College Principal Message

End of Term 2, 2026

As we conclude another successful semester at Copperfield College, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the many achievements of our students, staff and wider school community.

The success of our College is a direct reflection of the collective commitment, dedication and professionalism demonstrated by our teaching and education support staff, who work tirelessly every day to provide high-quality learning opportunities and support for our students. I sincerely thank all staff for their unwavering commitment to ensuring that every student is empowered to aspire and achieve.

I also extend my gratitude to our parents and carers for their ongoing partnership and support throughout the semester. The positive relationships between home and school play a critical role in fostering student success and wellbeing.

Importantly, I would like to acknowledge and thank our School Council members for their guidance, governance and continued support of the College. Your contribution is vital to the smooth and effective operation of Copperfield College. As Principal, I feel privileged to lead such a vibrant, supportive and forward-thinking school community. Together, we continue to create opportunities that enable our students to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Our motto “No Student goes Without” is in the centre of everything we do.

Celebrating Student Achievement and Engagement

Throughout Semester 1, our students participated in an extensive range of curricular and extracurricular activities that enriched their learning experiences and showcased their talents.

Highlights included:

Whole College Athletics Carnival
Cross Country events
Outdoor Education camps
Interschool sporting competitions
Excellence in Sport Program participation, with our boys' and girls' basketball teams competing at State level
LOTE Week celebrations and activities
Excursions and incursions across all year levels
The "Be Bold Be Heard" (BBBH) Community of Practice program supporting our female students had their first very successful forum at the Delahey campus, including students from St Albans SC. An array of very successful female leaders and role models were the quest speakers for the day
The highly successful Semester 1 Music Concert, performed over two evenings at the Bowery Theatre
Semester examinations and assessment programs

These experiences provide valuable opportunities for students to challenge themselves, develop leadership skills, build resilience and strengthen their sense of belonging within the College community.

Congratulations to all students who successfully completed their Semester 1 examinations. Semester reports will be distributed to families shortly, providing valuable feedback on student progress and achievement.

As I reflect on the semester, I am immensely proud of the character, resilience, leadership and achievements demonstrated by our students. They continue to represent Copperfield College with pride and distinction.

Visits from State and Federal Representatives

During the term, the College was honoured to welcome several distinguished visitors, including the Honourable Jacinta Allan MP, Premier of Victoria; the Honourable Natalie Hutchins MP, Member for Sydenham; and Ms Alice Jordan-Baird MP, Federal Member for Gorton.

These visits provided valuable opportunities for students across our campuses to engage in meaningful discussions about education, leadership, government and contemporary issues affecting young people. Our students represented the College exceptionally well and demonstrated confidence, curiosity and maturity in their interactions.

Commencement of Semester 2

Semester 2 commenced on Monday 15 June 2026, bringing with it new opportunities for learning and growth.

Despite the ongoing challenges associated with teacher shortages across Victoria, particularly within secondary education, I am pleased to report that Copperfield College remains fully staffed across all curriculum areas. This achievement reflects the College's strong reputation and our commitment to maintaining high-quality educational programs for all students.

While the recruitment and availability of Casual Relief Teachers (CRTs) continues to present challenges across the sector, we have observed some improvement in recent months, assisting us in managing day-to-day staffing requirements more effectively.

The commencement of Semester 2 also involved the implementation of a new timetable, including changes to Year 7–10 elective programs and adjustments to teacher allocations across the College.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our School Operations Team for their outstanding work in preparing and implementing the Semester 2 timetable and ensuring the smooth operation of the College. Special thanks to: Dale Moore, Lance Petherick, Andrew Atherton, Kylie Brookshaw (Kings Park Campus, Assistant Timetabler), Stephen Scanlin (Sydenham Campus, Assistant Timetabler)

as well as our Daily Organisers: Tracey (Kings Park), Annie (Delahey) and Ayse (Sydenham)

Their teamwork, professionalism and commitment ensure that classes are covered effectively and that our College continues to operate efficiently on a daily basis.

As we move further into Semester 2, I am confident that Copperfield College is well positioned to continue building on the successes of the first half of the year. The dedication of our staff, the support of our families, the commitment of our School Council and the outstanding efforts of our students continue to make Copperfield College a school of choice within our community.

Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our College. I look forward to working together as we continue to provide the very best educational opportunities for every student.

The school is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people, and this is the primary focus of our care and decision-making. We have a zero tolerance for child abuse.

The College is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Attention is paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability.

Young People Need More Than Future Skills

In recent years, there has been significant discussion about the importance of preparing young people for the future. Terms such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and digital literacy are frequently highlighted as the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world. While these future-focused capabilities are undoubtedly important, they are only part of the picture.

