Message from our School Council

Our School Council met for their final meeting of the year on Tuesday, 18th November. Below are their Top 10 highlights from the October and November meetings.

A message from our School Council:

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable end-of-year break.

This was our final School Council meeting for 2025, and it has been a pleasure working alongside our students, community members, and leadership team to support and shape our school. For those celebrating, we wish you a Merry Christmas, and for all families, we hope the holidays are relaxing, safe, and enjoyable.

Here is our School Council's 'Top 10' message:

CAPITAL WORKS UPDATE

Our Capital Works program is progressing well, with the retaining walls now completed and steel work underway. These milestones mark an exciting next stage in the project, and we look forward to sharing further updates as construction continues.

CENTRAL AUSTRALIA CAMP

During the September holidays, 41 students took part in an exciting trip to Central Australia, tackling challenging hikes in hot conditions and embracing every moment of the adventure. Their behaviour was outstanding and the camp provided an incredible experience and valuable opportunities for all who attended.

EXHIBITIONS AND MORE EXHIBITIONS

The recent exhibitions showcasing student work in science, art, and technology have been outstanding. Last night, the School Council toured the Art and Technology exhibition and experienced first-hand the incredible diversity of talent on display. From innovative designs to expressive artworks across multiple mediums, our students demonstrated remarkable creativity, skill, and passion.

ART GALLERY AT THE CARDINIA CULTURAL CENTRE

Our talented Year 12 Art Making and Exhibiting students recently unveiled their first external exhibition at the Cardinia Cultural Centre, showcasing a stunning collection of their work. This marked a significant milestone for the College, as it was the first time our students’ art has been displayed beyond the school grounds. The exhibition was open for two weeks, giving the Pakenham community the opportunity to enjoy and celebrate their creativity.

BATTLE OF THE BANDS

The first Cardinia Interschool Battle of the Bands was a fantastic event, with students from Koo Wee Rup Secondary, Officer Secondary and Pakenham Secondary cheering each other on in a friendly and supportive competition. The musical performances from all three colleges were outstanding, with our Pakenham Secondary students impressing everyone with their talent and stage presence. We thank Ms Hawking and her team for their dedication in making this event such a memorable success.

SCHOOL REVIEW

Our recent School Review highlighted the strong progress our College has made over the past four years. Students showed solid growth in literacy and numeracy, supported by targeted programs and improved teaching practices, while VCE results remained steady. The Review recognised our calm and supportive learning environment, the positive relationships across the school and the increased focus on student wellbeing, leadership and engagement. It also acknowledged the important work underway to strengthen our instructional practices and curriculum to keep lifting student learning.

RAISE PROGRAM

2026 will see PSC move from the digital platform of the RAISE program to onsite. We learnt about this program at the meeting, that it is an evidence-based youth mentoring program that pairs students (Year 8) with trained volunteer mentors. Over 20 weeks, it builds resilience, hope, help-seeking skills, and school connection. It is supervised by qualified Program Counsellors to ensure a safe, trusted relationship.

YOUR VOICE. YOUR SCHOOL. YOUR IMPACT.

The School Council gives students a real voice in shaping their high-school experience. Members influence decisions, and champion student needs, with invitations to attend special events in the school calendar. It’s a chance to build leadership skills (for both Parents and Students) create positive change, and make the school journey successful and inclusive. Next year, we will have two parents leaving as their children are graduates of 2025. Are you their replacement? Join to connect, contribute, and leave a lasting impact - your ideas matter!

FINANCE MATTERS

The School Council gratefully acknowledges the diligence and accuracy of our Finance Business Partner, Meagan Baguley, whose sharp attention to detail leaves no dollar unturned. Their commitment ensures transparent, responsible decision-making and strengthens every project we undertake. Their expertise not only safeguards our resources but empowers the school to plan boldly and confidently.

THAT'S A WRAP - SRC PERSPECTIVE

The School Council couldn’t let the year end without acknowledging the enormous amount that has been achieved by your SRC. Serving on Council offers a true insider’s view of the dedication, effort, and collaboration happening behind the scenes, and we’re incredibly proud of all that has been accomplished this year. 

So, in the words of outgoing SRC member Asher “SRC has always been a space where likeminded or otherwise people can converse and foster an environment that is positive and filled with growth. Being a figure of support and acceptance to the 2025 Year 7 cohort, has filled me, and the movement of the SRC with pride. I am so fortunate to be one of the 2025 SRC Captains, working alongside each member has truly been an entirely positive experience”.