Senior School

Welcome to Term 1  

Article by Neil La Rocca, Acting Head of Senior School  

Welcome to Term 1 and the beginning of an exciting 2026 ahead. On behalf of the Senior school staff we hope that you have all had a relaxing and restful holiday break. The commencement of the school year provides us with a fresh opportunity to reflect on our learnings from 2025 and develop new goals with a refreshed sense of energy. This year, we aim to start the year strong, to set the tone for successes ahead.  

Of note, we are implementing further restrictions regarding mobile phone access during the school day, to support the reduction of distractions in classrooms while equally promoting social behaviours during break times. We completely understand that mobile phones have engrained themselves into society, however we feel a responsibility to educate our students and explicitly teach appropriate uses. Students are asked to keep mobile phones securely locked in their lockers between 8:30am and 3:25pm. They are welcome to check their phones as we understand families may need to send messages throughout the day, however phones are not to be removed from lockers or used elsewhere.  In the event a student uses a mobile phone in class or out in our break spaces, they will be instructed to hand the phone into our Senior school reception where it may be collected at the end of the school day. We will shortly be updating compass to provide a notification to families for their awareness if this is required. In the event any critical messages need to be relayed to your children during the day, we would encourage families to contact the Senior School reception on 9334 0162 or via email.

Our second area of focus will be attention to detail in the wearing of our school uniform. Homeroom teachers will work with students to ensure they understand what is required of them to support the building of trust, accountability and commitment we expect from our students. We will be unpacking this further in our upcoming Parent information evening on the 16th of March commencing at 6pm.  

Families undoubtedly play a critical role in the academic journey ahead for each of our students and we kindly ask that you reach out to your student’s homeroom teacher if ever you require support or assistance from the College. With much anticipation we look forward to working together in 2026 to create a positive and meaningful learning experience for our students.  

Midsumma Pride!  

On Sunday, 20 members of the Overnewton community, including students, staff and Old Collegians, proudly marched in the 31st Melbourne Midsumma Pride March in St Kilda. Joining more than 400 groups and around 20,000 participants, the day was a joyful celebration of inclusion, pride and support for the LGBTIQA+ community, filled with colour, music and smiling faces.   

It was a special moment for our group to be recognised by the Deputy Premier of Victoria, the Hon. Ben Carroll, Member for Niddrie, who acknowledged the College as we crossed the finish line and took the time to greet and welcome our participants.   

Overnewton also featured in the Herald Sun on 2 February, highlighting our involvement in this significant community event.  

“The Midsumma Pride March is always a highlight. It’s so fun seeing so many people come together, expressing themselves in a colourful and friendly atmosphere,” shared Fiona, Year 12.  

“The vibes were amazing. It felt so welcoming. I came in with an open mind and left with wonderful memories of colour, joy and diversity,” added Dale, Year 9. 

Parent Information Evening: Yirramboi

Each fortnight, the College Careers Team publishes a newsletter providing students and parents with the most up-to-date career information, events and opportunities.  

Please access via the following link.