Reflecting on the year that was…..

2023 has been an extraordinary year for Dandenong High School. We have collectively focused on rebuilding our community after 3 years of disruption and the School Review provided us with the opportunity to examine our progress and reshape our future direction. In short, this year has been a combination of bringing back some of the traditions we “used to have” with the creation of “new ways of doing things”, that will better serve the community we have become. The arrival of many new faces among the staff and leadership team has brought fresh energy and perspective. If anything, we have become even stronger than ever and firmer in our commitment to create a learning environment where every student can achieve success.

There is no doubt that the move into the new Design Centre in Term 1 was a significant highlight for many of us. After years of planning, students and teachers finally had the opportunity to occupy this innovative space. The official opening by the Education Minister Natalie Hutchins was a genuine celebration, as it marked the completion of the refurbishment of Learning spaces, we began in 2008. Gabrielle Williams, Member for Dandenong, Area Director Ian Burrage and representatives from builders DEVCO and Kirsten Thompson Architects also attended as special guests. The presentation from our Year 11 student STEM team who represented Victoria in the Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix Challenge in Brisbane, was outstanding and inspired everyone in the audience. It is no surprise that our Design Centre was awarded both a State and National Professional Excellence in Building award and our architects were recognised as a standout entry and winner in the Victorian School Design Awards in October.

At the end of first Term, we farewelled long term member of the leadership team Katie Watmough, who was appointed as the Principal of Reservoir High School and Alan Collier retired as School Council President after over 20 years of service to our community. We have also welcomed two new House Leaders to Dandenong High School family, Charlotte Davison arrived in Hakea at the start of Term 4 and Mark Doyle from Brighton Secondary College, will join us at the beginning of next year.

Student Leadership remains strong and influential across the school. After attending a visioning camp at San Remo in Term 2, our Year 12 leaders planned and led the implementation of our Multicultural Week Celebrations. What an amazing way to end Term 3. This included lunchtime performances from the wider community, food trucks, the opportunity for students to wear their national dress and cultural displays that recognised our school’s unique diversity. We also welcomed the return of a student led Year 7 International Celebration assembly, the first in many years. Congratulations too to one of our School Captains, Rachel Borg, who has been awarded the Julian Hill Community Leadership award.

I was also fortunate to participate in the final day of the Year 11 Leadership Conference, a key element in the Student Leadership Development program. It was a privilege to work with students who had so many ideas about how they can improve our school and make a lasting impact to the community. I am very confident that the future of our school will be in safe hands and look forward to working with many of these young people next year.

Our students continue to excel in all areas of their learning. 2023 has seen an improvement in NAPLAN results with Year 9 students achieving above “Similar” and “Network” schools in measures in Reading, Writing and Numeracy. The Year 10 Design Engineering Academy students placed first in every category in the Swinburne Innovation Challenge, competing against schools across Victoria and our Hydrogen Car design team won the State final and were placed 6th in the National competition. Our Intermediate Boys’ soccer team made the State Championships and placed 4th and our U18 Boys Rugby 7’s team finished second in the state, losing a closely fought final to Fountain Gate Secondary College.

Individual students have also continued to achieve success with Banin Ahmadi in 10E winning her weight division in the Karate National Championships. Constantina Psihogios in Hakea 9 is a National Table Tennis Champion and currently training for trails for the Paris Olympics. Keely Xia and Shravani Bhosale in Year 11 achieved second place in the National Day of AI, computer design competition, competing against both public and private schools from across the country. Krithiga Murukan (H10) and Zeel Patel (C10) were granted a Kwong Lee Dow Scholarship from Melbourne University and Ronan Medancic (E10) and Zeel Patel (C10) received prestigious Skyline Foundations scholarships. Congratulations to all these students, we are incredibly proud of them.

As always, it was bittersweet occasion as we farewelled the graduating class of 2023 early in Term 4. Celebration week included a House lunch, a day at Luna Park for students and their teachers and culminated in the final assembly and morning tea. Over 200 friends and family joined staff and students across the school for the event. It was a memorable occasion, where we acknowledged each of our senior students, their individual achievement in completing their 6 years of Secondary Schooling, their courage in navigating the Covid years and their collective impact on our community. Drew Ginn, 3-time Olympic Gold Medallist for Australia, delivered an inspirational valedictory address and our two School Captains Rachel and Medina shared their memories of their time at the school.

Finally, I think it is the return of community events and celebrations, those moments where our students get a chance to shine, that I have enjoyed most this year. From the outstanding student devised production of “On Screen! On Stage!”, to the Senior Art Exhibition, Design Technology Festival, the re-introduction of our House Chorales Competition and the wonderful ceremony of our Awards Presentation at Monash University, we have once again had the opportunity to come together and recognise the extraordinary talents of many of our students.

The pandemic is well and truly behind us, and we have so much to look forward to. I am optimistic about the future and as always incredibly proud to be the Principal of Dandenong High School.

Susan Ogden

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