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.

Upcoming 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

Making Music with Recycled Materials

Our Year 9/10 Music students explored the connection between music and sustainability through a hands-on instrument-making activity. Guided by the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse and Recycle—students transformed everyday discarded materials into musical instruments, giving these items a new purpose while exploring how sound is created. The project encouraged creative thinking and resourcefulness, showing how we can reduce waste and make music with materials that might otherwise be thrown away.

Year 7 Science

Forces, Fair Tests and Blasting Off at KIOSC

Our Year 7 students have been working like real scientists this term. They’ve been investigating forces and motion, running experiments, and learning how to communicate their findings in a clear, structured scientific report.

Learning physics by doing

In class, students have been exploring balanced and unbalanced forces, and how forces change the way objects move. They plan investigations, change one variable at a time, collect measurements, and look for patterns in their results.

The big focus has been report writing. Students are learning that an experiment isn’t finished until the story of it has been told well. Each report includes:

• Aim and hypothesis: what are we testing, and what do we predict?
• Method and materials: clear enough that someone else could repeat the experiment
• Results: data presented in tables and graphs
• Discussion: what the results mean, how they compare with the prediction, and what could be improved
• Conclusion: a short answer to the original question

This is a skill that will carry students through every science subject, right up to VCE. We have been encouraging them to back up their claims with evidence and to treat unexpected results as chances to learn rather than “mistakes”.

KIOSC Discovery: Space Force Quest

To put their learning into action, our Year 7 students took part in the Space Force Quest Discovery program at KIOSC (the Knox Innovation, Opportunity and Sustainability Centre). Set in a space-exploration scenario, the program connects directly to what students have been learning in class, including Newton’s Laws of Motion, momentum, energy transfer and simple machines. Students rotated through three challenges:

• Drone Rescue Mission: Students became Mars mission engineers, coding drones to find a supply drop blown off course by Martian winds and deliver it to the Mars base. They saw balanced and unbalanced forces at work as they tried to control their drone’s flight.
• Space Clean Up: Using Sphero robots, students programmed their “spacecraft” to collect orbiting space debris. They discovered how momentum and motion affect the way objects move and why clearing space junk matters for protecting satellites.
• Space Impact: In a creative engineering challenge, students used virtual reality tools to design a rocket-launch chain reaction, exploring how simple machines and energy transfers work together.

Sustainability Corner

Space Junk, Earth Junk: Small Actions Matter

Our Year 7 students recently learned that there are thousands of pieces of debris orbiting Earth, and that this “space junk” is a real threat to the satellites we depend on for weather forecasts, navigation and communication. The lesson was clear: if we don’t look after our environment, it becomes harder to use and fix later. That idea applies on Earth too.

Here are some simple ways our school community can look after our planet:

• Reduce waste first. Choose reusable containers, drink bottles and wraps. The best rubbish is the rubbish we never create.
• Sort it right. Check what goes in recycling, soft plastics, compost and general waste. Putting the wrong items in the wrong bin can contaminate a whole load.
• Think energy. Turn off lights, fans and devices when they aren’t being used. Energy is a big part of what Year 7 are studying right now.
• Repair, reuse, rehome. Before throwing something out, ask whether it can be fixed, passed on or turned into something new.
• Walk, ride or carpool. Fewer cars at drop-off means cleaner air and a safer school gate.

Year 9/10 Japanese: Reconstructing Characters

Our Year 9/10 Japanese Specialism students got hands-on with learning how to describe people — and no, it wasn’t an early Halloween activity!

Students worked in teams, using an envelope of jumbled sentences and a picture of a popular character. Their challenge was to piece the sentences together in the correct order to describe the character.

The activity was a fun and engaging way to practise teamwork, reinforce Japanese sentence patterns and build confidence in describing people. There were plenty of smiles along the way, with prizes awarded to celebrate the students’ efforts!

Year 9/10 Outdoor Ed Surf’s Up: Surfing Excursion at Inverloch

Students in our Year 9/10 Outdoor Education specialism recently headed to Inverloch for an exciting day of surfing, adventure and outdoor learning!

The excursion provided students with the opportunity to step outside their comfort zones, develop new skills and experience the challenges of surfing in a safe and supportive environment. With guidance from experienced surf instructors, students learned about surf safety, ocean awareness, paddling techniques and the fundamentals of catching a wave.

Throughout the session, students demonstrated resilience, perseverance and a willingness to give surfing a go, supporting one another as they practised their skills and tackled the waves.

The excursion was a fantastic opportunity to put the skills and knowledge developed in Outdoor Education into practice, while also building teamwork, confidence and an appreciation for the natural environment.

Year 9 European Handball Tournament

What a day! Our inaugural Year 9 European Handball Tournament was a huge success, with students putting their PE skills, teamwork and strategic thinking to the ultimate test.

