Welcome to this month’s edition of the W-Files. On behalf of the teaching staff, I would like to start by acknowledging the parents who attended our second semester Parent-Teacher Interviews. We greatly value the partnership we have with families and the role these events play in improving student learning and pathways.
Staff were very productive spending the recent student-free professional practice day working collaboratively on moderating assessments, creating resources and tasks for Term 4 classes. We have also been busy documenting our curricula to align with new templates in preparation for our upcoming school review.
As previously mentioned, all government schools undergo a four-year review, developing a contextualised strategic plan for school improvement for the next four years. This review includes ensuring all required school policies, child safe standards and curricula are in place and documented.
In recent weeks, the Williamstown High School community has been actively engaged in a range of events, including: the School for Student Leadership program, Immersion and vocational major project showcases, Elevate Education exam preparation sessions, the RAISE mentoring program, a variety of wellbeing activities for R U OK? and Wear It Purple days, subject selection, interschool sporting competitions and a number of wonderful music and dance concerts.
I was also pleased to see we had a record number of entries in our Principal’s Writing Competition this year. This competition highlights the importance of literacy for our students, and I was thoroughly engaged and entertained reading the numerous entries. Please find competition winners in the W-Files following their official announcement and presentations at our assemblies.
We have recently upgraded our gym projectors to enhance student showcases and awareness-raising messages delivered at our school assemblies and information evenings. Our recent student-led end-of-term assemblies made good use of these upgrades, not only celebrating outstanding student achievement across the school but also allowing students to display their diverse and wonderful talents.
Our Year 12 students were also able to reflect on their time at school and advise the Year 10s and 11s about making the most of the opportunities ahead. Please enjoy reading about the whole range of activities our students have been involved with in our W-Files.

Staffing and planning for 2026
We have spent a significant amount of time this term preparing for 2026. We have advertised statewide to fill a campus assistant principal role. Following Darren Nicholas’s departure last year, this position had been filled as an internal acting role but has now been filled as a permanent position.
I am pleased to announce that we have appointed Debra Francis to the position. I will welcome Debra to the school community when she commences with us at the start of 2026. Debra has vast leadership experience in different school settings, most recently at the Grange and Suzanne Cory secondary schools, and is looking forward to joining our school community.
With student subjects and electives chosen, we were able to identify our exact staffing needs. We have advertised these vacancies, and I am pleased to report that applications to work at WHS remain high for both experienced and graduate teachers.
Year 9 Immersion
The recent Year 9 Immersion project showcase was once again inspiring and engaging. I was impressed by the work put in by all groups and enjoyed listening to how working on these projects had a profound impact on them. The Term 3 Immersion students were also keen to have their project display included in my W-Files report, so please enjoy the roll of display photos below:
Dining Hall and Naming Competition and Logo
Our new covered dining hall at Bayview is still under construction, following permit and weather delays. I am still hopeful this will be completed in time for the sunny days approaching. At the Bayview end-of-term assembly, I presented certificates for the winning entries for the naming and logo for the dining hall. There were some outstanding suggestions, with a somewhat ‘controversial’ name chosen.
Eat Fast Dining Hall
This is obviously a clever connection to our school motto, ‘Hold Fast’, and to ensure we are not sending a message to our students regarding eating practices that lead to indigestion issues, we will place a sign on the dining hall wall to the effect of:
“You won’t be late for class
when your feasting at
dining hall eat fast.”
Ryan Nguyen from 7F submitted the winning entry and was presented with a certificate and his homegroup. 7F will now be treated to a Hot Wings lunch in Term 4.
Anya Sajnovic was also presented with a certificate to acknowledge the clever logo she created. This will be installed together with the name on out new dining hall building.
This will be a fantastic addition to the Bayview Campus and I am looking forward to the students utilising this upon completion.
Student Forum
I am very passionate about providing our students with a safe, inclusive and engaging school environment. And who better to hear from about this than our students? With this in mind, our youth worker Alannah and I conducted our first ever Student Voice Forum for both Bayview and Pasco students. An invitation was sent to all students providing them with the opportunity to be involved.
Lots of positive reflections were made, as well as a range of suggestions to enhance the student experience. These are now being unpacked and will be shared with relevant staff as well as student/staff working parties created to implement initiatives.
Here are some feedback and photos from the forum:
“The Student Voice Forum allowed students to collaborate and share ideas in a safe environment. It was a really fun and engaging experience that encouraged students to speak up about how they think the school can be improved and why.”
“Doing the Student Voice made me feel heard and empowered to do more. Everyone listened and considered your ideas. If there’s ever another one, I’ll be there!”
“I just wanted to say how amazing the Student Voice Forum went. We should definitely do another one (possibly even longer!)”
“Thank you Mr Catalano and Alannah for the Student Voice Forum. It was so much fun and great to be listened to! I can’t wait to see some of our ideas happen at school.”
“It was inspiring to see so many students come together at the Student Voice Forum to share their ideas, experiences and visions for our school. The forum gave students the chance to speak openly about what matters most to them - from everyday school experiences to the bigger changes they’d like to see in the future.
“Working in groups, they came up with practical solutions and creative ideas, highlighting not only areas for growth but also the passion and leadership our young people bring to shaping their school community. We are extremely excited to continue making this an ongoing part of our school culture and look forward to our continued work with these students, building on the energy and ideas shared.”
- Alannah, WHS Youth Worker
Plaque and Honour board
With our legacy building works and official openings now complete at the Centenary Theatre and Performing Arts Wing, we have installed a commemorative plaque to both acknowledge the efforts of the WHS community as well as highlight what a wonderful facility we now have.


We have also installed our Music Honour Board in the Performing Arts Wing, following yet another wonderful donation from retired long-serving WHS music leader Finn Koren. Thank you to all individuals who have made contributions to these projects over the years.

Thank you emails
It always fills me with pride when I receive glowing emails about our students, and I do like to share some of these with the WHS community to both instill the same sense of pride in all of us as well as inspire and make visible role model behaviour. Please enjoy reading a recent email I received:
Good morning Gino. This morning while I was out walking I had the pleasure of meeting a group of your students. They were surveying people at Williamstown Beach about environmental issues, and I was so impressed with them that I felt compelled to contact you and let you know. They were such lovely, polite young people. Thank you to you and your staff for what you do every day, teaching our kids. Kind regards, Michele
Wishing all families and staff a restful break leading into a busy and exciting Term 4.
Hold fast!
Gino Catalano