Principal's Report

Student Achievement: VCE Results

Congratulations to the Class of 2023 for their outstanding VCE results. Students were able to access their results and ATAR Ranks early on Monday 11 December. I am sure that most would have been pleased with their performance.

Most of our students undertook a scored VCE and I am very pleased to communicate that over 13% of them achieved an ATAR Rank of above 90. I congratulate our Dux, Beau Duder (Rutter House) who received an ATAR Rank of 99.9 and a perfect study score of 50 in Physics. Beau alongside Esther Macisaac (Stewart House) were our Valedictorians for 2023. Esther’s results are also exceptional, having receive an ATAR Rank well above 90.

Beau is also the recipient of the Chancellor’s Scholarship from the University of Melbourne which offers fee remissions, a guaranteed place in coveted graduate programs including the Doctor of Medicine and Juris Doctor (Law) for students who meet the prerequisite course and entry requirements, a generous annual allowance for the duration of their undergraduate studies, and the offer of a Melbourne Global Scholars Award of up to $2500 to study overseas through an Exchange or Study Abroad program. An outstanding achievement.

Whilst ATAR Ranks are used as a basis for entry into several university courses, it is each student's hard work, effort, and commitment that I would like to applaud. Regardless of the result, every student (both scored or unscored VCE, as well as those undertaking VCE-VM) who worked hard, with persistent effort and commitment needs to be very proud of their achievement and continue to display these qualities and skills as they embark on their next journey towards a career. 

We are very proud of your effort and what you have been able to achieve throughout not only 2023, but through the last six years at Eltham High School.

I commend the work of our teachers, a very dedicated and hardworking group of professionals who consistently put their students first and did everything in their power to support their students’ learning, understanding and preparation for exams and conclusion to the year. I feel honoured to be the Principal of such a dynamic and collaborative learning environment leading such a group of dedicated professionals.  Well done everyone!

The next stage of the process is when offers to tertiary studies are made. We know that several of our students received early offers into the course of their choice and I congratulate them as we await to hear from the others in due course.

Canoe Slalom Victorian Championships

Congratulations to Sarah Crosbee (Year 11, Rutter House) who recently participated in the Victorian Championships in Eildon. Sarah won both categories in C1 and K1. A fantastic achievement.

Sarah, who will be in Year 12 next year, is part of the National Canoe Slalom Development Squad. She will be competing in the Australian Canoe Slalom selection trials to be held early in 2024 and if selected will compete at the 2024 Junior and Under 23 Canoe Slalom World Championships held in Liptovsky, Slovakia in July 2024.

We wish Sarah all the very best as she continues to engage and excel in the sport.

Swim Squad Christmas Giving

The Eltham High School Swim Squad has a long tradition of raising money at Christmas time to provide gifts for the many people in our community who need this support. Our student swimmers have been conducting an annual Lap-a-thon for the past 19 years (missing one covid year!) Each student seeks sponsorship for continuous laps swum in one hour at this event held in October.

Earlier in the year students chose the charity they wished to support. The charities that this initiative have supported over the years include - ‘The Wishing Tree’, Oxfam, Farming and Village equipment for Africa, Outdoor furniture for Strathewen P.S., Smith Family and Lions Club.

This year the squad raised a remarkable $3,200 which when added to that raised over the years amounts to something more than $40,000.

Eighteen squad members travelled to Greensborough Kmart where they purchased gifts to be collected by the Lions Club and distributed to local families in need. The return trip to school saw cars filled with toys, books, games, bikes etc and 18 very satisfied students who set about arranging gifts under and around a decorated Christmas Tree.

In addition to students and their families and friends, the project could not go ahead without the dedication of teachers, Phil Boyd and Michael Nicassio and swim coach Neroli Nixon. Neroli’s dedication to coaching at Eltham High School and her initiative to introduce the Lap a thon all those years ago is truly wonderful. 

