Principal's Report

Welcome to 2026

Our theme for 2026 is ‘ambition’ - we want our students to aim higher for themselves, for their own learning and wellbeing. Back in Week 2 we held assemblies, encouraging students to 'lock in' on some actions they can take this year, to be ambitious for themselves. Based on the advocacy of the 2026 School Captains Astrid, Evie, Lucas and Sophie, we have designated AG.05 as a Year 12 Quiet Study Space (in addition to the Library which remains available for study). To support student interests, we have set up new clubs in soccer, drama and cybersafety.

VCE High Achievers Assembly

We are so proud of our most recent graduates, the Class of 2025! We were exciting to bring our highest achieving students back on Friday 27 February for our inaugural VCE High Achievers Assembly at the Coburg Town Hall. It was wonderful to have parents along to celebrate the growth and success of their young people. Students also heard from 2025 Valedictorian Sally Scruby, VCE VM Dux Alistair Madafferi and Class of 2020 High Achiever Jeremy Cameron.

Gallery Image — Sally (Valedictorian), Celia (Dux) & Brent

Sally (Valedictorian), Celia (Dux) & Brent

Brent, Celia (Dux) & Sally (Valedictorian)

Valedictorian Sally speaking to the assembly

Lydia Burns (Vocational Leader), Alistair (Dux of VM) & Brent

High Achievers receiving their gifts (& proud parents taking photos!)

Class of 2020 High Achiever Jeremy Cameron addresses the assembly

Brent, Lis (1963 Head Prefect), Sophie, Astrid, Evie & Lucas (2026 School Captains), Tom (1956 Head Prefect) & Nat (Student Leadership Coordinator)

Brent, Lis (1963 Head Prefect), Sophie, Astrid, Evie & Lucas (2026 School Captains), Tom (1956 Head Prefect)

Year 11 Student Voice Councillors Nameera, Noah, Bonnie & Alexei & Nat (Student Leadership Coordinator)

Year 11 Student Voice Councillors Nameera, Noah, Bonnie & Alexei

House Captains Bilge, Camille, Lyric, Aliyah & Noah

Tom's Head Prefect Investiture at the Coburg Town Hall in 1956

Please see below my speech from this event. It was most special being able to have 1956 and 1963 Head Prefects Tom and Lis on hand to present badges to our school captains, 70 & 63 years after their own ceremonies at the Town Hall!

Good morning everyone,

Today is a significant moment in the life of our Coburg High School. This is our first ever VCE High Achievement Assembly — a tradition we begin today. Today is about our 2026 theme of ambition, and recognising those students that set an example of what is possible when we aim high and work hard.

I’d like to acknowledge a couple of special guests we have here on the stage with me. Lis Grove was Head Prefect – what we would now call School Captain – in 1963. And up on the screen now you can see the Head Prefect Investiture Ceremony for 1956 – and Tom Anderson is the tall kid there. It’s an absolute pleasure for us to have Lis and Tom both here, 63 and 70 years respectively since they were School Captains, to present our 2026 captains with their badges.

I would like to also welcome all of our parents that are attending on this very proud day. I’d especially like to thank some of those parents that have made a very big contribution to our school – Mayor Nat Abboud – former School Council President, Haydn Burns and Karen Turner – former School Council members – and a number of other parents that have played an active role in our schools in the Parents and Carers Association or at our regular working bees across the years. It is no accident that those families that have been actively involved in our school have raised some of the young people we will welcome up on stage today.

The reason why we are here though is to welcome back members of the Class of 2026 who achieved an ATAR of 90 or above. That represents sustained effort, resilience when things became uncomfortable, and the discipline to keep going when it would have been easier not to.

An ATAR of 90+ is not about being “naturally smart.” It is about habits. It is about showing up. It is about choosing long-term goals over short-term discomfort — repeatedly.

We’re also really proud to have Alistair, our Dux of VM present, to represent students who have achieved their VCE in this great pathway as well.

As I mentioned before, None of these students did this alone -it takes a Community. Behind every strong result is a network — families who made sacrifices, teachers who gave feedback and extra time, friends who studied alongside them, classmates who lifted the standard in the room.

You’ve also demonstrated

- Excellence — not perfection, but a commitment to doing your best, consistently

- Integrity — doing the work honestly, even when no one was watching.

- Curiosity — loving learning – as exemplified by this quote from The Age from our Dux Celia in December last year:

“Once I start talking about biology, I won’t stop. I want to be in a learning environment where other people also want to talk about biology. They’re just interested and want to be there,”

To our current Year 10, 11 and 12 students: look carefully at these graduates. They had the same pressures, the same SACs, the same moments of doubt. The difference was not that they never struggled. The difference was that they responded to struggle with action — and stayed connected to the people supporting them.

Today we present a small gift — symbolic of our pride and appreciation. The real reward is the capability these students have built and the example they now set.

To the Class of 2025 — thank you for returning and for setting a benchmark.

And to everyone here: raise your standard, work hard, and never forget to value the people who walk the journey with you.

Thank you.

Welcome to Country

It was great to have Uncle Colin Hunter Jr. visit earlier this term to perform a Welcome to Country for our Year 7 and First Nations students. Unfortunately it was a Total Fire Ban day so we couldn't undertake a smoking ceremony. It was great for our students to be able to ask questions of Uncle Colin as part of the event.

Top Arts

Congratulations to Frankie-Belle Taylor, who has been selected as part of Top Arts 2026, a fantastic achievement. See a full report later in this newsletter.

Year 7 Meet the Teachers

We welcomed new Year 7 families to the school on Tuesday 3 February for the annual meet the teachers event. We changed the event this year so that families met each other in Coburg Connect groups, before the traditional BBQ, and this worked well. It was great to have our Parents' and Carers' Association present too to introduce themselves to new parents.

Improved punctuality leading to increased learning time

Over the past 18 months we have had a sustained focus on reducing lateness to school.

Comparing the first five weeks of 2025 and 2026, we’ve seen a significant improvement in morning punctuality, with a 23% reduction in lateness.

Arriving on time is critical. The opening minutes of each lesson set expectations and introduce key learning. Even 10 minutes late each day adds up to more than a week of lost learning across the year.

Thank you to families for supporting strong morning routines. Let’s maintain the momentum!

Oval

We are pleased that our school oval is now back for students to use, with now two sets of soccer goals available, as well as our AFL goal posts.

We thank Merri-bek Council for undertaking these works for the school. Having an upgraded school oval will mean we can support the McDonald Reserve planned Hockey pitch development and the displacement of soccer training for local clubs. Light towers on the school site are next on the agenda.

Alva Grove / Urquhart Street works

Thanks for everyone's patience as these works have been underway. The section out the front of the school, excepting the pedestrian crossing, is complete. The path on the southern side of Urquhart St is taking shape. Even though Urquhart Street is now back open to vehicles, we would encourage parents to avoid the area as much as possible as works continue.

Work Experience

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are currently seeking work experience placements for our Year 10 students, taking place from Monday, 15th June to Friday, 19th June 2026.

If you, or your employer, may be able to offer a student a placement during this week, we would be extremely grateful to hear from you. Work experience provides students with a valuable opportunity to develop workplace skills, gain insight into different career paths, and build confidence in a professional environment.

If you are willing to support us or would like further information about what is involved, please email christina.scholzhorn@coburg.vic.edu.au and mietta.robertson@coburg.vic.edu.au .

Thank you,

Year 10 Student Support Team

Brent Houghton

Principal