Acting Principal’s Message
Mr Exton, Acting Principal
A positive final term at Fairhills
It is a privilege to be leading Fairhills as Acting Principal this term. Having worked alongside our students, staff and families as Assistant Principal, I know how much care and effort goes into making our school a place where young people can learn, grow and feel they belong.
I would also like to thank Ian Van Schie for his leadership and contribution to Fairhills over the past five years. My focus this term is on supporting a positive finish to the year and continuing the work underway across our school.
Plenty to be proud of
Each year, the Department of Education provides schools with a School Performance Report. It brings together information about student learning, wellbeing and attendance, including assessment results and student survey feedback. It helps us recognise what is working well, compare our results with schools serving similar communities and identify where we need to improve.
Our 2026 School Performance Report highlights some encouraging achievements across learning and wellbeing.
Fairhills has been rated the highest possible level for the ‘wellbeing’ category, with strong results across measures including school connectedness, stimulated learning and student voice and agency. It is pleasing to see these strengths recognised, as positive relationships and a sense of belonging are such an important part of learning.
In Year 9 numeracy, 64% of students achieved Strong or Exceeding in NAPLAN, compared with 56% for similar schools. The report also highlights our 100% VCE and VCE VM certificate completion rate in 2025 and an improved VCE English study group mean score of 29, above the similar schools result of 26.8.
Behind these figures are students working hard, staff providing guidance and encouragement and families supporting learning at home. Thank you to everyone who contributes to this partnership.
There are always areas to improve and we mustn’t rest on our laurels. Strengthening learning growth remains a priority as we review our progress and plan for 2027.
Celebrating our Year 12 students
October is a special time as our Year 12 students reach the end of their formal classes and prepare for examinations, further study, training and employment.
Their final celebrations provide an opportunity to recognise their achievements and thank the staff and families who have supported them along the way. There will no doubt be a few proud smiles and a few tissues required.
To our Year 12 students, congratulations on reaching this milestone. Keep making the most of the support available and continue putting in the effort over these final weeks. We are proud of you and look forward to celebrating with you.
For all our students, Term 4 is an opportunity to finish well, recognise their progress and prepare for the next stage of learning.
Melbourne Cup Eve- Alternative program
A reminder that Monday 2 November is a normal school day prior to the Melbourne Cup public holiday on Tuesday 3 November.
We understand that some families may choose to take the opportunity for an extended long weekend. While it is not a pupil-free day, we recognise that attendance may be lower than usual.
To ensure meaningful learning continues, we will run an alternative learning program for onsite Year 7–10 students.
Tasty Trucks will not operate on this day.
If you intend for your child (Year 7- 10) to be absent, please update Compass at your earliest convenience to assist us with planning.
Year 11 VCE students should study from home in preparation for their upcoming exams in Week 7.
Year 11 VCE-VM students may wish to attend an additional day at their workplace structured learning.
Principal Appointment Update
A process to select a substantive Principal has commenced and the school community will be informed when the decision has been approved by School council and ratified by the Department of Education.
Student Engagement and Wellbeing
Silvana La Leggia, Assistant Principal – Student Engagement and Wellbeing
Term 4 – A Time to Celebrate, Connect and Look Ahead!
As we move into the final term of the year, there is so much to celebrate at Fairhills High School! Term 4 is always a special time as we reflect on student achievements, celebrate friendships, welcome new families and look ahead to the exciting opportunities that await in 2027.
We were delighted to welcome our incoming 2027 Year 7 students and families at our recent Year 7 Parent Information Evening. It was wonderful to see so many new faces joining our Fairhills community. We look forward to continuing this transition journey through our upcoming Small School Orientation Day, providing students with an opportunity to familiarise themselves with their new school in smaller groups, followed by the Statewide Year 7 Orientation Day on 8 December.
Celebrating Student Success!
Our end-of-year celebrations are shaping up to be a fantastic way to recognise the hard work, growth and achievements of our Middle School students.
Our Year 7 students will enjoy a Celebration BBQ on 3 December, while our Year 8 students will celebrate with a fun-filled movie and bowling experience. A particular highlight will be our Year 9 Connect Celebration Evening, where students will put their culinary skills to the test, preparing a festive feast for their families while proudly showcasing their learning and achievements throughout the year. What a wonderful way to celebrate their journey through Middle School!
Students will also embark on our Headstart Program, spending two weeks experiencing their 2027 classes, building relationships with new teachers and setting themselves up for a confident and successful start to the new school year.
And, of course, what better way to celebrate than with our much-anticipated Luna Park Fun Day on 4 December! A fantastic opportunity for students to enjoy themselves, celebrate their successes and create lasting memories with their peers.
It is particularly rewarding to welcome new families into our school community while sharing these special moments of achievement and celebration with our existing families.
Mental Health Month – Celebrating Wellbeing and Connection
October also marks Mental Health Month, an important reminder of the value of connection, belonging and looking after our mental health.
We are incredibly proud of our dedicated Wellbeing Team, who organised a fantastic Mental Health Carnival, bringing our school community together for a day filled with positivity, fun and meaningful connections.
A definite crowd favourite was the addition of a petting zoo, bringing plenty of smiles and some much-needed animal cuddles! Students also had the opportunity to connect with valuable community services, including headspace and Knox City Council Youth Services, alongside activities promoting SunSmart awareness and positive wellbeing.
No carnival would be complete without a good old-fashioned sausage sizzle, expertly managed by none other than our Learning Inclusion Assistant Principal, David Hose, alongside Klaus and Jade! Add some wonderful student music performances, entertainment and plenty of laughter, and we had all the ingredients for a truly memorable day.
A huge thank you to our Wellbeing Team, staff, students and community partners for making this celebration such a success.
As we approach the end of another busy year, we are reminded that school is about so much more than what happens in the classroom. It is about building relationships, celebrating growth, creating memories and ensuring every student feels connected and valued.
Here’s to a fantastic final term filled with celebration, connection and a little festive cheer!
Learning Inclusion
David Hose, Assistant Principal – Learning Inclusion
The Inclusion Hub Gets a Fresh New Look!
Since the generous donations from our Fairhills community helped establish our new Inclusion space 12-months ago, the former Music area has undergone a remarkable transformation. The latest improvement took place over the recent school holidays, with the Inclusion Hub receiving a much-needed fresh coat of paint.
Each of the main spaces now boasts an aqua feature wall, complemented by crisp white walls to create a light, bright and welcoming environment for our diverse learners. The corridor leading into the Inclusion Hub has also been refreshed, with the doors and doorframes painted in Monument dark grey.
A special thank you goes to our fantastic Facilities Department, led by Chris Presta and John Beard, for overseeing the painting project. We would also like to acknowledge current students Joey Sun (12C) and Mitchell Wright (11C), who generously assisted with preparing the walls for painting. Thank you also to our dedicated Learning Assistants, who worked hard to move furniture away from the walls before the holidays and put everything back in place upon their return. Your teamwork and efforts are greatly appreciated!
We have also invested in new tables to match those used in our classrooms, replacing the old grey tables we pulled out of storage. These new tables will support a range of activities and programs, including student re-engagement initiatives, intervention groups, lunchtime activities, and students requiring Special Assessment Arrangements during examinations and NAPLAN testing.
These improvements continue to enhance the Inclusion Hub as a welcoming, functional and supportive space where students can access the resources and adjustments they need to feel comfortable, connected and ready to learn.
