Principal Report

I hope some of you had the opportunity to enjoy some of the Jazz and Blues Festival across town last weekend. We were really proud to be a premium venue for the festival. It was a wonderful chance to open our school to the community and affirm our strong commitment, expertise and love of the performing arts, especially music! There were over 600 on site on the Friday evening to hear famed Australian band The Black Sorrows. Our very own Sol Cats performed on Sunday to an almost full Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre. They were a pleasure to see and hear – a very tight and energetic performance with a great range of favourites that could have almost had the crowd dancing in their seats! Our very own Scott Solimo (Head of Performing Arts and Leading Teacher) is the long serving Festival Artistic Director and is instrumental (pun intended!) in driving the vibrancy of the festival, and music at our school.  

I will be attending the 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion Association 80th reunion this coming Saturday with some staff and Breeanna Keys, our 2023 Head Prefect and Battalion Ambassador. This is quite special because it has marked the 80th anniversary of 2/24th battalion securing a critical victory in El Alamein. We greatly value our relationship the Battalion and for their commitment to engage so meaningfully and openly with our students.  

It was wonderful to have past student Krystal De Napoli at school last week sharing her deep knowledge on Sky Country. She enthralled a large turnout with her deep knowledge of Indigenous perspectives and custom related to all that is in the night sky. Some of those that taught Krystal at the High School were in attendance to hear her speak. She is an astrophysicist, author and radio. I highly recommend her book – Sky Country. 

We took the opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge World Teachers Day last week with a whole staff morning tea and coffee cart. Hats off to our teachers and education support staff for all they do for our students and our school. The week beforehand, all staff worked with author and teacher wellbeing expert Daniella Felecki. I am really pleased that we can prioritise this important area. Daniella has been working with a small team of staff to develop a staff wellbeing strategy which guide and inform our priorities going forward. 

My best wishes to those Year 12’s who are well into their VCE exams now.  

Have a great weekend everyone,

Dave Armstrong 

Executive Principal