Principal's Message
We Grow Through Connection
Dear Students and Families,
In our final Newsletter for the year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our College Community for another successful year at Pakenham Secondary College.
One of the features of our College is the strong sense of team work that exits amongst staff, students and families. It is this strong sense of team work that helps deliver stronger outcomes for our students, and I thank our families for their outstanding support of our great school. There is a real sense of community at Pakenham Secondary College and our College Motto of ‘We Grow Through Connection’ will continue to serve us well as we strive to work together to further improve the learning and wellbeing outcomes of our students.
I would like to thank our dedicated staff. Our staff are committed to growing and improving the outcomes of our students and they work tirelessly in support of their learning and wellbeing – I cannot thank my colleagues enough for all their hard work in 2025.
I would also like to thank our College Council for again working in the best interests of the College in 2025 – your work and support of our school has been outstanding. Finally, I would like to thank our students. Our students have worked hard throughout the year to make the most of the wonderful opportunities provided to them; they are proud of their school and we are proud of their efforts and achievements.
Our recent 2025 Presentation Evening (4 December) was a huge success with many families and staff in attendance to acknowledge the achievements of our students. The Cardinia Cultural Centre allowed for a real sense of occasion as we worked through the many Awards being presented to our students. We congratulate all our Student Award Recipients, and we thank all involved in what was another outstanding Pakenham Secondary College event.
Our recent 2025 Orientation Days (8 and 9 December) allowing us to welcome our new Year 7 students for next year were also successful. Many activities were provided to our new Year 7 students to help them with their transition to our great school, and I am sure our new Year 7 students would have found the days to be very helpful. Again, we thank all involved in our Year 6 into 7 Orientation Program.
The 2025 End Of Year Program was filled with fun activities for our students and we thank families for engaging with the Program this year. Families are invited to provide any feedback on our 2025 End Of Year Program by contacting our General Office (pH – 5945 1433) early next year.
We again congratulate all of our Year 12 Students (VCE and VCE Vocational Major Students) on their results. In respect to the 2025 Year 12 VCE Results, there are many highlights this year. For example:
Compared to last year, we attained more than double the Study Scores above 40 – with most of these outstanding results in General Mathematics, as well as English and Biology.
We are extremely proud of these students, who received the following ATARs:
Naureen Mohammad Munir with an ATAR of 92.45
Kalista Thomas with an ATAR of 90.5
Yifei Wang with an ATAR of 88
Sheila Despaigne Torres with an ATAR of 80.15 which is an outstanding accomplishment as an EAL student.
Our College VCE Dux for 2025 is Naureen Mohammad Munir, with a phenomenal ATAR of 92.45. Congratulations Naureen on your wonderful achievement of being our VCE College Dux this year, together with your outstanding results across your subjects in 2025. We wish you all the best for your Engineering Degree next year.
We would also like to acknowledge our VCE VM Dux for 2025, Hannah McCumber, who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and achievement in the Vocational Major program where she also achieved a Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education and Care. Hannah’s hard work, perseverance and commitment to her studies exemplify the strengths of the VCE VM pathway. We congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition and wish her every success with her application to complete a Primary School Teaching Degree at university.
We would also like to mention Year 11 student, Indiana Groves, one of our 2026 College Captains completing VCE Unit 3 - 4 sequences this year, for receiving study scores of 46 in General Mathematics and 44 in Biology. An outstanding accomplishment. Completing two Year 12 subjects in Year 11 is impressive on its own, but achieving such remarkable results is truly extraordinary. Well done, Indiana.
We are very proud of all our Year 12 Students, and once again we congratulate the Class of 2025 on their efforts and achievements - we wish them all the very best with their future endeavours.
Two areas of focus for our College Community for 2026 will be:
- Optimising Learning Growth For All of Our Students
- Strengthen the Connectedness of All Students To School, Peers and Staff
We have developed or Annual Implementation Plan (or AIP) for 2026 which includes tasks to guide and support us as a College in these areas of focus for next year, and we are very much looking forward to the work and leadership required to further improve student outcomes. Please contact the College (pH – 5945 1433) early next year should you have any queries about the year ahead.
Our Buildings and Grounds continue to improve on an annual basis. The up-and-coming Summer break will see the following works around the College:
A new locker bay to cater for growing enrolments
Steam cleaning of paths
Painting in key areas
Arborist works
New signage in classrooms
Install of new air conditioners in key areas
General maintenance
Our $11.3 Million Capital Works Program continues to take shape. As a College, we have been pleased with the progress made this year. It is hoped that our Capital Works Program will be fully completed by the end of 2026.
The interest in our College is enormous. Our enrolment across the College for 2026 will be in excess of 1130 students from Year 7 to 12 and this number represents a huge increase in students at the College in the space of three years. Our Year 7 enrolments for 2026 for example will again be 250 students. The interest in our great school is strong due to the great outcomes we are achieving for our students.
Our Semester Two Reports will be distributed to families via Compass on Friday 19 December, and I would encourage Parents and Carers to read through these Reports with their children to best understand progress, effort and achievements across the subjects provided. Please be informed that all Students Return for 2026 Classes, Thursday 29 January.
In closing, families are reminded of the contact details within this Newsletter relating to Wellbeing Supports – please utilise these Supports over the Summer Break and beyond as appropriate. I again thank students, parents, carers and staff for another wonderful year at our great school, and I hope that everyone has a relaxing and enjoyable Summer Break,
Regards
Aaron
Aaron Smith
College Principal – Pakenham Secondary College