Principal's Message

Dear Applecross SHS Families,

I extend my sincere thanks to all families for your attendance and engagement at our inaugural Careers Showcase and Parent-Teacher Interviews yesterday. Your involvement plays a vital role in supporting student learning and future pathways, and we greatly appreciate your time and partnership. The positive energy across both events was evident, and I thank our staff, students, and wider community for their efforts in the organisation and delivery.

Canteen Update

I am pleased to inform you that the school has appointed Serendipity Food Lab Pty Ltd to deliver canteen services to our community. Further information regarding menu options, pricing and ordering processes will be shared during the school holidays. Serendipity will commence operations from Monday 20 April (Week 1, Term 2, 2026).

Family Communication and School Decision-Making

We value positive and collaborative relationships with families and the wider community, as these partnerships are essential in supporting each student to achieve their personal best. Recently, however, we have observed an increase in repeated challenges to decisions made by staff. Please be assured that all decisions are carefully considered and guided by Department of Education requirements and endorsed school policies.

Our staff work collaboratively to ensure consistency, fairness, and transparency in both practice and decision-making when responding to family queries. We ask that families respect these processes and the professional judgement of staff, as ongoing disputation can impact our ability to effectively support all students.

As a school community, we are committed to respectful and constructive communication. Maintaining a courteous tone in all interactions helps us work together effectively in the best interests of our students. Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

Please also find the Department of Education’s Connect and Respect Expectations at the link below for your viewing. 

 School Holiday Message

The upcoming school holidays provide an opportunity for families to spend time together and enjoy a well-earned break. This is also an important period of rest for our staff. Please note that staff will have out-of-office replies in place and are unlikely to respond to emails during this time. We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to allow time for responses once school resumes.

I wish all families a safe and enjoyable holiday period.

I look forward to welcoming students and staff back for the start of Term 2. The term ahead will bring continued learning, reflection, and the strengthening of positive relationships across our school community, along with many achievements to celebrate together. Applecross SHS is a wonderful place to learn, work and contribute.

Thank you for the warm welcome I have received as part of this community.

Karena 

 

Karena Shearing, Principal, Applecross SHS