Assistant Principals' Reports 

Simon Jones (Senior Assistant Principal)

We are on the final stretch of what has been a long yet rewarding year. As I write, we are in the final week of our junior Jumpstart program. Our Year 12s have completed their VCAA exams and are now enjoying their ‘freedom’. It has been a challenging year, and I am immensely proud of the way that students have acquitted themselves. I am confident that they will reap the rewards of their hard work when the results are released. The upcoming Valedictory Dinner will be an opportunity to farewell a fantastic cohort of students and to celebrate their school completion with them.

The years 10’s and 11’s are also to be congratulated for the way in which they approached their final exams. We aim to provide an authentic exam experience which replicates the VCAA exams as closely as possible, and students took full advantage of this, which will hold them in good stead moving forward.

As mentioned, Jumpstart has almost finished, providing a great introduction to new classes and teachers. Jumpstart poses a significant challenge for schools in terms of organisation and logistics however, the payoff is that students have a worthwhile program to finish off the year and are settled and organised, ready for 2026.

We are not quite there yet, however, the end is coming into sight. As such, I take this opportunity to wish all members of our College community a safe and enjoyable Summer break, before we get ready to do it all again.

Drew King (Junior School Assistant Principal) 

YEAR 7

Term 4 has been a wonderful way to wrap up the year for our Year 7 students! One of the major highlights was our 'Community and Environment Clean Up', where classes competed to collect and organise rubbish from around the school. It was fantastic to see the Year 7s embrace the sunshine with such enthusiasm, teamwork, and care for our environment. The school grounds have never looked better! A special congratulations to 7TH for collecting the most rubbish and 7YU for having the most organised waste.

Our King Ball Tournament once again proved to be the most hyped event on the Year 7 calendar, full of energy, laughter, and friendly rivalry. Congratulations to 7LO, who took out the top spot this year!

It’s also been a strong term for sport, with our Year 7 cricket team making it all the way to the state finals. This is an incredible achievement and a testament to their hard work and teamwork.

We also celebrated some very happy news within our school community; the arrival of three beautiful babies! Congratulations to Mrs Greer, Miss Fischer, and Mr Rolls on the newest additions to their families.

As the term comes to a close, we’re proud of how smoothly our students have transitioned into Year 8, confidently navigating new teachers, new areas, and new challenges.

Well done, Year 7s, on an amazing year of growth, fun, and achievement! We are looking forward to seeing you continue to thrive in Year 8. Well done Year 7 Team. 

Year 8 Update – Pathways, Progress and Transition

This term, our Year 8 students have been actively engaged in exploring future career pathways and making informed choices while selecting their elective subjects for 2026. These discussions have encouraged students to reflect on their strengths, interests and goals as they plan the next stage of their learning journey.

We are proud of the consistent effort demonstrated by our cohort, with many students working to their personal best to achieve strong results in their Semester 2 reports. Their commitment to learning and positive attitudes has been a pleasure to witness.

The transition into the Year 9 Jump Start programme has been exceptionally smooth, with students settling confidently into their new learning area in O Block. They are quickly becoming familiar with their new pastoral teachers and building positive, respectful student–teacher relationships that will support both wellbeing and learning in the year ahead. Well done to the Year 8 Team.

It has been wonderful to see our students approach this transition with maturity, enthusiasm and a strong sense of responsibility

Year 8 Community Project – Spreading Christmas Cheer

As part of our Year 8 Community Project, students took part in a heart-warming initiative to support older members of our local community during the Christmas period.

Each student was allocated a resident from Regis Rosebud and Regis Dromana aged-care homes and wrote a personalised Christmas card, filled with kind messages, festive cheer and thoughtful well-wishes. This project aimed to foster empathy, connection and social responsibility, while helping to reduce feelings of loneliness often experienced by seniors at this time of year.

The students approached the task with genuine care and maturity, producing beautiful messages that we know will bring smiles to many faces. We are incredibly proud of the compassion and community spirit shown by our Year 8 cohort and thank them for helping to make Christmas a little brighter for others.

