Principal’s Report

Teaching and Learning Focus – Term 2

Building on our Know & Grow focus from Term 1, our teaching and learning effort this term is centred on embedding differentiated language into everyday classroom practice. The three tiers—Building Confidence, Feeling Good, and Up for a Challenge—are being consolidated across the school to support students in engaging with tasks at an appropriate level of challenge.

To further support this work, staff will have access to targeted professional learning workshops throughout the term. These sessions will be delivered at points of need to ensure relevance and impact, recognising the wide spectrum of challenge that differentiation presents across different subjects and classrooms.

This continued focus on differentiation is aimed at promoting growth for all students while equipping our teachers with strategies to meet learners where they’re at and stretch them further.

Term 2 Key Dates:

Tuesday 6 May – Staff Curriculum Planning day (no classes)
Wednesday 7 May – BHS 70th Anniversary Celebrations
Tuesday 13 – Year 11 Wellbeing Day
Week 5 – 19 May – Year 9 Morrisby Interviews
Monday 9 June – King’s Birthday Public Holiday
Tuesday 17 June – GAT (General Achievement Test – all students enrolled in a Unit 3&4 subject)
Friday 27 June – Whole school assessment and report writing day (no classes)
Monday 30 June – Wednesday 2 July – Year 9 Camp
Friday 4 July – Last Day of Term 2 (Early dismissal – 2:30pm)

Students of the Month

We continue our tradition of celebrating our “Students of the month”. These awards are not just about high grades – they recognise students who demonstrate commitment, positivity, and pride in their learning and their school. Using student reports as a starting point, teachers will nominate individuals who best reflect the following criteria:

Consistent effort and application in class and a strong work ethic across their studies.
A positive attitude towards learning, their peers, and the school community.
Preparedness for learning, including correct uniform, the right materials, and staying focused during class.
Emerging leadership qualities shown in the classroom setting.
Strong academic achievement or noticeable growth in their learning over time.

Below is the second round of awards with the students of the month for March. Their example helps set the tone for what it means to be a learner at Belmont High School. Well done!!!

Year 7 – Inara Hall – 7 Green

Year 8 – Zoe Purdie – 8 Blue

Year 9 – Jordan Carswell – 9 Purple

Year 10 – Maya Henrion – 10 Mango

Year 11 – Izzy Bowen-Moller – 11 Blue

Year 12 – Eve Muspratt – 12 Green

ANZAC Day Parade

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of our school captains — Poppy, Eliza, and Angus — along with junior school captains Fern Knight and Emily Costa, who represented Belmont High School with pride at the recent Geelong ANZAC Day Parade and service at Johnstone’s Park.

Accompanied by staff members Andrew Dowling, Dave Ellis, and former teacher Craig White, our student leaders marched with great respect and purpose, carrying the original banner created for the Geelong contingent of the Rats of Tobruk. Their participation reflected not only their leadership but also our school’s strong and ongoing connection to this important part of history.

On the day, Ms Judy Fogarty — whose father served as a Rat of Tobruk — shared how proud she was to see that his legacy continues through the respectful involvement of our students. It was a deeply moving moment and a true reflection of Belmont High’s values in action.

School Production – Matilda Jnr

Excitement is building as we approach the opening night of our 2025 school production, Matilda Jnr. With three evening performances scheduled, the show will kick off on Thursday, May 22nd, and promises to be a highlight of the term.

Our students and staff have been working hard, including rehearsing throughout the school holidays, to bring this production to life. The level of commitment, creativity, and collaboration on display has been outstanding, and we can’t wait to see it all come together on stage.

The production is a wonderful example of the opportunities available to our students beyond the classroom, and we look forward to celebrating their efforts with the wider school community. Tickets are now available vie the link BHS Production – Matilda Jnr.

Italian Study Tour – A Journey to Remember

During the middle week of the holidays, 13 of our students returned from an unforgettable three-week journey through Italy. From the canals of Venice to the art-filled streets of Florence and the historic landmarks of Rome, students immersed themselves in Italian culture and language, embracing daily life and all the experiences that come with international travel.

This incredible opportunity allowed our students to practise their Italian, explore iconic cities, and build lifelong memories—all while enjoying their fair share of pasta and gelato!

A heartfelt thank you to Federica Cologni, Michael Caccamo and Peta Mackie for giving up their break to support and guide our students throughout the tour. Their dedication made this enriching experience possible.

Miranda, Theo and Erin did an amazing job, sharing some highlights and reflections at our whole school assembly on Wednesday.

Whole School Curriculum Day – Tuesday 6th May

A reminder that Tuesday 6th May is a whole school curriculum planning day and will be a student-free day.

This year’s focus is on strengthening our approach to differentiation, with staff professional learning centred around our whole school language of Building Confidence, Feeling Good, and Up for a Challenge. This shared language is designed to guide our practice in the classroom and support all students to thrive, regardless of their starting point.

The day will provide an opportunity for staff to:

Deepen their understanding of differentiated teaching strategies that build student confidence and engagement.
Explore ways to embed wellbeing into learning, so students feel good about their progress and connected to their learning environment.
Consider how to stretch and support all learners through purposeful challenge, in line with our commitment to high expectations for every student.

This professional learning plays a key role in ensuring our classrooms are inclusive, engaging, and aspirational for all.

Belmont High School’s 70th Anniversary Celebration

This year marks 70 years of Belmont High School, and we are excited to celebrate this milestone with our school community! To honour our history and achievements, we will be hosting a special Open Day on Wednesday, 7th May, providing an opportunity for past and present students, staff, and families to reconnect and reflect on our journey.

We invite you to join us for a tour of the school, followed by refreshments:

11:00 AM Tour – followed by refreshments
5:30 PM Tour – followed by refreshments

To secure your spot, please book your tour via the following link:

70 YEARS OF BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL – TOUR BOOKINGS

We look forward to celebrating this special occasion with you!

Kind regards,

Joshua Baker

Principal

Belmont High School Newsletter

No.6

Issue 6 · 02 May 2025

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