As we approach the end of another remarkable year at Fairhills I am filled with gratitude for the dedication and hard work of our incredible staff. This year has brought its unique set of challenges, but our team’s unwavering commitment to our students’ learning & wellbeing has truly shone through.
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to each and every staff member for their tireless efforts in creating a positive and enriching environment. Your passion for education and your commitment to fostering a supportive community have not gone unnoticed.
We say farewell to the following staff. I wish them all the best for the future.
Anthony Hitchman
Julian Stokes
Ying Qin
Emma Peng
On leave for 2024
Julie Cox
Sunita Sewani
Jesse Harberger
Peter Milner
Everything we do is focused on enhancing the overall student experience. In 2023 our students’ positive perception of the school has surpassed the state averages in all framework factors. This achievement is a testament to the collaborative spirit of our staff, the engaging learning environment they create, and the strong sense of community that permeates every corner of our school.
In addition to the exceptional strides in student perception, we have invested in capital works improvements to provide state-of-the-art facilities. These enhancements are designed to further elevate the educational experience for our students and ensure they have access to the best possible resources.
These include:
New carpet in the Middle School – completed in the January holidays
Vinyl flooring in the Art Learning Hub – completed Term 1 break
New garden and landscaping – completed Term 3 break
STEM & Senior Learning Centre – open at the beginning of 2024
Music Learning Hub – open in 2024
As we embark on a well-deserved summer break, I encourage each member of our community to take a moment to reflect on the achievements of the past year. Whether you’re a student who has overcome challenges, a staff member who has contributed to our school’s success, or a parent who has supported our community, you have played an integral role in making Fairhills High School the inspiring place it is.
Wishing you all a safe, relaxing, and joyful summer break. May this time be filled with laughter, warmth, and the company of loved ones. I look forward to welcoming everyone back for another exciting school year in 2024
Statewide STEM success
Congratulations to our Senior girls’ team who participated in the prestigious SuperHack competition at the University of Melbourne. It is an annual engineering hackathon where female, non-binary and gender diverse students in years 10 and 11 are invited from across Victoria to compete in teams to solve engineering design challenges based on a set theme.
I am proud to say that they came third in the competition. An amazing effort indeed!
With Vex Robotics being implemented at the school from 2024 the sky is the limit for our incredible students.
Vivi
In Term 4, we have been trialling Vivi, which is a mirror casting program that enhances collaboration, control and creativity in classrooms. Due to its ability to transform the learning experience of students, all classrooms will have Vivi from 2024.
Personalised learning environments have been proven to deliver better educational outcomes for individuals through increased participation and engagement. To successfully create such an environment requires a fluid, visual dialogue between teacher and student. Vivi supports this dialogue.
Return to School Interviews
2024 Year 8-12 parents/carers will have received a Return to School Interview email from the school. There will be a booking link in the email. This link will be available until the end of the school year. After this time parents/carers who have not booked a time will be allocated one.
The mandatory interviews will be held on Tuesday January 30, 2023, from 11.15am-7pm
The key aims of the Return to School Interviews is to:
Ensure a positive start to the year for students
Build closer relationships between parents/carers, students and the school
Provide important 2024 information to parent/carers and students
We look forward to meeting with parents/carers and students on the day.
2024 Contributions
Parent/carer contributions are critical to the development and enhancement of exciting and engaging opportunities for all students.
The School Council has carefully evaluated the existing contributions structure and made important changes after discussions with the school community. At the end of October, the School Council endorsed the changes to the contributions structure.
The 2024 contributions have now been published to parents/carers. This will ensure parents/carers understand where their contributions are going. I thanks parents/carers in advance for making a contribution to your child’s education.
Parents/cares should reach out to the General Office for further clarification.
As we approach the end of the year and eagerly anticipate the holiday season, it is important to reflect on all that we have accomplished during this semester in the middle school. It has been a time filled with growth, learning, and unforgettable memories.
This year has been transformative! Initiatives such as the Connect and Thrive programs, House groups and SWPB points focused on building strong positive relationships among year 7 – 9 students. By organising team-building activities and fostering a sense of belonging the middle school leaders have created an environment where every student feels valued. These programs have not only improved social/emotional skills but also enhanced their critical thinking and design skills.
Similarly recognising the importance of extracurricular activities in shaping well-rounded individuals, our team leaders have organised camps that cater to different interests such as sports, creativity, problem solving and environmental sustainability. These camps provide opportunities for students to explore their passions outside the classroom while developing essential life skills like teamwork and leadership.
