Principal's Desk

Dear Warrandyte High School Community

As we approach the end of Term 3, I continue to be encouraged by the direction in which Warrandyte High School is moving. Throughout this year, our focus has been on strengthening the foundations that support a positive, high-performing school, with strong teaching and learning, clear expectations, meaningful opportunities for students and a culture in which every student is encouraged to achieve their best. What is particularly pleasing is seeing this work increasingly reflected in the everyday life of our school. There is strong evidence of a growing sense of pride, purpose and connection across the school.

A particularly significant occasion for school our community was the official unveiling of the Jacob Habel Memorial Garden last week. It was a very special afternoon and an opportunity for students, staff, family and members of our wider community to come together to remember and celebrate a highly respected member of the Warrandyte High School community. The garden has been created as both a lasting tribute to Jacob and a peaceful and reflective space for our school community. I am tremendously grateful to everyone who contributed to bringing this important project to life.

It has also been pleasing to see the success of our new school canteen and our developing partnership with Now and Not Yet. The canteen has been warmly embraced by students and staff, and we have been very pleased with the service, range and attention to detail being provided. Importantly, this is developing into a strong partnership that extends beyond simply providing a canteen service, and we look forward to continuing to build this relationship into the future.

Our annual Step into Secondary program has also now concluded following a highly successful series of visits from students from our local primary schools. It was wonderful to welcome so many Year 4 and 5 students to WHS and provide them with an opportunity to experience secondary school life through a range of engaging activities. Thank you to the staff and students who helped make our visitors feel so welcome and represented our school so positively.

Last week, students and families also received their Term 3 Interim Report. I encourage all families to take some time to discuss these reports together, recognising areas of progress and achievement while also identifying opportunities for improvement as we move towards the final term of the year. Parent-Student-Teacher Conference bookings are now open, and I strongly encourage families to book a time with their child's teachers. These conversations provide an important opportunity for students, families and teachers to work together to support continued learning and progress.

For our senior students, an important period of the year is also approaching. Next week, students undertaking a Unit 3/4 subject will commence their end-of-year practice examination period. These examinations provide valuable preparation for the VCAA exam period and an opportunity for students to consolidate their learning, exams techniques and identify areas requiring further attention. We wish all of our students undertaking Unit 3/4 studies every success with their preparation and encourage them to make the most of the support available from their teachers.

As we move towards the conclusion of another productive term, I would like to thank our students, staff, families and wider community for their ongoing support and contribution to WHS. I look forward to a positive conclusion to Term 3 and the many opportunities that await us in Term 4.

Warm regards

Luke Ventieri

Principal

Warrandyte High School