Principal's Message
Celebrating student excellence
This term we have celebrated student excellence in a range of forms, as you will see in this newsletter. In particular, we were delighted to have five UHS students receive a 2022 Premier's VCE Award as top students in their studies and in the state. A huge congratulations to: Jocelyn Wang (Top All-Round Achiever); Christopher Tran (Chemistry and Latin); Iden Nasibi (Persian through the Victorian School of Languages); Sophie He (Literature) and Manu Udupa (Algorithmics). Christopher also represented Australia in the recent international Maths Olympiad - see details later in this newsletter.
We also celebrated our students on stage in the wonderful 2023 School Production Little Shop of Horrors. Performed at the Clocktower Centre in Moonee Ponds, the polished and confident performances, vibrant set and costumes and lively band were a delight, and kept the audience enthralled from opening number to the final curtain. The teamwork, support of each other, leadership, creative problem-solving and collaborative learning that the cast and crew displayed were also outstanding, reflecting an experience far richer than just the performance nights.
NAPLAN 2023
Year 7 and 9 students and families will soon receive their 2023 NAPLAN results. The tests this year were held in March, which meant that results were available a little earlier than usual for students and schools. The NAPLAN in 2023 has undergone a change in reporting, with standards-referenced proficiency scales replacing the previous, statistically-determined, bands. This means that 2023 results are not comparable with past years. The new reporting methodology reflects the new, adaptive nature of the tests, meaning that students are given progressively more challenging - or easier - questions depending on their prior responses. This provides valuable and more accurate information for students and teachers as to students' capabilities in each test, which means we are better able to use the results to inform teaching and learning here at school.
Whilst state and national results are yet to be released, UHS students have once again performed strongly in the NAPLAN, exceeding all Network (local area) averages and matching or exceeding all measures for 'similar' (like-cohort) schools.
Year 7: Percentage of Students at each Proficiency level
Exceeding | Strong | Developing | Needs additional support | |
| Reading | 41% | 45% | 11% | 4% |
| Writing | 25% | 54% | 15% | 5% |
| Numeracy | 35% | 56% | 6% | 3% |
Year 9: Percentage of Students at each Proficiency level
Exceeding | Strong | Developing | Needs additional support | |
| Reading | 36% | 44% | 15% | 5% |
| Writing | 27% | 46% | 21% | 6% |
| Numeracy | 27% | 56% | 10% | 7% |
UHS Values - your chance for final feedback
After an extensive process of staff, student and family feedback, reflection and refinement, we are ready to confirm our new UHS community values. These have arisen from the direct input of our students, staff and parents/carers.
We have developed three possible combinations for our future school values. You are now invited to provide final feedback on these before they are officially launched for our community.
Please use this form to provide your feedback.
Facilities update
We are making progress on the refurbishment of Level 2 of the South Building, with these works and the new ground floor student toilets now scheduled for completion in the September holidays. The ground floor toilets will be a particularly welcomed addition, with 10 self-contained, gender-inclusive stalls, including one accessible and two ambulant spaces. The current works to repair a heritage-listed chimney on the Main Building should also be completed in the September holidays, which will put our table tennis area, two classrooms and the Performance Centre back in action.
Level 2 classroom
Level 2 lab in progress
Ground floor toilets in progress
Level 2 classroom
Level 2 lab in progress
Ground floor toilets in progress
Thank you to the families who have contributed to our Building and/or Library Funds in our recent end-of-financial-year appeal. Your contributions to the Building Fund have helped us to upgrade, rather than just replace, our damaged Level 2, and have made additions to the project such as the installation of solar panels and the toilet refurbishment possible. Meanwhile, contributions to our Library Fund mean that we are able to maintain a large collection of online, international database subscriptions and regularly update our fiction collection.
Parent Student Teacher Conferences
We look forward to seeing you on line at the upcoming Parent Student Teacher Conferences on August 23 and 24. Please check Compass Newsfeed for details and booking information.
All students are expected to attend the conferences with their parents/carers: they are an important opportunity for reflection, feedback and goal setting and it is vital to have students' voices in this process.
Ciar Foster - Principal