Need to Know
The wattle is in full bloom in our gardens at the moment, and it is a joyful reminder that spring is here!
Year 12 Celebrations 🎉
- Final Day: Our Year 12 students will finish their classes next Wednesday. We are excited to celebrate this milestone with a special breakfast and final assembly.
- Respectful Celebrations: Over the years, our students have consistently demonstrated respect during their final celebrations, and I am confident this year will be no different.
- Parking Advisory: Parents are advised to avoid the car park on Wednesday morning, as Year 12 students will be celebrating on the Blue Courts (weather permitting).
- Support for Exams: Year 12 teachers will be available to support students as they prepare for their upcoming exams. We wish all our students the best in demonstrating the hard work they have put in throughout the year. 📚
A big thank you also to all Year 12 teachers who voluntarily ran revision tutorials over the holiday period—it's wonderful to see such strong attendance from our Year 12 students. 👏
The mock exam period in the first week of term went smoothly. This week, students have been diligently reviewing their exams and finalizing their revision with their teachers.
NASA Space Camp 🚀
A huge congratulations to our students who participated in the NASA Space Camp over the holidays! They represented themselves and the college with pride.
We hope to increase participation for the next trip, and we extend our gratitude to Mr. Petros Kapoulitsas for his dedication in planning this experience and for accompanying the students during his holiday time.
Leadership Selection Process 🌟
I have had the pleasure of serving on a panel alongside our current Captains Molly and Toby, Senior School Principal Simon Braknys, and Community Engagement Leading Teacher Caitlin Fecondo, to interview candidates for our 2026 captaincy.
I have been truly impressed by the maturity and intelligence of the candidates. It is uplifting to hear their thoughts and aspirations for making our school a better place for all students.
Candidates advancing to the next round will prepare a short video and participate in a democratic election by the student body next week. I wish all candidates the best of luck and congratulate them for reaching this stage in the selection process.
Re-enrolment Survey Reminder 📋
A friendly reminder for families who have not yet completed the Re-enrolment survey to please do so by the end of the day today. Our Mini School staff will follow up with families who have not responded. 2026 Re-enrolment
Uniform Expectations 👕
As we move into spring, we have noticed students wearing uniform items more appropriate to the weather. However, we have observed several students rolling up the waistbands of their shorts, resulting in very short shorts! This does not reflect the respect and pride we expect in our school uniform.
Please remind your child about the appropriate wear of their uniform to ensure they represent themselves and our school with dignity.
Lyrebird Youth Theatre Awards 🎭
We are very proud to announce that St Helena has been nominated for several awards in the Lyrebird Youth Theatre Awards! Both "The Importance of Being Earnest" and "42nd Street" have achieved this prestigious honour.
Congratulations to all involved! While performing on stage and the appreciation of audiences is reward enough, it is gratifying to have our talent and hard work recognised. Win or lose on the 7th of December, I know everyone who was fortunate enough to view either show agrees that they are winners!
The full list of St Helena nominees is below:
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
🌟 Best Comedic Performer - (Youth Play): ANGUS O’LOUGHLIN
🌟 Best Performer in a Lead Female Role (Youth Play): BELLA AZZOPARDI
🌟 Best Performer in a Lead Male Role (Youth Play): ANGUS O’LOUGHLIN
🌟 JUDGES AWARD- THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST - For the innovative use of additional ensemble actors, interacting in character outside and in the foyer, to create the wider world of The Importance Being Earnest
42nd St
🌟 Best Set (Youth Musical): PATRICK MATTHEWS
🌟 Best Sound (Youth Musical)
🌟 Best Costumes (Youth Musical): MATILDA WALPOLE
🌟 Outstanding Dance Number (Youth Musical) - 42nd ST
🌟 Outstanding Dancer (Youth Musical): ALEXIA MOXON
🌟 Best Ensemble (Youth Musical): CAST
🌟 Outstanding Acting Partnership (Youth Musical): MOLLY MCKEOWN AND SIENNA LAIDLER
🌟 Highly Commended Performer (Youth Musical): ALEXIA MOXON
🌟 Best Choreographer (Youth Musical): STEPHANIE GARDINER
🌟 Best Musical Director (Youth Musical): PATRICK BROADBENT
🌟 Best Director (Youth Musical): LAURA ZINGHINI
🌟 JUDGES AWARD- THOMAS MURPHY - For impressive accent work in St Helena Secondary College’s production of 42nd St
Computer Replacement Reminder 💻
Often, families find themselves needing to replace a child's computer by Year 4 or 5 of use. Please remember that we have specific requirements for the type of devices required:
- Must have an Intel processor
- Must include an active stylus and touch screen
The College cannot support Apple devices
- For more details, please visit our website: IT @ St Helena
If you are not purchasing through our Learning With Technologies Portal, our wonderful IT team is happy to advise you on whether a device from a different supplier meets the requirements. Simply email them at ITHelp@sthelena.vic.edu.au with a screenshot of the advertisement or details of the device.
