Principal's News

Congratulations to all our students and staff for getting through Lockdown #4. We were certainly hoping to get through a whole school term without any disruptions and to be able to focus on maintaining continuity of student learning, engagement and wellbeing.

I am pleased to report that all staff and students transitioned seamlessly into yet another period of remote learning and lockdown.  The efficiency, sense of purpose and focus on learning during this 2-week period was magnificent. I thank all our staff, both teachers and education support staff, for their wonderful work and support of our students. 

Our VCE students returned to onsite learning on Friday 4 June and immediately resumed a series of assessments. The ongoing support of the Senior Team and our teachers have ensured that VCE students have experienced little disruption to their studies, and our student leaders have been incredibly proactive in keeping the cohorts connected and positive throughout.

Similarly, our year 7-10 students returned onsite on Friday 11 June and resumed their normal routines with enthusiasm. The Junior Team has been very proactive in ensuring that students quickly reconnected to their peers and teachers. 

Our wellbeing and learning support team have been relentless in supporting all students whilst they have been dislocated from their peers and teachers during this time.

We also warmly thank all our parents, and carers for their support and cooperation during this period of increased COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria. 

As we have done throughout this pandemic, Box Hill HS has rapidly and successfully adapted to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, implementing all DET protocols and processes by reinforcing good behaviours, creating safe environments, modifying activities, and responding quickly to COVID-19 risk.   Given the size of our school and the number of people on site daily, we remain vigilant. All staff and students wear face masks, stay home when unwell, practice good hygiene and maintain physical distancing from others when practical.

We will continue to keep the community informed regarding this situation as it unfolds.

We also warmly welcome the following  new staff to Box Hill High School this term: 

  Leonie Blackwell - English/EAL/Humanities Teacher

  Bowen Guan - Mental Health Practitioner

  Jacqueline Wong - Music Teacher

  Lisa Xie - Science Teacher

  Kiran Tibb - Junior School Administrative Support Officer

  Louise Roncon - Administration Support Officer

We look forward to working with all of them in their new roles.

In further staffing news we say goodbye for now to Ms Grace De Blasio who is on maternity leave and Ms Lisa Pearson who will be commencing her maternity leave early in term 3.  We wish them all the best over this very special time.  Sadly we also bid farewell to Siegrid Fischer. Siegrid is leaving Box Hill HS to take on a leadership role at Preston High School. Siegrid has made an enormous contribution as a teacher and leader at our school for 10 years. We wish her well in this new chapter.

Impact of current restrictions on school events - update

Given the current COVID-19 situation, we are reviewing the viability of several planned events and are working towards events either being rescheduled where possible or cancelled, if an alternative arrangement cannot be made with the providers.  Below is a current status report of all upcoming planned events:

Looking forward to the next school improvement project – Toilet Upgrades 

We have taken a strategic and planned approach to ensuring that school facilities are improved and upgraded as well as providing aesthetically pleasing environments for all members of our community.  Recently, these have included new carpets, painting, new technology in classrooms as well as building projects such as the refurbishment of the old Science portables, Science prep rooms and Art rooms, in addition to a new Wellbeing space and the triple story portables. Our next major project is to upgrade the school toilets. We are currently working with the Victorian School Building Authority and consultants on the scope of this project.

Whilst some of these projects have been funded by DET, we are also very grateful for the generosity of our parents who contribute to the school’s building fund as well as the International Student Program. Through these sources, we have been able to ensure that our facilities are maintained and afford a positive environment in which our students are able to learn and grow. 

Thanks again to all parents who make this possible - your kind donations contribute greatly to the wonderful learning community we have at Box Hill HS.

Year 7 Enrolment 2022

We are currently processing applications for next year. All enrollments at Box Hill HS are confirmed based on permanent residence in the school zone.  Our GAPP testing will also take place later this year. More information is available on our website.

There is no doubt there will be more challenges ahead for us all in 2021, but our ability to adapt to change remains critical. The priority remains to support our staff and students as best as we can, to ensure that teaching, learning, wellbeing and connection to peers and the school remains paramount.

Please take care of yourselves during this period and know that we are here to support you in any way we can.