PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Western Heights College acknowledges the Wadawurrung People as the Traditional Owners of the land on which our College stands, and pays respect to their Elders past and present.
From the Principal
Dear families, students and members of the Western Heights College community, it is my great pleasure to share a fortnight filled with pride and celebration across the College.
Our students dazzled on stage at the Victorian State Schools Spectacular, our Year 7 Girls Soccer team claimed a fantastic result at the SSV State Final, and we now turn our attention to Newcastle, where our U15 Boys Soccer team will represent Western Heights College — and the state of Victoria — in the final four of the prestigious Bill Turner Cup.
As we move deeper into Term 3, I also want to acknowledge our Year 12 students, who are now entering the final few weeks of their secondary schooling and beginning to prepare for their end-of-year examinations. Please read on for full details of these achievements, along with important reminders about our upcoming Learning Conversations and how we can all continue to support respectful behaviour in our wider community.
LEARNING & ACHIEVEMENT
Year 12 – The Home Stretch
Our Year 12 students are now moving into the final few weeks of their school year, with classes wrapping up soon and attention turning firmly to revision and exam preparation. I want to wish every one of our Year 12 students the very best as they enter this important and demanding period. Please continue to encourage your child to maintain a steady study routine, get plenty of rest and reach out to their teachers or Year Level LCL if they need extra support. We are enormously proud of this cohort and are right behind them as they finish their schooling strongly.
STUDENT PROGRAMS
Victorian State Schools Spectacular – “This Is Me”
Congratulations to all of our talented students who took to the stage at John Cain Arena for this year’s Victorian State Schools Spectacular, "This Is Me". Being selected to perform alongside thousands of students from across the state is a wonderful achievement in itself, and our students represented Western Heights College with real pride, energy and talent. Thank you to the staff who rehearsed, chaperoned and supported our performers throughout this process, and to the families who backed them every step of the way — what a fantastic showcase of what our students can do!
SPORT
It has been another proud fortnight for sport at Western Heights College, with success at state level and an exciting national final still to come.
Bronze Medalists at Nationals: Congratulations to our Girls Netball Team who earlier this week received the bronze medal at the national School Girls Netball Championships in the Gold Coast. An outstanding result!
Intermediate Boys Netball Team : State Champions in the Victorian Schools Netball Championships – a wonderful achievement for all boys involved and coaches.
Year 7 Girls Soccer: Huge congratulations to our Year 7 Girls Soccer team on their outstanding success at the SSV State Final — a wonderful result and a fantastic reflection of their teamwork, skill and determination throughout the season.
U15 Boys Soccer – Bill Turner Cup: Good luck to our U15 Boys Soccer team, who will play off in the final four of the prestigious Bill Turner Cup in Newcastle on Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 September. Reaching the final four of this national tournament places our boys among the best school soccer programs in the country — an extraordinary achievement. We will be cheering loudly from Geelong and cannot wait to hear how they go!
COMMUNITY
Learning Conversations – Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September
A reminder to all families that our next round of Learning Conversations will be held on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September. These conversations are a valuable opportunity for families, students and teachers to come together and discuss learning progress and next steps. Bookings will open on Compass — please keep an eye out for the notification and book as soon as it becomes available to secure your preferred time.
Supporting Respectful Behaviour in Our Community
We are very proud of how our students represent Western Heights College, both on our grounds and out in the wider community. We do ask for parent and carer support in reminding students of the importance of appropriate, respectful behaviour whenever they are out in the community, including at the IGA on Vines Road. Our reputation as a College is shaped by how our students conduct themselves everywhere they go, and we appreciate your help in reinforcing these expectations at home.
KEY REMINDERS & UPCOMING DATES
Please keep an eye on Compass and the dates below over the coming weeks:
U15 Boys Soccer – Bill Turner Cup Final Four, Newcastle: Monday 7 – Tuesday 8 September
Learning Conversations: Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September (bookings open on Compass)
Year 12 final classes, revision and examination preparation: ongoing over the coming weeks
As always, please check Compass regularly for event notices and updates, and reach out to your child's teacher or Year Level Coordinator with any questions.
Thank you for your continued support of Western Heights College, and congratulations again to every student celebrated in this issue.
With warm regards,
Fiona Taylor
Principal, Western Heights College
Child Safety at WHC
Western Heights College is a child safe organisation committed to protecting students from all forms of abuse. Our College has stringent protocols in place and endeavours at all times to be fully compliant with the Child Safe Standards set out under Ministerial Order 870.
Our College has the following documents and policies in place to achieve compliance with the Standards. All of these documents are available for downloading on our website.
Commitment to Child Safety
Child Safety Policy
Child Safety Code of Conduct
Child Protection Policy and Procedures
Annual Privacy Policy Reminder for 2026
Our school collects, uses, discloses, and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy (found on the college's webpage).
Please take time to remind yourself of our school’s collection notice, found on our website. For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents and carers on the webpage. This information is also available in nine community languages:
* Amharic
* Arabic
* Dari
* Gujarati
* Mandarin
* Somali
* Sudanese
* Turkish
* Urdu
* Vietnamese