- Note: we cannot put the school's image and software on a non-compliant device.
Clarifying Consequences for Student Misbehaviour
We have received requests from a handful of parents for clarification regarding the differences between "exclusion," "internal suspension," and "external suspension." We have reviewed the terminology, and will replace the term "exclusion" with "withdrawal".
For clarity, we have created a table that is also now available on our website:
While this information will be irrelevant to the vast majority of parents and students, it aims to provide context for those who may make a regrettable choice during their adolescent journey that warrants a more significant consequence than detention. As always, our aim is to support young people to make appropriate choices and learn and grow from their mistakes. I don't think there is an adult in our community - myself included - who skated through adolescence mistake-free!
Lost Property and Uniform Shop 👕
We have several St Helena jackets in lost property without names. If you would like to identify one for your student, you can come to the office any afternoon from Monday to Thursday between 2:30 PM and 3:30 PM.
A reminder that our second-hand uniform shop is available on Wednesday afternoons from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, or by appointment through emailing AskLeadership@sthelena.vic.edu.au
Youth Mental Health Forum 🧠
I was honored to be part of a community panel this week at a forum run by Diamond Creek East Primary School regarding the Youth Mental Health Crisis. Renowned adolescent psychologist Maria Ruberto gave the keynote talk about screen/social media use and its impact on increasing adolescent rates of depression and anxiety. St Helena has been fortunate to work with Maria Ruberto extensively in the past on a strengths based approach to adolescent wellbeing, and she is well revered in her field.
Maria shared that current research concludes that screen time per-se has a negligible effect on adolescent mental health (except perhaps on posture and eyesight!), but social media has a significant negative effect. ("Screen time" is often related to homework, studying, reading, researching, gaming - with many games providing problem solving opportunities), watching movies etc. ) The issue is not so much the time spent on social media but the time NOT spent in the "real world".
Students are often not learning how to socialise when they spend inordinate amounts of time in the online world, and may feel threatened and inadequate in real-time interactions, leading to withdrawal, including reluctance to attend school. Social media algorithms tend to surround them with content they "like," rarely exposing them to opposing viewpoints or prompting them to question their own thinking.
The more we (and you) can give young people opportunities to engage in "real-time," face-to-face situations—working in teams, solving problems, and learning social norms—the more resilient they will become. Resilience is a strong protective factor against depression and anxiety.
I have attached this great, easy to read article by Maria Ruberto regarding anxiety:
Road Safety Reminder 🚦
- Nillumbik Shire Council has asked us to share this link regarding road safety around schools: Video
- 🚸 Slow down.
- 🚩 Stop at the flags.
- 🚗 Park safely.
- 👣 Use the crossing every time.
- These small actions set a great example and help everyone stay safe. Keeping everyone safe around schools is a shared responsibility. Please observe all school speed zones and parking restrictions. Patrols around school zones, conducted in conjunction with Victoria Police, help keep our children and community safe.
Term 4 is always a busy time as we have so many events and programs running, as well as preparing for the 2026 Academic Year. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the term is the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our students whether it be through music and dance concerts, graduation, presentation night or simply looking at our data and applauding students who have demonstrated academic and/or personal growth.
I look forward to the term ahead.
KT
Link to send a Merit here: Merits
