Principal's Message 

We have had a positive and productive start to the year, welcoming 345 new Year 7s (our largest cohort ever!), opening our new Lonsdale St campus for our Year 9 students, launching our Year 12s into their important final year and diving into the Swimming Sports and interschool Sport days. You will see a selection of the start of term events showcased in this newsletter.

Don't forget that our main source of communication and updates is Compass Newsfeed. You will often be alerted to new posts via an email or an app notification, and can also scroll the Newsfeed on your computer or phone. I strongly encourage you to download and use the Compass app on your phone, which is the easiest way of keeping in touch.

Our front office staff can assist you if you are unable to access Compass, or if you have forgotten your password. Please make sure that you do not share your Compass password with your child, as it is important that only parents, carers and guardians have access to approving absences and excursions.

The Compass 'Star' or 'School Favourites' menu also has useful links to school information including requests for family financial support, canteen online ordering and the digital device ordering portal. 

Lonsdale St campus

We have been delighted with how our Year 9s have demonstrated curiosity, connection and kindness in their first weeks at the Lonsdale St campus. Whilst we are still working on learning some systems and protocols, there is a calm, focussed and productive learning environment as students immerse themselves in their classes. They are undertaking a revised Year 9 curriculum program which includes the explicit teaching of research, critical thinking and inquiry skills alongside their regular subjects and electives. See the article in this newsletter for more about the campus and what our Year 9s have been learning. 

Facilities enhancements at Story St

Over the January break, airconditioning was installed on the top floor of our original 1920s building, thanks to the generous donations of families to our Building Fund. Staff and students alike are enjoying the improved temperatures on warm days.

Work also progressed on the installation of CCTV around the school, which is also funded by our Building Fund. This will greatly improve security on the site, especially after hours.

We also had a new shade sail installed between the oval and the basketball courts, providing additional shelter for PE classes and during break times.

With close to 2000 students now enrolled at UHS, the relocation of the Year 9 cohort has made a noticeable difference to the demands on space and facilities at the Story St site. We are also trialling, during 2025, a 'split lunchtime' every Wednesday. This gives Year 7&8 students a different lunchtime to our Year 10-12 students, providing extra access to recreational facilities for these students.

Our improvement focus for 2025

We are now in the final year of our current Strategic Plan, and our focus for this year is on the implementation of consistent, whole-school frameworks for both teaching and learning; and relationships, engagement and behaviour. These frameworks have been developed and refined over the last few years, are based on contemporary research and evidence of best practice, and are aligned with Department of Education policies, resources and initiatives.

Our Positive Behaviours framework was co-designed with students and staff. It outlines our expected behaviours based on our school values, and is supported by explicit teaching of these behaviours and consistent processes for addressing behaviour outside of our values. This is complemented by our expanded Connect - Self and Others program which supports social, emotional learning, organisation and careers and pathways education for all students Years 7-12. 

Our Learning Culture Framework is designed to provide a common language for teachers - and eventually students - to collaborate on the most effective learning strategies, based on a strong, evidence-based understands of how learning happens. This too has been developed based on the best practices of our teachers, and with the evidence around cognitive science in learning at the forefront. It was the focus of professional learning at our most recent Curriclum Day, where staff explored a 'playbook' of best practice strategies and worked together on how to embed the Framework in to their planning and practice. 

School Council 2025

This year, the number of nominations equalled the number of vacant positions for Parent Members of School Council, so no election for this category will be held. Congratulations to the elected members:

• Meredith Pearce
• Hasnain Razwi
• Angela Buckingham
• Jeffrey Naqvi

Elections are now in progress for the student and employee member categories. Once these elections are concluded, we will call for members of our sub-committees, who support the work of Council.

It's a great way to get involved at UHS, and I do encourage you to consider volunteering your time on one of these sub-committees. A nomination form and information about the sub-committees will go out via Compass Newsfeed. 

My final term

As many of you are aware, I have been appointed as the foundation principal at Cobblebank Secondary School (interim name), which will open in Term 1 2026. I begin my role on 22 April 2025, and therefore I will finish up at University High School at the end of Term 1. Whilst I am very excited about this new challenge and unique opportunity, it will be difficult to say goodbye to the wonderful students, families and staff of this community. Thank you so much to those who have come to wish me well since my new role was announced. 

The process for appointing a new principal has begun, facilitated by the Department of Education and with the involvement of School Council representatives. We have a leadership team of remarkable breadth, depth and expertise, and I have full confidence that their work will continue to support our students.

I am making the most of this term, and am so proud of the great work and progress we have achieved together over the last five years. 

Ciar Foster

Principal