As we approach the Term 1 break, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the efforts of our students, staff and families throughout the term. This break provides a valuable opportunity to pause, recharge and spend time with those who matter most.

I hope the two weeks offer a chance to rest and reset, and to enjoy a change of pace. We look forward to welcoming everyone back ready for the opportunities and challenges of the term ahead.

Wishing our entire school community a safe and enjoyable Easter break.

Welcoming Future Fairhills Students and Families

Our 2026 Open Night was a highly successful event and an important moment in showcasing Fairhills High School to our community. With a strong turnout of prospective families, the evening reflected the growing interest in our school and the positive reputation we continue to build.

Throughout the evening, there were many positive conversations with parents and carers, who shared that they had heard great things about Fairhills High School. For many, the Open Night confirmed these impressions, providing a clear and authentic insight into our learning environment, programs and strong sense of community.

The structure of the evening, including staggered tours and smaller, more personalised presentations, allowed families to explore the school in depth and gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities available. This approach created meaningful interactions and enabled families to experience the culture of Fairhills firsthand.

This success was made possible through the collective efforts of our staff and students. I extend my sincere thanks to our staff and the many student volunteers who guided tours and contributed to the wide range of activities on display, representing the school with pride. Their enthusiasm and professionalism were a strong reflection of our values.

Our Open Night was a powerful demonstration of the opportunities, experiences and community spirit that define Fairhills High School.

ANZAC Day Dawn Service 2026

Our community is invited to attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Watch on Saturday 25 April 2026 at Quarry Park, Ferntree Gully. This special service begins at 6.00am (arrival from 5.45am) and provides a meaningful opportunity to honour and remember the servicemen and women from our local community who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Dawn Watch offers a unique and reflective experience as the sun rises over the mountains. Attendees are encouraged to bring a torch and chair if needed.

We encourage families to support this important community event and take time to reflect on the significance of ANZAC Day.

Remembering Annette Emmerson

We were saddened to learn of the passing of former staff member Annette Emmerson. Annette was a highly valued member of the Fairhills High School community and a dedicated leader of our wellbeing team. Through her work, she played a significant role in strengthening the care and support provided to students, while also building positive and lasting connections within our community.

Annette was deeply committed to the wellbeing of others and was known for her calm, compassionate and supportive approach. She was also a strong support to staff, always willing to listen, guide and offer encouragement.

We extend our sincere condolences to Annette’s family, friends and all who had the privilege of working alongside her. She will be remembered for the positive difference she made to our school community.

Ian Van Schie
Principal

Be an Upstander: Taking Action at Fairhills High School

At Fairhills High School, we actively empower students to be upstanders — individuals who recognise when something is not right and take positive action to support others. Through our THRIVE program, students develop the skills, confidence and understanding needed to contribute to a safe, respectful and inclusive school environment.

We know that creating a positive culture requires both proactive education and consistent follow-up when concerns arise. At Fairhills, we take a proactive approach to building respectful relationships, while also ensuring that any issues are addressed promptly and effectively. This balanced approach has contributed to the school being recognised as the leading school for managing bullying compared to 39 similar schools across Victoria.

If students witness behaviour that is unfair or unkind, they are encouraged to take action in ways that feel safe and appropriate:

• Speak up — Let others know that the behaviour is not acceptable
• Offer support — Check in with the person affected and show they are not alone
• Report concerns — Use Stymie, our anonymous reporting tool, to raise concerns safely and confidentially
• Include others — Invite peers into activities and help build a sense of belonging
• Model respect — Demonstrate kindness and encourage positive behaviour in everyday interactions

By working together, our students play an important role in creating a community where everyone feels safe, supported and valued. At Fairhills High School, we don’t stand by — we stand up.

Silvana La Leggia
Assistant Principal – Student Engagement and Wellbeing

Progress Reports and Learning Conferences

Over the past week, families will have received their child’s Progress Report via Compass, which provides an important snapshot of how students have started the year.

You will notice that these reports now include our new Learning Cultures, which are being used consistently across the school to give clearer, more meaningful feedback about learning behaviours. The Learning Cultures are designed to help students understand how they are learning, not just what they are achieving and to support ongoing growth across all subjects.

The release of Progress Reports leads into one of the most important events on our calendar…our Learning Conferences on Tuesday 31 March.

Learning Conferences provide a valuable opportunity for students, families and teachers to come together to discuss progress, celebrate successes and identify next steps for improvement. While the Progress Report provides a snapshot, the conference allows for a much richer conversation.

