Principal's Report

On our website, it states that we are a school of connection, opportunity and excellence: those three words rotating constantly whilst images of our students play out in the background. All school websites make similar boasts and sometimes it can seem like canny marketing to promote an image with no substance. I hope that our community appreciates that those words mean more than slogans to us: they are what we aspire for every student.

When I reflect upon the first six months of this year and what I have written in these newsletter columns, those three words have been constant in the stories that our students have lived and that I have shared. In all honesty, I am never stuck to find something to write about when it comes to the amazing things that BHS students do. The achievements that I write about are not intended to act as boasts, but to remind our community that there is so much good in our students: to remind us all that the potential that our students possess should never be underestimated or taken for granted but instead harnessed and encouraged because BHS students can achieve whatever they aspire to. More importantly, I want our students to realise that they belong to a school where everything is possible and where success is never judged on numbers but is defined by what it means to each student in terms of their growth and their dreams. The diversity of these dreams is what makes our school special and because dreams can only be envisioned by the dreamer, it means that every student gets to define what their success looks like. It is up to us to help them along the way.

Ultimately, every pathway leads to a career for our students. It is our hope that in their time at Ballarat High School that they find a spark to ignite a love of something that they can feel good at and in which they are driven to learn and grow over time. For our students who have an applied component to their senior course, there is an early taste of the industry standards all students must meet one day in the career that they eventually choose.

WorldSkills Australia has one aim: for young Australians to have access to vocational education and training that measures up on an international stage. They understand that skills excellence can open up career opportunities and pathways for young people that can take them to anywhere on the globe they choose. Each June, students from across Australia, who have been judged to be the best in their region, compete on a national level against the best of their peers in their chosen career pathway. Earlier this month, Hannah Priddle (Year 11) represented Victoria in the National Hairdressing Competition. Held in Brisbane, the competition spanned over 15 hours across three days during which Hannah completed demanding modules, including:

Working with an open competitor to prepare, rinse, and neutralise a perm
Colour application and blow-wave styling with thermal beach waves
Ladie’s and men’s live model treatments, including head, neck, and shoulder massage and blow-wave
A creative, free-choice braiding design
A second braiding look that replicated a provided image at the start of the module

All in, there were 16 VETiS competitors representing Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia who had managed to make this extremely high grade. Hannah’s achievement in securing the silver medal against the best Australia has to offer in her chosen field of expertise is reflective of her commitment, dedication, and the professionalism she brought to her training. As a school, we are so proud of her and hope that she serves as an inspiration to all other students who wish to make their mark in this industry.

I am also incredibly proud of the growth of our VM Baristas and the support they have received from the team to set up the VM Café. For some time now, this program has sought to equip our students with the personal and professional skills and capabilities that are essential, not just for a career in hospitality but in any role. It has become quite a ‘rite-of-passage’ for our students who, up until recently, were operating out of the kiosk in the sports hall. After a successful bid for a grant to buy premises, the team have now converted a shipping container into something really special: Peaches and Crema Café will be a real hub for student growth and development of life skills. The pride our Senior VM students are taking in making this space a place where students belong will be their legacy. It is exciting to see an idea grow into a reality and all of this is driven by our students, supported by dedicated staff.

Finding ways to connect is something our students value. The Year 12 Formal, raising money and awareness for the James Petrie Foundation, was organised by our student leaders and was a complete success. Ballarat High School is not defined by buildings or traditions or history: we are about people who matter to each other and who make a difference in our community today and will do so tomorrow. Our students had a choice whether or not to show up at the formal and they chose to share a moment on a timeline and to create lasting memories together. A massive thank you has to go to our student leaders for making this event happen: their commitment to making this year the best year ever for the Class of 2025 and their appreciation they would all need a night like they had at this point in the year was important in keeping student connections strong.

And that idea of excellence was so strong this week in the Year 7 Ancient Civilisations event. On show was not just a real and genuine love of learning, but an incredible and painstaking eye for detail present in all the exhibits that were the best I have ever seen in the 30 years of attending this sort of event. This event was the very best of what we do, and the students and families were full of the positive energy and excitement that we know is built on relationships and encouragement. Thanks to all who were a part of showcasing BHS. And whilst that was going on, our musicians were performing for their second night - with bands and singers alternating from the previous evening of trumpets. To hear the sounds of students working together to produce something magically in the moment was a real privilege and caps off an amazing run of performances for Term 2 from the PA Team.

And finally, well done to Inters Soccer Captain Josh Gibbs and the team who have qualified for State Finals in Term 3. Whilst it was never in doubt after 2-1 and 7-0 victories in the group stages, it took extra time and then a penalty shoot-out in the final to send our boys onto the next level. Reminiscent of watching vintage total-football side Ajax in the 70s (or Liverpool in the current day), the performances were a pleasure to watch and speak of greater things to come from our boys.

Finally, I hope our whole community enjoys the upcoming holidays, stays safe and warm and returns to longer/warmer days in Term 3.

Stephan Fields

Principal