From the Principal's Desk

Mid Term Update

It has been a busy few weeks at Lara Secondary College as we near the end of the semester. Both the girls’ and boys’ rugby teams defeated Sunshine, the Year 9's enjoyed a brilliant experience at camp in Melbourne, our Be Bold Be Heard girls attended the network conference, we reached the semi-finals in Year 7 Netball and the Music Concert was a huge success, attracting strong support from the community.

A huge thank you to all families who have attended events and supported their young people throughout these activities. I would also like to thank our staff, who consistently go above and beyond to provide such a rich extracurricular program for our students.

Student Attitudes to School Survey

At Lara Secondary College, we value student voice and agency as key drivers of student engagement, wellbeing, and high-quality teaching and learning. This term, we conducted our annual survey to better understand what students think about their school experience.

The Attitudes to School Survey is offered annually by the Department of Education and helps schools gain valuable insights into students’ perceptions and experiences of school.

It is worth noting that in 2025, Lara Secondary College students reported a more positive schooling experience than students at most other schools across the state, exceeding the state average in almost every measure. This is a fantastic vote of confidence in the work of the college, the quality of teaching and learning, and the supportive culture students create for one another.

We use this survey data to inform programs and initiatives that enhance students’ experiences at the college. We have recently completed our 2026 survey and look forward to seeing whether we have maintained our outstanding results and identifying areas that may become our next focus for school improvement. We’ll share the results soon. 

Building Works

The new toilet facilities are nearing completion and are expected to be fully open on the first day of Term 3. A big thank you to the Assistant Principals who have overseen the project and to the students who have patiently waited for these improved facilities.

Exams

As we move towards the end of the semester, many students will begin sitting exams across all year levels. For younger students, exams provide a valuable opportunity to test their knowledge, strengthen revision skills, and identify areas for improvement.

Regardless of their future pathways, these learning skills help students become more independent learners both throughout their schooling and in their future careers. Families can support students by helping them establish a suitable study space, develop a study timetable, and revise key topics.

We wish all students the very best in their end-of-semester exams.

Student Advisory Panel

Congratulations to Annelise and Seth in Year 12, who have been nominated to join the North Geelong Youth Advisory Council, led by Ella George, State Member for Lara and Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health.

They will meet with like-minded young people from across Geelong on five occasions throughout the year to provide input and help inform government policies, initiatives, and programs. Well done to both of you for taking a positive risk and embracing this opportunity.

Google Chrome Extensions

Only Chrome Extensions with educational value and that abide by the Department of Education's policies are allowed to be used by students at school and with their school account. Please note that extensions, such as games, should not be installed on students accounts and can often not be reliable. We are tightening up our management of this over the next few weeks, so let us know if you are having any issues. 

Report Writing Day

Please note that Report Writing Day will be held on Friday, 19th June and is a student-free day. During this time, staff will be providing feedback on assessments, writing reports and preparing for Semester 2.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the college. Please remember that you can always contact me or the school at lara.sc@education.vic.gov.au.

Andrew McConchie

Acting Principal