Principal Report

I have previously spoken about Term Four being a time of transitions, and the first of these has just taken place here at Woodmans Hill. Monday, 21st October, marked the final day of classes for our wonderful Year 12 students—a day of celebration for staff and, most importantly, students.

Six years ago, during my final year as Transition Leader, I had the privilege of meeting this diverse group of individuals. They were apprehensive yet excited about beginning their secondary school journey. That was back in 2019. Reflecting on their time at school, I think about how their experiences have shaped them into the young adults they are today.

When they entered Year 8, they soon found themselves learning remotely due to COVID. This required them to develop more flexibility, open-mindedness, and resilience than ever before. Year 8 is often a challenging time for students, and having to adapt to remote learning during such a formative year took things to a whole new level. I believe it was through this adversity that they cultivated the grit, determination, and ambition we now see in them as Year 12 students.

Time spent away from friends, peers, and our wider community also reinforced the importance of connection and belonging. This has fostered strong relationships across classrooms and programs. Watching the Year 12s celebrate together—chatting, laughing, and signing dresses and shirts—highlighted the lifelong friendships they’ve built. I hope they continue to nurture these connections as alumni of our school.

I am incredibly proud of every single Year 12 student graduating this year and feel honoured to be their Principal. I look forward to hearing from them in the years to come—whether about university programs, TAFE education, completed apprenticeships, travels, or fond memories of their time at Woodmans Hill. Often, it’s only when we reflect that we realize how significant these moments were.

I have complete confidence that our Year 12s will achieve their goals and dreams, no matter what challenges they encounter. They’ve already proven their strength and determination throughout their time at Woodmans Hill.

Congratulations, Year 12s!