Principal's Report

It’s hard to believe Term 1 has already come to an end! The past few months have flown by, packed with exciting learning opportunities, memorable experiences and meaningful connections across our College community. As we wrap up the term, I’m excited to share some highlights from March and celebrate all that has been achieved.

Learning Walks

Throughout this term, the College has continued to implement Learning Walks as a key strategy to enhance teaching practice and improve student learning outcomes. Learning Walks involve small teams of staff and students visiting classrooms for short periods of time to gather observational data aligned to specific school priorities.   Importantly, these visits are not evaluative in nature and no individual feedback is provided to teachers. Instead, the focus is on identifying whole-school trends, celebrating effective practice and informing future planning and professional learning. This approach allows us to build a clear, evidence-based understanding of what is working well across the College and where further refinement may be beneficial.  Staff and students were invited to participate in Learning Walks this term, selecting from three targeted focus areas. Each focus has been carefully chosen to align with our current improvement priorities and to support consistent, high-impact teaching practices across the school.

Focus Area 1: Point of Need Teaching

This Learning Walk explores how teachers respond to student learning needs in real time. Data collected will support us to identify effective strategies, monitor consistency of practice, and determine next steps to further enhance student learning growth.

Focus Area 2: Whole School Approach – Tier 1 Supports

This focus examines the implementation of our Tier 1 practices across classrooms. Observations will centre on key elements that underpin a positive and productive learning environment, including relationship building, clear and consistent expectations, student engagement, structured entry and exit routines, and the use of strategies such as brain breaks and positive primers.

Focus Area 3: Literacy –Independent Reading

This Learning Walk investigates student engagement during independent reading sessions. This data will help us better understand the factors influencing reading engagement and inform targeted strategies to support all learners.

The insights gathered through these Learning Walks will play a vital role in shaping our ongoing work to strengthen teaching practice and maximise learning outcomes for all students.

Japan Tour – Have an amazing time!

On behalf of our College Community, I would like to extend our best wishes to the students and staff participating in the upcoming Japan Tour. Departing during the holiday period, this experience will provide 22 students and 4 staff with a rich opportunity to engage in global learning beyond the classroom.    The itinerary includes visits to a range of culturally and historically significant locations, including Kurashiki, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Himeji, Osaka and Tokyo. Through this incredible experience, students will deepen their understanding of Japanese culture, history and contemporary society, while also developing independence, intercultural awareness and global perspectives.  I encourage our community to follow along via the College’s social media channels, where highlights of the tour and student experiences will be shared. We look forward to hearing all about their experiences upon their return.

Exciting New Spaces for Students

We’re thrilled to share some fantastic updates to our College grounds! Our new courts next to the stadium are now open and already buzzing with activity. The facility includes two multi-use basketball and netball courts, two tennis courts, and a hockey D — providing students with even more opportunities to be active, develop skills, and enjoy teamwork and play.    And there’s more to look forward to! Our new playground will be installed in April alongside the existing outdoor gym equipment. Planned with input from College Council, staff and students, the playground will give students another fun, engaging space to be active, socialise with friends, and enjoy their breaks.  These new facilities are a fantastic addition to our College, supporting student wellbeing, learning, and connection across our community. Exciting times ahead!

The Resilience Project

At Lilydale Heights College, student and staff wellbeing is a key focus and The Resilience Project plays an important role in supporting this. Over the past 12 months, the College has been embedding this evidence-based program, which equips students and staff with practical strategies to build resilience, mental health and emotional wellbeing.   The program emphasises gratitude, empathy, mindfulness and emotional literacy, providing activities, tools and resources that can be used in everyday life. One of these tools, GEM Chats, is included each week in my Weekly Wrap and encourages students and families to reflect on these key areas each week.   Recently, our teachers participated in professional learning to further strengthen their understanding of the strategies and resources available through the program. This supports them in guiding students and fostering a positive school culture where wellbeing and academic growth go hand in hand.  By making The Resilience Project a school-wide focus, we aim to support the holistic development of every student, helping them thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Production Auditions & Rehearsals

Auditions are now complete and rehearsals are in full swing for our College Production of Grease: School Edition! Students have been enthusiastically preparing for what promises to be a fun and energetic show, both on stage and behind the scenes.  Our cast and crew are working hard on singing, dancing, acting and all the technical elements that bring a production to life. We can’t wait to see the incredible talent and teamwork of our students come together in August for what is set to be another incredible performance.

Open Night Success!

Our annual Open Night on Wednesday 25 March was a fantastic opportunity to welcome prospective students and their families to Lilydale Heights College. With over 850 visitors attending, the evening provided a chance to explore our programs, curriculum and the learning experiences we offer.  Feedback from the community was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the strong reputation our College holds and the value families place on the opportunities we provide for students. Visitors enjoyed seeing our College in action and hearing directly from our students and staff about life at LHC.  A huge thank you to our students and staff whose enthusiasm, knowledge and warmth made the evening such a success. 

Support during the holidays

As we enter the holiday period, we wanted to share some tips and resources for families to support the wellbeing of young people in their care during the school holidays. 

Wellbeing support for students during the school holidays: Click here 

On the Wellbeing Page of this newsletter, we have a document outlining some additional wellbeing supports also available to students and families over the holiday break.

Happy Holidays!

Thank you to all our students, staff, and families for an incredible first term. Your energy, commitment, and enthusiasm have made this term full of learning, growth and memorable experiences. I would like to wish everyone a relaxing and enjoyable holiday break. Thank you for an amazing Term 1!