Rochester Secondary College Newsletter Logo
Rochester Secondary College Newsletter
Banner Photo

Principal Report

Welcome to the 2026 school year at Rochester Secondary College.

It has been terrific to see students back on site and our school community coming together for the start of another year of learning, growth and achievement. With enrolments continuing to increase, we are now at approximately 400 students. This is a strong reflection of the confidence families have in our school and the strength of our local community.

 

That confidence is reflected in the outcomes our students achieve. We are proud of our 2025 Year 12 cohort, with positive results and strong outcomes across a range of pathways. Students secured their preferred next steps including university, apprenticeships, traineeships and employment. This reflects the support we provide to students and families, and our commitment to helping every young person succeed.

 

A special welcome to our 85 new Year 7 students, the Class of 2031. We are excited to support you over your secondary school journey as you learn, grow and achieve at Rochy. We also warmly welcome any new students and families joining us across other year levels. We hope you settle in quickly and feel part of our school.

 

With enrolments continuing to grow, we have been able to strengthen our staffing profile to ensure students are supported. We are pleased to be fully staffed to begin the year and have welcomed several new staff members to the College in 2026:

  • Andrew Cassin
  • Emma Rigney
  • Deanna Jerman
  • Philly Brill
  • Penny Bradshaw

 

We are excited about the experience, energy and skills they bring, and the positive impact they will have for our students and community

 

This year we tried something different and introduced Student Learning Meetings to begin the year. Thank you to parents and carers for attending across the first two days of Term 1. With such a strong turnout and positive feedback from families, it has been a successful start of year initiative. These meetings help set every student up for a strong start by building relationships with families, confirming key information, and setting clear goals through each student’s Student Learning Plan in Compass. We are also open to further feedback so we can continue to improve this process for families and students.

School focus for 2026

This year we are committing to a clear, shared mantra across the school:

High Expectations, No Excuses: Every Student. Every Staff Member. Every Class. Every Day.

 

This is about building a culture of high expectations, strong relationships, and consistent follow-through, where learning is prioritised and every student is supported to succeed.

Our focus this year is clear and aligned across the school. We will be working together to:

  • Review and strengthen our instructional model and curriculum documentation
  • Strengthen staff collaboration and professional development
  • Maintain a consistent approach to teaching, behaviour and wellbeing so every student can learn, every day

 

To support this, we hope you will see a strong emphasis on:

  • Clear routines and consistent follow-through
  • Calm, predictable classrooms
  • Strengthening teaching practice through shared learning
  • Strong student relationships through Rochy GROW
  • Clear communication with families
  • Teamwork and collaboration across the school

Introducing Rochy GROW

In 2026 we are introducing Rochy GROW. Rochy GROW is a dedicated class for every student on Tuesdays where we build belonging, check in on wellbeing, set learning goals, and teach the habits students need to succeed across the week.

Student voice will be a key feature of this program through the introduction of semester-long Clubs for Years 7–10 students and pathway programs for our senior students. 

 

Rochy GROW will also include programs and partnerships that strengthen connection, wellbeing and aspiration, including:

  • Whole school, Sub School and Year Level Assemblies
  • The Resilience Project (wellbeing lessons)
  • Careers and pathway planning
  • Clubs (Years 7–10)
  • Peer Support (Year 7 and 11)
  • Study Skills

  • La Trobe University partnership (Year 12)

     

Rochester Secondary College is proud to be part of a strong and supportive community. Thank you to our families, local organisations and partners for the trust you place in our school and for the way you back our young people. We remain committed to being the school of choice by providing quality public education for our local students. If we work together and stay focused on our shared mantra, 2026 will be a positive and successful year for students, staff and families.

 

I’m looking forward to a great year ahead

 

Matt Koutroubas

Principal