From the Principal 2025

Need to Know

NB:  Term 2 finishes at 1.13 pm on FRIDAY 4th July 

 

As we approach the end of term, I want to take a moment to reflect on some of the recent highlights from across the school, as well as address a few important updates.

Celebrating Our Students

It’s been a busy and rewarding few weeks at school. A few standout events include:

  • The Year 10 Formal at Bramleigh Estate – A beautiful evening that was greatly enjoyed by all who attended. Our students represented the school with pride, maturity, and a some great dance floor moves!
  • Year 10 Exams and the GAT – These major assessments are now behind us, and students handled them with focus and resilience.
  • VCAA Audit – We were audited by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, and I’m incredibly proud to share that the auditors commented that our students were the best behaved and most courteous they have come across. What a credit to our school!
  • Mid-Year Music Concert – Congratulations to all students who performed. Your talent and dedication shone through, and our heartfelt thanks go to our passionate Instrumental Music staff.
  • Eltham Creative Minds Exhibition – Well done to the students whose work was selected for display. Thank you to Cathie Murphy for her continued support and commitment to student creativity.
  • Mid-Year Dance Concert – A stunning showcase of the skills and energy of our dance students. A huge thank you to Stephanie Gardiner for guiding our students and bringing the performance to life.

On Friday we were fortunate to have a visit from Member for Eltham, Vicki Ward, who visited our Year 7 Numeracy program.  Vicki has been a fantastic support for our college, obtaining over $14 million for the building upgrades we have had to date, and advocating for us when we need a voice! 

 

Welcome to new staff

 

Kathy Romano

Kathy rejoins St Helena in the Visual Art and Visual Communication Design space.  

It is her first year teaching, after doing her pre-service rounds with St Helena and working as a CRT at St Helena and Elevation College.  Kathy says that from the first day she entered our school she loved how supportive the staff were, and never felt embarrassed to ask questions or seek help.  Having a daughter motivated her to want to teach young minds!  During her industry experience of 10 years, she used to draw the illustrations found on Bunnings Warehouse catalogues.  She also really loves all things Disney!

 

Kylie Parfett

Kylie has been a teacher of Health and Physical Education for 15 years. Previous experience includes working at Pascoe Vale Girls College, Copperfield College, Reservoir High School and Preston High School. She reflects that St Helena presents as a very BIG and welcoming learning environment with a strong focus on academic achievement and community values.  With a lifelong passion for physical activity and sport, becoming a HPE teacher was a natural and meaningful career choice for Kylie. It also offered working in an extremely dynamic environment where no two days are ever the same.  To support herself through uni, Kylie worked as a pool lifeguard and netball umpire.

Uniform Policy Update

Last week, we emailed out information regarding updates to our uniform policy, specifically concerning tracksuit pants. I’d like to thank the majority of families who have responded with understanding and cooperation. However, we’ve already received some pushback and confusion, so I want to be absolutely clear about the expectations.

The only acceptable tracksuit pants are:

  • Plain black fleece
  • Elasticated cuffs and waist
  • No barrel legs
  • No low-rise styles (midriff must be covered) 
  • No baggy styles
  • No tech fleece
  • No logos – even if they are taped or covered

This policy is not only about maintaining a consistent and professional appearance, but also about ensuring equity and clarity for all students. Thank you for helping us uphold this standard.

Parent Contributions – A Heartfelt Thank You

Last week I emailed families regarding subject contributions. These funds support many of the hands-on and enrichment activities that make our programs vibrant and engaging. We are very grateful for any contributions that families can make—every bit helps us to continue providing the best possible opportunities for your children.

Important Health Notice

We have had a number of students presenting at the First Aid centre recently with abdominal discomfort, nausea and/or vomiting.   

 

As gastro is highly contagious and can spread quickly within a

school setting, we are reminding all families of the relevant health guidelines and Department of Education requirements to help prevent further transmission.

 

What is Gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines, leading to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and sometimes fever. It spreads easily through close contact, contaminated surfaces, and poor hand hygiene.

 

Exclusion from School

In line with the Victorian Department of Health’s School Exclusion Table, any student with symptoms of gastro should be excluded from school until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have completely stopped.

 

To help limit the spread within the school community, we  kindly ask that children who are vomiting or experiencing any gastrointestinal symptoms remain at home. Please ensure your child stays home for a full 48 hours after their last episode of vomiting or diarrhea, even if they begin to feel better sooner.

