Education Support Day 2026

On Education Support Day, we proudly recognised and celebrated the incredible contribution of our Education Support staff at Fairhills High School.

Our ES staff play such an important role in the daily life of our school. They support students, families, teachers and school operations in so many ways, helping to create a safe, organised and welcoming environment where students can learn, grow and thrive.

Across Fairhills, our ES team provides care, guidance and practical support that make a real difference. Whether they are assisting students in the classroom, supporting wellbeing, managing administration, helping families, maintaining our facilities, supporting learning programs or ensuring the smooth running of the school, their work is deeply valued.

This year, staff came together to acknowledge and thank our ES staff for the professionalism, dedication and kindness they bring to Fairhills every day.

We are incredibly fortunate to have such a committed and caring Education Support team. Thank you to each of our ES staff for the important role you play in supporting our students, staff and school community.

Year 7 and 8 courtyard upgrade

I am excited to share that work is progressing on the upgrade of our Year 7 and 8 courtyard, following the successful allocation of a $300,000 grant to improve this important student space.

The project is currently ahead of schedule, which is wonderful news for our students and school community. Once completed, the upgraded courtyard will provide our Year 7 and 8 students with a beautiful, welcoming and functional outdoor area to enjoy during breaks and as part of their school experience.

As with any significant building or landscaping project, there may be some short term impacts on the day to day operations of the school while works are underway. This may include changes to student movement, access to some areas and adjustments to how certain spaces are used during construction.

I appreciate the patience and understanding of students, families and staff during this period. While there may be some temporary inconvenience, the end result will be a significant improvement to our school environment and a space that our students can enjoy for many years to come.

This upgrade reflects our ongoing commitment to improving the learning environment at Fairhills High School and creating spaces that support student connection, belonging and pride in our school.

Residential development next to Fairhills High School

Fairhills High School is pleased to share that residential development works are now underway on the site next to our school.

The site, located at the corner of Burwood Highway and Scoresby Road, Knoxfield, is being developed by Development Victoria. Once complete, the project is expected to deliver a new residential neighbourhood with around 400 homes, green open spaces, new wetlands, walking paths and a mixed use area that may include small retail or community spaces.

As the development directly neighbours Fairhills High School, we have already met with the developers and are looking forward to building a positive and collaborative partnership as the project progresses. This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen our connection with the local community and ensure the needs of our students, families and staff are considered throughout the development.

Our priority remains the safety and smooth operation of the school. Through our ongoing communication with the developers, we are discussing important matters such as student movement, pedestrian safety, traffic flow, parking, construction vehicle access, noise, dust and any potential impacts during the school day.

This development represents a significant investment in the Knoxfield area, and we are optimistic about the opportunities it may bring for the broader community. We will continue to monitor the works closely, maintain open communication with the developers and keep families informed of any updates that directly affect school access, student safety or daily operations.

Families are encouraged to take extra care when travelling near the school while works are underway. Please continue to use designated crossings, follow road rules and allow additional time during busy periods.

Further information is available through Development Victoria’s Knoxfield project page here.

Ian Van Schie
Principal

Teaching and Learning

Personalised learning goals

In Weeks 6 and 7, all Fairhills High School students will complete their personalised learning goals.

This important process supports our school vision of empowering our community to be curious, creative and confident learners. By setting meaningful goals, students are encouraged to take greater ownership of their learning, attendance and personal growth.

Each student will select one attendance goal and one Learning Culture goal to focus on. These goals will help students reflect on their current habits, identify an area for improvement and choose clear actions to support their progress.

To support this process, students will have access to their student dashboard, which provides relevant information about their learning, attendance and school habits. This data will help students make informed decisions about the goals that are most relevant to them.

All members of our school community were given the opportunity to provide feedback on the dashboard, and we thank students, families and staff for their valuable input. This feedback has helped ensure the dashboard is clear, useful and focused on supporting student growth.

The personalised goals students set will appear on their Semester 1 report. This will provide families with a clear understanding of each student’s chosen focus areas and the key action they are working on to support their progress.

These goals will also help make our Term 3 Learning Conferences more student driven. Students will be able to use their goals, dashboard information and reflections to speak more confidently about their learning, growth and next steps.

