Principal's Report
Student Achievement - Beyond acknowledgements: How youth redefine reconciliation
I commend Lola Wood-Sharples, (Year 10, Toner House) who recently took up the opportunity to be a guest on Uncle Charles Pakana’s podcast, VAN Talks, on Victorian Aboriginal News.
At Eltham High School, we are privileged to have Uncle Charles as a house patron.
This year, Uncle Charles has worked with students in our Year 10 English elective, Indigenous Voices. As a result of a classroom visit where he observed students presenting their persuasive speeches to the class, the brilliance and conviction of Lola’s speech on Closing the Gap led to Uncle Charles and Lola recording this podcast last week. Subsequently, it has been aired on 3RRR and 3KND, as well as through the original podcast, linked here.
Congratulations to Lola on her advocacy and allyship and sincere thanks to Uncle Charles for his continued support of our students and our school.
https://vicaboriginalnews.com.au/2026-08-03-7288/
Eltham High School upcoming Centenary Events
I extend a warm and personal invitation to all members of our school community to attend the following centenary events aimed at both taking the school out into the community as well as bringing the community into the school.
Eltham High School Centenary Art exhibition
This exhibition will be held in the Barn Gallery at Montsalvat. The official opening will take place on Friday 21 August starting at 6:00 pm. The exhibition will be in place from 21 August -13 September.
Exhibitors are artists who have had a strong connection with our school encompassing past students, past and current parents and past and current staff as well as broader community members. It is an exceptional display of the arts at Eltham High School and how this has extended beyond the walls of the school and into the Shire of Nillumbik.
I congratulate Lisa Foote and Emma Shelton for their hard work in bringing this together. I thank our patrons Montsalvat and the Shire of Nillumbik for their in-kind and financial support to bring this exhibition to fruition and of course most of all I thank all the artists who have willingly offered their works for the event.
Eltham High School exhibition of the school’s art collection
Over the years through both the Wes Muir (past principal of the school) acquisition prize and the Principal’s acquisition prize, the school has collected a series of student work which constitute the Eltham High School Collection.
As part of our Centenary celebration the school art collection will be on show at school in a well curated exhibition. The aim of this show is to bring the community into the school.
The official opening of the exhibition will be on Friday 28 August starting at 6:00 pm. The exhibition will run from Friday 28 August to Sunday the 30th of August from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
I take this opportunity to thank several of our past art teachers for their volunteer work in getting this exhibition happening. The group of Linda McLeod; Louise Heathcote; Lyn Davis and Marian Stoney have worked very hard in cataloguing, and photographing the work as well as hanging the exhibition for the show. We cannot be thankful enough for the contribution of this amazing group and recognise their commitment to the school and this community.
Once again, I extend a personal invitation to all members of our community to attend the exhibition which is open across the weekend.
Eltham High School Centenary Celebration Fete and Open Day
The Centenary Celebration Fete and Open Day will take place on Sunday 11 October.
We will be welcoming current families, alumni and the wider community to Eltham High School to celebrate 100 years of education, initially as Eltham Higher Elementary School, and later as Eltham high School.
The Fete will be a family day with lots of family fun - there are rides, market stalls, and food trucks as well as students hosting a Devonshire Tea and BBQ. There will be games and the drawing of our raffle. Tickets will be on sale soon.
Alongside the Fete, the school will be open and on show. The Open Day will include the display of historical archived material, organised in decade rooms for all visitors. This will provide the opportunity for past students and staff to gather in designated locations to meet up and reconnect. There will be music, performances, afternoon tea, an official cutting of the 100th Birthday cake, and many more highlights.
Please put the 11 October on your calendar and make sure that you attend and support the school with these celebrations.
Please refer to the school website for further information:
https://www.elthamhs.vic.edu.au/
Student Rally
I wish to clarify the school’s position in relation to the most recent student rally and any future rallies that may take place.
Students are required to attend school for the entire day. We know that attendance has a direct impact on learning.
From the moment that students leave for school and during the time that they are at school, the school has a direct responsibility and duty of care to them. On occasions students leave school before finishing time for medical, dental and other appointments with the permission of their parents and school approval. By providing this permission, parents/carers take on the duty of care for the student as the school relinquishes it.
Students leaving the school early with the permission of their parents, is one thing but students deciding of their own accord to leave the school early for whatever reason is a totally different thing. The school cannot relinquish its duty of care but at the same time cannot exercise its duty of care as the school does not know where the student is. Under these circumstances the school has no option but to consider these students as truant and their absence treated as such.
In relation to the recent rally, no matter how important the cause was for the students, no matter how much they wanted to express their voice, no matter how valid the reasons are nor the validity of the spirit of the action, students cannot just leave the school early without permission. Doing so places them at risk as well as the school.
I trust that you understand the position of the school and thank you in anticipation of your support.
Vincent Sicari, Principal
Eltham High School Reminders, including:
Staff Outside of Work Hours
Mobile Phone Policy
Privacy
Student Accident Insurance
Approved Student Exchange Organisations
School Drop Off and Pick Up Times