Young people need more than future skills. They need strong values, positive relationships, resilience, character, and a sense of purpose.

Technology will continue to evolve, industries will change, and many of today's jobs may look very different in the decades ahead. However, qualities such as respect, empathy, integrity, responsibility, and perseverance will always matter. These are the foundations that help individuals make good decisions, contribute positively to society, and navigate life's challenges.

Schools play a vital role in developing both the skills and the character of young people. At Copperfield College, academic learning remains central to a student's education, but equally important is helping students become confident, respectful, and responsible members of their communities. Success is not simply measured by examination results or career achievements; it is also reflected in how individuals treat others, overcome adversity, and contribute to the world around them.

Parents and families are essential partners in this work. The values modelled at home, the conversations held around the dinner table, and the support provided during both successes and setbacks all help shape young people's growth and development. When schools and families work together, students receive consistent messages about the importance of effort, kindness, respect, and responsibility.

For our students, the future is not just about preparing for a career. It is about discovering who they are, what they stand for, and how they can make a positive difference in the lives of others and the wider community. Learning to work hard, collaborate effectively, show compassion, and bounce back from challenges are life skills that will serve them well regardless of the path they choose.

As educators and parents, our goal should be to develop well-rounded young people who are not only equipped with the skills needed for the future but also the character and confidence needed to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.

The future belongs to young people who can think critically, adapt to change, and embrace new opportunities. But it also belongs to those who demonstrate kindness, integrity, resilience, and a commitment to making their communities better places. These qualities, together with strong future skills, will empower them to thrive in whatever lies ahead.

Copperfield College Scholarship Program

The Copperfield College Scholarship Program continues to be a significant point of difference for our College and is now entering its third year of successful implementation.

Our current scholarship recipients have embraced the opportunities afforded to them and are demonstrating leadership and excellence within their respective areas.

The program recognises and celebrates outstanding young people who have demonstrated commitment, achievement and active participation within their primary school communities. It seeks to identify students who embody the values and personal qualities that contribute positively to the life of Copperfield College.

Scholarships are available for students entering Year 7 at both the Kings Park and Sydenham campuses in the following categories:

Academic Excellence
Student Leadership
Community (Good Citizenship)
Sporting Excellence
The Arts

Scholarships are awarded for two years, commencing in Year 7 and reviewed prior to Year 8.

Applications for the 2027 Year 7 Scholarship Program close on 30 August 2026.

Each scholarship is valued at approximately $4,500 and includes:

Full school fees
Complete Copperfield College uniform package, including blazer and tie
Laptop computer
Books and learning resources
Camps
Excursions

The program continues to strengthen our partnerships with local primary schools while recognising and supporting exceptional young people within our community.

Child Safe Standards

The safety, wellbeing and inclusion of every student remains our highest priority.

Copperfield College is committed to fully implementing and maintaining compliance with the Victorian Child Safe Standards and fostering a culture where children and young people are safe, respected and empowered.

The College maintains a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and actively promotes a child-safe environment where students feel valued, heard and supported.

We remain committed to ensuring the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and students with disability. Student voice continues to be an important component of our decision-making processes, ensuring that young people are active participants in shaping their educational experiences.

Victorian Schools’ Privacy Policy

The Department of Education and Training (which includes all Victorian government schools, central and regional offices) values the privacy of every person and is committed to protecting information that schools collect.

All staff including contractors, service providers and volunteers of the Department, and our school, must comply with Victorian privacy law and this policy.

In Victorian government schools the management of ‘personal information’ and ‘health information’ is governed by the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) and Health Records Act 2001 (Vic) (collectively, Victorian privacy law).

This policy explains how our school collects and manages personal and health information, consistent with Victorian privacy law.

For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. This information is also available in ten community languages:

Amharic
Arabic
Dari
Gujarati
Mandarin
Somali
Sudanese
Turkish
Urdu
Vietnamese.

Copperfield College Privacy Policy

This policy is regularly reviewed and updated to take account of new laws and technology and the changing school environment when required.

During the ordinary course of your child’s attendance at our school, school staff will collect your child’s personal and health information when necessary to educate your child, or to support your child’s social and emotional wellbeing or health. Such information will also be collected when required to fulfil a legal obligation, including duty of care, anti-discrimination law and occupational health and safety law. If that information is not collected, the school may be unable to provide optimal education or support to your child or fulfil those legal obligations.

For example, health information may be collected through the school nurse, primary welfare officer or wellbeing staff member. If your child is referred to a specific health service at school, such as a Student Support Service officer, or school-engaged psychologist, the required consent will be obtained.

Our school may use online tools, such as apps and other software, to effectively collect and manage information about your child for teaching and learning purposes, parent communication and engagement; student administration; and school management purposes. When our school uses these online tools, we take steps to ensure that your child’s information is secure. If you have any concerns about the use of these online tools, please contact us.