Last week I had the privilege to accompany a group of Middle school students to the Basketball National School Championships on the Gold Coast. I was extremely impressed by their positive team work and camaraderie shown. They represented our school proudly.
Extracurricular activities such as dungeons and dragons, Philosophy club, Art and dance groups, State school spectacular, Science super hack proved popular this year.
I cannot express enough gratitude to the dedicated individuals who go above and beyond to ensure the overall development of our middle school students. Sarah Power and Greg Baker, as team leaders, Kristy Burrell and Emma O’Connor our student Amplify leaders, our wellbeing team Peta, Gail, Mariani, Kaye, the learning inclusion team, Ying Qin, Rhiannon Mcaloon, and all our middle school teachers and support staff have played a pivotal role in connecting students with various programs and activities that promote their growth.
As we bid farewell for now and embark on a well-deserved break, let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas – spreading joy and kindness to others. May this holiday season be filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments spent with family and friends.
On behalf of the entire middle school, I would like to extend my warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We look forward to seeing you all next year.
Silvana La Leggia
Middle School Leader
FHS Junior Sports Cup
Last Wednesday Fairhills were delighted to host the FHS Junior Sports Cup. Grade 3 & 4 students from our feeder primary schools participated in team and problem solving challenges in Sport, Drama and STEM. Congratulations to our first place winners Kent Park, followed by Wattleview in second place and Knox Central in 3rd.
Overall Annual School Wide Positive behaviour awards
These awards acknowledge students with the highest points who have demonstrated, our school values, acts of kindness, being an upstander and worked above and beyond expectations.
Congratulations to our top 3 students in each year level:
Year 7
1. Caine
2. Sebastian
3. Isabelle
100 % attendance – Ardy
Year 8
1. Jay, Millie
2. Olivia
3. Zadah
99% attendance – Jay
Year 9
1. Jessica
2. Winnifred, Eva
3. Sophie
98 % attendance – Shania
Japanese Events
Feeling a need to get your Japanese fix during the holidays?
Congratulations to all students in Year 10 and Year 11 who participated in examinations to conclude the academic year. It was wonderful to see students continue to rise to challenges and do their best to demonstrate their learning from 2023. Well done!
Head Start
All students at the school have just completed their Head Start program. This program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to meet their 2024 teachers (where possible), make connections with new classmates and obtain an overview of the learning that lies ahead for 2024. Students are asked to ensure that Head Start homework is completed over the holiday period, so they can return in 2024 ready to take on the new academic year with purpose.
Thank you and farewell
The school values of acting responsibly, building relationships and showing respect are core to everything we do at Fairhills High School. I commend those students who have lived these core values throughout the year, treating all others with respect, speaking out against injustice, and advocating for the marginalised or vulnerable members of our community.
I would like to acknowledge and thank all members of staff for their commitment and dedication to providing the very best learning opportunities and environment to the students entrusted into our care through their work this year. The students of Fairhills High School are blessed to have such wonderful teachers and support staff to guide them through their secondary school journey.
As we conclude another year, we have so much to be proud of and grateful for both as individuals and as a school community. Gratitude fills our hearts for the privilege of education and employment, acknowledging that this privilege is not universal. We are grateful for the opportunities to learn, grow, connect with others, and celebrate together.
To those departing Fairhills, may you be met with kindness and respect as you continue your journey. To our departing staff, we extend our sincere thanks for your valuable contributions and commitment to Fairhills and wish you well in your future endeavours.
Bill Exton
Senior School Assistant Principal
MUEEC Superhack Competition
Congratulations to our team for their outstanding achievement in the Melbourne University Electrical Engineering Club (MUEEC) Superhack Competition, where they secured an impressive 3rd place. They faced some fierce competition, with 21 other teams hailing from various schools across Melbourne. The team’s innovative creation, a fire alarm system designed to aid individuals with visual impairments or hindered by smoke, showcases their talent.
Well done Beatriz, Elissa, Mitchelle and Arina we are proud of your accomplishment.
The Years 7-11 Semester 2 reports will be released on Friday 15 December. Parents and Students will be able to access their report via Compass. The Parent guide to Assessment and Reporting will be available via Compass newsfeed on Friday 15 December.
Return to School Interviews
To support students to have an inspiring and inclusive 2024 school year we will conduct “Year 8-12 Return to School Interviews” onsite on Tuesday 30 January from 11:30am – 7pm. Students and a parent/carer are required to attend. Students are expected to attend in full school uniform. Please see the Principal’s Message for further information.
