From the Principal

Staffing update

It has been a very busy and productive term 2 with many highlights for our students in and out of school.

Marion Coady has been extended in her Education Director position until the end of 2026.  I am very happy to have the opportunity to continue to act in the Principal’s role until the end of this year. Other leaders who will also continue to act in their current roles as a result of Marion’s extension are:

• Fran Charlton, who will continue as the Deputy Principal until the end of 2026

• Julie Mohtasham, who will continue as the Assistant Principal Senior School and will retain SACE coordination until the end of 2026

• Kat Hosking, who will continue as the Year 11 Year Level Leader until the end of 2026

   

Three staff are commencing parenting leave between now and the end of this term.  We wish them well as they embark on this happy time in their lives:

• Gema Sanchez Tordesillas

• Amee Allison

• Vanessa Ingram

The following selection panels have been held to determine replacements for staff on leave who hold leadership positions:

• B1 IGNITE Leader – this position behind Amee Allison has been won by Ruby Kuschel for the remainder of this year
• B1 Year 7 Leader – this position behind Vanessa Ingram has been won by Alanna Maurin for the remainder of this year

Vivana Molina has joined us as a Spanish teacher behind Gema Sanchez Tordesillas.

We are in the process of determining who will fill the Aboriginal Education Teacher role previously occupied by Vanessa Ingram.

Our school and students in the media

Early in term 2, three of our male students were interviewed by Lauren Novak of The Advertiser for a series of articles about raising and educating boys.  The articles were published nationally in News Limited papers on 3, 4 and 6 June, and video of the boys continues to be embedded in ongoing stories online about how young men are managing.  

Oli (Year 10), Charlie (Year 11) and Jethro (Year 11) spoke eloquently about their experiences at school, influential people in their lives and how they responded to pressure from social media to look or behave in certain ways.  

I am proud to say that the boys freely gave their own opinions, presented as balanced and thoughtful young men and impressed all with their secure sense of who they are as young people in 2026.  I was also proud to see what an excellent advertisement for public education our students were, as the only students interviewed not from private schools.

On 15 June the Premier Peter Malinauskas, Minister for Education Lucy Hood and Member for Davenport Erin Thompson visited the school to talk about the effects of the mobile phone ban on student culture. They visited the table tennis club and knitting and crocheting club to speak to students about activities that students engage in during break times, instead of using their mobile phones. 

The Premier played table tennis with Felix, Regan, Aleena and Anh.  He also met Bella, Ambikha, Thomas and Allira – but declined to take up the available knitting needles for a try at this activity.  

Mr Malinauskas and Lucy Hood spoke to camera at length about the effect of the mobile phone ban on the student culture within schools, and Year 11 student Lucy spoke and answered questions from the media.  

Unfortunately, the lengthy press conference that followed this meant that Mr Malinauskas was not able to meet waiting members of the Tech Crew, including Oleg, Ainsley, Anasia, Amelia and Hunter.  

Our students represented our school wonderfully and chatted with animation and confidence with the Premier. It was wonderful to have the efforts of our staff to run lunchtime clubs to cater to student interests acknowledged and promoted widely in the media. 

2027 Subject Selection process

During the first half of term 3, all students in years 7-11 will choose their subjects for 2027.

Parents/caregivers will receive a letter explaining this process when reports are published on July 3, the last day of term 2.  The letter outlines key dates and gives information about how to access the 2027 Curriculum Handbook.

All students in years 7-11 will hear about the process through Wellbeing for Learning lessons in week 2 of term 3.  Pathway planning meetings to support subject selection for current year 10 and 11 students and parents and caregivers will be held in week 4 of term 3.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in the school community a pleasant break during July and I look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday 21 July.

Cassie Dickeson

Principal