7–8 Campus 

Every Day Matters – Let's Finish the Year Strong

It has been fantastic to see the progress our students are making with attendance and punctuality across the campus. Over the course of the term, Year 8 lates have reduced from 121 to 48, representing a 60% reduction, while Year 7 lates have also continued to fall significantly. These are great improvements and reflect the growing focus our students are placing on being at school, being on time and making the most of every learning opportunity.

The friendly competition has been a great way to keep attendance and punctuality front of mind, but ultimately the goal is much bigger than winning a cup. We want every student to understand that being present and on time each day gives them the best opportunity to learn, connect and succeed.

As we move further into the second half of the year, every day matters. The days are getting longer, the mornings are becoming brighter, and it feels like the coldest part of winter is finally behind us. It is a great time for our students to reset, refocus and make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead.

Many of us can probably remember being children and saying, "Can I stay home today?" More often than not, the answer was simple: "No, you're going to school." Unless we were genuinely unwell, our parents understood that showing up mattered. That message is just as important today.

Learning is like building a house, with each lesson providing another brick. When students miss school, they can miss important knowledge, classroom discussions, practical experiences and opportunities to learn alongside their friends. While we work hard to support students when they are absent, nothing replaces being present and involved in learning each day.

Regular attendance is also about much more than academic achievement. Being at school consistently helps students build friendships, develop routines and independence, strengthen resilience and grow in confidence through regular participation.

Of course, there will always be times when students are genuinely unwell and need to stay home. However, when it is simply a case of not feeling motivated or wanting to stay in bed, we encourage families to support their child in making the effort to come to school. More often than not, once students arrive, they have a positive day and are glad they made the effort.

It has also been a busy and positive week across the campus, with our R U OK? Day celebration providing a great opportunity for students to connect, look out for one another and reinforce the importance of checking in with those around us. These moments are an important part of building a strong sense of belonging and reminding our students that small acts of kindness and genuine conversations can make a real difference.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank our student leaders for their work throughout the term. They have played an important role in contributing to our campus community and supporting a range of initiatives and events. In particular, our successful Clean Up Day was a great example of our student leaders taking responsibility, showing initiative and making a positive contribution to our school environment.

As we prepare for our upcoming Parent–Teacher Interviews, I encourage families to take the time to review their child's Learning Habits Report. These reports provide valuable insight into the learning behaviours students are demonstrating across their classes and will help provide a strong starting point for conversations with teachers. The interviews are an excellent opportunity to celebrate progress, identify areas for improvement and work together on the next steps for each student.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our families and the wider Sandringham College community for your support throughout the term. Whether it has been coming along to support our production, cheering our students on at sporting events, attending school activities, supporting our R U OK? Day celebration, or simply reinforcing the messages we are instilling in our young people, your support makes a significant difference.

Speaking of sporting events, our College recently finished third at the Kingston District Athletics, with two of our Year 8 students crowned age group champions. Congratulations to Liam G and Persia K on this outstanding achievement, and well done to our students and staff involved in the College’s sports program. The program continues to go from strength to strength each year, and it’s fantastic to see these results reflect the hard work and commitment of our students and staff.

We continue to encourage our students to be polite, prepared and productive. These are simple but important expectations, and they are most powerful when they are reinforced both at school and at home. Thank you for partnering with us to help our young people develop the habits, attitudes and behaviours that will support them well beyond their time at school.

Finally, I would like to wish our Year 12 students all the very best as they undertake their trial exams over the holidays and prepare for their upcoming VCE examinations. This is an important stage of their schooling, and I encourage them to use the holiday period to prepare, maintain perspective and look after themselves. We are incredibly proud of the work they have put in so far and look forward to supporting them through the final stages of their secondary schooling.

There is still plenty to achieve this year, and I look forward to seeing our students continue to make the most of every opportunity, both inside and outside the classroom, as we work together to finish the year strongly.

Cody Gunn

7–8 Campus Principal