Principal's Report

Our continued focus on responsive teaching and Checks for Understanding (C4U) has been a significant part of our Teaching and Learning work this term. This work is also informing the ongoing update of the BHS Teaching and Learning Framework, ensuring our agreed instructional practices remain clear, practical and centred on improving student learning. 

A key focus has been ensuring that Checks for Understanding are more than simply asking whether students understand. Staff have been exploring strategies that require all students to think, respond and demonstrate their understanding, allowing teachers to identify misconceptions and adjust their teaching in real time. Central to this work is the principle that students should be doing the heavy cognitive lifting in our classrooms. 

Following our recent Curriculum Day, staff have leaned into peer observations, working alongside colleagues to see these strategies in practice and reflect on their impact. This has created valuable opportunities for professional dialogue about what effective C4U looks like across different learning areas and how we can continue to increase the level of thinking and participation required of students. 

This work will continue to shape the updated BHS Teaching and Learning Framework, with the aim of creating greater consistency in high-impact classroom practice while still allowing teachers to respond to the needs of their students. The next stage will be to consolidate the learning from observations and staff feedback into a refreshed framework that provides a clear picture of what effective teaching and learning looks like at Belmont High School. 

Term 3 Key Dates: 

• Week 9: R U Ok week including Staff Vs Students Basketball on the Tuesday 
• Friday 18th September: BHS House Music Competition and Final Day of Term 3  

Assistant Principal Announcement 

I am pleased to announce that David Ellis has been successfully appointed as a substantive Assistant Principal at Belmont High School, filling the position vacated following the retirement of our long-serving Assistant Principal, Michael Caccamo. 

Dave will be well known to our school community, having consistently stepped into a range of acting leadership roles and made a significant contribution to the school over many years. His strong relationships with students, staff and families, along with his commitment to Belmont High School, will be a great asset to our leadership team. 

We are excited to have Dave officially join the Assistant Principal team and congratulate him on his appointment. 

Parent Student teacher Conferences  

Our recent Parent, Student and Teacher Interviews were a valuable opportunity to strengthen the connection between home and school and reflect on the progress of our students. 

Thank you to all families who took the time to attend and engage in conversations with our teachers. This partnership is incredibly important in creating the best possible outcomes for our young people. 

These interviews provide an opportunity to celebrate successes, identify areas for growth and ensure students, families and teachers are working together towards shared goals. Having students involved in these conversations also encourages greater ownership of their learning and their next steps. 

Thank you to our families for your continued support and connection with Belmont High School, and to our staff for the time and care they put into these important conversations. 

Student Attendance 

To ensure our attendance records are accurate and that students are accounted for in an emergency, we ask that all students remember to sign in at the Compass kiosk if they arrive at school after 9.00am. Students are asked to use their ID card to make this process quicker and easier. 

Senior students are reminded that they can only leave the school after their last class for the day.  If they do not have a scheduled class in the middle of the day but do have classes in the afternoon, then they must stay at school and use the private study space. 

Students returning from sport before the end of the school day will either return to class or be supervised until 3.15pm. 

Parents are asked to enter an attendance note on Compass if their student is leaving school during the day. 

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. 

Parent / Carer / Opinion Survey 

The annual Parent / Carer Opinion Survey is now open and will remain available until Friday 18 September. This Department of Education survey provides families with an important opportunity to share feedback about school climate, student engagement and their experience of Belmont High School. 

Your feedback is extremely valuable and helps inform our ongoing school improvement and future planning. 

For information on how to complete the survey, including the survey link and access details, please refer to the Compass message sent to families on Monday 17 August. We encourage as many families as possible to take the opportunity to have their say. 

Joshua Baker 

Principal