During Tuesday’s professional learning day, we were fortunate to welcome Emina Mclean to lead our staff in a rich and engaging day on the explicit art of teaching reading. Emina’s expertise challenged us to think deeply about how we embed reading instruction across all subject areas, and how we can support every student to become a confident, capable reader.

As we look ahead, our focus will centre on three key themes:

Text complexity and volume – ensuring students are regularly exposed to rich, challenging texts that build stamina and background knowledge.
Who is doing the reading, and how – shifting the cognitive load to students, while equipping them with strategies to read actively and with purpose.
Habits of discussion and checking – promoting deeper comprehension through structured dialogue, peer engagement, and purposeful checks for understanding.

At the heart of this work is our commitment to arming teachers with clear, evidence-based strategies that allow students to flourish as readers – not just in English, but across the full breadth of learning areas. When students can confidently decode, interpret, and critically engage with texts, they are better positioned to thrive academically and beyond.

Key Dates:

Tuesday 12th August – 10 into 11 Subject conferences (No Year 10 classes, 9A students to attend regular timetabled Yr9 class/es where applicable)
Tuesday 19th August – Year 9 into Year 10 Subject Conferences (No Year 9 classes, 9A students to attend regular timetabled Yr10 class/es where applicable)
Tuesday 26th August – Parent/Student/Teacher interviews (no classes, students encouraged to attend interview/s with parents)
Friday 19th September – Final Day Term 3, 2.30pm finish
- ALL Year 11’s Road Safety Program (Periods 1-3)

Subject Selection Season for Year 9 and 10 Students

As we approach subject selection time for our Year 9 and 10 students, it's an exciting opportunity for students to begin shaping their individual learning pathways for 2026 and beyond.

Families are encouraged to explore the Year 10 and Senior School handbooks, which contain detailed information on subjects, pathways, and support resources. These handbooks can be accessed on the school website (follow the "Curriculum/Subject Offerings Handbook" tab) or via the following links:

Choosing the right subjects can sometimes feel overwhelming, but students and families are not alone in the process. Our incredible Careers Team—Mr. Nick Masters and Ms. Megan McPherson—are always available to assist with any questions or to offer personalised guidance.

We encourage all families to take the time to engage in these important conversations at home and reach out if you need support. Working together, we can ensure our students make informed and confident choices for their future.

Celebrating Student Sporting Success

We’re incredibly proud to acknowledge two outstanding recent achievements by our students on the national sporting stage.

Congratulations to Will Burch of 9 Ebony, who proudly represented Victoria at the recent National School Hockey Championships. Competing at such a high level is a huge accomplishment, and Will’s dedication and talent have not gone unnoticed.

A special shout-out also goes to Luke Cunneen of 9 Purple, who not only represented Victoria in the National Schools Netball Championships, but also had the honour of captaining the team to victory. Leading the state to a national title is an extraordinary achievement and a testament to Luke’s leadership and sporting ability.

These accomplishments reflect the commitment, discipline, and excellence we value at Belmont High School. Well done to both Will and Luke—you’ve done your school proud!

Kind regards,

Joshua Baker

Principal

Belmont High School Newsletter

No.12

Issue 12 · 08 Aug 2025

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