Principal's Report

Headstart Program:

This week, we have commenced our Headstart program – with the 2026 timetable commencing and students meeting their new teachers for the rest of this year and into 2026. Headstart is designed to maximise student learning in the 2026 academic year by creating time for students to get an introduction and taste of their learning for the following year. It allows teachers and students to foster a safe, orderly and structured learning environment that enables students to achieve their best. This is by teachers getting a deeper understanding of their students' academic abilities and develop targeted teaching interventions to ensure all students have the opportunity to grow and progress in their learning. It also provides teachers with the opportunity to set their classroom up to foster consistent and predictable classroom routines and excite the students about their subject. 

Lesson Plans: 

From Headstart onwards, all lesson plans for every subject will now be posted on Compass (rather than in Teams). This simple change is designed to strengthen student engagement, increase parent involvement, and make learning more visible for both students and families. By having lesson information easily accessible in one place, we hope it will be easier for parents to understand what their child is learning each day and to support them proactively. We encourage all parents to check Compass regularly, discuss upcoming learning with their child, and stay connected with the learning program. The more people supporting our students, the greater their opportunity to thrive and succeed. 

Whole School Classroom Routines and Expectations: 

During Headstart teachers are re-establishing our whole school classroom routines and expectations with their new classes. The purpose of these strategies is to maximise student learning growth and optimise student wellbeing for learning. These routines will require students to:  

• Engage with lesson plans posted on Compass ahead of class 
• Wait in designated spaces for teachers at the start of each lesson and enter classrooms in orderly lines when instructed 
• Sit where instructed and move classroom furniture only if requested by teachers 
• Ensure they have uniform passes if they are out of uniform, as teachers will be undertaking uniform checks in class 
• At the end of each lesson wait either seated or beside their chair for dismissal 
• Ensure that classrooms at the end of the day have chairs up on tables, are clean and ready for the next lesson.  

I thank students, staff and parents for their cooperation and support in creating the best possible learning environment for all students whilst we establish these consistent routines across all classes.  

Year 7 – 11 Recognition Assemblies: 

Next week, we will be acknowledging the fantastic work of some of our Year 7 – 11 students in formal ‘Recognition Assemblies’. Selected students will be acknowledged for Academic Excellence and Learning Growth. Students who received a large number of Merits for the 2025 academic year will also be acknowledged. Parents/carers of selected students will be invited to attend, via email. Please keep an eye out for email invitations to these events. The email invites will contain more detailed information about the event for each year level. 

John Ballagh  

Principal