From the Leadership Team

Welcome Back to Term 1 – Glen Eira College 

We warmly welcome all parents and carers back to another exciting year at Glen Eira College. We hope families had a restful break and are feeling refreshed for the year ahead. Term 1 has already been busy and productive, with a strong focus on student learning, wellbeing and community connection. 

New Staff  

We are pleased to welcome several new staff members to Glen Eira College this year. They bring a wide range of experience and expertise and are already making valuable contributions to our school community. Since my last update we have employed 3 new members of staff; English Teacher Sophie Warren, Learning Support Officers Moara Smith and Tanishq Sharma.  

Our Welcome Mural 

Our new Welcome mural has been a truly fantastic addition to the Glen Eira College campus. Featuring the word welcome in over 72 languages, the mural powerfully reflects the diversity of our school community and reinforces that every student and family belongs at GEC. 

Created in collaboration with Robert Young, our Indigenous artist, the mural also tells an important story of past, present and future. It acknowledges the deep history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, celebrates who we are today as a diverse and inclusive community, and looks forward with optimism to the future our students are building together. The mural has already become a meaningful focal point for students, staff and visitors, proudly expressing our shared values of inclusion, respect and connection. 

Our BOCI and Art Club, who came together to design the mural, are currently creating a website which will have a QR code so visitors can learn about the meaning of the mural. The plan is to launch the website during Cultural and Diversity week. This information will also be available on our school website.  

We are looking for more parent/carer members to join our school council please see the Compass newsfeed /Emails for more details.  

Change of date  

Student Conferences will now be held on Tuesday 31st of March 12pm to 7.30pm. More details to follow shortly.  

Care and Respect – Our Shared Focus 

Care and Respect continues to be a key focus at GEC. We believe that when students feel safe, respected and supported, they are best placed to learn and grow. This focus begins with adults modelling respectful relationships and continues through explicitly teaching and reinforcing positive behaviours with students. 

Alongside this, our core priority remains every student making learning growth. High expectations, targeted support and strong partnerships between home and school are central to achieving this goal. 

Diverse Learners Hub & Neurodiverse Parent Support 

Glen Eira College has revamped the Diverse Learners Hub on our website to support students, families and staff with clear information, resources and guidance to better understand and support diverse learning needs. The hub uses Department of Education evidence-based resources, ensuring information is accurate, consistent and aligned with best practice, while providing shared language and clear pathways for support across our community. 

https://gec.vic.edu.au/learning/diverse-learners-hub/  

To further support families, the GEC Neurodiverse Parent Support Group brings parents together to share experiences, insights and mutual support around neurodiversity and raising children. Thank you to Alicia Voges for coordinating the group.  

Parent contact: Alicia Voges – 0422 565 951

Recent Events and Highlights 

Swimming Sports 

• Our annual swimming sports have already taken place and were a wonderful celebration of participation, house spirit and sportsmanship. We thank staff and students for making the day such a success. 
• Congratulations to all students who attended and participated in our Swimming Carnival at Carnegie Pool during Week 1 of term. It was a great day out, and we look forward to our successful swimmers on the day representing the College at the upcoming Beachside carnival on Friday, 6th March. Thanks to Mr Bengue for coordinating the event.  

Interschool Sport update 

• Throughout Term 1, there will be a range of interschool opportunities for students of all year levels to participate in. Students should ensure they are in the GEC Sports Google Classroom to receive updates - the code is 3fw4i6s and or speak to Mr Bengue the Sports Coordinator. 

Student Leadership Workshop 

• Student leaders recently participated in a leadership workshop focused on teamwork, responsibility and positive school culture. The workshop provided valuable opportunities for students to build leadership skills they will use throughout the year. 

Year 7 Staggered Transition Program 

• Our Junior School alongside the Wellbeing Team and our Year 10 Peer Support leaders and Year 7 teachers have delivered a staggered transition program to our Year 7s. The program consisted of THRIVE sessions which explored common transition stressors, social scenarios and how to respond to challenging everyday situations in High School and also focused on supporting our Year 7 students in their preparation for camp. The students participated in mini Olympics in their Houses and had transition lessons focused on how to be prepared and ready for each subject. 

Upcoming Events 

• VCE and VCE Vocational Major Information Night 19th Feb 2026, 6pm to 7pm. 40 min presentation 20 min Q and A. Covering VCE and VCE  

• School Musical – Oliver! Junior Rehearsals are underway, and we are looking forward to showcasing the talents of our students later this term. 

• Instrumental Music Program Our instrumental music program continues to grow, offering students opportunities to develop musical skills, confidence and teamwork. 

   

Facilities and Campus Improvements 

We are excited to share several improvements happening across the school this term: 

• Solar panels will be installed this term, supporting sustainability and reducing our environmental footprint. 
• The turf area near the table tennis space will be completed this term, providing additional outdoor recreation space for students. 
• We are currently awaiting the installation of the shade sail, which will provide additional shaded outdoor areas for students. 
• Seating will be reinstalled near the canteen, improving comfort and access during recess and lunchtime. 
• Gym C has been redesigned and is now a multipurpose room, allowing for greater flexibility in learning and activities. 
• Gym C has been redeveloped to provide students with an additional indoor space, ensuring more opportunities for activity and supervision out of the weather. 
• The weights room has been relocated to Room 10, creating a dedicated weights and circuit training space. 
• As a result, students now have access to four active indoor spaces: 
• Gym 
• Room 10 – Weights and Circuit Room 
• Multipurpose Room 
• Performing Art Centre (PAC) Dance Space 

These improvements reflect our ongoing commitment to inclusive practices and student wellbeing. 

Warm regards, 

Jane Thornton on behalf of the leadership team