From the Principal 

As we move towards the end of another busy and productive fortnight, there is a real sense of energy and momentum across the College. The exam period is almost complete, and I would like to acknowledge the efforts of our students and staff throughout this important assessment time. Next week, our Year 10 Work Experience program will commence, and we wish all students taking part every success as they step into workplaces, explore future pathways and build valuable real-world skills. For those Year 10 students who have elected not to complete a work experience placement, classes will continue as scheduled. There is also no doubt that excitement is building across the College, with training now in full swing for the Avenues Exchange, which is only two weeks away. It is always wonderful to see students preparing with such enthusiasm, pride and commitment.

Last week I had the pleasure of attending our VCE Music Performance evenings. These evenings formed part of the assessment process for our VCE Music students and provided a wonderful opportunity to see the significant work, preparation and creativity that is taking place within the Music program.

Across both nights, our students performed with confidence, energy and individuality. There was no doubt that, at times, I felt the music was a little loud and I may have been feeling a little old, but the quality of the performances and the talent on display were outstanding. More importantly, the evenings highlighted the strong and positive relationships that exist between Mr Meyer and his students, with each performance reflecting the support, encouragement and expertise that sits behind the scenes.

On Wednesday evening, our Instrumental Music students and staff also presented the Year 7 Debuts and Ensembles Concert. Once again, the performances were very special and showcased the wonderful emerging talent we have across the College. It was particularly pleasing to see our younger students stepping onto the stage, building confidence and contributing to the rich musical life of the school.

A big congratulations to all of our performing students and sincere thanks to our Instrumental Music Team — Adam Coad, Christian Meyer, Jack Williams, Lisa Maxwell and Joel Dawson, for their continued work, commitment and support of our students.

Student Attendance

As a college, we continue to place a strong emphasis on student attendance because the evidence is clear: regular attendance matters. The greater the number of absences students accumulate in Years 7–10, the more likely those patterns are to continue and increase into Years 11 and 12. As families would expect, there is also a direct link between student attendance and academic performance. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to stay connected, keep up with learning, build positive relationships with teachers and peers, and achieve stronger learning outcomes.

It is important to acknowledge and celebrate the many students who are attending school consistently. Across the college, 40 students have achieved perfect attendance so far this year, which is an outstanding effort. We also want to highlight the significant improvement in our VCE attendance data, with 74.19% of VCE students currently attending above 90% of the time. This is a substantial improvement on last year and is extremely important to recognise. Strong attendance in the senior years provides students with the best opportunity to manage the demands of VCE, remain engaged in their studies, and achieve their personal best.

However, this also means that 25.81% of our VCE students are currently attending below 90%, which remains an area of focus. When we compare our attendance data with other secondary schools, our attendance continues to be lower than we would like. This is something we are monitoring closely and working to improve in partnership with families.

Of particular concern is attendance in Years 9 and 10. Year-to-date, 45.2% of Year 10 students have an attendance rate below 90%, and 34.51% of Year 9 students have an attendance rate below 90%. This is significant, particularly when compared with Years 7 and 8, where only 14.23% of students have an attendance rate below 90%. These middle years are critical in shaping habits and routines. When students begin to miss regular days in Years 9 and 10, it can become increasingly difficult for them to maintain the learning behaviours required for success in the senior years.

There are approximately 200 school days each year. A student with an attendance rate of 90% is still missing around 20 school days each year. Across six years of secondary schooling, this accumulates quickly. By the end of secondary school, a student attending at 90% will have missed approximately half a year of learning. A student with 80% attendance will have missed the equivalent of a full year of learning. These gaps in learning are significant and can create real obstacles for students to overcome, particularly as learning becomes more complex and demanding in the senior years.

We understand that illness and unavoidable circumstances do occur, and there will always be valid reasons for students to be absent from school. However, we ask families to carefully consider the impact of every absence and to support their child to attend school every day unless they are genuinely unwell or there is a significant reason preventing attendance.

Improving student attendance is a shared responsibility. As a college, we will continue to monitor attendance, follow up concerns, support students and families, and celebrate positive attendance patterns. We ask parents and guardians to work with us by encouraging strong routines at home, scheduling appointments outside school hours wherever possible, and contacting the college early if your child is experiencing difficulties attending school.

Every day at school matters. Every lesson missed has an impact. Together, we can continue to strengthen attendance, improve student learning outcomes, and ensure every student has the opportunity to achieve their personal best.

Karl Russell

Principal