Principal's Report

 A busy end to Term 2

It has been a busy last month of term. The recent Year 10-11 examination period has concluded, and we're delighted by the dedication our students demonstrated. These assessments serve as valuable preparation for Unit 3/4 exams that many students will face in the near future. Year 10s recently completed Work Experience and in the last week of term undertook their Big Week Forward, looking ahead to VCE and subject selections. We decided to move the Year 9 into 10 and Year 10 into 11 parent information nights onto Webex this year, and with the very cold weather I think we made the right choice! These were well attended and served as a good way for parents and carers to gain a good insight into the subject choices their young person will be making early in Term 3. Thanks to APs Melanie Buscema-Moore and Selina Dennis and Year 10 Leader Sam Morley for running these events with me.

Year 12 students have navigated an intensive term, particularly in recent weeks, completing a significant amount of SACs, SATs and taking the General Achievement Test on Tuesday June 17. This upcoming term break provides a chance to refresh and recharge, a little downhill section on the Year 12 marathon. This period presents an ideal opportunity to strengthen understanding through activities such as organizing notes and beginnng to practice Unit 3 exam questions. Given Term 3's abbreviated nine-week duration this year, the transition to final examinations will arrive quickly.

I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to the exceptional Coburg High staff who have put in a tremendous amount of work in recent weeks, helping students to complete the final Key Learning Tasks for the semester and exams, marking those assessments and completing reports. 

'This Murder Was Staged' 2025 Production

A huge thank you and congratulations to the staff and students behind our school production of "This Murder Was Staged." Reports from parents, family members, friends and staff who attended were overwhelmingly positive, with all commenting on how impressed they were by the high calibre of talent on display and the professional quality of the production our students delivered. There were also a lot of laughs!

This fast-paced backstage comedy was a fantastic opportunity for our Performing Arts students to showcase their skills. Our students masterfully balanced suspense with comedy, keeping everyone guessing until the final curtain call. We appreciate the students' commitment and dedication throughout all the rehearsals and across the matinee and four nights of the show.

Whilst a show like this cannot happen without many people's help, special credit must go to our exceptional Director Madi Desatio. In every way the opposite of the show's unfortunate Director Sinclair Hemmings, Madi led our students with empathy, professionalism and tremendous dedication. 

Thanks also to our wonderful Parents' Association, particularly our stalwarts Mandy Cooney and Haydn Burns, who supported the show and provided refreshments.

Work Experience

Well done to all of our students and the over 170 businesses and organisations who provided work experience placements for our students - it is much appreciated! A big thanks to Senior School Administrator Christina Scholzhorn who oversaw all of the organisation and paperwork for our 200+ students. A further report can be found on the Work Experience page of this newsletter.

Some reports from Work Experience supervisors

I CAN School success at CHS

In Term 1 2025, the I CAN Network brought their I CAN School program to the wonderful students at Coburg High School. Over the course of the term, students engaged in weekly sessions led by I CAN's autistic mentors, exploring self-awareness, connection, confidence, and communication in a safe and empowering environment.

The results were inspiring. Students who said they felt positive about being Autistic / Neurodivergent rose from 64% to an impressive 90%.

Wellbeing Leader, Dani Lawson: "The I CAN program at Coburg High School has been a positive experience for a group of our students, helping them build confidence, strengthen their identities, and feel truly seen and supported. We’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both students and families, and attendance remained consistently high throughout the program. The celebration party at the end was a joyful highlight, reflecting the pride and sense of belonging our students felt every step of the way." 

CHS Alumni return to Coburg High School

Earlier this year we invited some of the very successful Class of 2024 back to the school for a morning tea. We also asked them to share some of their insights into Coburg High:

In the last week of term, another 2024 Alum Jesse Mogg spoke to Year 11 and 12 Maths Methods students. Methods teacher Rob Oliver wrote: 

Thanks Jesse!

Year 12 Formal

More photos will appear in a future newsletter but in the meantime, here's a report from School Captain, Hasti M on behalf of the Year 12 Formal Committee:

On Thursday 19 June we had our Year 12 Formal, and it was truly a night to remember. It was a magical experience, one that brought the Class of 2025 together for a final, joyous celebration before we all go our seperate ways. After a long and stressful semester, it was really exciting to have a night where we could just enjoy ourselves.

Every moment felt special, with the night filled with dancing, good food, and constant laughter. It was more than just a celebration, it was a chance to pause, take it all in, and appreciate how far we’ve come. We made memories that night that we will carry with us long after Year 12 is over.

We're all so grateful to have had the opportunity to plan and run this event for our cohort.

Well done CHS students on picking up the PACE!

