It has been a wonderful and productive week across the campus, with many highlights that reflect the strong culture of effort, support and growth we continue to build together.
Firstly, I would like to commend all of our Year 7–12 students for the fantastic job they have done during their exams this week. It has been impressive to see the focus, determination, and commitment each student has shown in striving to do their very best. The calm and purposeful atmosphere across the campus has been a credit to our students and the support provided by our staff. Well done to everyone involved.
Our Primary students are also to be congratulated for the outstanding way they are engaging in their swimming lessons each Friday. We continue to receive very positive feedback from the instructors, who regularly comment on the behaviour, enthusiasm and respect demonstrated by our students. It is pleasing to see them building confidence and developing important life skills in such a positive environment.
This week also saw our Student Leadership Team (SLT) discuss their impactful “My Pressure Story” reflections with other SLT's from across Australia. Our student leaders spoke openly and thoughtfully about the pressures they face, what causes them stress, and how they draw on their personal strengths and peer support to navigate challenges. Their honesty and maturity set a strong example for others and reinforce the importance of wellbeing and connection within our school community. We are very proud of their leadership.
I would also like to extend a sincere thank you to all volunteers who attended the recent child protection training and completed the associated quiz. Your commitment to ensuring a safe and supportive environment for our students is greatly appreciated and plays a vital role in our continued focus on student wellbeing.
Looking ahead to next week, we commence our Semester 2 curriculum in Secondary, providing a fresh opportunity for students to set goals and continue their learning journey. Please also note that Friday will be a pupil-free day, allowing staff time to finalise student reports.
Our SLT will be travelling to Melton on Wednesday to continue their important work on Campus Culture and to plan for the end-of-term event, which will also be held at Melton. We look forward to seeing the continued growth of this student-led initiative.
As we approach the end of term, preparations are underway for our final day activities at Melton. The day will include a combination of Kaboom and sport for Primary students, sport for Years 7–10, and a cook-off alongside some sport for our Year 11 and 12 students. Further details regarding timings will be shared later this week.
With only two weeks remaining until the holidays begin, I encourage everyone to keep focused and finish the term on a strong and positive note.
Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support of our campus.
Warm regards,
Christopher Sanders
Campus Principal
Over the past fortnight, my calendar has reflected what is always a busy and rewarding time across our region. With students now in the middle of their examination period, much of my work has centred on supporting campuses, connecting with staff, and continuing important planning for the future.
A significant portion of time was spent engaging in leadership collaboration at a regional and global level. This included working alongside colleagues both nationally and globally to review leadership development and strategic priorities across our schools. These sessions are critical in ensuring we continue to build strong leadership pipelines and maintain excellence across all campuses.
I also joined our Global Education Leadership Forum, connecting with a wide network of educators to share insights and align on global priorities. Opportunities like this reinforce the strength of our broader organisation and the shared commitment to student success.
Closer to home, there has been a strong focus on campus support and operational work, including staff meetings, planning discussions, and involvement in recruitment processes for Campus roles. This work reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring each campus is well supported and positioned for continued growth.
I recently had the privilege of participating in the Victoria and Tasmania Leadership Retreat in Launceston. This retreat, led by our amazing People and Culture team, provided a valuable opportunity for Leadership Team to come together, reflect on practice, strengthen alignment, and focus on the strategic direction of our schools. The shared learning from this experience will continue to positively influence our work across the region.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Hamilton Campus community, where I had the opportunity to spend several days as Acting Campus Principal. I greatly appreciated the warm welcome, professionalism, and strong sense of community I experienced during my time there.
It has also been a pleasure to visit Bairnsdale and Berwick campuses this week. At Bairnsdale, it was fantastic to see the new Learning Centre beginning to come to life, particularly with the delivery of new furniture. These developments are exciting and will provide an outstanding learning environment for students.
Across all campuses, it has been wonderful to see the multitude of activities taking place both within individual campuses and across the region, bringing our community together and reinforcing what it means to be a truly connected school.
One of the absolute highlights of my role is meeting with the student leadership teams at each campus. These students are an outstanding representation of excellence within our school. Their leadership, pride, and commitment to their peers are a credit to themselves and their communities.
Acknowledging Our Students
Importantly, I want to acknowledge that our students are currently in the midst of their exams. This is a significant time, and I commend them for their focus, organisation, and perseverance. On behalf of all staff, I wish every student the very best as they complete their assessments.
I would also like to acknowledge our primary students for their amazing work. It is always a pleasure to see their enthusiasm for learning and the strong foundations they are building each day.
Uniform Standards
I have been very impressed with the standard of uniform I’ve observed across campuses recently. Students are presenting with pride, and this contributes greatly to the positive tone of our learning environments.
At the same time, I’d like to gently remind families and students of the recent communication from Paul Maher and Harvey Seeley regarding expectations. Maintaining consistency is important, and your continued support in upholding these standards is appreciated.
Looking Ahead
While the fortnight has been busy, it has also been incredibly productive. It is also exciting to note that we have already begun planning for 2027. We look forward to welcoming new students and many, many new families into our community as we continue to grow and strengthen our schools. In the next fortnight I will be spending time in Nathalia, Swan Hill, and Bendigo.
Thank you to all staff students and families for your ongoing dedication during this important time of the term. As we approach the final stretch of this term I encourage everyone to remain focused and positive and collectively look forward to the upcoming term break.
Wishing everyone the very best
Mr. Frank Vetere