2024 Parent Payments
2024 student charges are listed on Compass under Payment Centre. Parent payment contributions can be made through this area at any time.
2024 Media Consent and Laptop User Agreement
2024 Media Consent and Laptop User Agreement are now listed under Compass Events. Please complete these by 31 January so we have these details for the beginning of Term 1, 2024.
2024 Fairhills High School Uniform
Changes to the Fairhills High Student Dress Code have been made for 2024. Please click on the links below for further information.
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.
The General Office will be closed from Wednesday 20 December and will re-open Monday 29 January 2024.
All red house students got a free sausage at the sausage sizzle on Friday.
The big house point raffle was also held at lunchtime for all students who have bought raffle tickets with their points.
Final Tally for this year as follows:
1st – Red – 6,336
2nd- Yellow – 6,241
3rd- Green – 5,406
4th- Blue – 5,255
As we are approaching the end of the school year, can students please return any overdue library books, chargers etc. Library staff will be personally contacting all students with overdue items over the coming week.
Our final newsletter for the 2023 year! What a year it has been in the Wellbeing space. There is not a week that goes by that I do not feel incredibly grateful for the amazing team I work with and the privilege of the work we do with our amazing students and families here at Fairhills High School. We would love to acknowledge and celebrate the success of all our students making it through the 2023 academic year- we are aware that school can be challenging for some students for many reasons. The resilience shown by many of our students in the face of adversity in continuing to ‘show up’ for their learning, their friends and themselves is truly amazing. We encourage parents and caregivers to join us in celebrating student resilience and the hard work that they have put in for 2023. It is also a good time for parents to show compassion to yourselves as you continue to navigate the challenges of parenting and adolescence while you support the young people in your lives.
A Wellbeing wrap from us. The amazing Wellbeing Team this year has been our Chaplain- Gail, our Mental Health Practitioner-Mariani, our Health Promotion Nurse- Kaye (Term 3 and 4), Kerrie and Sarah, our amazing volunteer Counsellors and Sarah, Eliza, Anita and Callum, our incredibly skilled Counselling placement students. Between us we have coordinated, developed and/or delivered a range of whole school, targeted and one to one services and programs for our students this year. We rolled out termly whole school awareness raising campaigns including- Reconciliation Week, RUOK?Day, IDAHOBIT, National Day of Action against Bullying & Violence and Mental Health Month; facilitated 2 Expressions therapeutic art groups, facilitated weekly Q-Squad lunchtime groups, delivered a Vaping Education program across Years 7-9; coordinated Man Cave and Reach Foundation seminars across Year 10-12 and Pat Cronin Foundation presentations to year 10’s, coordinated student dental care, facilitated a Healthy Habits Day for Year 11’s, as well as sessions within the Middle School THRIVE classes, Year 7 Orientation program and the Year 11 Conference. On top of this we have provided access to short term counselling, case management and referral pathways for many students. We have continued to support our students and families with our food program, including Breakfast Club, free Tasty Truck sandwiches and fortnightly Food Pantry for families in need. We have continued to support training counselling students on their professional placements, who in turn provide much needed support for our students. We have trained in Youth Mental First Aid, Teen Mental Health First Aid and the Shark Cage program. The skill and commitment of the team over the year has been unquestionable.
We extend our deepest thanks to everyone who has supported the Wellbeing program over the year. In particular we would like to thank our incredible community volunteers from Knox Baptist Church and Hillsong who support our Breakfast Club program. Every day these incredible humans give their time to set up, serve and connect with students who access Breakfast Club, either before school or at recess. These incredible volunteers also pick up sandwiches from Tasty Trucks and deliver them to the school for our students. Without them, our food program would not operate.
We are also grateful to Foothills Community Care and Hillsong who have provided frozen meals and pantry items for our community over the year. Their continued support means we can support families in need.
This week we have farewelled Anita and Callum, our two incredible counselling placement students who have now finished their placements and will graduate their counselling degrees. We are deeply grateful for the support they have provided many of our students and although we are sad to see them go, we are excited for their future as counsellors where they will further share their skills, warmth, compassion, and kindness to the wider community. We will welcome two new counselling placement students, Anita (yes, another amazing Anita) and Allysha who will commence with us in Term 1, 2024.
We wish everyone safe and happy holidays and for those who celebrate Christmas, a Merry Christmas. We look forward to seeing you all in the new year and continuing to support the health and wellbeing of our students.
