Message from the Principal
The past three weeks have been another busy and engaging period at Strathmore Secondary College, with students participating in a wide range of learning, wellbeing, sporting and co-curricular opportunities, both within and beyond the classroom.
Supporting students to make safe, respectful and informed decisions continues to be an important focus for the school. We have continued our partnership with Victoria Police’s Proactive Policing Unit to deliver educational sessions for all Year 8 and Year 10 students. These sessions support students to understand how conflict can escalate, the consequences of violence, the influence of social media, and strategies for responding safely and respectfully to challenging situations. The term 3 schedule of Year 8 Teen Mental Health First Aid sessions is underway, providing students with practical knowledge and strategies to recognise when they, a friend or a peer may need support and how to seek appropriate help.
It has also been an important time for students as they consider their future learning and pathways. Students across the school have continued to submit their subject preferences for 2027, while Year 9 students have undertaken their Morrisby profiling to support future career and pathway conversations. Year 12 students also attended a VTAC information session to set up there VTAC accounts, a vital component of their Year 12 program as they begin to navigate the many options available to them beyond secondary school.
Across the curriculum, students have participated in an impressive range of excursions, competitions and learning experiences. The Australian Mathematics Competition provided students with an opportunity to challenge their mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills. Year 7 students visited Melbourne Museum and Werribee Open Range Zoo, while Year 9 Geography students undertook fieldwork at the Metro Tunnel and Queen Victoria Market. Year 10 History students visited the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, and senior Greek Language students extended their cultural learning through a visit to the Hellenic Museum.
Year 11 VCE Vocational Major students participated in a week-long event as part of the Certificate II in Public Safety (Firefighting Operations) program. This certification is relevant to all other VET areas, teaching young people about the behaviour of fire, ways to prevent fire and strategies for staying safe should a fire event occur.
Junior and senior students participated in Music Camp at Kangaroo Ground, while our Year 12 Outdoor and Environmental Studies students attended camp at Rubicon as part of their senior studies. Year 9 and 10 students represented Strathmore Secondary College in interschool basketball competitions, our senior students progressed to the quarter-final and semi-final stages of the AFL interschool competition, and our Senior Soccer team competed in the Western Metropolitan Region finals. Across the school, many students took part in the range of engaging activities offered as part of Science Week and Anti-Bullying Week. We also recently celebrated our Year 11 Formal, an important milestone and a wonderful opportunity for students to come together and enjoy the occasion as a year level.
Many of these activities are highlighted in greater detail throughout this edition of the newsletter, with others to feature in our next edition. Collectively, they demonstrate the breadth of experiences available to our students and the important role these opportunities play in providing a rich and engaging secondary education. Excursions, camps, competitions and specialist programs enable students to apply their learning in authentic settings, encounter new perspectives, deepen their understanding and develop important skills including independence, collaboration, resilience and confidence.
None of these opportunities happen without considerable planning and commitment. I sincerely thank the many staff who organise, lead and support these experiences, often contributing significant time beyond the classroom to make them possible. I also thank our students for the positive and respectful way they engage with these opportunities, and our parents and carers for their ongoing support.
There is much to look forward to in the coming weeks, including Year 7 and 8 Athletics Day, day 3 of the Yr 8 Murrup Program, and a number of events to celebrate the creativity and talent of our students through the Senior Art Exhibition, Jazz Night and Chamber Concert. They are wonderful occasions for our school community to come together, and I encourage families to support our students and enjoy the outstanding work and performances on display.
A reminder that Friday 4 September is a Curriculum Day, with no scheduled classes for students, and Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday 17 September. The conferences provide an important opportunity for students, parents, carers and teachers to discuss learning progress, areas for continued growth and goals for the remainder of the year.
As we move into the final weeks of Term 3, I thank our students, staff, parents and carers for the strong partnership that supports all aspects of school life. I look forward to seeing many members of our community at the events ahead and to continuing to celebrate the learning, achievements and contributions of our students throughout the remainder of the term.
Sue Prosenica
Principal