From Brad Downie

The commencement of Term 4 is a time that sees the focus for many of our students and staff turning to the final steps towards academic achievement.

This week we farewell our Year 12 students as they finish 13 years of schooling. The Year 12s were excited as the whole College joined in the celebrations as they were farewelled in a colourful and emotional final assembly. For some, this was the final day of their school life, as they head to various apprenticeships, traineeships or employment. For others, it was the next step towards their end goal of tertiary study, as they prepare for practice exams to take place next week, before the final exams which begin in late October. To all our graduating Year 12s, we congratulate you on what you have already achieved and the successes we know you will go on to as you move into the next stage of your lives.

Our Years 10 and 11 students will take inspiration from the departing Year 12s as they also take steps towards the end of one academic year and the beginning of the next. Many Year 11 students will be completing final exams in the Units 3/4 subjects they have ‘fast tracked’ in 2025. Year 10 students are currently finalising their Year 11 subject selections in readiness for 2026. Both Year 10 and 11 students (and staff) will soon be preparing for their end of year exams and the commencement of the 2026 VCE Early Commencement Program.

Students in our Foundation - Year 10 classes will also be completing a range of assessments across the coming weeks. The range of tasks students will undertake will allow our staff to collect and compile ongoing assessment data that will help direct our teaching to ensure our learning experiences remain rich, engaging and tailored to our students' needs. This data will also be used for our end of year reports.

We are pleased to be able to provide an up-coming opportunity for parents and caregi to further support their children through a presentation for parents on ‘Stress, Technology and Sleep’. This presentation will be led by Dr Jared Cooney Horvath, the neuroscientist who has been leading Sandhurst schools in our adoption of the Science of Learning, and our own staff member, Stephanie Challis, who is the founder of ‘The Phone Pledge’ organisation, a group of local parents who have banded together to help explore the ways in which parents can help their children navigate the use of phones and the online experience. Details of the event are provided in this newsletter and have been sent to families via Operoo.

Brad Downie

Deputy Principal 

Student Learning and Professional Practice