Assistant Principal
Scholarships
A number of scholarship opportunities were recently published in the Compass news feed. There are opportunities available from Year 7 - Year 12 including further study post secondary schooling. Information will be released on 1 October.
If you would like support in putting together an application please email me at Lucinda.blackburne@education.vic.gov.au or come and see me.
Reconciliation Action Plan
Eltham High School has been engaged in the process of developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) over the last 12 months through Narragunnawali and Reconciliation Australia.
Made up of students, teachers, parents, and community members, the RAP Group has developed a Vision for Reconciliation and has also created goals in response to the 14 mandated areas. Our next steps are to do a final review of the goals before submitting them to Reconciliation Australia for feedback.
We love getting additional perspectives. If anyone interested in becoming part of the RAP group can contact me at Lucinda.blackburne@education.vic.gov.au
For more information about Reconciliation Action Plans please visit www.narragunnawali.org.au
LUCINDA BLACKBURNE, Assistant Principal
Photographing, Filming and Recording Students at Eltham High School
There are many occasions during the school year when staff photograph, film or record students participating in school activities or events. We do this for many reasons including:
Celebrate student participation and achievement,
Showcase learning programs,
Document a student’s learning journey/camps/excursions/sports events etc,
Communicate with our parents and school community in newsletters and other communication channels.
Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy (available on the school website) describes how we will collect and use photographs, video and recordings (images) of students.
Parents and carers provide consent for use of photographs, video and recording (images) of students as part of the Year 7 enrolment processes. In 2026 the school will seek consent from all families as part of this updated policy.
In the interim we are contacting parents and carers to provide an opportunity for you to withdraw consent for use of photographs, video and recording (images) of students.
Use of images within the physical school environment
Photographs, video or recordings of your child may be used by our school within the school environment in any of the following ways:
For display in within the school (e.g. in displays of student work, on noticeboards to celebrate achievements)
Use of images within the school community
Photographs, video or recordings of your child may be used by our school within the school community in any of the following ways:
In the school’s online communication, learning and teaching tools
In school and classphotographs that are available for purchase by families
In Year 12 Formal photographs that are shared with students
In the school magazine - Mercury
Use of images beyond the school community/publicly
Photographs, video or recordings of your child may be used in publications that are accessible to
On the school’s website (including in the school newsletter which is publicly available on the website)
On the school’s social media accounts
We will notify you individually if we are considering using images of your child for specific advertising or promotional purposes.
If you would like to withdraw consent for use of images in the above ways, please complete the form accessed by this link – WithdrawConsent.
Please note, it may not be possible for the school to amend past publications or to withdraw images that are already in the public domain.
We will provide an annual reminder to parents about our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy via the school newsletter. We will also notify parents when implementing software that may include photos of students, giving parents an opportunity to discuss any concerns or preferences.
Sun Smart and Dress Code
Link: Sun-Smart-Policy.pdf (elthamhs.vic.edu.au)
Link: Student-Dress-Code-Policy.pdf (elthamhs.vic.edu.au)
Sun safety is a shared responsibility. Staff, parents and students are encouraged to implement a combination of sun protection measures whenever UV levels reach 3 and above (typically from mid-August to the end of April in Victoria). Guidelines supporting our students and staff to help minimise the risk of sun damage and skin cancer are outlined in the Sun Smart policy.
The school’s Dress Code policy outlines expectations for students regarding appropriate clothing within a school environment. There are specific aspects of this policy that relate to sun protection outlining that brief clothing is not appropriate for school – this includes singlets, short skirts and shorts, exposed mid-riffs and thongs and open-toed footwear.
Information about the daily local sun protection times is available via the free SunSmart app, or at sunsmart.com.au or bom.gov.au.
Home Study Policy
A link to the Policy: Home Study Policy
Eltham High School has developed the Home Study Policy in consultation with parents/carers, students, staff and members of the Policy and Planning Committee of school council, as representatives of the school community. The Policy focuses on supporting student learning and wellbeing by helping students strengthen key knowledge, develop core skills, and reinforce essential concepts. It also encourages positive study habits for lifelong learning and provides opportunities for students to extend their knowledge.
The Policy outlines the responsibilities and expectations of teachers, students and parents/carers in setting, completing, monitoring and responding to homework. Further, it includes recommended home study time commitments, and the available support provided at the sub-school level for students and parents/carers.
The policy forms part of the expectations for student engagement in learning, incorporating classwork, homework, and Common Assessment Tasks (Years 7 -10) and School Assessed Coursework/Tasks (Years 11-12). These elements contribute to student learning and are essential for meeting semester completion requirements.
Anaphylaxis and Asthma
Link: Anaphylaxis-Management-Policy.pdf (elthamhs.vic.edu.au)
Link: Asthma-Policy.pdf (elthamhs.vic.edu.au)
Partnerships between schools and parents are important in managing and mitigating the risks of anaphylaxis and asthma. Eltham High School is committed to raising awareness and providing, as far as practicable, a safe and supportive environment in which students can participate equally in all aspects of schooling.
Parent, Caregiver & Guardian Opinion Survey
WE WANT OUR PARENTS / CAREGIVERS / GUARDIANS TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK!
Our school is conducting the annual Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey offered by the Department of Education and is seeking your feedback. The survey is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behavior, and student engagement. The survey is optional, but we encourage and appreciate your participation.
Our school will use the survey results to assist in identifying areas for improvement and professional development needs in the school, to target school planning and improvement strategies.
The Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey will be open online from Monday 18 August to Friday 19 September 2025.
All families are invited to participate in the survey.
The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones.
The online survey will be available in English and 10 other languages. Resources are also available in additional languages to assist parents / caregivers / guardians who speak a language other than English at home. Please reach out to the school directly for survey guides in your language. Please contact Fran Mullins, Assistant Principal, if you would like more information.
FRAN MULLINS, Assistant Principal