We look forward to supporting all students through this process as they continue to build the habits, confidence and agency needed to be successful learners.

Semester 1 student reports

Fairhills High School will be providing Semester 1 student achievement reports as usual this year.

Following the in principle agreement reached between the Department of Education and the Australian Education Union, all industrial action related to negotiations for the new Victorian Government Schools Agreement has now been suspended. This includes the previous ban on work related to written comments for student reports.

At Fairhills High School, Semester 1 reports will continue to provide important information about student learning, including achievement against the relevant Victorian Curriculum areas, learning behaviours and teacher feedback.

Reports will be distributed to families.  Families will have the opportunity to discuss their child’s progress at our Term 3 Learning Conferences. As always, families are also welcome to contact the school if they would like to arrange a conversation with their child’s teacher.

We thank families for their continued support as we work together to support every student’s learning growth.

Mr Exton
Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning

Student Engagement and Wellbeing

Berry Street Education Model – Day 3: Stamina and Engagement

Fairhills High School staff recently continued their professional learning journey through the Berry Street Education Model with Day 3 training focused on Stamina and Engagement. Staff were delighted to come together for another engaging and highly practical professional development day that combined important learning with plenty of fun, laughter and collaboration.

Throughout the day, staff explored a range of strategies designed to strengthen student engagement, build learning resilience and support emotional intelligence in the classroom. Key focus areas included establishing high expectations for learning, positive priming, fostering perseverance and creating calm, predictable learning environments where all students can thrive.

Building Staff Capacity Through PLC Cycles

As part of this ongoing work, staff will now undertake Professional Learning Community (PLC) cycles where they will trial targeted classroom strategies, reflect on their impact and share best practice with colleagues. These cycles provide an important opportunity for staff to work collaboratively, refine their practice and continue strengthening whole-school approaches that support student learning and wellbeing.

We look forward to continuing this work and embedding strategies that empower all students to become curious, confident and resilient learners. A special thank you to our fantastic facilitator for delivering such an enjoyable and valuable professional learning experience for staff.

Student Voice Through the Attitudes to School Survey

Over the past two weeks, students across Years 7–12 have participated in the annual Attitudes to School Survey (AToSS). This important survey provides valuable student voice data that helps guide future school improvement planning and supports our work in creating positive learning experiences for all students.

The survey gathers feedback on areas including student wellbeing, connectedness, classroom learning, teacher support and school culture. The information collected will play an important role in helping shape priorities and improvement initiatives for 2027 and beyond.

We are incredibly proud of the mature, respectful and thoughtful way our students approached the survey process. Their willingness to share honest feedback demonstrates the strong partnership we continue to build between students and staff as we work together to improve our school community.

At Fairhills High School, we remain committed to continuous improvement through strong staff learning, meaningful student voice and a shared commitment to creating safe, engaging and supportive learning environments. Together, we continue to build a school culture that empowers our community to be curious, creative and confident learners.

Silvana La Leggia
Assistant Principal – Student Engagement and Wellbeing

Term 2 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

Entrepreneurship Program Information Session at KIOSC

Students recently attended an engaging Entrepreneurship Program (Year 9/10) information session at KIOSC. The session focused on developing innovative thinking, creativity, leadership, and problem-solving skills through real-world business and enterprise concepts.

Students explored how entrepreneurial thinking can be applied across different industries and careers, while also learning the importance of collaboration, communication, and adaptability in today’s rapidly changing world. The session encouraged students to think creatively, identify opportunities, and develop confidence in sharing their ideas.

Sustainability Focus

A key focus of the session was sustainability and how entrepreneurial ideas can contribute to creating a more sustainable future. Students discussed how businesses and innovators are increasingly developing environmentally responsible solutions to address global challenges such as waste reduction, renewable energy, and sustainable production practices.

The program encouraged students to consider the social, environmental, and economic impact of their ideas and highlighted the importance of responsible innovation in shaping future communities and industries.

Hands on learning in Things That Kill

Year 9/10 students in the elective science subject Things That Kill recently completed a cane toad dissection to investigate key body systems. This hands-on activity allowed students to identify and explore structures related to the circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems, while making connections to how similar systems function in the human body. Students demonstrated curiosity, careful observation and developing scientific skills throughout the practical investigation.

