Principal Report
As Term 1 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of our students, staff, and families. It has been a productive and engaging term, filled with rich learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom. From academic achievements to extracurricular events, our school community has embraced every opportunity for growth and connection.
Celebrating Our School Values
Throughout Term 1, we have had a sustained focus on embedding our new school values—Community, Aspiration, Respect, and Excellence—into our daily conversations and activities. The updated Positive Behaviour Expectations (PBE) matrix and explicit teaching of behaviour expectations in mentor classes have helped reinforce these principles. This commitment to a safe and productive learning environment will continue in Term 2.
Highlights from Term 1
It has been wonderful to see students engaging in a wide variety of enriching activities that foster connections across year levels. Some key events this term included:
- Whole School Swimming & Athletics Carnivals
- Junior & Secondary School District Swimming
- Year 7 Camp to Healesville
- Interschool Sports (Volleyball & more)
- KIOSC Excursions for Years 6, 7 & 12
- Grand Prix Careers Event
- Junior Choir Performances
- Boronia RSL Mural Project
- Clean Up Australia Day
- Victorian High-Ability Program
- Grade 5 Discovery Days
- Teddy Bears Picnic
- Year 6 Surfing Excursion
- Dental Van Visit
- NAPLAN Testing
- School Photos
- Open Night
Open Night & Discovery Days
Our Open Night on March 25th was a great success, providing prospective families with a glimpse into our dynamic learning environment and co-curricular programs. It was a fantastic evening with students and staff coming together to showcase not only our wonderful facilities but more importantly the learning and co-curricular programs across Boronia K-12 College. The event was extremely well attended and included an opportunity for families to also tour our junior school facilities and classrooms. It was fabulous to see so many parents and students engaging with our staff and exploring the school.
Over the last month we have also welcomed Year 5 students from local primary schools for a series of Discovery Days. They had the opportunity to explore typical Year 7 subjects including Food Studies, Art, Robotics, Music, Materials Technology, PE, Humanities, Maths and Science. These experiences sparked much excitement and curiosity as did the opportunity to sample canteen snacks and have fun on our 5-8 playground and multi-purpose courts. We look forward to hosting Year 4 students later this year.
Student Progress and Parent Communication
End of Term 1 Progress Reports have been released, providing insights into student work habits and academic progress. These reports can be accessed via Compass under the Student Profile page – View Academic Reports. Please ensure you scroll down to the Progress Reports section as opposed to Reports – Reporting cycle which houses the Semester Reports only. We encourage parents to reach out to teachers with any questions or concerns. Our staff are always happy to discuss student learning and provide guidance.
NAPLAN Success
Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 have now completed The National Assessment Programme. Tests were undertaken in Reading, Writing, Conventions of Language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. We anticipate results will be forwarded to schools and then onto families during the latter half of Term 2. I am pleased to report that NAPLAN ran smoothly and efficiently. We commend our students for their focus and effort during these assessments. NAPLAN serves as a vital tool in evaluating our students’ literacy and numeracy skills, providing valuable insights into their progress and informing our teaching practices. Our well-organised implementation of NAPLAN ensures that students have the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, enabling us to assess their strengths and identify areas for improvement effectively. We are committed to providing the necessary support to ensure that every student reaches their full potential. I would like to acknowledge Mrs Baensch, Mr Collins and Ms Wright for their work in ensuring that NAPLAN ran seamlessly.
Emergency Evacuation Drill
On April 1st, we conducted a Partial Emergency Evacuation Drill to ensure students and staff are prepared in the event of a real-life evacuation. Students from the Early Learning Centre and E building (years 7, 8 and 9) were safely escorted along a designated evacuation route to our predetermined evacuation site (at the school oval). Students followed instructions well, and the drill ran smoothly. Safety remains a top priority at Boronia K-12 College.
Introducing Our New House Mascots!
After an incredible House Mascot competition featuring 23 student submissions, we are thrilled to unveil our brand-new House Mascots! Congratulations to our winner, Elliot H., whose design showcased local native birds. With Elliot’s permission, we collaborated with BVN Creative to bring these images to life as mascots. A huge thank you to all the students who participated and voted—your creativity and enthusiasm made this competition a tremendous success!
Preparing for Term 2
- Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held after school hours in Term 2. Booking details will be shared in Week 1.
- Thank you to students and families for your support of the college in ensuring students have been arriving at school on time, in full school uniform and ready to learn. It is important that this continues in Term 2. As the colder months approach, please ensure students have appropriate winter uniform items. Families can still use the $400 School Saver Bonus for uniform purchases from Spartan School World. If you need support, please reach out to the College.
- We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday, April 22nd for the start of Term 2. Please note that Monday, April 21st and Friday April 25th (ANZAC Day) are public holidays.
A Special Congratulations
We are excited to share that three of our staff members welcomed new additions to their families in Term 1. Congratulations to Mr. Keighley, Mr. Howells, and Mr. Broecker on the arrival of Beau, Walter, and Sofia.
On behalf of the principal team I sincerely hope that all members of our school community enjoy a safe and restful holiday period and make the very most of the opportunity to connect with family and friends. I look forward to continuing my role as Acting Principal for the start of Term 2 whilst our College Principal, Mr Paul Broecker, continues his family leave.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Middleton
Acting Principal
