Junior and Middle and Senior Level Leaders Report

Beginning Of Term 1:

Year 7 and 8 Leader Report 

Year 7

Celebrating the End of the Year 7 Induction Program

As we reach the end of our three-week Year 7 Induction Program, we would like to acknowledge what has been a very positive and successful start to secondary school for our Year 7 students.

Throughout the program, students have shown excellent behaviour, focus, and attitude. They have engaged thoughtfully in lessons, built new friendships, and demonstrated our HRRRT values of High Expectations, Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, and Teamwork in action. We are extremely proud of the way this cohort has embraced the challenges and opportunities of starting high school.

During the induction program, students have been supported to settle into secondary school routines, learn how the school operates, and build strong connections with their mentor teachers, peer support leaders, and classmates. They have also taken part in wellbeing activities, reflection tasks, and lessons focused on organisation, respectful behaviour, and confidence-building.

Induction Booklets

Students have now completed most sections of their Induction Booklet. We ask families to please take the time to look through the booklet together, allow students to complete any unfinished sections, and sign the booklet where indicated. Once signed, booklets should be returned to Student Services.

Police Presentation – Friday

As part of our ongoing focus on student wellbeing and safety, Victoria Police will be visiting the school on Friday to deliver a presentation to Year 7 students. This session will cover online safety, social media expectations, how to respond to cyberbullying, and the role of community support. The session will conclude with a student question forum, allowing students to ask questions in a safe and supportive environment.

Working together

Thank you to parents and carers for your support during this transition period. If your child requires learning or wellbeing support at any stage, their Mentor Teacher is the first point of contact, and will liaise with Student Services on your behalf as required.

We look forward to seeing families at the Year 7 BBQ and Information Night on Thursday 19th February and continuing to work together to support our Year 7 students as they move confidently into the year ahead.

Grant Bowman – Year 7 Leader

Year 8 

Students have made a strong and positive start to the year, settling into their new routines and engaging enthusiastically in their subjects. They have also enjoyed participating in the swimming carnival, and for some, stepping confidently into leadership roles as house or class captains. These experiences have provided valuable opportunities for students to build confidence, teamwork, and school spirit early in the year.

In Mentor, students are focusing on goal setting and developing important skills such as organisation, resilience, and self-management to support a smooth transition into Year 8.

Through a range of activities and discussions, students are encouraged to reflect on their strengths, set achievable goals, and develop strategies to manage the increasing expectations of secondary school.

We look forward to seeing how our Year 8 students continue to grow and challenge themselves as they are presented with new opportunities for learning, leadership, and personal development throughout the year.

Ashley Aylen – Year 8 Leader

Year 9 and 10 Leader Report 

Welcome Back to Term — Year 9 & Year 10

We would like to warmly welcome all families back to school for the year and extend a special welcome to parents and carers of students who are new to South Oakleigh College. We hope the year has begun positively for you and your children, and we are pleased to report a successful and settled start across both year levels.

As Year Level Leaders for Year 9 and Year 10, we want to reassure families that we operate with an open-door policy. Should you have any concerns regarding your child’s wellbeing, engagement, or progress at school, please do not hesitate to contact us. Open and timely communication between home and school is vital, and we value working in partnership with parents and carers.

Our key focus this term is punctuality — both arriving at school on time and moving promptly to class. Being punctual supports learning, establishes strong routines, and sets students up for success. We ask for your support in reinforcing this message at home and assisting us by ensuring attendance notes are entered on Compass when required.

Our other ongoing focus is correct school uniform. Wearing the correct uniform helps promote pride, consistency, and a positive school culture. If a student is unable to wear full uniform on a particular day, we ask that parents provide a note or notify the school via phone or email.

It has been wonderful to see students engage so positively in school life, including a fun and enjoyable House Swimming Carnival, which was a fantastic way to build house spirit and start the year on a high note.

Looking ahead, Year 9 students will be completing the Morrisby Survey next week. This is an important tool that helps students begin thinking about their strengths, interests, and possible future pathways.

We are very much looking forward to connecting with families throughout the term, including at Learning Conferences on 25 March and at the South Oakleigh College Open Night on Wednesday 1 April.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to working closely with you and your children in the term ahead.

Bill Karakousis – Year 9 Leader

Year 10

Peter Pizanias– Year 10 Leader

Year 11 and 12 Leader Report 

Year 11

Dear Year 11 Students and families,

I hope that the holiday break provided a chance to rest and recharge with family and friends. I am very excited  to continue to lead and support the Year 11 cohort from Year 10. We had a very productive year last year and I hope to continue to support students in their academic progress and engagement in our school community.

Transitioning from Middle to Senior School is a significant milestone and I would like to wish all students a very successful year. All students have been provided with a student planner to help students with organization, including recording of homework, due dates of tasks, SAC dates and scheduling in a study time. Families are encouraged to look over student planners each week to help students plan ahead and support an established study routine. Please be mindful that VCE and VCE/VM can be challenging at times and if you are feeling overwhelmed with the workload and managing your time, please see myself or Ms Ferguson in the Senior School.

I am very proud of our Year 11 cohort and thank students for wearing their school uniform correctly and with pride, setting the standard high and being a role model for our school.  At the same time, I would like to remind students and families that academic school shoes must be all black, polishable leather lace up shoes. They should not be black runners or sport shoes. In addition, if there are genuine circumstances preventing students from wearing correct uniform, communication from home should be provided to the Senior School.

As we continue to focus on high expectations, academic excellence, and engagement with the school, it is important that we continue to focus on attendance. Similarly to last year, I encourage students to carefully monitor their attendance on Compass to ensure that attendance does not drop below 90%. Students must have at least 90% attendance to be able to achieve a satisfactory result in VCE and VCE/VM.

Finally, please take time as a family to read through our Senior School Booklet, it includes important information that you will need this year.

Please continue to reach out to myself and Ms Ferguson if you have any questions, concerns or feel that you require our support.

Wishing everyone a successful year!

Sylvia Kotszyi  – Year 11 Leader

Year 12 

 A Strong Start for Our Year 12s

As we move into Week 4 of the school year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the positive start our Year 12 cohort has made. The first three weeks of the year are always crucial, and it has been pleasing to see students settling into routines, engaging with their studies, and embracing the responsibilities that come with their final year of school.

Year 12 is a significant milestone. It brings increased academic expectations, leadership opportunities, and the need for strong organisation and self-discipline. Our students have begun this year with maturity and focus, demonstrating a clear commitment to their learning and to supporting one another as a cohort.

It has also been encouraging to see Year 12 students modelling positive behaviours around the school—whether through their attitude in class, their interactions with staff and peers, or their willingness to step into leadership roles. These actions contribute strongly to a respectful and supportive school culture, and they do not go unnoticed.

As the year progresses, students will face challenges alongside many rewarding experiences. I encourage all Year 12s to continue setting realistic goals, maintaining balance between study and wellbeing, and reaching out for support when needed. Open communication between students, families and the school will be key to ensuring each student is able to thrive throughout the year.

I look forward to working closely with our Year 12 students and families as we navigate this important year together. With continued effort, resilience, and a positive mindset, I am confident our cohort will make the most of the opportunities ahead.

Let’s continue to strive to thrive in 2026.

Andrea Carmody – Year 12 Leader