9–12 Campus News

It has been an outstanding start to the 2026 school year, and the term has flown past. The positive tone across the campus has been evident from day one, with students returning ready to engage, reconnect and embrace the opportunities ahead. I would particularly like to congratulate our Year 9 students on their transition into the next stage of their schooling. Moving into new spaces, expectations and routines is a significant milestone, and they have approached this with maturity, resilience and a strong sense of purpose. Our Year 12 students have also made a very positive and mature start to the year, embracing the expectations and setting a strong tone for this important final chapter of their schooling. Across the campus, it has been extremely pleasing to see how quickly students have settled into our classroom routines and learning expectations. These consistent practices around entry, readiness to learn, organisation and focus, are designed to maximise learning time and create calm, purposeful classroom environments. When these routines are embedded, they allow both students and teachers to concentrate on what matters most: high-quality teaching and meaningful learning. We are proud of the way our students have embraced these expectations and the positive learning culture that is already so evident as we begin the year.

Our Year 12 students launched their final year with a highly successful Retreat Day on January 30 at Monash University. The day featured engaging motivational speakers and a range of breakout sessions tailored to both VCE and VCE VM pathways, including an opportunity for VCE students to unpack how study scores contribute to their ATAR. Students also enjoyed a tour of the university and gained valuable insights from a fantastic alumni panel, with graduates from the Class of 2023–2025 reflecting on how they navigated their final year. It was a fantastic day that set a positive and purposeful tone for the Class of 2026.

Our VCE Information Night for parents, presented by myself and Laura Washington, provided valuable insights into how VCE and VCE VM operate, along with key expectations and the supports available to students. The evening was extremely well attended, with over 200 parents joining us. If you were unable to attend, please refer to Compass for the presentation or contact us, or Mon Sheehy, for further advice and support. 

A reminder to all families to ensure that student medical information is current and up to date, including any medical alerts recorded with the College. It is particularly important that anaphylaxis plans and medications, such as EpiPens, are within their expiry dates and replaced as needed. Maintaining accurate and up-to-date medical information is essential to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all students.

On 19 March, our school community came together to mark Harmony Day, celebrating the cultural diversity that makes our college so unique. The day provided an opportunity to recognise and appreciate the wide range of cultures, languages and perspectives within our community. It was a meaningful reminder of our shared commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected and connected. Well done to our Senior School Captains who ran a fabulous Bake Sale to raise money for the Big Group Hug charity.

Regular attendance and punctuality are critical to student success, and even small amounts of missed learning time can have a significant cumulative impact. Each late arrival or absence means lost opportunities to engage with key concepts, practise skills and receive timely feedback. Research consistently shows a strong link between attendance and achievement, with students who attend above 90% of the time far more likely to experience positive academic outcomes. We ask all families to support their child in attending every class, on time, every day. For VCE students, it is essential that a medical certificate is provided for any absence from a SAC, and in other year levels, documentation may be requested where absences are impacting learning or assessment.

As we approach Term 2, a reminder that the transition to Winter Uniform will commence at the start of the term. There is a two-week transition period during which students may wear either the correct summer or winter uniform. Students in Years 7–8 are expected to wear the new blue shirt, introduced at the end of 2024. This can be worn with or without a school tie.  2026 is the final year students in Years 9 to 11 may choose to wear either the new blue shirt or a white business shirt with school tie . If any families are experiencing financial hardship and require support with uniform items, including footwear, please contact your Year Level Leader team, who will be happy to assist.

Have a fantastic end of term break and we look forward to continuing this amazing work with our students in Term 2.