Principal’s Report

s we wrap up the first half of the school year, I want to congratulate all our students on their efforts and achievements across Semester 1. Whether in the classroom, on the stage, out on the sporting field, or simply through the way you’ve engaged with school life, it’s been a fantastic start to 2025.

I hope everyone enjoys a well-earned winter break—take the time to rest, recharge, and spend time with family and friends. We look forward to launching into Term 3 with fresh energy and continuing to build on the great momentum already established.

Key Dates:

Monday 30 June – Wednesday 2 July – Year 9 Camp
Friday 4 July – Last Day of Term 2 (Early dismissal – 2:30pm)
Monday 21st July – First Day of Term 3
Thursday 31st July – Year 10 into 11 subject selection info night (PAC)
Monday 4th August – Year 9 into 10 subject selection info night (PAC)
Tuesday 5th August – Curriculum Day (No classes/students)
Tuesday 12th August – 10 into 11 Subject conferences (No Year 10 classes)
Tuesday 19th August – Year 9 into Year 10 Subject Conferences (No Year 9
classes)
- ALL Year 11’s Road Safety Program (Periods 1-3)
Tuesday 26th August – Parent/Student/Teacher interviews
Friday 19th September – Final Day Term 3

Year 9 Camp

Next week, from Monday to Wednesday, our Year 9 students will head off to Lady Northcote Discovery Camp near Bacchus Marsh for what promises to be an exciting and memorable experience. The camp is designed to challenge students, build resilience, and foster stronger connections with their peers and teachers in a supportive outdoor setting.

Over the three days, students will take part in a range of activities, including:

High Ropes Course: A chance to test their limits, build confidence, and support one another through a series of elevated challenges.
Canoeing: Students will work together to navigate the calm waters while learning coordination, teamwork, and a few paddling skills along the way.
Archery: This activity encourages focus and persistence while bringing out a bit of fun, friendly competition.
Team-Building Exercises: These will strengthen relationships, improve communication skills, and promote problem-solving in a fun and engaging way.

This camp is about more than just adventure—it’s an opportunity for our students to grow as individuals and as a cohort.

A huge thank you to the staff who are giving their time and energy to provide this terrific opportunity. Camps like these only happen because of your willingness to get involved, and we truly appreciate it.

We’re looking forward to hearing about all the highlights when the group returns.

Student Leadership Day

On Friday 20th June, Belmont High School held its annual Student Leadership Day – a key event in our leadership development calendar that brought together over 150 student leaders including 50 Grade 5 students form our feeder Primary school and BHS students from across year levels and leadership portfolios.

The day was designed to strengthen our leadership culture and support students to further develop the skills and confidence needed to lead initiatives and represent their peers effectively. Held across several key spaces on campus – including the PAC, Library and A2/3 – the event provided a dynamic mix of inspiration, practical skills, and team-building activities.

Our School Captains opened the day with a strong message of purpose, outlining their own leadership journeys and setting the tone for the sessions that followed. Students then rotated through three engaging workshops during Periods 2, 3 and 4:

The Fun Shop (delivered by external facilitators from The School of Play) focused on creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in a team setting.
Next Generation Leadership explored core leadership concepts and encouraged students to reflect on their values, communication styles, and capacity to influence.
Team Building was led by BHS staff and provided an opportunity for students to work together on structured challenges that reinforced trust, communication and cooperation.

A barbecue lunch added to the collegiality of the day and was managed with the support of staff volunteers. Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive, with many citing the opportunity to work with leaders from other year levels and deepen their understanding of leadership as highlights.

The success of this day reflects our school’s ongoing commitment to fostering student voice and agency, and we are confident it has laid a strong foundation for the leadership work that will continue throughout the remainder of the year.

Winter Concert

Last week’s Winter Concert was a wonderful showcase of the depth and talent within our music program. With over 120 students performing across a range of ensembles, the evening was a celebration of what makes our music team so special – commitment, collaboration, and joy in performance.

A personal highlight was Asher Watts’ captivating saxophone solo, as well as the uniqueness of the 13-piece trombone ensemble. The next challenge for music staff? Agreeing on a collective noun for a group of trombones – suggestions welcome!

Urgent Safety Reminder – Drop-Off and Pick-Up Times

The safety of our students is always our top priority. I want to issue an important reminder to all families about exercising extra caution during school drop-off and pick-up times.

We have had a number of recent near misses involving both vehicles and students, particularly in the areas around Rotherham Street and Digby Avenue. These incidents highlight the need for increased awareness from both drivers and pedestrians during these busy times of the day.

I continue to work with the City of Greater Geelong to explore improvements to the current traffic arrangements, which we know are far from ideal. In the meantime, we are asking for your cooperation in keeping our community safe.

Please:

Drive slowly and carefully near the school
Avoid double-parking or stopping in unsafe zones
Use designated drop-off areas where possible
Remind your children to stop, look, and listen before crossing roads
Encourage safe walking and riding behaviours when travelling to and from school

Let’s all play our part in ensuring a safe environment for every member of the Belmont High School community.

Kind regards,

Joshua Baker

Principal

Belmont High School Newsletter

No.10

Issue 10 · 27 Jun 2025

In this issue