Principal's Report

Welcome Back to School!

As the Relieving Principal of Elderslie High School, I would like to welcome our students back for another exciting school year! I hope you all had a restful break and are feeling rejuvenated and ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

I am pleased to announce that Mrs Zoe Crossingham will be Relieving Deputy Principal this term and Mr Cockburn will relieve as Head Teacher PDHPE. I am confident that both staff members will successfully embrace their new roles within the school.

On 24th January I attended the Camden Council Australia Day Awards where Jasper Browne from Year 12, 2024 was nominated to receive the Young Citizen of the Year Award for his volunteering and leadership in the arts. Whilst he was not the successful nominee it was a great honour to be nominated. It was exciting to note that the recipient of the award was Madelyn Haywood who was also a former student of Elderslie High School. She received this award for her impact on the Camden community through her role as Deputy Chair of the Camden Youth Reference Group. Another significant achievement was Zara Whitney in Year 10, 2024 won the Young Citizen of the Year Award for Campbelltown Council for her volunteering for The Formal Project.

These students are to be congratulated for their outstanding contributions to their local communities. These achievements caused me to reflect on a part of our school vision which states that Elderslie High School aims to create a collaborative and inclusive environment where everyone is engaged and supported to achieve their potential. The students I have mentioned have been recognised in their communities for their collaboration and impact within their local area and were all great role models at Elderslie High School.

For our new Year 7 students, we are excited to have them join our school community. They are now part of a vibrant and diverse group of learners, and we are here to support them as they transition into high school. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your teachers, peers, and the school staff if you need assistance or guidance.

Our returning students in Years 8 to 12, will have opportunities to build upon prior learning and to participate in the many extra-curricular activities on offer at EHS. This year presents new opportunities for students to take on leadership roles, engage in whole school activities, and continue to strive for academic success. An example of one such opportunity is the Youth Leadership Conference to be hosted at EHS on Monday 24th February organised by Sally Quinell (MP). This conference will provide an opportunity for student voice to identify key issues and ideas that impact on youth in the local area.

I would like to congratulate our PDHPE staff on coordinating the Swimming Carnival on Friday 7th February. Participating students were able to contribute to our House point system and we had perfect weather to promote student participation on the day.

I would like to acknowledge the passing of Cheryl Wagstaff who worked at Elderslie High School for 34 years as our Laboratory Assistant. Cheryl’s three children attended Elderslie and she was a very respected member of our community. A number of staff were able to pay their respects and attend the Memorial Service on Friday 14th February. We will miss her greatly here at Elderslie High School.

I have been informed that Elderslie High School has been selected to participate in a targeted campaign by NSW Transport Buses.  The aim of their campaign is to collect data on the number of students using the bus services at the school. During the campaign there will be a representative from Transport at the school who will have a small number of flyers to distribute where appropriate. Their main function will be to manually count students. Collecting accurate data and supporting students to use their Opal Card, will inform future planning for bus service allocations. The campaign will start on Monday 24th February and conclude at the end of March.  During this time, Transport will waive the $10 Opal Card replacement fee for lost or damaged cards. 

Finally, as we begin this new school year, I encourage all students to set personal goals, stay organised, and actively participate in their learning journey. Remember that education is not just about grades; it's about growth, resilience, and building lasting relationships.

Ms N Martin

Relieving Principal