Wellbeing

Strong partnerships between families and the school are vital for our students' education and wellbeing. Through mutual trust and respect, we are able to create a supportive environment where every child feels connected, valued, and recognised within our community.

In the Senior School, students are divided into four Houses. When they start Year 7, they spend twenty minutes each day with their wellbeing mentor in their House groups. These mentors, introduced at the recent Year 7 Welcome Evening, along with Mr Ben Peake, the Head of Year 7, support the students’ academic, social, emotional and spiritual growth throughout the year.

As students advance from Year 7 to Year 8, they join a Wellbeing Group that includes students from Years 8 to 12 within their House. The Heads of House, along with the wellbeing mentors, oversee the wellbeing of all students and serve as the main contact for parents.

If you need to get in touch with your child’s Head of House, emails should be directed to:

- Booth – Mr Michael Vandenberg

- Leaver – Mrs Stephanie Trovato

- Reid – Mr Anthony Brown

- Trist – Mrs Fern Schreuder

Year 12 Commissioning Service

During last week’s Commissioning Assembly, we had the honour of acknowledging and celebrating the Class of 2025 as they embark on their final year of secondary schooling. At this service, the Student Leadership Team spoke of their goals for the 2025 school year and pledged their commitment to the school community. We are genuinely excited to see the impact they will have this year. Their fresh ideas and passion are sure to bring a sense of pride and collaboration across the entire Senior School.

We are here to offer support and guidance to our Year 12 students as they navigate this important chapter in their academic journey, and we look forward to sharing with them the opportunity to make lasting memories.

Staff vs Student Debate

On 17 February, the Staff vs Student Debate took place, marking an exciting and highly anticipated event, serving as an excellent kick-off to the debating season. This annual event, where staff members face off against students, highlighted the depth of talent within the school, fostering an environment of lighthearted exchange. The staff debated as the affirmative team on the topic ‘standardised tests are an accurate measure of a student’s ability’ and came away with the win by the narrowest of margins. The lively atmosphere and thought-provoking arguments presented by both sides sparked interest, particularly among students who had not yet participated in debates.

Following the event, many students expressed a desire to participate in House Debating and future competitions, eager to apply the public speaking skills and strategies demonstrated during the Staff vs Student Debate. The event not only showcased the power of rhetoric humour and teamwork but also highlighted the importance of critical thinking and communication between peers.

The success of the debate has set a high standard for the senior teams preparing for their upcoming matches in Week 5, and its impact will undoubtedly resonate throughout the season, ensuring a competitive and fun atmosphere in all our future debates.

Anushka A  

Debating & Communications Captain

Hands-on History

This week, our Year 7 students became Junior Archaeologists in our History lessons. Channelling their inner ‘Indiana Jones,’ students worked in small groups to uncover the secrets of the ancient civilization of ‘Gibsonia,’ by carefully studying ‘rare artefacts’ lost to time. Students used brushes to carefully clean and inspect the objects, then catalogued them for further analysis.

By using hands-on approaches, students have the opportunity to engage in a more immersive style of learning about the past.

Miss Gibson

Year 7 History Teacher

VCE Assessment & Attendance

It is important to note that all VCE Units involve at least 50 hours of scheduled classroom instruction. A student needs to demonstrate sufficient class attendance to fulfil the time and work requirements of the unit. The school sets minimum class time and attendance rules; students must attend a minimum of 90% of classes in each unit to establish that they have understood the work and that the work is their own.

Approved absences include:
- illness verified with a medical certificate
- attendance at a school approved activity
- bereavement
- significant religious reasons

VCE students have been provided an assessment schedule for School Assessed Coursework and Tasks (SAC/SAT). Assessment tasks are generally conducted during timetabled classes. Where there are multiple classes undertaking the same assessment task, these are scheduled outside of school hours, generally on a Monday and/or Thursday afternoon and students are notified in advance of these times.
An extension of time is granted to an individual student only in special circumstances to address an adverse event such as serious illness, medical reasons, a family bereavement or a traumatic event. Strict criteria must be met to qualify. Any extension must be approved by the Head of Senior School.

Kate Morgan 

Head of Senior School