Principal's Report

Welcome to the 2026 school year at Belmont High School. 

A very warm welcome to all our families, and in particular to those joining us for the first time — especially our new Year 7 students and their families. We are delighted to have you as part of the Belmont High community and look forward to supporting your young people as they begin this exciting next chapter of their learning journey. 

It has been a big summer at Belmont High, with significant building works underway across the site. We are incredibly proud to see construction commence on our new Science and Health Centre, a major investment in the future of our school that is scheduled for completion in November. This facility will provide outstanding, purpose-built learning spaces that will benefit our students for many years to come. 

We acknowledge that the works have placed some pressure on our yard spaces, and we appreciate the patience and understanding of students and families as we adjust. In keeping with our values, we are working hard to create opportunities for students to remain active, connected, and engaged throughout the day, even as our environment temporarily changes. 

As we begin the year, our focus remains firmly grounded in our core values of Respect, Opportunity and Resilience. These values guide the way we learn together, support one another, and continue to strive for the highest outcomes for every student. 

Welcome New and Returning Staff 

I welcome the following staff to our Belmont High School community: 

Vale – Mark “Cliffo’ Clifton 

Over the summer holidays, our Belmont High School community was saddened by the passing of Mark Clifton, a much-loved and long-serving staff member. Mark was part of the Belmont family for an extraordinary 46 years, from 1979 to 2025, and his contribution to the school across that time cannot be overstated. 

Our thoughts are with Mark’s family, friends, and all those who had the privilege of working alongside him. He will be greatly missed but warmly remembered. 

Year 12 Camp – A Strong Start to 2026 

Our Year 12 students kicked off their final year in the best way possible, coming together at Anglesea for their annual camp. This camp is always a valuable opportunity for students to set their goals, strengthen friendships, and start the year with a positive mindset. 

A huge thank you to our staff who dedicated their time to making this experience a success. Their support and guidance ensure that our students make the most of these opportunities, both academically and personally. 

Congratulations to our newly elected House Captains! Leadership is a key part of the Belmont High experience, and these students have already shown a commitment to their peers and school community. You can find the full list of elected captains in the report from our Student Voice and Leadership Leader, Matt Hosking, further in this newsletter. 

Well done to all our Year 12s for embracing the challenges and setting the tone for what promises to be a great year ahead! 

Term 1 Key Dates: 

To help everyone plan, here are the key dates for Term 1: 

• Monday 9 February – BHS Swimming Carnival 
• Tuesday 10 February – School Photos & VCE Parent Information Session (5:30pm, PAC) 
• Monday 9 March – Labour Day Public Holiday 
• Wednesday 11 March – NAPLAN Testing begins 
• Tuesday 17 March – 2027 Year 7 BHS Open Night 
• Wednesday 25 March – 2027 Year 7 SEALP Information Session  
• Tuesday 31 March – Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews (12:00pm–7:00pm) 

• Thursday 2 April – BHS Fun Run / End of Term 1 

   

School Council Parent Representatives / Nominations 

2026 will see two parent members of our school council finish their two-year tenures. I therefore encourage any interested parents/guardians to consider contributing to the school community by nominating for school council. This will give you a greater understanding of school operations and insight into the future direction of the school.  

We currently have vacancies in the following categories: 

• Parent member - 2 vacancies (2 years) 
• Student member – 2 vacancies (2 years) 

If you are interested in becoming a School Council member, please complete nomination form sent out via Compass or contact the Jenni Foot on 5243 5355 or Jennifer.foot@education.vic.gov.au. The deadline for nominations is Wednesday 18th February, 4:00pm. If we have more than two nominations for each category, a Council election will be held to determine the successful Council members. Please note that School Council members, except VIT registered teachers and students, are required to hold a Working with Children Clearance (WWCC) (either a volunteer or employee) when nominating for a role on school council. 

Our school council meetings are generally held on the last Tuesday of each month from 6:00pm. 

2026 Info Session 

Although we are only just settling into 2026, planning for 2027 is already well underway. Over the coming months, we have a range of opportunities for prospective families to learn more about Belmont High School, including our Open Night, SEALP (Select Entry Accelerated Learning Program) and small group tours. These events provide valuable insights into our programs, culture, and the many opportunities available to students. 

For those interested, you can find more details on the school website BHS Website and book via the links below: 

• Open Night bookings: Click here 
• Small group tours: Click here  
• SEALP 2027 Information Session: Click here  

We look forward to welcoming future students and their families as they begin their journey with us! 

Building Works 

As stated at the beginning it’s been big summer of building works, and we are excited to see the new Science and Health Centre starting to come out of the ground. Please see below for some progress pictures. 

School Camps 

The school encourages parents to consider taking out travel insurance for school camps as schools often incur a cancellation fee that we are not able to absorb if your child is forced to withdraw due to unforeseen circumstances. 

DET Policy on Personal Items  

A reminder that the Department of Education does not hold insurance, nor does it accept responsibility for private property brought to school by students, staff or visitors. 

Privacy Reminder 

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 Department of Educations’ Privacy and Information Sharing Policy. 

Locks for Lockers  

All students must have a working lock on their locker from Week 3. It is vital that students can keep their belongings secured. All unused or unlocked lockers will be secured and inaccessible to students from the end of next week. If any student is unsure of what locker has been allocated to them, they can come to the front office for further support. The office has locks for sale for $16. 

Kind regards, 

Joshua Baker 

Principal