The Swim Squad is a co- curricular activity conducted on Thursday mornings starting at 7:00am and is open to all students. Contact Phil Boyd (Philip.Boyd@education.vic.gov.au) for more details

Thank you to all members of the Swim Squad and thank you to Lyn Davis for the information provided in this report.

Year 7 - 2023 Orientation Day

It was great to see 190 Students arrive on Tuesday morning 12 December for their Year 7 Orientation activities. Students looked excited and a little nervous, as is normal. However, they were all happy to be here and to be starting their secondary school experience. They are an amazing group.

On Monday 4 December, we welcomed all parents/carers of our incoming Year 7s at the parent/carer online Information Evening. It was a great opportunity to engage with current families but also to welcome new families into the school.

Orientation Day provides the opportunity for students to explore the school, meet new people, make new friends, engage with their teachers and coordinators, and begin their journey as members of our learning community.

I wish to acknowledge the great work of the Junior Sub-school team under the leadership of Melissa Hughes. I know that incoming Year 7s will be well looked after under the care of these people, their teachers, and the school community overall. 

Thank you to all parents/carers for entrusting the education of your children to Eltham High School and for coming on board with us to build a strong and valued partnership between the school and the home.

Farewells 2023

I wish to acknowledge the work of the following staff members who will be leaving Eltham High School this year: 

• Sarah Bishay
• Tim Clifton
• Charlie Davidson
• Josh Gray
• Reet Kaur
• Naomi McQueen
• Olivia Monro
• Liam O’Donnell
• Ryan Patterson

I thank all of them for their contribution to the education of our young people and wish them all the very best in the future.

Several new staff will be joining us at the start of the new school year. I will introduce the new staff to you early in 2024. 

End of the school Year

As the year ends, reflecting on the 2023 school year I can say that we have achieved a great deal. From mid-way 2022 and throughout this year we have worked hard to plan for the implementation of the new Victorian Government Schools Agreement whilst maintaining a focus on achieving the best learning for our students. 

We will begin 2024 with a new structure to the school day moving from a four 72-minute period day to a five 59-minute period day and introducing the morning Involve and Tutorial sessions in addition to the fortnightly session in the 10-day timetable structure.  We have reviewed our curriculum to align with the new structure and have updated our offer of subjects and electives from Year 9 to 12.

We have been busy recruiting staff and as of today I feel confident that we will begin with a full compliment of staff to teach our students. 

The following bell times apply for 2024. 

The challenges of 2023 continued to prove that we are a resilient community, and we will keep focused and moving forward regardless of any obstacles that come our way. 

I congratulate all our students, staff and families for your concerted effort and support.

We are all looking forward to the start of the 2024 school year where we will begin a process of review of the changes that we have implemented to ensure that we are on the right path and make any necessary changes as needed. 

I am so proud of the partnership that we have built with the home and look forward to continuing to build this stronger if the coming year. 

The last day for Years 9, 8 and 7, this year is Tuesday 19 December. As is the case on the last day of Term, students will be dismissed at 2:30pm. I ask parents/guardians to organise safe travel home for the students. 

Seasons Greetings

Since this is the last edition of the Community Newsletter for 2023, I wish all members of our community a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.

I wish to thank all our students for their ongoing commitment to our school and their learning. I thank our parents for your ongoing support, and I thank our staff for their ongoing professionalism and for the care that they provide for all our students both within the academic and co-curricular areas of the school. 

I thank the Eltham High School Council for the work it does in supporting the various programs and initiatives that run for the benefit of our students and their learning. I also thank the members of the School Council for their ongoing support of me in my role of Principal of this amazing school and community.

The 2024 School Year will begin in late January.

Teachers will return on Monday 29 January. 

Monday and Tuesday 29 and 30 January are student free days.

Year 7 Students and VCE Students will return on Wednesday 31 January.

(Year 10 students who are undertaking an enhancement subject are expected to attend on the 31 January if they have a class on this day and only during the period of the class).

The Whole School will be in attendance on Thursday 1 February.

I look forward to our work together in 2024.

VINCENT SICARI, Principal