We strongly encourage all students to attend their Learning Conference alongside a parent or carer. When students are part of the conversation, it helps to:

• strengthen their understanding of their own learning
• build accountability and ownership
• clarify goals and next steps
• reinforce the importance of school and learning

These conversations are most powerful when they are student-centred, with students reflecting on their progress and engaging in discussion about how they can continue to improve.

Bookings for Learning Conferences are available via Compass and we encourage families to secure their preferred times as soon as possible.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 31 March and continuing to work in partnership to support every student to be a curious, creative and confident learner.

Mr Exton
Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning

Term 1 2026 Dates

School Tours

To book a School Tour go to: https://www.trybooking.com/DJJPH

We look forward to welcoming you and showing you around our great school.

2026 Term Dates

Year 11VM Work Related Skills – Students Get Active at the Gym

Our Year 11 VCE VM Work-Related Skills students recently visited a local gym – Genesis, where they participated in an engaging circuit class and explored a range of fitness equipment. This hands-on experience allowed students to build their understanding of health, wellbeing, and workplace environments within the fitness industry.

Students developed key skills in teamwork, communication, and personal development, while also exploring potential career pathways in the health and fitness sector.

All students who attended demonstrated excellent effort, positive participation, and should be proud of the way they represented the school. It was a fantastic day of learning beyond the classroom.

Year 11VM Work Related Skills – Students Jump Into Industry at Rush HQ

The Year 11 VM class visited Rush HQ as part of their Industry visit requirements. Students were taken on a tour of the facility, looking at the various aspects of how a busy activity centre operates. Students were given insight into reception, canteen operation and party organisation. After the tour, students were able to experience the excitement of the trampolines, rock climbing walls, and obstacle courses.

Year 7 Camp – Halls Gap Adventure

Our Year 7 students recently headed off on an exciting three-day camp to the beautiful Halls Gap in Grampians National Park. After a very long bus ride across Victoria, students finally arrived and were greeted by the stunning mountain views and fresh country air.

Once everyone was settled into their cabins, it was straight into the action! Over the three days, students had the opportunity to challenge themselves, try new things and work together as a team. Activities included hiking through the breath taking Grampians scenery, conquering the heights with abseiling and high ropes, testing their aim with archery, and working collaboratively to build rafts. Students also enjoyed some well-earned downtime with access to the swimming pool.

It was a jam-packed three days filled with adventure, laughter and plenty of memorable moments. It was fantastic to see students encouraging one another, stepping outside their comfort zones and giving every activity a go.

A big thank you to the staff who attended camp and helped make the experience so enjoyable and successful for our Year 7 students. The memories (and tired bus ride home!) will certainly stay with them for a long time.

Year 8 Paddle Boarding Adventure at St Kilda

Our Year 8 students recently took part in an exciting paddle boarding excursion across two days at St Kilda Beach.

Students had the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of stand-up paddle boarding from experienced instructors, developing their balance, coordination, and confidence on the water. After some initial practice, students put their skills to the test by completing a lap around St Kilda Beach.

While there were a few splashes along the way, spirits remained high and students embraced the challenge with enthusiasm. It was fantastic to see everyone supporting one another, stepping outside their comfort zones, and making the most of this unique learning experience.

Overall, the excursion was a great success, with students enjoying a fun-filled (and slightly wet!) day by the bay.

Year 9/10 Japanese Mirai – Pathways Insight Day

On Friday 13 March the Year 9/10 Japanese class headed off to Monash University Clayton Campus. This was not an unlucky Friday 13 for them; they went to hear about concrete examples of pathways young people can have with their Japanese.

‘Mirai’ means ‘future’, and students heard about Working Holidays in Japan, School and University Exchange Programs, and Japanese studies at University.

Along the way they were treated to a taiko drumming performance, played Kahoots against the 650 other students at the event, and of course the final highlight was a bento lunch. Japanese food is always a highlight!

This was an inspiring event with lots of youth speakers talking about their experiences firsthand, and raised a lot of curiosity amongst students as to what they can do in their Japanese studies space in their mirai.

Harmony Day

On Wednesday 18 March, our school community came together to celebrate Harmony Day.

Harmony Day is a time to recognise and celebrate our cultural diversity, while reinforcing the important message that everyone belongs. It provides a valuable opportunity to acknowledge the many backgrounds, languages, and experiences that enrich our school community.

