Principal's Report
It's hard to believe Term 3 has already come to a close. This has been a term full of activity, connection and celebration, and I want to recognise the effort of our staff, students and families in keeping learning—and each other—at the centre of everything we do. From cultural celebrations to pathway planning, from formals to wellbeing initiatives, it has been a term that reflected the very best of our College community.
Term 3 Highlights
NAIDOC Week
In July, our College marked NAIDOC Week with a range of classes, lessons and learning opportunities designed to celebrate the rich history, culture and continuing contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Across the College, students engaged in learning that deepened their understanding and respect for the world's oldest continuing cultures. We are proud of the way our students and staff embraced this important week of recognition and reflection.
Connecting Students and Families to Their Pathway
This term we hosted Information Evenings and Course Counselling sessions for our Year 9 and Year 10 students, giving them and their families the chance to explore subject offerings, programs and career pathways as they move into 2027. Whether a student is choosing their pathway for the first time, continuing along a direction they have already discovered, or exploring something new, these conversations are a vital part of the senior secondary journey. We thank our families for their engagement and our students for the maturity and thought they brought to these important conversations.
Wear It Purple Day
Our College proudly celebrated Wear It Purple Day, standing together in support of LGBTQIA+ students, staff and community members. It was wonderful to see our community come together in a visible show of support, sending a clear message that everyone at Tarneit Senior College deserves to feel safe, respected and valued for who they are.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences were held in early September, providing families with valuable, face-to-face feedback on student progress as we head into the final part of the academic year. Thank you to all the families who took the time to attend—these conversations are an important part of keeping students on track and supported as they work toward their goals.
Year 11 Formal — A Night to Remember
On Wednesday 9 September, 120 of our Year 11 students came together to celebrate their Masquerade-themed Formal. It was an incredible night of dancing, laughter and celebration, and it was wonderful to see our students dressed up and looking absolutely incredible. Events like this build connection and pride within our student cohort, and we thank all the staff and families who helped make the evening such a success.
R U OK? Week
This term we celebrated a full week of activities for R U OK? Week, from Monday 7 September through to R U OK? Day on Thursday 10 September. Led by our student leaders and wellbeing team, the week was filled with activities encouraging students to look out for one another and to reach out if things aren't going well.
R U OK? Day itself was a fantastic celebration of mental health awareness and community connection. We welcomed a range of external social and community groups onto our grounds—including the Wyndham Street Surfer bus—to help celebrate a positive school environment. With music pumping and students engaging in a full day of activities, it was a genuine celebration of support, connection and looking out for one another.
Setting Up Year 12 Students for Success
As we move toward the end of the academic year, our focus turns firmly to supporting our Year 12 students through their final assessments and exam preparation. All assessments are being completed by the end of Term 3, with no new content being introduced beyond this point—Term 4 is dedicated entirely to revision, and with many study designs weighted heavily toward the end-of-year exam, this revision period is critical to student success.
Our teachers are working hard to develop subject-specific study guides and revision schedules for every Year 12 class. These will be developed in partnership with students at the start of Term 4, ensuring that revision time is targeted, purposeful and responsive to individual needs. To support this further, we are running three days of practice exams in the first three days of the school holidays. The feedback from these practice exams will directly shape and sharpen the focus of each student's revision as Term 4 begins.
We encourage all families to support your Year 12 student through this period—quiet study spaces, structured routines, and positive reassurance all make a genuine difference as students prepare for the challenges ahead.
Planning for 2027
Behind the scenes, we are already looking ahead to 2027. Our focus is on continuing to improve our teaching practice and the overall school environment for every student. This planning is being shaped by feedback from our Parent Survey, our Attitudes to School Survey, student forums, and other targeted feedback from our community. We are committed to listening closely to our students, families and staff as we plan the year ahead, ensuring that what we do next reflects what matters most to our community.
Looking Ahead to Term 4
Term 4 is shaping up to be a busy and important term. Key dates to be aware of include:
Arts Evening — Wednesday 14 October: Our annual celebration of student creativity across visual and performing arts.
Year 12 Exams — 27 October to 18 November: Best of luck to all our Year 12 students as they complete their final VCE, VCE VM and VPC assessments.
Year 10 and 11 Revision and Exams — Revision from 4–9 November, with exams held 10–19 November.
Step Up Program — 23 November to 4 December: A dedicated program to help our Year 10 and Year 11 students prepare for success as they step up into Year 11 and Year 12 in 2027.
Thank you again for the ongoing support this term—it has been vital in ensuring our students continue to thrive, connect and grow.
-Shane Cole-Hayhow
Principal