It is fitting that we are publishing our first newsletter of 2025 on Valentines Day because I have a new love, Brighton Secondary College has my heart.

I appreciate the way in which I have been so warmly welcomed into the school, and I look forward to connecting with our school community deeply in the years to come.

A recurring question that I have been asked by parents and students has been "Are you here to stay?” It is a fair question, and I want to assure the BSC community that the answer is a resounding Yes!

I want to thank and acknowledge the work of Acting Principal, Leisa Higgins and Interim Principal, Anne Stout for the stabilizing work that they did in the post-covid era, which has presented significant challenges for all schools. But, back to the question “Are you here to stay?” My appointment is as Principal, which makes my appointment as permanent as any other Principal, and I expect that I will be shaking our Year 7 students' hands when they graduate in 2030.

Speaking of graduates, I was recently asked about the advice that I would give to a graduate teacher beginning their career. This is a topic that I had considered in September 2024 when asked to give the Graduation Address at a Graduation Ceremony for Monash University Arts and Education faculties.

At the time, I chose to focus on 3 attributes, Authenticity, Responsiveness and Purpose. Beginning at BSC this year has reinforced the importance of those 3 attributes, not just for graduates but for all school staff.

Every day I have hundreds of ‘firsts’, meeting my first student and my first parent, speaking at my first staff meeting, speaking at my first assembly, responding to my first incident, solving my first problem, and writing my first update!

With every first, I am bringing my authentic self. Who I am, what I stand for, my demeanour, this is who I am at my core, and you will see it consistently for many years to come.

At the assembly, I spoke about two non-negotiables, safety, and growth. Our leadership team and I have and will continue to respond swiftly and thoroughly to issues of safety, whether that be physical or psychological safety. Over time, expectations will rise and a new normal will be established. Similarly, we will respond to student growth. We are currently discussing the ways in which we will celebrate our Year 7 and Year 9 students who attain High growth in NAPLAN later this term. With a focus on High growth, the effort each student has put into their learning is paramount as opposed to achievement which focuses on each students’ level. Our highest achievers will also be celebrated – but where those high achievers are growing at faster rates than high achievers in other settings their effort is recognised through growth.

The last attribute that I shared was purpose, at Brighton Secondary College, I have found a renewed purpose. That purpose is to lead BSC to be considered among the best schools in Victoria, a school that the Brighton community is proud of, whether they have children attending or not, a school that Brighton students are proud to wear the uniform of and proud to list on their résumé, a school that BSC staff are acknowledged and recognised for the impact that they are having and the care that they are showing for our students.

This purpose will only be realised with a thriving school culture, a culture where students want to connect, learn and grow, where staff feel supported, with expectations that are high but reasonable, where barriers are removed so that they can focus on what matters, and where parents feel welcomed, and feel that their children are safe, learning and getting a range of extracurricular opportunities.

This thriving culture is in the best interests of every single person in our community. Please throw your support behind us to help realise a brighter future.

If you are interested in reading Mr. Langham’s Graduation Speech, you can read it here.

Peter Langham,

Principal

CONNECTIONS TO COUNT