Head of Secondary – Term 2 Roundup
As we come to the end of Term 2, it’s been a really positive and busy term across the College. There’s been a great energy around the place, with students getting involved, supporting each other, and making the most of the many opportunities on offer.
A Strong Sense of Community
One of the highlights of the term has been the strong sense of community we’ve seen across the school. Events like our Mother’s Day celebrations, including the Prep Pamper Session and the P&F stall, were a great reminder of how important these shared moments are. They bring people together and help make Hills feel like a place where everyone belongs.
We also saw this during Kindness Day (Do It for Dolly Day), where the whole school came together in support of a really important message. The “sea of blue” and the thoughtful activities were a simple but powerful reminder of how much small acts of kindness matter.
At a Secondary level, this has aligned closely with our ongoing focus on respectful behaviour, positive relationships, and clear expectations. We’ve been working with students to ensure that everyone understands how their actions contribute to a safe and supportive environment for others.
Students Stepping Up
It’s been great to see students getting involved in a wide range of experiences this term and really stepping outside their comfort zones.
Some of our senior students took part in the ASEAN–Australia BRIDGE Program, working with students from other countries to create a shared story. It was a fantastic opportunity to build confidence, learn from others, and think more globally.
We’ve also had students preparing for Theatresports, developing their confidence, creativity, and ability to think on their feet. Watching students grow in these spaces is always a highlight.
Alongside these opportunities, we’ve kept a strong focus this term on student engagement in learning—encouraging students to be active participants in class, take pride in their work, and challenge themselves to improve. This has culminated in an excellent showing from our STEM challenge students, who came away with top prize for their well engineered bridge.
Success Beyond the Classroom
There’s been plenty happening outside the classroom too. Our Beach Volleyball program continues to grow and achieve some outstanding results, with students performing strongly at competitions and earning representative honours. It’s a great example of what can happen when students commit to something and stick with it.
Across all areas, we’ve been emphasising the importance of commitment, effort, and showing up consistently—whether that’s in sport, the arts, or in everyday learning.
A Meaningful Farewell
This term we also said goodbye to Mrs Julie-Anne Skelton, who has had a long and lasting impact on the College. Her farewell assembly, including a Guard of Honour, was a special moment and a great reflection of the respect the community has for her position at the College.
She leaves behind a strong legacy, and we wish her well as she transitions to the next stage of her learning journey.
Learning, Habits, and Looking Ahead
In the classroom, students have continued to work hard and engage with their learning. A big focus, particularly for our senior students, has been thinking about future pathways and beginning important planning around their senior years. We'll soon be starting SET Plan meetings for our Year 10 students, and I've just finished interviewing the majority of our new Year 7 applicants for 2027 - and they're a very strong bunch!
Across Secondary, we’ve also been reinforcing some key habits that make a real difference to success:
- Regular attendance and punctuality
- Meeting uniform expectations
- Being organised and ready to learn
- Taking responsibility for behaviour and choices
These are simple things, but they have a big impact on both individual success and the overall tone of the school.
I'm also very much looking forward to working with Mr Ablitt to align and extend our curriculum philosophy and teaching and learning right from Prep through to Year 12. I'm incredibly excited about the new opportunities this presents, and I'm very confident that we'll see some transformational changes in programs and processes over the coming terms.
Thank You
Thank you to our staff for the care and effort they put in every day, to our families for your ongoing support, and to our students for the way you approach each day.
We hope everyone has a well-earned break over the holidays, and we look forward to another great term ahead.
Mr Ben Pope
Head of Secondary