Principal's Report
Congratulations and well done to all students for their effort and hard work throughout Term Three. We are proud not only of their commitment to academic learning but also of their impressive participation in the wide range of co-curricular activities offered at Blackburn High School. We acknowledge the dedication and commitment of all students who have been involved in the intense examination period. We particularly recognise the Year 12 students and those undertaking the Unit 3 & 4 practice examinations this week and preparing for the VCAA examinations commencing in October.
A heartfelt thank you goes to our school leadership team, mentor teachers, classroom teachers and education support staff for the care, encouragement and support they provide each day to our students. This work is strengthened by our unique House System, which fosters strong connections and a sense of belonging. At the core of this system are our Mentor Teachers, who play a vital role in checking in with students each morning to ensure they begin the day with confidence and support.
At the Term 3 whole school assembly we acknowledged the dedication, resilience and commitment of our students and celebrated the many ways in which they contributed to and enriched our school community. It was also an opportunity to recognise outstanding student leadership, achievement, effort and growth across a wide range of areas, including NAPLAN, sport, robotics, music and VCE.
It was great to see Interhouse Debating return to Blackburn High School last week for both junior and senior teams with students earning valuable House points. The final was conducted on Monday 14 September. Students embraced the challenge to think on their feet, demonstrate their critical thinking, effective communication, team work and confidence as they constructed arguments and responded to different perspectives. We thank Mr James and Ms Giangiulio for organising this great event.
Our music students continued their tradition of excellence with standout performances and awards at the NEVR Concert, South Street Competition, Victorian School Music Festival and the Spring Music Concert, where we will farewell our talented Year 12 music students. The 70th Anniversary Illumination concert still resonates with us, and it was such a privilege to experience the outstanding musicianship of our talented current and past students, whose performances reflected their musical ability, dedication, discipline and passion. In sport, students also achieved outstanding results, both as individuals and as teams, demonstrating skill, teamwork and determination in the regional and state divisions.
Two Student Progress Conferences were held this term, one for Year 12 students and another for Years 7–11 providing valuable opportunities for families, students and teachers to reflect on progress, celebrate achievements, and identify focus areas for next term.
The process of selecting the 2027 student leaders is currently underway and will conclude shortly. Congratulations to the 2027 School Captains-Caelan Gray and Grace Bryan and the 2027 House Captains: Dunlop House-Alyssa Rylah & Anya Singh, Freeman House- Matthew McCrohan & Bodhi Loh, Hollows- Santino Nicolas & Aavi Bansal, Melba- Emily Oakley & Zahara Sakkal. Next term, we will acknowledge the outstanding work of our current 2026 student leaders with a morning tea, before officially handing over responsibilities to the 2027 student leaders.
We also welcomed our incoming 2027 Year 7 students, who participated in both the EDUTEST assessment, and a transition webinar led by Assistant Principal Ms Jenner. We look forward to working with the students during the transition workshops in November.
As we conclude another wonderful term, we wish all students, families and staff a safe, relaxing and enjoyable holiday break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for the start of Term 4.
Joanna Alexander
Principal