Principal's Report

Recognising the Work of Educators and Support Staff – Culture of Respect

This week was Education Week, a time to reflect on the purpose of schools and to celebrate the dedicated professionals who bring them to life. 

At Homestead Senior Secondary College, we’re proud to have a team of passionate educators and support staff who work every day to help young people grow into capable, confident, and compassionate adults.

We also recognised Education Support Staff Day. These individuals, our integration aides, wellbeing officers, administrative staff and more, are often the quiet achievers who keep our school running smoothly. Their care and consistency ensure that every student is known and supported, not just taught.

Schools like ours don’t succeed by chance. They succeed because of shared values, high standards, and strong partnerships between staff, students and families. At Homestead, we’re fortunate to have so many families who understand this, families who support the school’s expectations, support us in our work, and reinforce important life lessons at home.

Michael Oher, former NFL player and subject of The Blind Side, is known for saying: “Excuses make today easy, but they make tomorrow hard. Discipline makes today hard, but it makes tomorrow easy.” His story is of hardship, persistence and growth and it reminds us that young people thrive when boundaries are clear and we stick to them.

Every time a parent supports the school, ensures their child takes responsibility, and reinforces the importance of being on time and in uniform, they’re not just helping the school, they’re helping their child mature into a capable young adult. While we celebrate our staff during education week, we also thank those families who do exactly that as it makes the job of education possible.

After all, we go to professionals for a reason. You go to a doctor when you’re unwell, because they’ve studied medicine and know how to help. You trust a mechanic to repair your car, because that’s their skill set. In the same way, you send your child to school not just to be educated, but to be shaped. Teachers are professionals in learning, development, and behaviour. Trusting us to do that job, even when it is uncomfortable, is part of this great partnership.

As school leaders, we often stand at the crossroads of competing expectations from government, staff, students and families. It is complex work, but in the middle of it, our purpose is simple, we are here to help young people grow. We ask for your continued trust to let us do just that.

We’re grateful for your continued partnership, and proud to stand alongside you as we build a great school for your children.

Warm regards,

Danijel

Principal