Welcome to 2026  - from our Principal

To our new Year 7 students and families — welcome to Wangaratta High School. We are so pleased to have you with us. This year's Year 7 cohort is a wonderful group, and we have been delighted to welcome students from near and far into our community. To all other new families joining us this year, welcome to you as well. And to our returning families — it's great to have everyone back on campus for what is shaping up to be a busy and exciting year.

The energy on campus already feels terrific. Classes are full, staff are settled, and the year is well underway.

I am pleased to share that we are fully staffed heading into 2026, with a wonderful range of new teachers and education support staff joining us across various areas of the school. By now, your children will have had the opportunity to meet all their teachers, including those new to our school this year — we are very glad to have them as part of our team.

Campus is also a hive of activity for another reason — our $11.7 million capital works upgrade is now in full swing. The first phase has involved an efficient and thorough internal demolition, with the team ready to completely rebuild the interior of the building. It is exciting to see this transformation beginning, and we have included some photos so you can follow the progress. There will be more to share as the project develops throughout the year.

A reminder to all families to make use of Compass, our school communication and information platform. It is a great way to stay across your child's timetable, classes, and teachers, and provides an easy channel for contacting staff. If you are having any difficulty accessing Compass, please don't hesitate to reach out to our friendly reception staff — either by calling or dropping in — and they will be happy to help with passwords or any other guidance to get you connected.

Your child's Homeroom teacher is someone they see every day, making them a great first point of contact for day-to-day questions, logistics, and general wellbeing. We encourage you to keep that connection in mind as the year gets going.

If I can ever be of assistance to you as principal, please do reach out via reception. I encourage you to visit our About Staff section on our website, where you can see some of the other key, wonderful, and experienced leaders across different areas of the school. 

A Message to Our Community

At our rescheduled  Presentation Night in Week 2 of this term, I spoke directly to our community about the loss of Attaahua Christie, who passed away unexpectedly in Week 11 of Term 4 last December. I want to make sure those who weren't able to join us that night hear this message too.

Most of you will already know that we lost Attaahua at the end of last year. She was a student who lit up our school — warm, energetic, a natural leader, and someone who made those around her feel welcome simply by being present. It was an honour to know her, and I carry fond memories of her. I hope the positive impact she had on so many people in our community is a lasting one.

In 2024, Attaahua was the inaugural recipient of the Nick Morris Award for Perseverance and Resilience — an award that recognises depth of character. She was a worthy first recipient.

I want to speak plainly, as I did on the night.

There has been speculation in our community about the circumstances of Attaahua's passing. Her family has asked me to share that the toxicology results were clear. There is currently no evidence to suggest that Attaahua died by suicide. The matter remains with the Coroner, and we may never have complete answers.

I ask our community to hold that uncertainty with care. Speculation does not honour Attaahua. It is hurtful to her family, and it does not help any of us. What we can do is remember her well — her smile, her energy, the way she made people feel welcome. That is how we honour her.

To our students: please continue to look after each other. If you have concerns about a friend or peer, reach out to us. We are here.

I also want to again thank our staff for their care and commitment under significant pressure at the end of last term, and our community for the support shown during a very hard time. The way our students looked after one another — including over summer when school was closed — has been a source of real pride.

There is much to celebrate in our community, and we hold both the sadness of loss and the joy of achievement. That is part of life.

Reflecting on Our 2025 VCE Results

As we begin 2026, I want to take a moment to look back on the exceptional achievements of our 2025 VCE cohort — results that brought great pride to our school and to the wider Wangaratta community.

Our 2025 Dux was Clare Collins, who achieved an outstanding ATAR of 98.80, placing her in the top 1.2% of the state. Following closely was Isabelle Hooper with a remarkable 98.35, and Tom Ford rounded out our top three with an impressive 92.10.

In a rare and outstanding accomplishment, two students achieved perfect study scores of 50 — the highest possible mark in the VCE system. Isabelle Hooper achieved a perfect 50 in Physical Education, and Clare Collins achieved a perfect 50 in Outdoor and Environmental Studies. To have two perfect scores from the one cohort is an exceptional result.

Year 11 student Clara Rocchiccioli also deserves special recognition, having achieved a 48 in Biology and a 40 in Chemistry while still in Year 11 — outstanding results that saw her outperform graduating students across the state. We look forward to seeing what she achieves in her final year 2026.

We also celebrate Anthony Chisholm, who scored an exceptional 48 in VET Music Performance — a result that speaks to the strength and breadth of our curriculum offering.

Across the cohort, 24% of students achieved an ATAR above 70, and over a quarter of all study scores were above 30. Behind every number is a personal story of effort, growth, and determination, and we remain proud of every member of the Class of 2025.

Congratulations again to all of our graduates. We look forward to watching what you do next.

Dave Armstrong

Executive Principal, February 2026