Heads of Secondary Years' Report
To our wonderful Hazel Glen community,
Welcome to the 2026 College year and our first newsletter of the year!
A very warm welcome to our new staff and students, and our new Head of Secondary Years - Teaching and Learning: Alex Janceski and our new Assistant Principal for Elevate and Connections: Mr Chris Danher.
As we begin another exciting year, we are filled with great enthusiasm for the opportunities that lie ahead.
We are excited to focus on our theme for 2026: Connect First.
We have decided to focus on building strong connections in the classroom because research consistently shows that positive relationships between teachers and students are central to effective learning and wellbeing. When students feel known, respected and safe, they are more likely to engage in learning, attend regularly, behave positively and achieve stronger academic outcomes. Trust and connection develop over time through consistent routines, clear expectations, and warm, respectful interactions that help students feel secure and supported. By prioritising connection, teachers create calm and predictable classrooms where all students feel they belong, are understood, and are confident to take risks in their learning, helping to lay the foundation for both personal growth and academic success.
A big part of this focus is the reintroduction of Home Group. Students will have 12 minutes each morning with their Home Group teacher to help foster these connections.
We were so delighted to meet with so many parents on Meet the Teacher day on the 29th of January and hope that you appreciated the opportunity to meet with your childs' Home Group teacher on this day. Our Home Group teachers will serve as your first point of contact with the College throughout the year and will be a wonderful support for your children.
We encourage your children to take full advantage of the opportunities available this year. Whether it’s participating in classroom discussions, joining a club, auditioning for the production or attending special events like camps and excursions, these are the best ways to form new connections with peers and contribute to a more balanced and enjoyable College experience.
Remember to check our College social media posts for regular updates from our classrooms. You can visit them here: HGC Facebook and HGC Instagram.
New Bell Times
To accommodate Home Group, we have adjusted our bell times. Please see the revised times below;
Home Group: 8:38 am - 8:50 am
Session 1: 8:50 am - 9:48 am
Session 2: 9:48 am - 10:46 am
Recess: 10:46 am - 11:19 am
Session 3: 11:19 am - 12:17 pm
Session 4: 12:17 pm - 1:15 pm
Lunch: 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm
Session 5: 2:00 pm - 2.58 pm
NAPLAN UPCOMING
NAPLAN Testing will run from Wednesday 11th March until Friday 20th March for students in Years 7 to 9. During the NAPLAN testing period, students will complete the following four online tests in the STEAM centre on Hazel Glen College computers.
- Writing
- Reading
- Conventions of Language
- Numeracy
Further detailed information about NAPLAN will be posted to Compass next week, with guidance regarding any test withdrawal requests.
Tutoring Program Commencement
Please note that our Tutoring program for Literacy commenced this week, with Year 8 and 10 students for Semester 1. Numeracy Tutoring will commence in the coming weeks, for students in Years 7 to 9, for Semester 1. Any scheduled sessions will appear on a student's Compass timetable. Families of students selected for the tutoring program will receive information about the program through Compass. Should you have any questions, please direct them to Neila Linardi (Literacy Leader) or Larissa Webley (Numeracy Leader).
Bike Safety
We have a number of Secondary Years students who ride their bikes and electric scooters to and from the College. Please remind your children that Victorian cyclists are required by law to wear a helmet that must be securely fitted and fastened. This law applies to roads, bicycle paths, bicycle lanes, footpaths, shared paths and separated footpaths. It also includes other public places such as recreational parks and car parks. A fine may be issued for those not wearing a securely fitted helmet.
Warm regards,
