Engagement Leader Report

‘Celebrating an action-packed Term 3’

Term 3 has been another bustling term at Homestead - with our students continuing to demonstrate commitment and a willingness to get involved in the many of the opportunities available to them.

One of the great strengths of our school community is the way our students continue to engage beyond the classroom; representing our school in numerous inter-school sporting teams (Basketball, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Hockey and Badminton) or showcasing the school’s extracurricular talents (with events such as HSSC’s Production of ‘Clue’ and our STEM Racing’s ‘Team Typhoon’).

To open up the term, we were proud to recognise the achievements of many students through our Semester 1 Awards Assemblies - providing an opportunity to acknowledge students who have demonstrated outstanding effort, achievement, commitment and positive contributions to school life.

The term was full of lessons beyond the classroom with various excursions across all year levels (such as Art Making’s visit to the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Legal Studies overseeing the enforcement of the law at the Supreme Court of Victoria, Sociology’s visit to the Old Melbourne Gaol, VM’s ‘City Scavenger Hunt’, Modern History’s trip to the Shrine of Remembrance, English Language practicing their skills at the Queen Victoria Market & Literature dropping in on the National Gallery of Victoria and completing the Indigenous Heritage Trust Walk… and Outdoor Education’s Torquay Camp).

Another important time during Term 3 is supporting students to make decisions which will influence their future pathways. Our Parent Information evenings have continued to grow, as we saw great attendances by our students and families.

Course counselling provided students the opportunity to consider their interests, strengths and future aspirations when making decisions about their subjects and pathways for 2027. Working alongside students and families through this process is an important part of ensuring every student feels supported and confident about their next steps.

For our Year 12s - the term has represented another significant milestone; with their final SACs now completed, students will begin their trial examinations and the final stretch towards their VCAA examinations. While this can be a challenging time, it is also an exciting reminder of how far our Year 12 students have come!

Ultimately, Term 3 has been about much more than completing subjects and assessments. It has been about participating, connecting, exploring and growing. We have seen students step outside their comfort zones, take on new experiences, celebrate their successes and continue working towards their goals. As an Engagement Team, we are incredibly proud of the way our students have contributed to the life of our school this term. Thank you to our staff for creating these opportunities, to our families for their continued support, and to our students for the energy and enthusiasm they bring to our community.

We now look forward to Term 4 — another opportunity to finish the year strongly, celebrate our achievements and continue supporting every student to reach their potential.

Tim Harris

Student Engagement Leader

Year 10 Report

As we move towards the final chapter of Year 10, it is important that we take a moment to recognise just how far our Year 10 students have come.

Our recent Year 10 Assembly gave us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredible efforts, achievements and growth we have seen across our cohort. Whether through academic achievement, improved attendance, leadership, personal growth, sporting success, creativity, or simply making the decision to keep trying when things have been difficult, there is so much within this year's level that deserves recognition!

Success does not always look the same for every student. Sometimes it is receiving an award. Sometimes it is achieving a result you worked incredibly hard for. Sometimes, success is simply looking back at where you started and realising how much you have grown.

One of the most exciting parts of this term has been seeing our students begin to make genuine decisions about their futures through Year 10 Course Counselling. The professionalism and maturity demonstrated throughout this process has been fantastic to see. Students have begun asking themselves some important questions:

“Where do I want to go? What am I interested in? What pathway will help me get there?”

For some students, the answer is already becoming clear. For others, it may take a little longer, and that is completely okay. What matters is that you are beginning to think with purpose. The subjects and pathways you have selected are more than boxes on a form. They represent the beginning of the next stage of your education and an opportunity to start building a pathway towards the person you want to become.

We have seen that same maturity throughout our VCE-VM interview process. The feedback from staff involved in these interviews has been incredibly positive. Students have approached their interviews with preparation, maturity and professionalism, demonstrating their ability to speak about their goals, their strengths and the future they hope to create for themselves. These experiences are about much more than selecting a Year 11 pathway and they are preparing you for life beyond school.

One day, you will sit across from someone during a university, TAFE, apprenticeship or employment interview and be asked to speak about who you are, what you can contribute and where you want to go. The confidence and professionalism you are developing now are skills you will carry well beyond Homestead.

