Principal's Message-

Laura Spence

It has been a busy and positive first half of Term 3, with students returning to learning, reconnecting with friends and embracing the many opportunities available at McClelland.

One of the highlights of the opening weeks was our staff versus student volleyball match, a fantastic way to bring our community together. The enthusiasm, competitiveness and good humour on display were a wonderful reminder of the strong sense of community across the College.

There has also been plenty happening in classrooms and beyond, with students engaging in learning, sport, activities and enrichment opportunities. These experiences are an important part of our Education by Design philosophy, providing students with opportunities to develop not only their knowledge and skills, but also their confidence, independence and connections with others.

Supporting every student to feel that they belong, that their voice matters and that they can experience success remains an important priority for us.

This term we also celebrated a second consecutive VCE Premier’s Award, with 2025 School Captain and VM Dux Ryan Mills receiving his award from Premier Ben Carroll at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Last year, another McClelland VM Dux, Alysa Vella, received the same prestigious recognition. Two consecutive Premier’s Awards are an outstanding achievement and a wonderful reflection of the success of our students and staff.

Course Counselling was also a significant focus this term, with our highest-ever participation from families across Years 8, 9, 10 and 11. Students and families have been considering subjects, pathways and programs for 2027, reflecting on individual strengths, interests and aspirations and making informed choices about the next stage of their learning.

For our senior students, this includes considering the range of VCE, VCE VM, VET and other pathway opportunities available at McClelland and beyond. Our staff are now analysing student selections to determine the classes that will run in 2027, allowing us to plan our staffing profile and commence recruitment where required. It is a short run from here until November, when students will move into their new year level as part of Headstart.

Finally, this week sees the conclusion of our three Snow Camps. We are incredibly fortunate at McClelland to have our own outdoor education facility, Camp Mahaikah, which provides a base for our Mt Buller snow program as well as a range of other camps and outdoor education experiences throughout the year.

Running three Snow Camps is a significant undertaking for both students and staff. It is demanding work, but the photos and stories coming back from the mountain capture the joy, challenge, resilience and camaraderie that make these experiences so valuable. There are very few schools that can offer even one Snow Camp, so having the capacity to run three is a unique privilege for McClelland. A huge thank you to the staff who make these experiences possible for our students.

There is plenty still to come this term, and I look forward to seeing our students continue to embrace the opportunities available to them. Thank you to our families for your ongoing support and partnership. The success of our students is built on the strong relationships between students, staff, families and our broader community.