Principal Update

Message from the Principal

Week 9 Principal Update – Learning in Action

As we move through Week 9, learning continues to underpin our ways of working at Balmoral. Across the school, students are transitioning into new units of work, delving into fresh content, and building the knowledge and skills that will set them up strongly for next term.

This is also an important time in the term as students finalise assessment pieces. Alongside this, our staff are continuing to gather a range of evidence to provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate what they know, understand, and can do. This balanced approach ensures every learner has the best opportunity to experience success.

This week, we were delighted to host a team of school supervisors from across Queensland as part of a reading review. Balmoral was specifically recommended as a school to visit, recognising the work underway to strengthen the impact of reading fluency and consistent classroom routines on student learning. As principal it was powerful to share our insights of the initial implementation of reading intervention in Year 7 this term and the renewed focus on age-appropriate text types of strength reading practice across the school.  

I would like to sincerely thank our staff for opening their classrooms and showcasing their practice. The lessons observed delivered exactly what we hoped for, clearly illustrating the direction we are moving towards through our reading plan.

The feedback from our visitors was overwhelmingly positive. They recognised that our teachers are effectively teaching curriculum through reading—an approach that continues to be a focus for many schools. 

They commended:

• The explicit focus on unit vocabulary, supporting students to identify and define subject-specific terminology 
• Calm, focused classroom environments that enable learning 
• The use of artefacts and resources to strengthen subject understanding 
• The integration of digital technology to support learning with all students being comfortable with a hybrid model of learning

• Clear instruction and well-defined lesson goals

   

Across all classrooms, students were engaged, focused and attentive to their learning. Supervisors noted the strong presence of reading in action—students reading, responding, and building comprehension—with strategies such as choral reading supporting fluency development.

All four supervisors left incredibly inspired—both by the quality of teaching and the way our learners engaged with purpose and focus. They recognised that Balmoral is well placed to continue building momentum in this space over the coming years.

What stood out most was the professionalism and commitment of our staff, and the strong relationships that underpin learning across our school. These elements continue to drive student growth and success.

Thank you to our staff and students for the way you continue to bring learning to life every day.

Regards,

Timothy Barraud

Principal

Message from the Student Leadership Team

Last week on Thursday the 19th of March, students and staff dressed up head-to-toe in pink accessories to show support for the Small Steps for Hannah Foundation, raising awareness about coercive control within the community. It was amazing to see so many students show up and donate to such a meaningful cause.

This Friday, both Charlotte and I, as well as the Student Leadership team will help run the first Student Congress for the year, which will allow us to collaborate with students to gather ideas around what Multicultural Day will look like next term. 

As we near the holidays, seniors are working towards their exams starting next week. It's so great to see how hard everyone is working and the teamwork they're showing while preparing to achieve their goals for this term.

Charlotte Ernst & Fiona Skead

Agency Prefects