As we enter Term 4, our focus turns towards the colleges 4th and final school value of Resilience. There could not be a better value to carry us through the final part of Year 10, the finish line is getting closer. There will be exams, there will be assessments, there will be deadlines. Before long, you will experience Year 11 Commencement Week, where the expectations begin to shift and the next stage of your journey officially starts. This is the point in the year where it can become easy to slow down. Instead, we challenge you to do the opposite.

Resilience does not mean that everything is easy. It means continuing when things become difficult. It means learning from setbacks rather than allowing them to define you. It means turning up, asking for help, completing the work and giving yourself every opportunity to finish proudly.

When you eventually walk through the gates of Homestead for the final time at the end of Year 12, we hope you can look back at this moment as one of the points where things began to change. Where you started thinking seriously about your future, discovered your purpose and realised that you were capable of more than you thought.

Let’s take it home, Year 10. We’re nearly there!

Lauren Romanczukiewicz, Marko Vekic & Isaac Duffy

Year 11 Report

Year 11 Term 3: A Busy Few Weeks!

The second half of Term 3 has certainly been a busy one for our Year 11 students, with plenty of opportunities to learn, connect and celebrate together.

We came together for our Year Level Assembly, which provided a great opportunity to touch base as a cohort, share important information and celebrate the progress our students are making as they head towards the final part of the year.

Science Week brought plenty of energy and curiosity to the school, with students getting involved in a range of activities and experiences. It was fantastic to see students embracing the opportunity to explore science in fun and interactive ways.

We also celebrated Book Week, with a range of activities throughout the week and, of course, our much-loved dress-up day! It was wonderful to see students and staff getting into the spirit of the day and bringing some creativity and fun to the school.

Our VCE VM Showcase was another highlight, with our students proudly running their board games and interacting with parents, students and staff. The showcase was a fantastic opportunity for students to demonstrate their creativity, teamwork, communication and the skills they have been developing throughout their VCE VM studies. We were incredibly proud of the way they represented themselves and their programs.

R U OK? Day was also an important part of the term. Our celebrations encouraged students to check in with one another, start conversations and remember the importance of looking out for our friends, classmates and wider school community.

Finally, there has been plenty of excitement surrounding the Year 12 jackets! Students have been busy finalising their designs and taking part in try-ons, making the reality of becoming Year 12 students next year feel that little bit closer.

It has been a wonderful few weeks for our Year 11 cohort. We are proud of the way students have continued to participate, support one another and make the most of the many opportunities available to them. With Term 3 drawing to a close, we look forward to finishing the year strongly together!

Nerida Michetti, Lachlan Mallia & Conor O'Donnell

Year 12 Report

Term 3 has been another busy and important term for our Year 12 students as they continue to work towards completing their secondary schooling and preparing for life beyond Year 12.

Throughout the term, students have had the opportunity to engage with a range of universities and tertiary institutions, with weekly visits providing valuable information about courses, entry requirements, study options and future pathways. These sessions have allowed students to explore the opportunities available to them and consider what their next steps may look like.

Students have also participated in individual course counselling meetings with Mitch, Ben and Conor. These meetings have provided an opportunity to discuss each student's individual pathway, answer questions and ensure students are making informed decisions about their options beyond Year 12.

As we reach the final stages of Term 3, the focus now shifts firmly towards exam preparation. Our Trial Exams will commence in the final week of Term 3 and continue into the school holidays. These exams are an important opportunity for students to experience exam conditions, identify areas for improvement and build confidence ahead of the final VCAA examinations.

While the academic focus intensifies, there are still some exciting Year 12 celebrations to look forward to. Celebration Day on Tuesday 20 October and our Valedictory on Friday 20 November will provide students with opportunities to celebrate their achievements and reflect on their journey throughout secondary school.

As we head into the final weeks of Year 12, we encourage all students to stay focused, maintain consistent study habits and make the most of the support available to them. The finish line is getting closer, and now is the time to focus in, stay committed and finish strong.

We wish all students the very best with their upcoming Trial Exams and look forward to celebrating their achievements in the weeks ahead.

Ben Jackson

Art and Technology

Homestead Art & Tech Showcase 2026. Save the Date - Tuesday 13th October, 2026!