Principal's Report

Welcome back to Term 4 and the October edition of our College Newsletter. 

Congratulations Class of 2026!

This month we farewelled our Year 12 students with a series of celebrations, including dress-up days and their final school excursion to Gumbuya World. It was a fantastic day out. Students enjoyed the rides and the water park, shared plenty of laughs and made some final memories of their time at Lilydale Heights College. 

On Tuesday 20 October, the celebrations continued with Year 12 Celebration Day, a day full of fun, food, awards, recognition and reflection. It was the perfect way to honour everything this remarkable group has achieved, and a chance to thank the Class of 2026 for the effort, growth and experiences that have shaped their journey.

From their first nervous days as Year 7s to their final year, these students have learnt, led, created, competed and performed, and each has left their own mark on the College. We are very proud of who they have become.

None of this happens alone. Thank you to the parents, carers, families, teachers and education support staff who have supported our students along the way. A special thank you to Ms Gell and Mr de Kunder for their outstanding dedication to the year level.

With exams beginning this week, we wish our Year 12s the very best. We can’t wait to see what they make of the world of possibility ahead of them.

Congratulations, Class of 2026. I look forward to celebrating with you at the Valedictory Dinner in November!

Art and Technology Showcase

On Wednesday 7th October, I had the pleasure of attending our Art and Technology Showcase, a celebration of the final pieces of work from our Year 12 students across Art, Visual Communication and Design, Media Studies,  and Product Design and Technology.

D Wing was filled with a wonderful range of artworks, designs and films, alongside student folios. Together they highlighted not only the talent of our students, but also the creative and critical thinking behind each piece.

It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our students’ achievements and share their work with the school community. Congratulations to all our Year 12 students and their teachers for the incredible pieces of art they created. 

End of Year Music Showcase

On Thursday 15th October, our instrumental music students took to the stage at The Memo in Healesville for the End of Year Music Showcase, and it was amazing! The showcase gave students the opportunity to present the pieces they have been working on in their ensembles throughout the year.  Performing in a professional venue made the occasion even more special. 

A real highlight of the night was the growth in student performances. The confidence, skill and musicianship on display showed just how far our students have come since Semester 1, and it was clear how much hard work and dedication has gone into their performances. 

Thank you to the family and friends who have supported our students along the way and joined us on the night. Congratulations to all of our musicians and their teachers on a fantastic performance.

Year 9 City Experience 

This week, our Year 9 students have been travelling into Melbourne each day for City Experience Week. From all reports, it has been an exciting week of exploring and learning. Students visited the Shrine of Remembrance, Eureka Skydeck, the MCG, the National Gallery of Victoria and Queen Victoria Market, and also took part in escape rooms, a Salvos tour, an IMAX screening and Court Room Drama.

I had the opportunity to spend a day in the city with our Year 9 students. I may be a little biased, but they were amazing! It was clear they had learnt how to navigate the city, find their way to each location, meet deadlines and, above all, be respectful to those around them.

This was confirmed by an email the College received from a member of the public, who got in touch to say how lovely our students had been on the train. A group of students kindly offered her their seat, a considerate gesture that she said “really made my day”. She also said how great it was to see young people showing such kindness and respect towards others.

I’m proud to say our staff received similar comments from others while out in the city.

Congratulations, Year 9s! I hope you all had a wonderful week.