Year 9 – Term 4 Update

As we come to the end of a busy Term 4, we’d like to acknowledge once again the mature and respectful approach to school life demonstrated by our Year 9 cohort. Their effort and dedication to their studies have been wonderful to see, particularly throughout the Jumpstart program into Year 10.

The term began with an excellent attendance at the Regional Athletics Carnival, where a number of Year 9 students achieved fantastic results. Well done to all our talented athletes!

Many students also took part in the Dromana College Short Film Festival – a spectacular showcase of creativity and skill. Congratulations to Paddy Corbett, Tanner Eley and Archie Snell on their production, The Notebook.

Later in the term, students enjoyed the Surf’n’Turf Camp, which was a resounding success by all accounts. Others chose to challenge themselves by stepping up into Year 10 studies and completing their Semester Two exams. The Drama Ensemble Evening was another highlight, showcasing the confidence and performance skills of our students.

Over the past four weeks, our Year 9 students have transitioned into Year 10 and the Senior School with exceptional maturity, focus and enthusiasm. We are extremely proud of how seamlessly they have embraced this new chapter.

Finally, this week’s Gumbuya World excursion provided a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the end of the school year together – a day filled with laughter, rides and fun in the sun.

Our Celebration Evening was a fitting conclusion to the year, recognising the achievements of so many students within the cohort. It was a wonderful way to celebrate them, their accomplishments, and the vibrant community that is Dromana College. Well done to the Year 9 team. 

Matthew McLaren (Assistant Principal-Strategic Delivery)

Well done to all

As we reach the end of a busy and rewarding Term 4, I want to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of our Dromana College community throughout 2025. One of the highlights this term has been the strong completion of our Jumpstart program, with students engaging enthusiastically in their 2026 courses. It has been fantastic to see students building relationships with new teachers, exploring new subjects, and setting themselves up for a confident and purposeful start to next year. Thank you to our dedicated staff, whose preparation and professionalism ensure this transition runs so smoothly.

This year, we also celebrated exceptional academic outcomes across the college. Our VCE results were once again outstanding, reflecting the depth and consistency of our teaching and learning programs in the senior years. In addition, our NAPLAN results showed significant strength and growth, demonstrating the impact of high-quality teaching and targeted support across Years 7 and 9. These achievements highlight the hard work of our students and the expertise and commitment of our staff. Congratulations to all involved.

Wellbeing remains central to everything we do. The positive culture at Dromana College continues to be co-created by our students, staff, and families. School-wide events, targeted small-group supports, and individualised care all contribute to a safe and connected environment that empowers students to thrive academically and personally.

Underpinning this is the work of our leadership team to deliver our 2025 Annual Implementation Plan, which has strengthened our focus on student agency, engagement, and ownership of learning. This work continues to deepen students’ confidence, voice, and independence in the classroom, positioning us strongly as we move into 2026.

As we prepare for the summer break and the transition into 2026, families may find the following suggestions helpful: 

During the Holidays

• Encourage outdoor activities such as walking tracks, beach visits, or sports.
• Promote genuine face-to-face connections with friends and extended family.
• Support reading by visiting local libraries or picking up a new book.
• Inspire hobbies or creative pursuits, from music to painting or craft.
• Build responsibility through small household tasks.
• Encourage community involvement or volunteering.
• Remember water safety, especially at the beach.

Preparing for the Return to School

• Re-establish a consistent sleep routine before the term begins.
• Organise books, uniforms, devices, and bags early to reduce stress.
• Remind students that the first week back can be tiring and to be patient with themselves.
• Reassure students that support is always available and encourage them to reach out when needed.
• Spark positive conversations about school, including revisiting holiday tasks or reading English texts together.

On behalf of our Wellbeing and Engagement, Curriculum, and our Teaching and Learning teams, I wish our students, families, and staff a safe, restful, and enjoyable summer break.

 Thank you for your contribution to a fantastic 2025. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for another successful year in 2026.