Principal's Report

Student Achievement

Prime Minister's Spelling Bee - State Finals

Congratulations to Jack Wood (Year 7, Toner House) who qualified for the State Finals of the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee. Several Year 7 students engaged in the Eltham High School Extension Program participated in the Spelling Bee for the first time this year. 

More than 82,000 students participated nationally and only two hundred students from each reading level in each state and territory progressed to the State and Territory Finals.

This is a great achievement for Jack and for our school. I am certain that Jack will represent our community and our state with pride and integrity.

Well done, Jack!

Celebration Music Concerts

The Celebration concerts are scheduled to take place on Monday 15 and Thursday 18 September.  

This year has been an amazing year for the instrumental music program. Band, Strings and Vocal programs have achieved outstanding accolades in a range of performances throughout the year. The commitment and dedication of the students and their instrumental music teachers has been phenomenal and it shows in both their performances and in their passion for Music and their instruments.

I congratulate all the students in the various ensembles, all their teachers and of course the parents/guardians who together continue to make the Eltham High School Instrumental Music Program one of the best programs not only in their state, but nationally.

At the end of the second concert we will be farewelling twenty Year 12 students most of whom have been part of the program since Year 7. It has been a pleasure to watch them develop year by year and to hear their performances as they moved from one level of musicianship to the next. They are now developed  musicians who will be able to make their mark on the world in a positive way. Irrespective of whether they choose a career in music or not, they will be able to use the language of music to create connections across the globe, develop mutual understanding and collaboration and hopefully live their lives through acceptance of difference and kindness to each other.

I congratulate the twenty Year 12 students who will perform as part of the Eltham High School Instrumental Music program for the last time on Thursday night. I wish them well and I thank them for all that they have contributed to the school.

As for the concerts, I am certain that everyone in the audience will be in awe of the amazing talent of our students and the skills and passion of our staff. Two great nights of entertainment.

At the first Concert we did have some guest performers; the combined Eltham Primary School band under the direction of James Farrough (past student of Eltham High School and a graduate of the EHS instrumental music program). Their performance was well received by the audience and demonstrated the collaborative partnership between our two schools. 

Space Camp 2025

Ten students and two teachers set off on Saturday 13 September for an amazing experience at Space Camp in Alabama, USA.

The group arrived safe and well in the US for their adventure.

The following photos are a testament to this. 

Our group is traveling with other students and staff from three other local schools; Montmorency Secondary College, St Helena Secondary College and Diamond Valley College.

A big thank you to the staff for providing this opportunity to our students and to Naomi Edrees who did all of the organisation in the background to allow this Camp to proceed.

The group is now settled in the camp and ready to begin their adventure.

We wish the group an amazing time as they engage in the planned program and some fun along the way.

End of Term 3

Term 3 will finish on Friday 19 September. Students and staff will be setting off for their break. Whilst this term has been a rather short term it has also been a very busy one so clearly time to relax, rest and recharge.

I wish everyone a wonderful break and look forward to seeing everyone back on deck refreshed and recharged on Monday 6 October. 

Our Year 12 students will be doing trial exams during the break. Whilst they will also need a bit of a breather, they will need to spend some time consolidating their learning before the final two weeks of their secondary schooling on their return. Any support that families can provide for them will be greatly appreciated. I wish them all well as they begin their journey toward their final assessments.

As is customary at the end of each term, on Friday 19 September, school will finish at 2:30pm.

I ask parents/carers to arrange safe travel home for all students if they are unable to go home via their normal route.

A big thank you to our community for your ongoing support of our school and young people throughout this term.

STEAM Centre Build

Work on the STEAM Centre is progressing well, the roofing was the focus of this week, and it will continue into the next week. There is some projected work for the term break but as this will involve trenching and drilling it will not occur until week two to ensure that the Year 12 Trial exams are not disrupted in any way.

I am currently in negotiations with the Victorian School Building Authority in relation to the release of some funds to begin ordering furniture and some equipment for the new facility so that it can be delivered prior to the end of the 2025 school year. This is not easy work. However, all in all the work is progressing well and to the published timeline.

I will keep you updated on the progress.

VINCENT SICARI, Principal