As mentioned in the last newsletter, we have been encouraging students to 'pick up the PACE' across the second half of Term 2. Our teachers and staff routinely recognise students for their positive behaviours with Green Compass Chronicle entries. Across the last five weeks we have taken this to another level, playing 'Wheel of Cafe vouchers', randomly choosing names from those students who have Contributed, Participated, Engaged and Achieved in their lessons. Each of these students won for themselves a $10 Cafe voucher:

Contribute (Week 7): Patrick Z, Lucien O, Christian K, Astrid R, Sabine T, Elijah C, Sophie F, Ivy T-O, Stephanie K, Mary P, Benjamin W

Participate (Week 8): Zoe Z, Billy G, Adam E-A, Ilija V, Talha U, Murray M, Nameera T, Charlie C, Blayze L F, Jake S, Kadan K

Engage (Week 9): Fox L, Daniel M, Maggie M, Edie-Jean F, Lennox H, Lewis K, Abdi M, Archie B, Theodore K, Tia-Lily A, Millie H

Achieve (Weeks 10 & 11): Zoe K, Salma M, Eva W, Thea R, Raissa R, Mikail P, Jiaren L, Marcus S, Kingsley T, Diep N N, James K, Gigi F, Luca O, Oria H, Stefan A

Murray Road Safety

Coburg High School students Tayi A, Oli A, Giulia A, Eden C, Anneka D, Harleigh M, Amaya S, Finn M and Adriana R G recently welcomed the news that the Department of Transport and Planning has approved a new 40km/h School Speed Zone along Murray Road between Stockade Avenue and College Boulevard. We thank Anthony Cianflone MP, State Member for Pascoe Vale for his work to bring this to fruition. Thanks also to the Safer Walking and Riding for Murray Road (SWARM) Group, State Member for Preston Nathan Lambert MP and Federal Members Ged Kearney and Peter Khalil for their support.

The new School Speed Zone, which includes new static signs, will be rolled out over the next 12 months as part of the Commonwealth Road Safety Program’s Urban Speed Package. While this School Speed Zone is a huge step forward, there’s more to do. There is a public meeting regarding a safer Murray Road this Sunday 6 July, 2-4pm at the Newlands Senior Citizens Centre, co-hosted by:

• Safer Walking and Riding for Murray Road (SWARM)
• Merri-bek Pentridge Ward Councillor Nat Abboud

Event details and to RSVP please see here.

Wombat Crossing coming for the start of Term 3

Way back in December 2022, former School Captain Josh Riordan raised the issue of the dangerous crossing at the front of Coburg High School with Merri-bek Council. After securing $60,000 for the long-awaited Urquhart Street Shared User Path Crossing from the state government's TAC Local Government Grants Program, a wombat crossing (raised zebra crossing) will be installed over the July 2025 school holidays.

Announced with State MP for Pascoe Vale Anthony Cianflone, Federal Member for Cooper Ged Kearney and local students from Coburg High, the upgrades will include safer footpaths near East Coburg Tennis Club and McDonald Reserve, a new link between Pentridge Blvd and the future bike corridor on Urquhart Street, and improved access for students and locals. We thank both the state government and Merri-bek Council for their support in making this link safer for students.

News from the Merri-bek North Education Plan

The Merri-bek North Education Plan (MNEP) involves Coburg High School, Glenroy College, John Fawkner College and Pascoe Vale Girls College working more closely together and with other partners. 

Merri-bek North Interschool Innovators

The MNEP Interschool Innovators brought together Year 9s to participate in an environmental sustainability focused day of activities run by the Science Centre of Excellence. At this first session, industry partners revealed the real examples of problems that the students need to solve. Students worked in cross-school teams to brainstorm and innovate solutions. Term 3 will shift their focus to marketing and pitching their ideas.

Sharing VET Opportunities: Early Childhood Education and Care

A group of our Year 10 students visited the children at Early Learning Victoria Wimbi centre and heard from Melbourne Polytechnic about their opportunity to start their Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care in 2026. We are not sure who had more fun – the little learners at Wimbi or our students.

VCE Vocational Major Leadership Skills Day

Our MNEP VCE VM students had an incredible opportunity to take part in a Leadership Skills Day at RMIT. More than 100 students from across the four schools were in attendance. The day began with an inspiring keynote from former AFL player, business owner and trailblazing leader, Moana Hope, who shared powerful insights on resilience, purpose and leadership. This was followed by workshops with industry leaders sharing their insights and expertise with our students.

VCE Sociology at Pascoe Vale Girls

Students from the MNEP schools are attending Pascoe Vale Girls College every Wednesday afternoon to take VCE Sociology (Units 1 – 2 and Units 3 – 4). Sociology encourages you to become aware of and think critically about daily life and activities, as well as wider social issues. MNEP schools are working together to continue to offer a broader range of VCE and Vocational Education and Training (VET) subjects for all students in the area. 

Wellbeing and inclusion

A positive learning environment is important for learning at all Merri-bek North schools. The Merri-bek North schools have been working together to continue to implement the School Wide Positive Behaviour Support program. Merri-bek North teachers and Department of Education staff have been sharing good practice and resources to enhance student wellbeing and academic success. 

An Inclusion Coach has also been working across all Merri-bek North schools to look at the kinds of adjustments that can help all students learn.

In term 3…

Keep an eye out for some other exciting opportunities coming up including:

• Year 8 RMIT City Experience program
• Year 9 Merri-bek Interschool Innovators Program
• Years 9 – 12 Model UN (hosted at Coburg High School

Brent Houghton

Principal