Welcome to the 2025 school year!

I am excited about the year ahead and all that we can achieve together as a school community. Belmont High continues to offer a wealth of opportunities for our students, ensuring that each and every one of them can embrace our school mantra, Strive for the Highest.

A special welcome to our new Year 7 students and their families—whether you are new to the school or returning with another child, we are here to support you in making this transition a positive and rewarding experience.

As we begin the year, I want to acknowledge the strength and unity of our school community. Your support, care, and resilience define Belmont High, and it is a privilege to lead a school where students, staff, and families work together to foster a positive and inclusive environment.

Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, success, and opportunity for all.

Welcome New and Returning Staff

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

New Staff

Returning Staff

Jared Ashtree – Maths & Science teacher

Gregor Limberg – Physics & Maths teacher

Ben Wilson – Maths & Science teacher

Danniel Smith - Maths teacher

Laura Burn – School wellbeing support

Lauren Ware – Front Office

Clem Emmerson – Front Office

Thom Bell – Physical Education Leader

Malshani Kinnersley – English & EAL Teacher

Skye Thompson – English Teacher

Year 12 Camp – A Strong Start to 2025

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:

Thursday 13/2: BHS Swimming Carnival
Friday 14/2: School Photo Day – Catch Up Session
Monday 10/3: Labour Day Public Holiday
Tuesday 25/3: BHS 2026 Open Night
Tuesday 1st April: Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews
Friday 4/4: BHS Fun Run & Term 1 ends

School Council Parent Representatives / Nominations

2025 will see four 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. The school is about to embark on a major building program and council will play a part in overseeing this exciting project.

We currently have vacancies in the following categories:

· Parent member- 4 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 12th February, 4:00pm. If we have more than for nominations, a Council election will be held to determine the successful Council members.

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 2025, planning for 2026 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 Information Session, 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 and book via the links below:

🔹 Open Night bookings: Click here

🔹SEALP Information Session: Click here

🔹Small group tours: Click here

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

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.

Kind regards,

Joshua Baker

Principal

DATES FOR 2025
Monday 10th February	Year 7 Sealp Camp
Tuesday 11th February	VCE Parent Information Night
Wednesday 12th February
Thursday 13th February	BHS Swimming Carnival
Friday 14th February
Monday 17th February	Year 7 Verde Camp
Tuesday 18th February	Form assemblies
Wednesday 19th February	Year 7 Gold Camp
Thursday 20th February
Friday 21st February	SSV Senior Cricket

The Belmont News

Strive for the Highest

Issue 1-2025 7th February