Principal's Report

‘Excellence: Challenging yourself to achieve your best’.

Exams, Assessment Week, Reports

SAC’s, CAT’s, GAT and Exams!  It has been a busy assessment time at the College over the previous few weeks. 

Students have demonstrated focus, preparation and commitment to their learning as they faced a range of assessments across their subjects. Whilst these summative assessment methods are not the only measures of academic achievement and growth for students, they are an opportunity for students to showcase the knowledge and skills that they have learnt in their classes. We believe that this experience has not only tested their academic abilities but also equipped them with valuable skills such as time management, critical thinking and problem-solving.  We encourage our students to reflect on their efforts and embrace continuous growth and improvement. Congratulations to all the students for their commitment to their studies and we look forward to sharing their results in the coming weeks. We would also like to extend our gratitude to our dedicated teachers who provided guidance and support throughout the assessment weeks, helping our students perform at their best.

Our end of semester reports will be released to families via Compass on Friday 23 June. We encourage parents/caregivers to take the time to discuss their children’s achievements with them and discuss possible areas for future growth. Thanks to all staff for their commitment to getting these reports together in what has been a short and busy term. If you have any questions about your child’s reports, please contact our Teaching and Learning Leader, Bryce Denny.  

Save the date! Curriculum Information Evening

Our Middle and Senior School Curriculum Information Evening will be held on Wednesday 19 July. This is an opportunity for students and families to learn about the subject selection process for 2024 and to ask questions about the various subjects on offer. Further information will be released to students and families early in Term 3. 

National Reconciliation Week 

The theme for National Reconciliation this year was Be a Voice for Generations. This theme encouraged all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise. This important week provided us with a meaningful opportunity to reflect and engage in conversations about reconciliation and to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements. Throughout the week, students engaged in a range of activities to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. Whilst there were many amazing activities and events (see our Facebook page for some of these) a particular personal highlight was the indigenous menu at our Valleydale Café. I was extremely impressed by the level of thought and consideration that went into this menu as it allowed our community to share in the experience of National Reconciliation Week with all five senses – touch, hearing, seeing, smelling and taste. National Reconciliation Week has continued to build upon the strong First Nations approach our College already undertakes on a daily basis. Thanks to Tanna Hardinge (First Nations Advocate) for her organisation of this week and her ongoing mentorship and leadership of First Nations at Lilydale Heights College.

Sustainability 

We recently completed our Sustainability Week which brought together our entire school community in a shared commitment towards a sustainable future. Throughout the week, our students actively engaged in a variety of activities and initiatives aimed at promoting environmental consciousness and sustainable practices. From classroom discussions and activities to engaging lunchtime events, our students were involved in learning more about sustainability and preserving our planet. 

Our Sustainability Team recently attended the MCG as finalists for the ResourceSmart Schools Awards 2023. It is with great pride and excitement that we share with our community that Lilydale Heights College has been honoured with the Curriculum Leadership School of the Year Award (Secondary). This remarkable achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire school community, including our incredible students, passionate teachers and supportive staff. We are immensely proud to be recognised for our commitment to sustainable education. This award not only reflects our innovative curriculum but also highlights our collective efforts to create a greener, more sustainable future. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this success, in particular, Shannon Sargeant, Lauren Cuzens and the Sustainability Team for their amazing leadership of sustainability across our community. We look forward to continuing our journey of excellence in sustainability education.

Mid-Year Showcase

On Monday 29 May we held our Mid-Year Showcase where our students took to the stage with confidence to showcase their musical talent. We were treated to a range of ensembles and bands that demonstrated the learning and skills our music students have achieved over the previous semester. It was amazing to watch some of these students who have only started learning their instruments at the beginning of this year. This dedication and commitment displayed by our students was remarkable and a testament to their hard work, perseverance, and the guidance of our exceptional music teachers. It was also wonderful to see the growth in the skills of those students who have been learning their instruments for a number of years. Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Mid-Year Showcase. We are immensely proud of your achievements. Special thanks to all our music staff for their support of our students and to Dimitri Willenberg for his leadership of the Music Program. 

Hands on Learning

We recently hosted a group of artisan-teachers and school leadership staff from other Hands on Learning (HoL) schools from around the country.  Each year, the HoL Program hosts a conference and arranges a bus tour for delegates to visit a small number of outstanding HoL schools that are selected as ‘host schools’, due to their demonstration of exceptionally high standards of the HoL Program methodology.  The HoL Program asked to attend our College, stating that ‘The inclusion of Lilydale Heights College in the 2023 HoL Conference bus tour is testament to the early success of the program and the students’ hard work. Thank you for allowing us to feature the Lilydale Heights College precinct…. The Hands on Learning Program methodology includes the Shape of the Day, Reflective Practice and adhering to the ‘Four Pillars’. One of the Four Pillars, ‘People to Belong to’ emphasises the importance of human connection and the benefits that friendship and belonging have on a young person’s confidence, sense of self and connection to school.  It is clear that this pillar is exemplified at Lilydale Heights College.’ We are extremely proud of our Hands on Learning Program and grateful to be able to showcase how the HoL Program is run at Lilydale Heights College. 

End of Term/Start of Term 3

As we come to the end of this term, I would like to share with our community some key dates for the end of Term 2 and the beginning of Term 3. 

The final day for Term 2 is Friday 23 June. There will be an early finish on this day with students being dismissed at 2.30pm. 

Monday 10 July will be a Student Free Day.  On this day, all staff will be involved in their final day of professional learning for the Berry Street Education Model. 

Tuesday 11 July – Will be the first day of school for students for Term 3. 

I would like to thank our entire College community for a successful Term 2. I wish everyone a relaxing holiday break and encourage you to take some time to connect with family and friends and enjoy those activities that you love. Please stay warm and I look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and reenergised for Term 3.  

Take care. 

Shane Kruger

Principal.