’s Greetings
Since this is the last edition of the Community Newsletter for 2024, I wish all members of our community a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.
I wish to thank all the students for their ongoing commitment to our school and their learning. I thank the parents for your ongoing support, and I thank the staff for their ongoing professionalism and for the care that they provide for all our students both within the academic and co-curricular areas of the school.
I thank the Eltham High School Council for the work it does in supporting the various programs and initiatives that run for the benefit of our students and their learning. I also thank the members of the School Council for their ongoing support of me in my role of Principal of this amazing school and community.
The 2025 School Year will begin in late January.
Teachers will return on Tuesday 28 January.
Tuesday and Wednesday 28 and 29 January are student free days.
Year 7 Students and VCE Students will return on Thursday 30 January.
Please note Year 10 students undertaking an enhancement are not required to attend on Thursday 30 January as Year 11 students will be in their Start of Year Program and regular classes will not run.
The Whole School will be in attendance on Friday 31 January.
I look forward to our work together in 2025.
VINCENT SICARI, Principal