Peta Cartwright | Student Wellbeing Coordinator
Accessing support through Wellbeing – 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 or contacting us via email at wellbeing@fairhillshs.vic.edu.au
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.
Q-Squad, our LBGTQIA+ group runs every Thursday lunchtime.
Accessing Support – Families
Most 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 or via email at wellbeing@fairhillshs.vic.edu.au
School Holiday Activity
Established in 2009 in Melbourne, Australia, Satellite Foundation is an accessible, caring not-for-profit organisation that connects and empowers young people who have a family member living with mental health challenges. These challenges can impact all family members, so Satellite takes a whole-of-family approach including peers and the wider community. Satellite’s creative programs support the ongoing growth and transformation of young people so they can realise their full potential. During the school holiday, Satellite will be offering free programs and workshops including:
At Home with Satellite – Online Workshop*
Ages 12-14 years
Dreamboards
Tuesday 16 Jan 1pm-3pm
*At Home with Satellite is a workshop via Zoom, participants will be sent a parcel in the mail with all the creative materials needed to create all the wonderful things that the workshop provides.
Create & Connect Workshop – In person.
Geelong – Bluebird Foundation
Ages 14-17 years
Wednesday 17 & Thursday 18 January
Create & Connect Workshop – In person
Yarra Youth Centre, Fitzroy
Ages 12-15 years
Thursday 25 January
For in-person workshops, transport support can be provided.
If students are interested, please express your interest by sending email to mariani.mariani@education.vic.gov.au, our Mental Health Practitioner. We will then complete a referral to Satellite Foundation. Once submitted, Melanie (family liaison 8-13 years) or Ned (youth liaison -14+ years) will reach out to the family/young people via SMS and arrange a time for a casual chat & answer any question they might have about joining Satellite and the program.
What’s on
Events
Clink on the links below for further information
Knox 4 Me – a support program for rainbow young people aged 14-18
We recently partnered with Thread Together to provide free and brand clothing for students in need. Thread Together collects brand new unsold clothing from all around the country, saving it from landfill. Thread Together believe that people in need deserve the dignity and choice of new clothing, without judgement. If your children need any help with clothing, please contact the Wellbeing team for further assistance.
Breakfast Club
With the support of volunteers from local churches- Knox Baptist and Hillsong Church we are able to provide a breakfast club 5 days a week for our students, including a Pancake Breakfast every Thursday morning. All students are welcome.
Food support for families in need
Each fortnight on a Tuesday after school from 2:48pm – 3:08pm 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.
External food support options
The following community agencies provide food support for families in need.
Cybersecurity: Resources
eSafety’s express learning series provides parents and carers with practical tips and advice on common online safety concerns. The videos are 5 to 10 minutes long and cover four important topics, including:
Setting up parental controls
Digital technologies and mental health
Cyberbullying and online drama
Online sexual harassment and image-based abuse
Cyber Safety Project provides a whole community approach focused on developing future skills, lifelong habits and self-regulation when innovating and using digital technologies for work, life and play. To create safer communities our educational programs and proactive teaching strategies will engage the whole community with learning how to participate safely and responsibly in a digitally-engaged world. To learn more about family workshops and webinars for parents or carers, please visit https://cybersafetyproject.com.au/families/
Well done to the students who attended the Year 7 celebration evening on Thursday night and demonstrated their musical skills to their parents and peers.
Voice, trumpet, bass guitar, clarinet, flute, saxophone and drums students performed.
Photos below Kiara, Ella, Adaya and Caine practising for the Year 7 Celebration evening.
Our senior men and women basketball teams arrived safely on the Gold Coast for the Australian School Championships.
Day 1 and 2 of the basketball championships were filled with excitement, anticipation, and a sense of camaraderie. Although our teams did not secure any wins in the first 2 days, the experience gained has been invaluable.
As the week progressed our senior boys team secured their first win against Wahroonya Adventist School, scoring 55 to 51. The girls team played their best game against Central Coast sports school but lost by only 1 point. The highlight of day 4 was when Cody silenced the opposition spectators with a thunderous one-handed slam dunk over 2 players.
Congratulations to Claire in Year 8 who finished 3rd in overall scoring and 2nd for the most 3 pointers in her division.
A big thank you to our coaches Mr Jesse Harberger, Mr Mitch Burrows and support staff Ellen and Ms La Leggia.
Thanks again to iD Signs for their generous Silver Sponsorship!
“Your support not only helps us financially but also motivates us to strive for excellence on and off the court. Thank you ID Signs
