Ballarat High School Newsletter

Welcome to 2022

Welcome to the 2022 School Year

 

I would like to welcome our school community to the 2022 school year.  To our new students and families,  welcome to Ballarat High School. 

 

Once again as a school we will need to manage COVID as per the Department of Education (DET) operational guidelines.  This will be an ongoing task and let’s hope we can all be at school.  During summer over 70 air purifiers arrived and have been placed strategically across the school.

 

We have several new staff joining us this year:

  • Tim Davey: Assistant Principal Years 9-10 / Food Technology
  • Jehan Katrak: Youth Counsellor
  • Georgia Leorke: Mental Health Practitioner
  • Sofia Aleem: Leading Teacher Inclusion / Maths / English
  • Martin King: Returning Instrumental Music
  • Kristy Trahair-Merrett: PSD support
  • Dhanushiya Arumugam: PSD support
  • James Petrie: Returning HAPE
  • Jane Douglass: Returning HAPE
  • Aaron Bonell Huy: Maths Tutoring
  • Hannah Wemyss-Sanderson: Maths / Science
  • Kara Smith: Psychology
  • Ben Hunt: IT / Maths
  • Kerrie Hammond: English / Humanities
  • David Vatousios: English / Humanities
  • Charlotte Ross-Harris: Returning LOTE German
  • Rachael Thompson: English / Humanities
  • Ann Ramzan: English / Humanities

We wish all new staff the best and look forward to the contribution they make at BHS.

 

I would also like to congratulate our Student Leaders for 2022 and we look forward to working with them.

 

School Captains: 

Ella Hutchinson & Alannah Hebbard

 

Deputy Captains: 

Jerrica Elsa John & Jasper Meehan

 

Vice Captains

Isabelle Kimber, Lucy Ludbrook, Lilly Hancock, Jamila Jones, Chloe Canfield, Carly Rozitis, Lauren Dudley and Lilly Pennell

 

Last year we undertook a school Executive Leadership review, resulting in the restructuring of portfolios.  These roles also align with DET’s framework for improving student outcomes.

 

Shane Mathison: Assistant Principal Years 7 & 8 and Wellbeing

 

Tim Davey: Assistant Principal Years 9 & 10 and Wellbeing

 

Sharon Eppingstall: Assistant Principal Years 11 & 12 and Learning

 

Michele Kennedy: Assistant Principal School Operations and Learning

 

Lesley Thorpe: Business Manager

 

Gary Palmer: Principal

 

 

Capital Works

 

Over the summer break our capital works project continued.  It is pleasing to inform our community that the JJ Sheehan Building ground floor has reopened.  This is our Resource Centre, housing the Library, Technical Support Centre and Wellbeing Hub.

 

We have almost handed over the Administration Building for a refurbishment, inside and out, with the aim to take possession back in early Term 3.  After that, work on the gym changerooms and  courtyard development will commence.

 

We are also in discussion with the Victorian Schools Building Authority (VSBA) on the removal of the old science building and the redevelopment of this area.

 

Thanks to local architects Morton Dunn, and local building company AW Nicholson for the work completed so far.  They will continue to work with us this year on these next stages.

 

 

School Review

 

During Term 4 2021 as a school community, we completed a school self-evaluation of our last 4 years.  This term under the leadership of an external reviewer, we will complete the school review.  By the end of Term 1 we will have a new 4 year strategic plan.  This plan will have a balanced learning and wellbeing focus.

 

 

I look forward to a positive and successful school year with our school community.

 

Gary Palmer

Principal