School staff will only share your child’s personal or health information with other staff who need to know to enable the school to educate or support your child or fulfil a legal obligation.

When our students transfer to another Victorian government school, personal and health information about that student will be transferred to that next school. Transferring this information is in the best interest of our students and assists that next school to provide optimal education and support to students.

In some limited circumstances, information may be disclosed outside of the school (and outside of the Department of Education and Training). The school will seek your consent for such disclosures unless the disclosure allowed or mandated by law.

Our school values the privacy of every person. When collecting and managing personal and health information, all school staff must comply with Victorian privacy law. For more information about privacy including about how to access personal and health information held by the school about you or your child, see our school’s privacy policy: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Pages/schoolsprivacypolicy.aspx

Definitions

Personal information is information or opinion, whether true or not, about a person whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion – that is recorded in any form. For example, a person's name, address, phone number and date of birth (age). De-identified information about students can also be personal information.

Health information is information or opinion about a person’s physical, mental or psychological health or disability, that is also personal information – whether in writing or not. This includes information or opinion about a person’s health status and medical history, immunization status and allergies, as well as counselling records.

Sensitive information is information or opinion about a set of specific characteristics, including a person’s racial or ethnic origin, political opinions or affiliations, religious beliefs or affiliations, philosophical beliefs, sexual orientation or practices, or criminal record. It also includes health information.

What information do we collect?

Our school collects the following type of information:

information about students and their families, provided by students, their families and others.
information about job applicants, staff, volunteers and visitors; provided by job applicants, staff members, volunteers, visitors and others.

How do we collect this information?

Our school collects information in a number of ways, including:

in person and over the phone: from students and their families, staff, volunteers, visitors, job applicants and others
from electronic and paper documentation: including job applications, emails, invoices, enrolment forms, letters to our school, consent forms (for example: enrolment, excursion, Student Support Services consent forms), our school’s website or school-controlled social media.
through online tools: such as apps and other software used by our school.
through any CCTV cameras located at our school.
Collection notices

When our school collects information about you, our school takes reasonable steps to advise you of how the information will be handled. This includes the purpose of the collection, and how to access, update and correct information held about you. For information about students and their families, a collection notice is provided to parents (or students who are mature minors) upon enrolment.

Unsolicited information about you

Our school may receive information about you that we have taken no active steps to collect. If permitted or required by law, our school may keep records of this information. If not, we will destroy or de-identify the information when practicable, lawful and reasonable to do so.

Why do we collect this information?

Primary purposes of collecting information about students and their families

Our school collects information about students and their families when necessary to:

educate students.
support students’ social and emotional wellbeing, and health.
fulfil legal requirements, including to:
take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of reasonably foreseeable harm to students, staff and visitors (duty of care)
make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities (anti-discrimination law)
provide a safe and secure workplace (occupational health and safety law)
enable our school to:
communicate with parents about students’ schooling matters and celebrate the efforts and achievements of students.
maintain the good order and management of our school.
enable the Department to:
ensure the effective management, resourcing and administration of our school.
fulfil statutory functions and duties.
plan, fund, monitor, regulate and evaluate the Department’s policies, services and functions.
comply with reporting requirements.
investigate incidents in schools and/or respond to any legal claims against the Department, including any of its schools.

Primary purposes of collecting information about others

Our school collects information about staff, volunteers and job applicants:

to assess applicants’ suitability for employment or volunteering
to administer employment or volunteer placement
for insurance purposes, including public liability and WorkCover.
to fulfil various legal obligations, including employment and contractual obligations, occupational health and safety law and to investigate incidents.
to respond to legal claims against our school/the Department.

When do we use or disclose information?

Our school uses or discloses information consistent with Victorian privacy law, as follows:

for a primary purpose – as defined above
for a related secondary purpose that is reasonably to be expected – for example, to enable the school council to fulfil its objectives, functions and powers.
with notice and/or consent – including consent provided on enrolment and other forms.
when necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to:
a person’s life, health, safety or welfare
the public’s health, safety or welfare
when required or authorized by law – including as a result of our duty of care, anti-discrimination law, occupational health and safety law, reporting obligations to agencies such as Department of Health and Human Services and complying with tribunal or court orders, subpoenas or Victoria Police warrants.
to investigate or report unlawful activity, or when reasonably necessary for a specified law enforcement purpose, including the prevention or investigation of a criminal offence or seriously improper conduct, by or on behalf of a law enforcement agency.
for Departmental research or school statistics purposes
to establish or respond to a legal claim.

A unique identifier (a CASES21 code) is assigned to each student to enable the school to carry out its functions effectively

Nick Adamou

College Principal