Year 8 Humanities – Medieval History

In Year 8 Humanities, students are currently exploring the Medieval period, with a focus on the design and purpose of castles built during this time. Through their studies, students have been learning about the different defensive and practical features commonly found in medieval castles.

As part of this learning, students were challenged to design their own castle by incorporating a range of historical features. They then labelled their designs to explain the purpose of each feature and demonstrate their understanding of medieval castle architecture.

After completing their plans on paper, students used Minecraft Education to bring their castle designs to life in a creative and interactive way. Students did an outstanding job applying their historical knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and creativity to construct impressive medieval castles within the game.

Year 12 Food Studies Excursion – Lygon Street

Our Year 12 Food Studies class recently braved the 12-degree weather for an exciting excursion to Melbourne’s iconic Lygon Street.

The day began at Brunetti, where students were treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of both the front and back of house operations. A special thank you to Barbara, our incredibly knowledgeable tour guide, who shared valuable insights into hospitality, food production and customer service. Students also enjoyed sampling a selection of delicious small cakes and coffee.

The group then headed to Ti Amo for a classic pizza and pasta lunch, rounding out a fantastic day exploring two of Melbourne’s Italian icons and experiencing food culture beyond the classroom.

It was a wonderful opportunity for students to connect their classroom learning with real-world hospitality experiences.

NEVR Youth Concert – 2026

Congratulations to the Fairhills High School instrumental and vocal students who performed at the 2026 NEVR Youth Concert at Hamer Hall on 13 May. This year’s concert, themed Legends and Lore, brought together top musical talent from government schools across the North Eastern and metropolitan Melbourne, with the program drawing on mythology, folklore, and heroic tales to carry audiences through epic soundscapes and timeless stories. Our students joined peers from across the region for two full days of combined rehearsals before taking the stage at one of Australia’s premier concert venues — Hamer Hall — performing to a sold-out crowd of more than 2,000 people. Experiences like this are a powerful reminder of why music education matters: the discipline, the collaboration, and the chance to perform on a world-class stage are opportunities that stay with students long after the final note. Well done to all involved.

Congratulations to flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and vocal students

Intermediate and Senior Girls Netball

Recently, our Intermediate and Senior Girls Netball teams had the opportunity to compete against several local schools in an exciting round robin tournament. The day provided students with a fantastic chance to challenge themselves, work together as a team, and represent the school with pride.

Throughout the competition, all three teams displayed excellent sportsmanship, determination, and skill on the court. Players supported and encouraged one another in every game, showing great teamwork and resilience against strong opposition. It was wonderful to see the students grow in confidence as the day progressed and put into practice the skills they have been developing throughout the season.

A highlight of the tournament was the outstanding performance of our Senior Girls team, who finished the day in second place overall — a fantastic achievement and a well-deserved reward for their hard work and effort. Congratulations to all students involved for the positive attitude and enthusiasm they brought to the competition.

Resource Learning Hub

Hearts in the Library

Two of our Year 8 Library Leaders have created a lovely surprise for Students and Teachers who visit the Library. Wey En and Annabelle have created a ‘Heart Stop’ which features little crocheted hearts. These are free for people who are feeling a little stressed or sad and need some additional support. Hearts come in blue, pink, white and rainbow colours. Thanks to both Wey En and Annabelle for their thoughtful idea.

Heartstopper Graphic Novels

Due to popular demand Vol 5 of the Heartstopper series is now in the Library. Read more about Nick and Charlie in readiness for Volume 6 which will be released in July 2026.

Senior Girls AFL

The Senior Girls Footy team represented Fairhills with great enthusiasm, resilience and teamwork in their match against a very strong opposition side. Despite the tough competition, the students gave it their best shot and, most importantly, enjoyed a fun and positive day together.

There were several standout performances across the ground, including strong defensive work from half back, impressive speed and determination around the contest, and a special team moment when Fairhills recorded its first score of the day. Other students showed great courage attacking the footy, while some successfully transferred skills from other sports onto the football field, providing strong run and effort along the wing.

