Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers
It’s hard to believe we’re already heading into Week 4 of Term 3! As we move further into the term, most students are now beginning their assessments, if they haven’t already. This is a busy time, and we appreciate the continued support from families in helping students stay organised and focused.
The winter weather has brought with it an increase in seasonal colds and flu, resulting in higher-than-usual absences among both staff and students. We sincerely thank parents for their thoughtfulness in keeping unwell children at home—your consideration helps protect the health of our entire school community. We send our best wishes to those recovering and hope the worst of the season is behind us as the weather begins to improve.
Year 12 – Final Weeks Approaching
Our Year 12 students are now entering their final weeks of formal classes. With mock exams beginning in Week 10 and continuing into the second week of the holidays, this is a critical time for preparation and focus. VET students are also in the final stages of completing and submitting work for their Certificate and General Courses.
We understand this period can be both exciting and stressful, and we extend our full support to students and families during this time.
We are incredibly proud of the dedication and work ethic shown by our Year 12 cohort, and indeed by students across all year levels. Their commitment to learning and involvement in a wide range of artistic, cultural, sporting, and academic activities has been inspiring.
Looking Ahead: Student Numbers for 2026
As we enter this exciting stage of the year, our attention turns to planning for 2026. The timetable development is well underway, and we’ve submitted our projected enrolments to the Department of Education. These projections are vital—they guide our staffing, classroom allocations, and overall resources to ensure we continue delivering high-quality education.
We currently have 330 Year 7 students enrolled for 2026, and based on trends from the past five years, we anticipate this number will grow before the school year begins.
We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our School Board, who are working tirelessly behind the scenes to advocate for our school. Their efforts with state and federal representatives are helping to ensure our growing needs are recognised and supported.
Transportables and Future Planning
To accommodate our increasing student population, Applecross SHS will receive five general-purpose transportable classrooms in 2026. While these additions are necessary, we’re mindful of the potential impact on our oval space and the movement between classes.
We’re currently in discussions with the Department to place these transportables along the Links Road end of the oval, which would help preserve valuable recreational space.
Additionally, the Department has revised our future projected student capacity to 2,500 students. This change means any future building program will need to cater to support our school’s future growth.
Celebrating Our 2025 NAPLAN Success
We are delighted to share the outstanding results from the 2025 NAPLAN assessments, conducted in March this year. Students at Applecross Senior High School have once again demonstrated excellence, not only meeting but exceeding state and national benchmarks across all domains—Numeracy, Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation.
What’s particularly impressive is that our students have outperformed those in our ‘Like Schools’ (statistically similar schools) within the top proficiency bands, while also showing a significantly lower proportion of students in the lower bands.
These results are a testament to the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of our students and staff. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all students, especially those in Years 7, 9, and 10, and to our committed teachers who continue to inspire and support academic achievement.
We are incredibly proud of this collective effort and grateful to our families for their ongoing support in fostering a culture of learning and excellence.
📄 For a detailed breakdown of our 2025 NAPLAN results.
Canteen Update – A Message from the P&C
To Our Valued Parents, Staff, and Community,
As part of our ongoing commitment to student wellbeing, the Applecross SHS P&C is currently undertaking a full review of the food and drinks offered in our school canteen.
This review ensures that all items align with the Healthy Food and Drink Policy and the FreshSNAP guidelines, a state-wide initiative supported by the Department of Health. These guidelines promote healthy eating habits in school-aged children and support a whole-school approach to nutrition.
As a result, we are updating our categorisation of food and beverages into Green, Amber, and Red categories. In line with policy, only Green and Amber items will be available for sale. Items in the Red category, which contain high levels of sugar or saturated fats, will be removed from the menu.
We are grateful for your continued support as we work together to promote healthy choices for all students. A refreshed, healthier menu will be available soon, and we’re excited to share it with you! Warm regards
Applecross SHS P&C Committee
Leadership, Diplomacy & Global Connections at Applecross SHS
Youth Parliament 2025
Callum Brown-Neaves (Year 11) and Vicky Bui (Year 10) proudly represented their electorates in the WA Youth Parliament, advocating for key issues like education, healthcare, and sustainability.
👉 Read more on Facebook
US Consul General Visit
We were honoured to host Siriana Nair, the United States Consul General, who shared her inspiring journey in diplomacy with our students.
👉 See the highlights on Facebook
Hyogo Board of Education Visit
Applecross SHS welcomed educators from Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture, strengthening international ties and sharing best practices in education.
👉 Explore the visit on Facebook
Angie Thomas, A/Principal