A note from the Principal

Hello, everyone.

I hope you enjoy ‘Healesville High Connections’. This edition is filled with reports of exciting achievements, enjoyable events, and photographs of the recent experiences of students and staff. Our 2024 school captains, Celeste Duthie and Ethan Nikcevich are highlighted in the 'stars' section of this edition. Their enthusiasm, talent, energy, and willingness to be involved in all aspects of school life has been such a feature of their time at Healesville High School. We are fortunate to have shared their high school journey with them, we wish each of them every success in the future and they will be sadly missed.

 A special congratulations also to the other two 'stars' – Madison Prendergast and Mia Erickson. Each of these girls take advantage of every opportunity offered to them, bring a positive approach to academic and extra-curricular experiences and treat all with whom they interact with care and respect. Mia and Madison are worthy recipients of the ‘stars’ award.

Thank you to each of the contributors to this edition who have provided insights into the daily achievements of our school and its students.  It’s so pleasing to see recorded in this newsletter the huge number and diversity of events and experiences our students and staff have been involved in over recent weeks, and it is also somewhat overwhelming- how can so much take place and so much be achieved in such a short time. I have written before of my gratitude for the generosity and energy of our staff members who make such opportunities possible, but it cannot be overstated. The extra time and effort contributed by staff members is remarkable and I am so appreciative. Thank you to all staff members for your dedication, and your desire to give all students opportunities such as the School Production, the State Schools Spectacular, the annual Art Show, the numerous instrumental music performances, interschool sports, the Year 10 Central Australia camp, the Year 9 Rubicon camp, careers competitions, guest speakers, RUOK Day, VCE VM trivia night and the list goes on and on…. Each of these events and experiences have two things in common, they happen because staff members invest time, effort and passion to ensure they are available to our students, and because our students are willing to ‘give things a go’. We pride ourselves on the opportunities we offer to our students, and we are so pleased that our students take advantage of those opportunities! 

A special mention to our Year 12 class of 2024 as they embark upon their final VCE exams and final VCE VM projects. More will be written about the class of 2024 in subsequent editions of ‘Connections’ and today I will simply offer best wishes to each Year 12 student for every success during the final phase of their secondary schooling. Our Year 12 class this year has been respectful, community-minded, and hard-working and I hope the results achieved are reflective of these positive characteristics.

I’ll finish by encouraging you to consider attending the HHS 2024 Art and Technology Show.  The show has been rescheduled to Monday November 18, between 4.30pm and 6.30pm and will be held in the Art Factory Gallery, onsite at the western end of the school site. It promises to be a wonderful celebration of the artistic and creative talents and achievements of our students, and students and staff members are greatly looking forward to their creations being enjoyed by a large audience- you!

Best wishes everyone.

Allan Rennick