Congratulations to our students who have continued to work very hard over the last 18 months in order to gain their Awards.

It is a pleasure to showcase some of the fantastic entries we received for the NAIDOC Week Year Level Competition.

Welcome to Term 3. Given the forced interruption, the term has started very smoothly.

As I arrived at school earlier this week, I was greeted by a spectacular sunrise.

Lilydale Heights College is now home to a new Sustainable Learning Hub and gymnasium. There’s also a new ‘town centre’ that offers students a place to meet to share stories and knowledge.

Although we are almost half way through this term, the focus has definitely been on learning in the classroom.

We officially launched the Collaborative Indigenous Strategy with all six schools in the Lilydale and Upper Yarra Education Plan, with the Minister of Education, James Merlino, MP for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing and Wurundjeri elder, Murrindindi.

Last Friday our wonderful student representatives, First Nations Advocates and Principals supported the launch of the Collaborative Indigenous Strategy.

Developed in 2017, the Lilydale and Upper Yarra Education Plan (the Plan) saw three secondary schools in the Lilydale District and Yarra Valley Networks – Lilydale Heights College, Lilydale High School and Upper Yarra Secondary College – working together to revitalise secondary education across their communities, equip teachers with high quality training and resources, and improve school infrastructure.

How quickly the term has passed and once again there has been no end of activities that students have undertaken both in and out of the classroom. Students and staff have worked hard to reintegrate into a school routine after many months of uncertainty. I am very proud of the way the school has settled and our renewed focus on teaching and learning.

Congratulations go Liam Weir, Jack McVay and Thomas Burgess for completing their Bronze Award.

What a year it has been! I couldn’t be prouder of what the College community has achieved in challenging circumstances.