Dear Williamstown High School families,
Welcome to this month’s edition of the W-Files. Students have been busily participating in a range of events both in and outside of school, some of which included: debating; 2026 subject selection and course counselling; homework/alumni tutoring sessions; sporting competitions; Maths, LOTE and NAIDOC weeks; the Australian Mathematics Competition; and a number of musical events including the VET organised WarChild charity concert.
One such event was our major whole school production, which we hold every other year in our amazing Centenary Theatre. This year the production was ‘A Chorus Line’. After some 12 months of planning, auditions and rehearsals, show time finally arrived - and no one was left disappointed. Audiences were entertained and thoroughly impressed at the quality of the performances as well as the professionalism of the stage crew.
It was clear our production students were having a great time and enjoying the rewards of all their hard work, seeing the proud faces of their families, friends and teachers. Dean Commons and his team of staff were particularly glowing with pride. On behalf of the WHS community, I would like to formally acknowledge and congratulate the students on their effort and outstanding performances, and also thank Dean and his team for their hard work, commitment as well as their high expectations of this wonderful event.
Our VCE-VM students also organised and delivered a staff lunch recently that was both greatly appreciated by staff and had our senior VCE-VM students beaming with pride.
We want our students to grow and excel in all areas, and this underpins our drive and purpose to provide students with a broad range of extracurricular activities. We have utmost confidence that this holistic approach will develop the most well-rounded students and help bring out their best.
Curriculum Day
At our most recent Curriculum Day the focus was on the new Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0). Staff spent the day unpacking the revised expectations and engaged in learning activities throughout the day. Sessions were conducted on explicit teaching and creating environments and routines that enable learning. In the afternoon session, staff worked in their curriculum teams to create resources aligned to these areas to enhance learning experiences for our students.
The day was underpinned by research focused on the science of learning and staff left feeling quite excited about the positive impact this approach will have in the future.
Building Updates
Our Q Block building rectification is progressing on schedule. Our three main Art classrooms have been reopened and students are now enjoying the repaired and refreshed workspaces. By the middle of Term 4, we hope works on the remaining classrooms, staffroom and staff toilets will have also concluded, and our historic, original Q Block will be returned to us free of cracking, totally refitted and ready for the next 100 years.
Pleasingly, all this rectification works comes at no cost to our school budgets after many years of lobbying the state government to provide funding. Local state MP Melissa Horne, who has supported us in getting funding and momentum for this project, is visiting on 22 August to ensure we are satisfied with both the progress and quality of the works.
At Bayview, our new futsal court is weeks away from completion and I am looking forward to handing it over to our students to enjoy as spring approaches. The covered eating area is also on track with permit approvals, etc. and will be completed sometime in Term 4. I am still taking entries for the naming of this space if any students would like to forward any suggestions.
Staffing
With the retirement of our long serving Pasco wellbeing coordinator, Ann Goller, and the transfer of Mental Health Practitioner Erin Immel, we have advertised and successfully filled both of these positions. The new staff members come highly qualified in the wellbeing space. Celina Aguiar will begin on 18 August as our new student wellbeing coordinator at Pasco. And Helen Vaxevanis will commence 7 September as our new mental health practitioner. We look forward to the positive impact they will both have on our school community.
Kicking Goals
On behalf of the school community, I would like to congratulate one of our Year 12 students, Oliver Dragicevic, who has recently signed with Melbourne Victory Football Club. This is an outstanding achievement and we are very proud of Oliver, as well as looking forward to following his burgeoning soccer career in the future.
Thank You
I experienced one of the most heartfelt moments in my career recently. On the recent “Principal’s Day”, a group of staff organised some acknowledgements for my principal team and I. We were requested to attend an urgent meeting in the conference room and - to our pleasant surprise - were met with a healthy morning tea and rolling PowerPoint of beautiful and inspiring quotes from more than 80 staff members. I am a better giver than receiver, but we were extremely appreciative of this generous gesture. A huge public thank you to my wonderful staff as well as to the wonderful parents who also sent through some beautiful messages. It was a lovely and inspiring way to finish the week.
Hold fast.