Following their SEPEP unit, students had the opportunity to take everything they had learned and put it into action in a competitive tournament environment. But this wasn’t just about what happened on the court, the entire tournament was student-run!

Every student took on an important role, including coaches, trainers, referees, scorers and fairness officers, showcasing fantastic levels of leadership, responsibility and student agency throughout the day. It was fantastic to see students stepping up, supporting their teammates and taking ownership of the tournament.

And if that wasn’t exciting enough… the tournament finished with an absolute thriller of a Grand Final! After an incredibly close game, the scores were still level, meaning the championship had to be decided by penalties. The atmosphere in the gym was electric, with spectators on the edge of their seats as the final shots were taken!

A huge congratulations to ‘The Evil Unicorns’ from 9C, who held their nerve and were crowned our inaugural Year 9 European Handball Tournament champions!

A massive well done to all Year 9 students for their enthusiasm, sportsmanship, leadership and effort throughout the day. What a way to put their SEPEP learning into action!

Mental Health Carnival – Together We Thrive

On 13 October, our Wellbeing team organised a Mental Health Carnival in celebration of Mental Health Month, embracing this year’s theme, “Together We Thrive.”

The campaign brought together a range of external support services, including headspace, Knox Youth Services, After Hours Mental Health Nurse Services, Smile Squad, our Secondary School Nurse, and SunSmart, providing students with opportunities to connect with support services in a welcoming and approachable environment.

The carnival was filled with fun and engaging activities, including a petting zoo, game arcade, sensory stall, and live music stage.

Through this initiative, we hope to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and challenge the perception that seeking help must be daunting or clinical. We believe that wellbeing and help-seeking can be positive, enjoyable, and accessible experiences, where students feel comfortable exploring support at their own pace and in ways that align with their individual interests.

By creating opportunities for connection, curiosity, and meaningful conversations, we hope to remind our students that they are not alone, that support is always within reach, and that together, we can create a community where everyone feels supported, valued, and empowered to thrive.

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.

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

Exploring Career Pathways Through Work Experience

Work experience is a fantastic way for students to explore potential career pathways, although some industries can be more challenging to access than others. Two of our senior students have demonstrated outstanding persistence and initiative, securing incredible opportunities to gain valuable experience in their chosen fields.

After three years of applying, Abby has successfully secured a placement at Healesville Sanctuary. With placements at Victoria’s zoos highly sought after, Abby’s determination has certainly paid off! This incredible opportunity allowed her to experience zoology in practice and has confirmed that her chosen tertiary pathway is the right one. Abby will graduate this year with confidence in her future direction.

Cooper, who has a keen interest in forest management, took the initiative to apply to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) for a possible placement. This resulted in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain firsthand experience in his preferred field. Cooper is now firmly focused on his goals and motivated to pursue his chosen career pathway.

Congratulations to Abby and Cooper for showing that persistence, initiative and a willingness to pursue opportunities can help turn career aspirations into reality!

Year 10 Students Explore Army Careers at ADF Careers Day

At the end of Term 3, six of our Year 10 students had the opportunity to visit the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Army base at Puckapunyal for a Careers Day.

Students spoke directly with Army personnel from a wide range of sectors, gaining valuable insights into the many career opportunities available within the Army, including roles with a strong focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Army personnel were enthusiastic about sharing their experiences and career journeys, giving students a valuable opportunity to explore potential pathways and consider their future career options.

It was an excellent career-planning experience that broadened students’ understanding of the diverse opportunities available through the ADF.

Congratulations to Our 2026 Mullum Cluster VET Award Winners

Vocational Education and Training (VET) is an important part of both the VCE and VCE Vocational Major, giving students the opportunity to begin industry training while completing their senior studies. Through hands-on, applied learning, students develop industry-specific skills and knowledge while building confidence, independence and resilience.

Fairhills High School is proud to be a member of the Mullum VET Cluster, which supports more than 1,200 students enrolled in VET programs. Each year, the cluster recognises students who demonstrate outstanding achievement, attitude and effort.

Congratulations to our award recipients!

Excellence Award – Keanna

Certificate II in Hospitality – Year 2 | Aquinas College

Keanna received the Excellence Award for her positive attitude, effort and outstanding academic achievement throughout her program. Her VET studies have helped her develop valuable hospitality skills and knowledge to support her career goal of becoming cabin crew for a leading airline.

Merit Award – Diesel

Certificate II in Automotive | Ringwood Training

Diesel received the Merit Award in recognition of his outstanding attitude and effort throughout the year. With a goal of pursuing a career in the automotive industry, Diesel has used the program to complete his pre-apprenticeship training while still at school.

We congratulate Keanna and Diesel on their achievements and wish them every success as they continue towards their future career goals!

Year 12 Important Dates

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