Principal's Message-

Laura Spence

Dear students, families, and staff,

Congratulations on another wonderful year at McClelland College. As I finish up my second year here, I am continually amazed at the talent and dedication of our students and staff, and the unwavering support of families.

Late Term 4 these attributes are on full display as we host our 7 to 12 Awards evening, receive our VCE results, and gratefully receive beautiful messages and little gifts of thanks from families, showing the appreciation of the college community. We truly appreciate your kind words and gestures, and likewise, wish to thank our wonderful students and families for the positive partnership we share at McClelland College, and thank-you for valuing education in your homes.

Our college takes the opportunity as often as possible to celebrate the success of students through the year, recognising growth in subject results and attendance, sporting achievements, performances, participating in extra-curricular activities or inter school competitions, and of course ownership and community contributions. We take the opportunity in class, in assemblies, in Max meetings, on our socials, andmore. I hope you have many successes to celebrate at home with your child for their achievements in 2025.

At this week’s Awards evening we were excited to have our 2025 Dux, Marcus Sanders present, along with Mia Maypiece, Amy Zuydwyk, Macy Shearer, Madeline Mcpherson and Jaxton Engel, as well as our 2026 school captains, Shreeya Prakash, and Lia Velissaris. These students have been brilliant role models for our younger students over many years, consistently demonstrating Community, Ownership, and Growth throughout their time at McClelland.

The week earlier we hosted our 2026 Year 7s for Orientation Day. There was a lovely mix of students and parents with older students at the college, confidently giving a quick wave off, through to the parents and

students nervous at starting high school and needing a little reassurance to move off into their first assembly without parents.

Rest assured the students all had a brilliant day, not one single tear, and every student participated excitedly in every activity at McClelland. Grade 6 Students have also completed their first round of testing with us and are demonstrating the highest academic entry levels we have seen. This coupled with our highest number of enrolment requests (and unfortunately highest number we could not accept), affirms McClelland as a school of choice. At this stage we are at capacity in every year level and can only accept clearly in zone student enrolments for 2026. 2027 Year 7 enrolments will follow the usual statewide process and policy with priory order of: in zone, siblings, then consideration will be given to out of zone requests based on capacity.

Early Term 4 we celebrated the completion of our Vocational Major students and our non-scored VCE students with all students transitioning into quality pathways like TAFE, apprenticeships, and other training, demonstrating our Education by Design where every student finds their place.

Although it is reductive to take an entire school with the countless variables and boil the success down to one number, unfortunately this is how the department and media judge schools. The state average for VCE English is around 27 each year, and for the past six years McClelland’s VCE English Study Score was a 32 average, with another outstanding year in 2025 with 31.

Happily at McClelland, all of the variables at our college from Year 7 to12, from VM and VCE, across all the learning areas and programs, do add up to outstanding outcomes for our students and community.

Finally, my deepest thanks for your contributions this year towards this success.

Best wishes to everyone for a safe and happy summer break.