Principal's Report

Past Student Achievement: Paris Olympics

Congratulations to past student Anneli Maley whose basketball team the Opals put the Australian women basketballers back on the podium by winning a bronze medal. The Opals beat the Belgium’s Cats 85-81 and were very happy to break the medal drought that confronted them in past Olympics. Anneli was at Eltham High School until the end of Year 9, after which she attended the Australian Institute of Sport and progresses with a career in the sport.

This is an amazing outcome for our home team adding to the medal tally that our Olympiads will bring home.

Annali joins several past Eltham High School Students who have represented our nation at various Olympics, including Igor Yudin (Volleyball), (Cadel Evans (Cycling), and Georgia Bonora (Artistic Gymnastics).

Sport is a crucial part of supporting physical wellbeing and we encourage all our young people to engage in a sport of their choosing and to follow their dreams.

A great achievement!

Course Selection 2025

With the Course Information Evenings now over and the Year 10 Course Counselling complete, students are left to the task to make their subject selections for 2025. Irrespective of the year level that students may be moving into, they may require guidance and support from parents and carers to make the best choices possible and in the senior years - choices that are going to support them to engage in their desired post school pathway.

The presentations of the Information Nights appear on the school website. This allows parents/carers and students to reflect on the information as needed in order to make informed decisions.

If at any stage you need further support, I encourage you to contact the relevant Sub-school Team leader as they will be able to guide you through the information and the process as needed.

Middle School: Ross McKinnon at Ross.McKinnon@education.vic.gov.au

Senior School: Amanda Saliba at Amanda.Saliba@education.vic.gov.au

Symphonic Band Tour to Adelaide

The Symphonic Band is currently on tour in Adelaide and from all reports, the students and staff are having a great time and taking full advantage of the performance opportunities offered to them.

Whilst on tour, the band will collaborate with some of the best Music Programs in Adelaide, including:

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Adelaide Wind Orchestra
Elder Conservatorium of Music
ABODA SA Schools Music Festival
Marryatville High School
Pembroke School
Prince Alfred College

Their final performance will be a concert at the Elder Conservatorium of Music on Friday August 16, which will also include the premier performance of Moondani Dances by Eltham Alumni Taran Carter.

The opportunities that the Music Program offers our students supports them to grow in the musicianship, but further to that, to develop into the amazing young people who will take their place in society and know how to navigate through the challenges and opportunities that life offers them.

I wish them all the best for the reminder of the tour and look forward to hearing from them about their experience once they return.

A big thank you to all the music staff and the Director of Music, Rick Keenan, for organising such an amazing tour.

Interim Reports Semester 2

The interim reporting scales and descriptors to be read alongside the published reports can be accessed via the School Documentation/Reporting tab on Compass or via the link below. You may need to double click the link to open it.

Interim reports descriptor scales

Student Progress Interviews (SPIs) will be taking place across two sessions:

Monday 19 August: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm (online).
Wednesday 28 August: 4:00 pm – 7:00 on site at Eltham High School. There will be an early finish of 2:30 pm for students.

Students are encouraged to attend with their parents/carers.

Bookings for Student Progress Interviews are now open via the Compass Parent Portal. Please make contact with Anna Panas via email anna.panas@education.vic.gov.au or via phone 9430 5104 should you have any questions in relation to the interim reports.

Student Safety at the Start and End of The School Day

I once again take the opportunity to remind parents/carers of the importance of obeying road rules all the time and especially in the vicinity of the school. I ask you all to be cautious around the children’s crossing and to always follow the guidance provided by the crossing supervisor.

It is important that you are constantly vigilant, watching for students whilst driving on Withers Way and Susan Street during peak times (8:30 – 9:00 and 3:00 – 3:30) and adhere to the speed limit.

I also remind you that the front of the administration building is a “No Standing” area during peak times; and you cannot queue there prior to pick-up. If you arrive early and your child is not standing at your pickup point you are required to drive through the circular drive and enter as many times as needed until your child is there for pick up.

If you have been fortunate to find a parking spot when entering the circular drive, we ask that you reverse park as this will reduce the risk of colliding with a student on their way out of the school as well as with other cars.

It would also be reasonable and sensible for you to reverse park in the parking bays at the front of the school as this will reduce the risk of you backing out onto oncoming traffic when you leave.

Signage already exists in front of the administration area about it being a “No Standing” zone between 8:00 - 10:00 am and 2:00 - 4:00 pm. We are looking at installing additional signage reminding parents/carers to reverse park.

Please be aware that if these measures do not improve safety for our students especially at peak times we will engage with local authorities (Victoria Police and/or Council) to discuss the possibility of increased enforcement of parking restrictions and/or road rules.

I look forward to your ongoing support with this matter.

VINCENT SICARI, Principal