Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

NAPLAN testing commenced for all Year 7 and 9 students on Wednesday 11th March and will conclude with a final day of sessions on Monday 23rd March. We could not be prouder of the approach our students have taken while completing their NAPLAN sessions. They have demonstrated great pride in their efforts, resilience when faced with challenges and determination to do their best. 

Their positive attitude has been a source of pride for the entire school community.

At Bairnsdale Secondary College NAPLAN requires the whole school, students and staff from all year levels, to work together. We thank all students for showing great respect, resilience and responsibility to support those students completing the assessments.

Meanwhile, our Year 11 and 12 VET Cookery students kicked off 2026 with their first Café Series, serving teachers a delicious selection of appetisers. As part of their first unit, Prepare and Serve Appetisers, students learn key techniques and presentation skills, then put them into action in a live kitchen. Each student will have a turn as Head Chef and Sous Chef—this week, Emily took the lead as Head Chef with Xy as the Sous Chef.

VET Cookery is all about hands-on learning in a real kitchen while working towards a Certificate II in Cookery over two years, building skills, confidence, and teamwork along the way.

The Café Series not only allows staff to enjoy high-quality food but also helps raise funds to reinvest in the program. By all accounts, the food was exceptional!

In addition, the College is proud to announce recent upgrades to the our ICT Centre funded by ex-student, Robin Walker, a successful video game designer now residing in the United States. This new, purpose-built facility has been designed to better support the needs of approximately 1,300 students and 200 staff. With a dedicated team of five staff members, the centre plays a vital role in enhancing digital learning across the school.

Through a partnership with the State Government and a Melbourne-based initiative, the College is also able to provide around 600 refurbished laptops and netbooks free of charge each year to students who need them. This initiative ensures greater access to technology and supports equity in education for all students.

Finally, as you may already be aware, the Australian Education Union has advised that its members will take strike action on Tuesday 24 March 2026.

Based on the information currently available, many of our staff intend to participate in this action. The College will remain open on this day; however, there may be some disruption to normal programs.

Further details regarding the arrangements for Tuesday will be communicated on Monday 23 March at 2:00 pm.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Sincerely,

Tony Roberts

Principal