KEY INFORMATION & DATES

Important Reminder!

Hi all,

A reminder to all students to please be vigilant and safe when coming to and from school with road safety. When crossing the road, students are to use school crossings and traffic lights. We ask students to be aware of their surroundings, especially when wearing headphones and/or on devices. Student safety is the number one priority. We have had a number of concerned phone calls from members of the public in regards to students crossing the road. I encourage parents/carers to please discuss the importance of behaving safely around roads with your children.

Thanks,

Warwick Lamb

Assistant Principal

Term 4 2025 Key Dates

Date	Event
Monday 20th October	Colour Run Fundraiser.
Tuesday 21st October	Year 12 Celebration Day.
Wednesday 22nd October	Geelong Cup Public Holiday (no students)
Friday 24th October	Year 10 Formal.
Tuesday 28th October	Unit 3/4 VCE Exams Commence.
Wednesday 19th November	Unit 3/5 VCE Exams Conclude.
Thursday 20th November	Year 12 Graduation.
Monday 24th until Thursday 27th November	Year 10 and 11 Exams.
Friday 28th November	Exam Marking Day (no year 10/11 classes)
Monday 1st until Friday 5th December	2026 Year 11/12 VCE, VM and VPC transition program (not including Year 12 VM, week earlier) Friday- last day of classes for year 10/11 students.
Monday 8th December	Year 9 exams + last day of timetabled classes for 7-9 students.
Tuesday 9th December	Year 7 2026 Transition Day. Year 7-9 Activity Day.
Wednesday 10th until Wednesday 17th December	Year 7-9 Activities Program.
Thursday 11th December	WHC Awards Evening and Arts Show.

COLLEGE ABSENCE

OPTION 1:

Enter the absence on your Compass parent portal. To do this, press the shortcuts option at the bottom middle of the page, before selecting 'submit attendance note'.

OPTION 2:

Ph: 03 5277 1177, attendance line (press 1)

*Please leave a message and include date of absence, parent/carer name, student name, reason of absence, and phone number.

OPTION 3:

Email our Attendance Officer Anthe Petrovics - attendance@whc.vic.edu.au

Please include the student's name, year level, date of absence and reason.

If an absence is not reported, you will receive an automated message at 10am the morning of the absence, then a follow up message for you to explain the absence.

Thank you to the parents who are already doing this.

The importance of attendance

At Western Heights College, we prioritise regular school attendance. Attending school every day means experiencing what counts – the learning, friendship, fun and opportunities that can shape your child’s future.

We understand that there are times when your child will need to miss school but to ensure minimal disruption to their education, please consider scheduling family holidays or medical/dental appointments outside of school time.

If your child is having difficulty attending school, please reach out to their relevant LCL through Compass about getting support.

For more information about the importance of everyday attendance, see the

Attendance and Missing School link.

Remember, Every Day Counts.

🌟 Introducing the Navigator Program: Supporting Every Student's Attendance

Dear Families,

We would like to share information about a valuable external support: the Navigator Program. Navigator is a free and confidential service helping young people aged between 12-17 years to re-engage with education and actively support them transition back to school.

The Navigator service works to:

Re-engage young people in education when struggling with attendance
Develop and identify students’ social and emotional capabilities
Support schools to be better equipped to engage young people

Some examples of what Navigator does are:

Outreach (can go to the family home or meet in the community/school)
Engage with students and parents 1:1
Advocate for the family and student with their school
Support the family by attending school meetings
Help explore school options and programs
Complete external referrals for supports e.g. mental health supports

How to Refer Your Child

Participation in the Navigator service is by referral. Anyone can refer a young person to the program.

To refer your child, either:

Contact the Attendance Officer at Western Heights with your consent by emailing attendance@whc.vic.edu.au. We will complete the referral for you.
Fill out the referral form yourself here: https://surveyapac.deloitte.com/jfe/form/SV_cBJldtHIUE7thpI

Thank you for your attention in supporting your child’s attendance and engagement.

Kind regards,

Anthe Petrovics

Attendance Officer

Lost Property

Our lost properties are located in the Admin building and Green building.

Please advise your child to check these locations if they have misplaced any belongings.

2025 Daily Structure & Bell Times

Learning Community Leaders:

Year 7 LCL's: Marli McCarthy & Jackson Ramus
Year 8 LCL's: Brent Watson & Martin West
Year 9 LCL's: Harley McCarthy & Julie McNamara
Year 10 LCL's: Stephanie Sutton & Cameron Parker
Year 11 LCL: James Haworth
Year 12 LCL: Brett Bullock
VM/VPC LCL: Kendall Carracher
Year 7 Sub School Leader: Claire Sullivan
Year 8 Sub School Leader: Lauren Marino
Year 9-10 Sub School Leader: Lucas Wintels
Year 11-12 Sub School Leader: Joey McArlein
VM/VPC Sub School Leader: Amanda Dickson
SSP Sub School Leader: Renee Lane