Principal Report

Principal Update

Dear Parents/Carers, Students and Families,

This year we launched our new college values, motto and four-year Strategic Plan for school improvement. As we reach the end of 2025, it is clear that this has been an incredibly successful year for Boronia K–12 College.

In relation to our 12-monthly goals and targets, we have collectively achieved a great deal. We successfully introduced a new Instructional Model aimed at building consistency in teaching and learning across classrooms. We also entered our second year of Positive Behaviour Expectations, and we are seeing strong signs of success, with students being regularly recognised for positive behaviours, embracing higher expectations and striving to do their best.

Our NAPLAN measures indicate that every achievement target across the five tests was met this year, aside from a small dip in Year 5 and Year 7 writing. We also saw significant growth in Reading and Numeracy, particularly at Year 3. In addition, the Department of Education has rated our school as IMPROVING in both of the main categories: student learning and wellbeing. This is a significant achievement, as movement between categories is difficult due to the many data sets used to determine this rating.

In 2026, our objective is to consolidate and strengthen the work of this year, with some targeted refinements. These will include broadening our focus from Writing to Literacy, with specific strategies for years F–2, 3–6, 7–9 and 10–12. We will also continue our work implementing the Rights, Responsibilities and Respectful Relationships curriculum, including a strong focus on addressing bullying.

Student Leadership Team (Secondary) 2026

After a thorough selection process, I am pleased to announce our secondary captains for 2026:

Junior School Captains

Departing Staff

As we approach the end of the year, we farewell valued staff members who have made significant contributions to our community:

Kathryn Middleton – Retirement
After eight years as Assistant Principal, Kath has made the decision to retire. Kath has been a central figure in our school and has made an enormous impact on both staff and students. Thank you, Kath, for your outstanding service.

Wayne Judge – Retirement
After four years as Director of Senior School, Wayne will also be retiring. His leadership, deep knowledge and commitment to senior pathways have been invaluable.

I express my thanks to these staff for their service to our community and wish them all the best:

Alexander Hand – Secondary English Teacher (moving closer to home)
Joel Collins – Teacher (moving closer to home)
Fiona Bennett – Teacher and Careers Practitioner (12 months leave; Meaghan McLeod will assume Careers & Pathways)
Mikayla Clark – Chaplain
Alec Gifford – Learning Support Officer
Jennifer Hutton – Learning Support Officer
Olivia Johnson – Learning Support Officer
Caitlin O’Connor – Learning Support Officer

New Staff

We warmly welcome:

Going from Good to Great

This year we accelerated our improvement journey, with the clear goal of moving from a good school to a great school in every aspect. The key ingredients include:

Embracing Higher Expectations

Our shared expectations are essential to creating a positive and productive learning environment. As a community, we must continue to challenge ourselves to ‘raise the bar’ and support every student to achieve their personal best.

School Attendance

Every day of school matters. Strong attendance supports learning, wellbeing and future opportunity. Evidence shows that frequent absence can significantly reduce a young person’s long-term prospects. Thank you for your continued support in ensuring regular school attendance.

Uniform and Learning Resources

We maintain high expectations regarding correct uniform and being prepared for learning each day. The summer break is an opportunity to reflect and prepare for the new year ahead. Ensuring uniforms and learning resources are organised is an important part of this process. We are always here to support families where needed.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

It is with great excitement that, from next year, we will introduce the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program at Boronia K–12 College.

This year, we enhanced our existing garden spaces by adding additional garden beds, including Indigenous bush tucker plants, fruit trees and a greenhouse. In Term 1, 2026, a new chicken coop will also be installed. We are deeply grateful to Boronia Rotary for their generous $2,000 donation, which contributed to these developments and to the purchase of new gardening tools. We are also pleased to be part of the Growing Together School Garden Network, facilitated by EACH.

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation is an Australian not-for-profit organisation founded in 2004 by Stephanie Alexander AO. For over 20 years, the Foundation has delivered fun, hands-on and inclusive food education to support the health and wellbeing of children and young people across Australia.

Becoming an endorsed school will give us access to a rich range of curriculum resources and professional learning, adding further depth and rigour to our teaching and learning programs. The Kitchen Garden will complement our newly announced Youth Skills Shed, and link closely with our two modern kitchens and the student-led café, Foot of the Hills.

Our vision is to connect these facilities to enrich our curriculum and provide students with meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities. Students will explore harvesting food, ecology and sustainability, strengthening real-world application across learning areas.

Youth Skills Shed Program

Next year we will also establish a Youth Skills Shed Program.

Ray Siegersma, from the Boronia Rotary Club, was recently recognised as the 2025 Westfield Local Hero Award winner. We sincerely thank our community for supporting Ray through their votes. As Chair of the Rotary Youth Committee, Ray is deeply committed to providing hands-on learning opportunities for young people. He previously established a Youth Skills Shed at Boronia Heights Primary School and, through our growing partnership with Rotary, he and his team have generously committed a substantial portion of this award to support a Skills Shed at our school.

Our vision is to transform the existing shed near the junior school car park and staffroom into a fully equipped workshop, complete with tools and a kitchenette. This space will be used by both primary and secondary students, and is expected to be integrated into our primary (Years 3–6) specialist and secondary (Years 7–10) elective programs.

From Semester 2 next year, the Skills Shed will also operate one evening per week for a small group of approximately eight selected students from Years 5–8. Under the guidance of tradespeople and the supervision of a teacher, students will develop practical skills and valuable life experience.

The Skills Shed will be a fantastic addition to our school. It will complement — not replace — the rigour of our academic program, while opening up exciting and engaging pathways for our students.

Strategic Plan 2025 – 2028

We have two overarching goals in our 4-year Strategic Plan and each year we focus on specific Key Improvement Strategies (KIS). In 2026, we are focusing on the highlighted KIS.

Goal 1: Improve the learning growth and achievement of every student
1.a Embed consistent, high-quality teaching across the college
1.b Strengthen leadership and collaborative practice through PLCs
1.c Improve use of data to differentiate and engage students

Goal 2: Maximise the engagement and wellbeing of every student
2.a Strengthen our capacity to meet diverse learning and wellbeing needs
2.b Empower student voice and agency
2.c Strengthen family and community partnerships
2.d Improve transitions and pathways

SUPPORTING POSITIVE BEHAVIOURS IN SCHOOLS

The Department of Education has released a statement for supporting positive student behaviours in schools. It describes the roles of students, parents/carers and schools in meeting shared behaviour expectations. It also contains resources and supports for parents/carers.

Respectful, safe, engaged: shared expectations to support student behaviour:

More information can be found here: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/behaviour-students/resources#statement-for-supporting-positive-student-behaviours-in-schools

Curriculum Days 2026

Term 1 – Tuesday 24 March
Term 2 – Wednesday 17 June
Term 3 – Friday 7 August
Term 4 – Monday 23 November

Key Dates for 2026

Thank you once again for your continued support and partnership. Together, let us continue to champion Boronia K–12 College in the wider community.

I wish everyone a safe, restful and happy holiday. The Christmas and January break is a vital time to spend with loved ones. As I reminded students at our final assembly, please look after yourselves and your families, stay safe, and I look forward to seeing you refreshed and ready for 2026.

Sincerely,

Paul Broecker

Principal

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