 

Preventative Measures

To support the health and safety of our school community, we encourage all families to:

 - Promote good hand hygiene:

Encourage children to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and before eating.

 - Keep unwell children at home:

If your child has any symptoms of gastro, please do not send them to school.

 - Clean and disinfect surfaces:

Regularly disinfect shared spaces and frequently touched surfaces such as bathrooms, kitchens, and door handles.

 

More Information

For more details, please refer to the Department of Health’s guidance on viral gastroenteritis:

https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/viral-gastroenteritis-not-rotavirus

 

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and healthy environment for all students and staff. If you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our First Aid Officer, Claire Waites. (cws@sthelena.vic.edu.au)

A reminder about our community standards

When parents, carers and school staff work together as one team, our students do better. Everyone at school, particularly staff and parents/carers, play a role in making school a better place for learning and work.

 

Parents, carers and school staff have a relationship that can last many years. This is an opportunity to work together to create a positive relationship in the best interests of your child. When this relationship is built on respect and trust, students learn better and feel like they belong in the school.

 

We enjoy positive and collaborative relationships with the vast majority of our parents and carers.  However, there are times where our staff are subject to behaviours that are unacceptable in our workplace.  We are open to respectful feedback and recognise that we don't always get things right.   Where there are points of disagreement, we ask that you approach us with respect and a solution focused attitude.  

 

Every member of our school community has a right to feel safe and be protected.   Rude, abusive, aggressive or threatening behaviour towards our staff, whether via email, verbal, or in person will not be tolerated.  

Behaviour Expectations in our College 

I would also like to remind the school community of our school’s positive behaviour expectations. To set students up for success, here is a summary of our school’s behaviour expectations in the classroom:

  • Actively listen to others. Do not talk when the teacher is giving instructions.
  • Accept that everyone in the class has a right to learn and disruptive behaviour that prevents others from learning will result in consequences.
  • Take ownership of any behaviour that impedes the learning of others, and your own, and try to remedy this.
  • Keep appropriate noise levels while working.
  • Be ready to learn.
  • Complete all set tasks to the best of your ability.
  • Stay focused.
  • Submit work on time.

In the interests of a calm and orderly learning environment for all, please don't ask us to excuse your child from these expectations, as a refusal often offends! 

Does my child "have anxiety"?

In recent years, there's been a growing tendency to label normal, everyday feelings of anxiousness as clinical anxiety. While it's crucial to support teenagers experiencing genuine mental health issues, it’s equally important not to pathologise natural emotional responses. Feeling nervous before a test, uncomfortable in a new social setting, or worried about a performance is a normal part of growing up. These experiences help young people develop resilience—the ability to cope with discomfort, adapt, and bounce back.

 

When we rush to remove every uncomfortable situation or treat every anxious feeling as a disorder, we unintentionally send the message that all stress is harmful. In reality, facing manageable challenges builds confidence and emotional strength. Shielding teens from discomfort might feel protective in the short term, but it can leave them ill-equipped for adult life, where uncertainty, pressure, and setbacks are unavoidable. Learning to tolerate and work through anxiety, rather than avoid it entirely, is a key part of becoming a capable, resilient adult.

 

These articles help to explain what constitutes clinical anxiety and how you can support your child when they are feeling anxious.  

https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/anxiety-vs-anxious

https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/anxiety_in_children/

Is your child or young person struggling with school attendance? 

Please contact AskLeadership@sthelena.vic.edu.au for school support.

 

The fantastic organisation "School Can't" understands that most students who "school refuse" are not being defiant or trying to "get out of" something, and desperately wish they could be going to school and being with their friends and teachers, although it may not always look that way.  "School refusal" is becoming an endemic problem.   38% of year 1-10 kids were chronically absent in 2023.

 

From the School Can't website:

 

"Support: 

We facilitate a peer support community for parents and carers of children experiencing school attendance difficulties in a private Facebook group.

The group helps reduce social isolation and distress, providing a safe space for parents and carers to learn from lived experience wisdom.

Empower:

We provide the tools, support, resources and community for parents and carers to become empowered and confident advocates. 

We assist parents to re-frame and make sense of the experiences of their children and young people.

We empower health and education professionals with knowledge about school can’t informed by our lived experience.

 

There are some great resources for parents here: https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/