Principal Report

Principal Update

It’s been a smooth start to Term 4.

As I walk around the school each day, I see calm, engaging classrooms filled with learning. During recess and lunch, students are enjoying themselves and making the most of our school grounds. With Community as one of our core values, it’s wonderful to see that spirit lived out every day.

Just last week, the Department of Education provided me with our annual School Performance Report. This is called the Differentiated School Performance Report and there are 4 categories as outlined below. Pleasingly, our performance group has shifted from MEDIUM in 2024 to IMPROVING in 2025. This is incredibly positive and reflects our accelerated school improvement journey.

2025

2024

Good to Great

Regarding school improvement, at a recent staff meeting, we consolidated our work on school culture by discussing high expectations and the preconditions for a GREAT school. Throughout the year, we have been communicating and working to take our school from GOOD to GREAT in every way. There is still much to do, but we are heading in the right direction.

 

Announcing our Leadership Team for 2026

Hands on Learning

Last term we started a new program called Hands on Learning. Here is more information about it.

Introduction

HoL allows secondary school students (typically year 8 & 9) to participate 1 day per week in various practical projects, which may be within the school or outside in the local community. Some examples include building basic structures, bricklaying, furniture making, painting, sculpture and landscaping.

Our current group consists of eight students from Years 8. Rhonda McMillan and James Latu are referred to as the artisan-teachers.

Students will spend an entire Wednesday in HoL, completing practical projects they will also prepare and share meals together as a group.

 

Why we are doing it

HoL was implemented to provide students with a wider choice of curriculum and to increase hands on learning within school time. We intentionally designed this program to provide an alternative to the classroom structure and normal learning style, where new skills can be learnt by doing and experiencing.

 

Valedictory & Year 12 Farewell Assembly

The Valedictory was truly a wonderful night, a huge turn out and our 51 graduates had a great time. The whole school assembly last Tuesday was also wholesome. The traditional gift exchange between our kinder learners and the graduates is heartwarming and a lovely touch special to our K-12 school.

Trivia Night

On Friday 24 October we held a Trivia Night to raise money for our Foot of the Hills café. I wish to thank so many of our parents/carers for supporting the event. It was fun!

Young Writers Award & Victoria Community Newspapers U18 Award

Congratulations to Matthew Payne, who has won both of the awards mentioned above. This is an outstanding achievement and a testament to Matthew’s high-quality contributions to the Basin and Boronia Community Newspaper (BBCN). The BBCN nominated one of Matthew’s articles for the Victorian Awards, and his piece on the inequity of school funding in Australia was selected. Matthew received his awards at a recent Middle School Assembly.

Events

Events completed so far this Term:

 

Events in the planning for 2026

 

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Sincerely,

Paul Broecker

Principal

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