The entire group should be proud of their sportsmanship, positivity and willingness to challenge themselves throughout the day. A special thank you also goes to Head Coach Isabele Higgins, whose leadership and support ensured the students had an enjoyable experience.

State School Spectacular Rehearsal

Recently, Fairhills had the pleasure of hosting the Round 3 Mass Dance rehearsals for the Victorian State Schools Spectacular. It was a fantastic day filled with energy, enthusiasm, and creativity as students and staff from eight local schools came together to rehearse for this year’s production.

Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to make use of our PAC while working alongside experienced industry professionals who guided them through choreography and performance techniques. The rehearsals provided students with valuable insight into the preparation and teamwork required for a large-scale production, while also allowing them to build confidence and strengthen connections with students from neighbouring schools.

It was wonderful to see the dedication and excitement from all students involved as the routines continue to take shape. Each rehearsal brings the performers one step closer to what promises to be an incredible show later this year. We are looking forward to seeing all of their hard work come together on stage in late August at John Cain Arena.

Winter Wellness Pop-Up Brings Students Together

Despite the rainy weather, our Winter Wellness Health Pop-Up held on Tuesday 19 May was a fantastic success, with students enthusiastically participating in the wide range of activities on offer throughout lunchtime in the Canteen Courtyard.

Organised by our Secondary School Nurse, Tamara, the event focused on promoting student health, wellbeing, and connection during the winter season. It was wonderful to see so many students engaging with local youth and wellbeing services, learning about supports available in the community, and enjoying the positive atmosphere.

Representatives from EACH, Knox Youth Services, YSAS, and the After-Hours Mental Health Nursing Service attended the event, providing helpful resources, information, and friendly conversations for students seeking support or simply wanting to learn more about wellbeing services available to young people and families.

Students also enjoyed games, activities, food, and prizes, making the event both informative and fun. The high level of student engagement throughout the afternoon highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for connection and wellbeing within our school community.

The event also launched our school’s involvement in the Push-Up Challenge — Australia’s largest mental health and fitness event. Students are still encouraged to sign up, represent their House, and help raise awareness for mental health while competing for the highest number of push-ups completed. We encourage students to rally their teammates, show their House spirit, and join the challenge via the following link: https://www.thepushupchallenge.com.au/fundraisers/fairhillshighschool

Please check out the Health Highlights flyer with information about Winter Wellness for your reference put together by Tamara and her team of nurses who attended on the day.

Thank you to everyone who came along and contributed to making the event such a positive and successful experience.

Year 7 Girls Netball

The Year 7 girls recently participated in a round robin netball tournament and achieved an outstanding result, finishing runners-up across the entire competition.

Throughout the day, the girls displayed incredible grit, determination, and resilience as they competed in difficult and rainy conditions. Despite the challenges, they maintained a positive attitude, supported one another, and continued to play with great energy and sportsmanship in every match.

The team worked exceptionally well together, demonstrating strong communication, teamwork, and persistence across the tournament. Their hard work and effort saw them remain undefeated throughout the round games, earning themselves a well-deserved place in the grand final.

In the final, the girls came up against an experienced Rowville East side. Although they were ultimately defeated, the team should be extremely proud of their performance and the way they represented the school throughout the day. Their commitment, resilience, and never-give-up attitude were a credit to themselves and the school community.

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!

Art Club

When: Every Thursday Lunchtime

Where: A07

All students are welcome. You can create artworks. Bring your lunch and enjoy a creative lunch.

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.

Year 10 Work Experience

All paperwork for Work Experience Week was due by Thursday 22 May.

If your student has not yet completed and submitted their paperwork, please make this a priority.

Completed documents should be handed in to the General Office as soon as possible.

Students who are still seeking a host employer are encouraged to see Liz Rundle as soon as possible.

Year 9 TAFE Taster Day – Swinburne

On Tuesday 26 May, our Year 9 students attended a TAFE Taster Day at Swinburne University of Technology.

Students selected an industry focus area and participated in a range of hands-on workshops, giving them a real insight into possible future career pathways and study options.

The Year 9 students represented the school exceptionally well, demonstrating respectful behaviour and enthusiastic participation throughout the day.

We hope this valuable experience has helped students gain a better understanding of the pathways available to them and provided knowledge and experiences that will support their future career and education decisions.

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