Upper School

Our Year 10 and Year 11 students have had a very positive and productive Term 2, supported by our dedicated Year Level Leaders, Carys (Year 11) and Georgia (Year 10). A key highlight of the term has been the mid-year exams. It has been wonderful to see students approach this important experience with enthusiasm and professionalism, reflecting our school value of being Aspirational. Exams play an important role in developing strong study habits as students progress through their senior years, with many working towards a scored VCE pathway.

There have also been many valuable learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Our Year 10 students are currently undertaking their week of Work Experience, where they are gaining insight into industries they are interested in and developing important workplace skills. We thank the many families and local businesses for supporting this program. It has been fantastic to see students engaging with real-world learning, with teachers also connecting with them while they are out on placement.

For our Year 11 students, many recently completed the GAT for the first time—an important milestone for those undertaking scored Unit 3 and 4 VCE subjects. Our gym was transformed into a formal exam space for the day, giving students a valuable and authentic exam experience.

The whole school community also came together to celebrate our annual Athletics Carnival. A special congratulations to Elspeth Cook (Year 10), who broke a long-standing long jump record that had remained unbeaten for 20 years—an outstanding achievement!

Our Year 10 Steiner students have also recently returned from their Melbourne camp, led by Jane Sanderson and Ellen Nyberg. Students enjoyed a rich program of cultural experiences and created many lasting memories during their time away.

Looking ahead to next term, there is much to look forward to. Many Upper School students are excited to be involved in our school production, A Wrinkle in Time, either on stage or behind the scenes. Year 10 students will also begin selecting their VCE or VCE VM subjects early in the term as they prepare for their pathways into 2027.

Finally, we share some bittersweet news. Our Upper School Lead Teacher, Judith McLean, will be leaving Castlemaine Secondary College at the end of this term to take up a new position at Marist College in Bendigo. Judith is both a valued staff member of 11 years and a former student of Castlemaine High School. She has made a significant contribution to our school community, and she will be greatly missed. We thank Judith for her dedication and wish her all the very best in this exciting new chapter.