Principal’s Report

Major Build Update – Project Managers Appointed

We are pleased to share an exciting update on our major building project. Project managers have now been appointed, and a timeline for works is currently being formulated.

At this stage, it looks like construction will commence in early December. Before work begins on the new Science & Health Centre, several important preparatory works will take place around the school, including:

Library modifications to create additional classroom spaces
Relocation of portables to line along the Digby Avenue fence line
Demolition of sheds currently located on site
Demolition of the S-Wing building

These steps are essential to prepare the site for the main stage of construction. We will continue to keep our school community informed as the project progresses and look forward to sharing more details once the full timeline has been finalised.

Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey

Our school is conducting the annual Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey and we are seeking your feedback. This important survey helps us understand families’ views on school climate, student behaviour, and student engagement.

The survey is:

Completed online through Compass using your parent logon credentials
Open from Monday 18 August to Friday 19 September 2025
Takes about 20 minutes to complete
Accessible on any internet-enabled device (desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone)

We encourage all families to take part, as your feedback will help shape our planning and improvement strategies. Please log in to Compass to access the survey link from the post that was sent out.

Key Dates:

Tuesday 9th September – Annual Students V Staff Basketball Game (Lunchtime)
Thursday 11th September – RU OK Day celebrations (activities held throughout the day)
Friday 19th September – Final Day Term 3, students dismissed at 2.30pm

Students of the Month – August

At Belmont High School we will be celebrating our students who display excellent learning behaviours with a regular “Student of the Month” award. There will be one Student of the Month per year level, twice per term. Student reports will be used to create a shortlist for teachers to consider against the below criteria:

Student shows exceptional application in class and overall effort towards their studies.
Student has a positive attitude towards learning, their classes and the school.
Student is always ready to learn by being in correct uniform, having all required materials and rarely needs to leave class.
Student may show some leadership qualities in the classroom.
Student’s academic performance is very good OR they have shown great growth in this area over time.

Congratulations to the follow students of the month form August:

RUOK Day – Staff vs Student Basketball Game

Next Tuesday, 9th September, we will host our annual RUOK Day Staff vs Student Basketball Game. This event is a long-standing Belmont tradition that brings our community together in the spirit of fun, humility, and—most importantly—a reminder to check in on the mental health of our friends, peers, and colleagues.

The game was recently featured in the Times News Group papers, reflecting the significance of the occasion within our wider community.

Special Guests – Alumni Return

We are thrilled to welcome back seven alumni for the event, with some even considering suiting up to play. Their achievements since graduating highlight the breadth of talent and opportunity nurtured here at Belmont:

Matthew Johns (2016) – Former NBL Player, Current international 3x3 player
Richie Egan (2017) – Professional Marathon Runner, targeting sub-2:10 at the Berlin Marathon after completing 200km in 22 hours earlier this year
Jordan Hucker (2016) – Former Australian School Nationals Shooting Guard, son of our former Principal
Mikaela Watson (2013) – 2nd BHS player to earn a U.S. Scholarship at Vincennes University
Krystl Bonney (2018) – Former State Basketball Player and Corio Bay Stingrays Youth League player
Dr Shannon Jennings (2014) – Chiropractor and current NBL Official
Annie Lee (2019) – Current AFLW Collingwood Player

This promises to be an afternoon full of energy, competition, and community spirit—we look forward to seeing many of you in the gym cheering on both our students and staff. A huge thanks goes out to Chad McLachlan for his work on bringing all this together.

Jazz Cabaret Concert – A Celebration of Talent

On Thursday night, Belmont High School came alive with the sounds of jazz at our annual Jazz Cabaret Concert. This special event provided an amazing opportunity for our students to perform alongside professional musicians, creating an evening filled with energy, creativity, and collaboration.

A highlight of the night was the outstanding solo improvisation performances from our students, including Malin Speare, Charli German, Rabhin O’Keife, and many more. Each soloist showed incredible confidence and musicianship, impressing both the audience and their peers with their creativity and flair.

The show-stopping moment of the evening belonged to Marley Walker, whose stunning tap performance ignited the room and left the audience in awe—truly something incredible to behold.

A huge thank you goes to our incredible music staff for their tireless work in preparing and supporting our students, and to parent Michelle Scully, whose generous support helped bring the evening together. Their efforts made this concert not only possible but unforgettable.

Events like the Jazz Cabaret remind us of the strength of our music program and the opportunities it provides for students to shine in front of their families, friends, and community.

Kind regards,

Joshua Baker

Principal

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