Students were encouraged to wear a splash of orange or their cultural dress to show their support. We thank all students and staff for their enthusiastic participation, which made the day vibrant and full of colour.

Throughout the day, students engaged in a range of activities, and we were proud to showcase artwork from our Year 10 students, promoting inclusion and respect for diversity across our school.

Instrumental Music

A highlight of our recent Open Night was the Fairhills High School Music Ensemble, who performed for parent tour groups throughout the evening. Students showcased the music program beautifully whilst entertaining, and welcoming families as they explored the school. The performance was a lovely reflection of the values we pride ourselves on at Fairhills, and the positive feedback from parents was much appreciated. A big thank you to all the students involved for representing our school so warmly on the night.

The Free Library open again at Fairhills High School

We are excited to announce that the Fairhills High School Free Library is back for 2026!

The Free Library is a wonderful initiative designed to encourage a love of reading across our school community. Open to all students, the library allows students to take a book, share a book, or swap a book — completely free of charge. Whether you’re an avid reader or just looking to try something new, the Free Library is a great way to discover different genres, authors, and stories.

Located in the Year 7 Foyer Area, the Free Library operates on a simple idea: take a book you’d like to read and, when you can, return it or replace it with another book to keep the shelves stocked for others.

In 2026, we are looking forward to expanding the range of books available, including young adult fiction, fantasy, graphic novels, non-fiction, and more.

We warmly welcome donations of books in good condition that would be of interest to our students.

Happy reading, Fairhills!

Fairhills High School Clubs & Activities

After School VCE English Club

When: Tuesdays after school until 4pm
Where: Room S7

VCE English Club is back for 2026. If you want extra help with everything English this is the place to come! You can get help from experienced VCE English teachers and smash English in 2026!

Homework Club

When: Wednesdays, 2:45 – 4:00 PM
Where: Resource Learning Hub

Join us every Wednesday after school in a welcoming space where students can work on homework or class tasks with support available.
All students are encouraged to attend. Homework Club is a great opportunity to stay on top of your learning in a calm, supportive, and inviting environment.

Fairhills Choir

When: Tuesday Lunchtime

Where: Music Classroom

Come down to the music classroom Tuesday Lunchtimes and join in the fun. Chat to any of the music teachers if you have questions.

Japanese Club（日本部）

When: Every second (Week B) Thursday at lunchtime
Where: Room M03

Japanese Club is a place where you can be a curious, creative and confident learner about all things Japanese culture and language.

We are particularly looking for anyone with skills in anything Japanese, so please if you have a skill contact Winstone sensei at jessica.winstone@education.vic.gov.au. Parents very welcome to come share Japanese cultural or language skills if you have them!

However, to come to Japanese Club you don’t need anything but enthusiasm.

The first Japanese Club will run on Thursday March 5 at lunchtime in M03. After that it will run every second Thursday.

楽しみにしています！See you there！

VEX Robotics Competition Teams

When: Tuesdays, 2:45 – 3:45 PM and Friday Lunchtime 1:05 – 1:40 PM
Where: STEM Portable

The VEX Robotics Competition is an engaging, hands-on STEM program where students design, build, and code their own robots to complete specific challenges. It fosters teamwork, problem-solving, and innovation as students compete against other schools in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Hydrogen Car Grand Prix Teams

When: Tuesdays, 2:45 – 3:45 PM and Friday Lunchtime 1:05 – 1:40 PM
Where: STEM Portable

The Hydrogen Car Grand Prix introduces students to renewable energy and sustainable engineering. Teams design, build, and race model cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells, learning about clean energy technologies, aerodynamics, and mechanical systems in a fun and practical way.

General Office Details

The General Office hours are: 8.00am-4.00pm

Telephone: 9758 5022
Email: fairhills.hs@education.vic.gov.au

Parents, contractors, visitors and volunteers should always make contact with the General Office first when visiting the school or requiring to make contact with their child.

Appointments with teachers must be made via telephone or email.

Compass

Compass is the communication portal for Fairhills – https://fairhillshs-vic.compass.education/

Parents/carers are provided with log in details. For any questions or trouble logging in please contact the General Office. Using Compass allows parents/carers to have access to up-to-date information and the following features:

• Monitor attendance, and enter an explanation for absence or lateness
• Communicate with teachers
• Update contact details
• View their child’s timetable and the school calendar
• Monitor homework and assessment tasks
• Download and view semester reports
• Book parent-teacher-student interviews each semester
• Pay and provide consent for events and school contributions

Compass Events / Payment Centre / Course Confirmation

Please check Events regularly as these need to be consented/paid by the due date for your child to attend.  Also check out the Payment Centre and Course Confirmation sections.

