Principal's Report
Eltham High School
Welcome Back
Welcome to students and staff into Term 3. I trust that everyone had a restful and enjoyable break in preparation for what promises to be a very busy term.
Our 2027 planning for student courses and staffing has already begun. Our Information Evenings will begin this week with the Year 8 into Year 9 running on Wednesday 15 July. The Year 9 into Year 10, and Year 10 into Year 11 Information evenings are scheduled for the following week.
Semester 1 reports will also be available to parents by the end of the week. As you can appreciate, the term has begun at a fast pace which I anticipate will be maintained for the remainder of the term.
I take this opportunity to introduce Miss Madelane Higginson who joined the teaching staff as of the start of term. Madelane is a teacher of French and English replacing Mrs Bronwyn Salton who has resigned from her position.
A big welcome to Madelane and we wish her all the very best as she becomes part of the Eltham High School Community.
Year 7 Sustainability Expo
The Year 7 sustainability Expo will take place this coming Thursday 16 July. Please refer to the Junior School Section of this Newsletter for further details.
The Expo will allow students to showcase their learning over the last semester as well as propose creative solutions to world-wide problems through a local lens.
You are all invited to attend.
Year 12 Formal
The Year 12 students are all excited to attend the 2026 Centenary Year 12 formal.
This year the formal will take place on Friday 17 July at Leonda on the Yarra.
Students and staff will gather to celebrate the students’ final year of schooling prior to the very busy and focused period of revision and study for their final assessments.
I am sure that as in previous years it will be a great night of celebration reflecting community spirit aligned with the school values and of course it will be great fun.
I take this opportunity to thank the Formal Committee and the senior sub school staff who have supported the organisation and running of the event. I know that all the students will be appreciative of your efforts.
I am looking forward to a great night of good food, good music, and good company.
Industrial Campaign and Industrial Action
With the membership rejecting the “In-principle” agreement the AEU Executive sent out a survey to members asking them what it is that they would like the Executive to negotiate on with the department. The following summarises the result s of the survey:
Better recognition of Education Support staff through pay outcomes delivered as percentage salary increases.
Improved pay recognition for employees at the top of their salary range
Class sizes
Increased pay if inflation is more than the annual pay increase.
Increased planning and preparation time
Meeting reductions
More work flexibility, including working from home when possible.
Negotiations have recommended. The AEU Executive has met with the Department three times last week, and again on Monday 13 July to negotiate on the above points.
Industrial action has also begun as of 6:00 am on Monday 13 July, including the following:
Stopping work for the duration of any visit to their school by an Australian Labor Party Member of the Victorian Parliament.
Banning:
Attendance at one hour of meetings per week.
Implementation of any new Department programs and/or initiatives.
All aspects of work related to the provision of written comments on student reports that will be provided to parents.
Principal class employees attending principal area forum meetings.
Responses to emails from the Department of Education except emails that relate to child safety matters; occupational health and safety matters; and employee entitlements matters.
Interrupting or stopping work to:
Provide public comments, statements or any other information concerning the AEU campaign about the enterprise agreement including on personal social media, to members of the public or other media.
Provide flyers to parents and members of the public.
Place campaign material about the AEU campaign for the enterprise agreement to parents and members of the public.
What does this mean for Eltham High School?
We will need to postpone or at the very least rethink the official opening of the new STEAM Centre.
Whilst all teachers will keep to the correction and reporting timelines, summative assessments that will appear on Compass will only have comments provided by teachers who are not members of the AEU (close to 90% of our teachers are AEU members).
We will not run any meetings on Monday afternoon which is a normal scheduled meeting day but will continue with our Tuesday afternoon meetings.
I wish to ensure all parents/guardians/carers that the learning and wellbeing of students remains the key priority for all of us during the campaign. Teachers will continue with their work with the same commitment and dedication throughout this time.
Vincent Sicari, Principal
Eltham High School Reminders, including:
Staff Outside of Work Hours
Mobile Phone Policy
Privacy
Student Accident Insurance
Approved Student Exchange Organisations
School Drop Off and Pick Up Times