Click here for the Compass Parent Guide

Student Absences

If your child will be absent or late due to illness or for any other reason, parents/guardians are able to:

• Mark their absence on Compass / or
• Send an email to the school: fairhills.hs@education.vic.gov.au / or
• Phone the absence hotline on 9758 5022. Leave a message after the prompt. The absence hotline is operational 24hrs a day, 7 days a week for your convenience.

Student’s arriving to school late are required to sign in (using their Student ID Card) on the Compass Kiosk machine at the General Office.

If a student is required to leave school early for any reason they should bring a note from their parent/guardian and record this on Compass. All students are required to sign out from the General Office.  If they need to call home, they should come to the office.  Students should not use their mobiles.

Asthma / Diabetes / Anaphylaxis / Epilepsy

ASTHMA, DIABETES, ANAPHYLAXIS, EPILEPSY or an ALLERGY management plans are required to be updated and submitted to the school every 12 months. Please ensure you have provided this to the office in the best interest of your child.

If you require any assistance, do not hesitate to contact the office on 03 9758 5022.

Parent Carpark – pick up and drop off

If you drop/pick up your children please ensure you:

• use the parent car park – not the staff/guest car park, except for those with a disability parking permit
• pull into a parent parking spot to let your child out/pick them up
• when exiting turn left onto Scoresby road (as per the sign)

Uniform Shop

The purchase of School Uniforms are now through Bob Stewart (formerly Buxwear/Dandy Sportswear) in Dandenong.

Bob Stewart

Factory 8, 169 Cheltenham Road, Dandenong
(03) 9792 0424

Monday to Friday – 9:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday – 9:00am to 1:00pm

For further information please go to https://fairhillshs.vic.edu.au/enrolment/uniform/

2026 Bell Times

2026 Team Leaders

Accessing Support through Wellbeing for Students

The Wellbeing Team can support students to navigate challenges that may be impacting on their ability to engage in learning or general feelings of wellbeing. This can include: transitions and adjusting to change, family or relationship difficulties, grief and loss, mental health concerns, drug and alcohol concerns, and many other challenges that young people encounter.

An initial appointment with a member of the wellbeing team will be an assessment of need with the student or family which will help to decide the best support option for the student. Support options available through the Wellbeing Team are:

• Individual short-term counselling, psychoeducation and skills development
• Group programs
• Referrals to external support agencies.
• Students may also be encouraged to access self-help strategies or resources.

Referrals to see someone from the team are made through year level leaders. Parents, students or teachers with concerns are encouraged to speak to their year level leader. Students or parents can also make an appointment directly with someone from the Wellbeing Team by attending the Wellbeing Centre, calling the school office.

Year level leaders who are made aware of concerns by a teacher will always endeavour to make contact with parents before referring a student to the Wellbeing team.
All counselling sessions with students are confidential and information is only shared if a student is deemed to be at risk of harm.
If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, please contact KidsHelpline or lifeline on the numbers at the bottom of this page

What’s on in Wellbeing?

The Wellbeing Centre is open at recess and lunchtime for students who need a quiet, safe place to regulate or access support. The centre is also used for lunchtime group programs which are advertised through compass or on notice boards.

Accessing Support for Families

Many families, at some stage, need a little extra support to manage the normal challenges of life as well as the more difficult situations that arise. If you are experiencing hardship, stress or circumstances that are impacting on the wellbeing of your family life or your ability to cope, the Wellbeing Team can help to connect you with community services that can provide support. Please contact the Wellbeing Team via the school phone number.

Breakfast Club

With the support of volunteers from local churches- Knox Baptist and Hillsong Church we provide breakfast club 5 days a week for our students from 8:15-8:40am. There are a range of healthy breakfast options available including cereals, toast, cheese toasties and fruit. Students are also able to access mini-milk drinks, fruit and free Tasty Truck (day old) sandwiches at Breakfast Club and at lunch time.

Food Support for families in need

Each fortnight on a Tuesday after school from 2:40 PM- 3:00 PM we have food support available for families who may be in need, for whatever reason. We have a selection of frozen meals and pantry items that families can collect from the former school canteen area without question or judgement. We know that access to food can be a real challenge for some families and we feel strongly about supporting the basic needs of our students and families. Watch out for compass posts each fortnight.

What’s on