A very busy start to Term 4, with so many learning opportunities for all students.
Our Year 12 students are busy with exams well under way. On the 24th of October we held our Year 12 Graduation, this was a very successful evening with over 500 in attendance. Thanks to the Senior school team for organising this and I hope the students and parents had an enjoyable night and were able to reflect on their time at Geelong High.
We had a very successful GPEP Year 9 Central Australia camp with students experiencing many different aspects of Indingous culture. Our Year 8 girls took part in the Big Sister experience which was focussed on building self-esteem and resilience.
Thank you to Ms Katie Walsh for her excellent work with our student leaders, in particular out Be Bold Be Heard girls' group. I know these students have had numerous opportunities to expand their leadership skills and voice for change.
I wanted to share with the school community some of the data which we were judged upon by the Department of Education. Our recent data included a staff survey and parent survey. All of these results put us well above the state average in all areas. Geelong High is considered a high performing school, with over 85% of parents satisfied with the job we are doing. This is not to say that we can't improve and do things better, we certainly can. I want to assure parents we are always looking to improve but at the same time recognise that we are a high performing school and only getting better each day.
2026 School Captains
I would like to announce our school captains for 2026.
Captains: Koby Olsen and Eva Aidt
Vice-Captains: Millie Lane and Lucy Barrett
This year the quality of the applications and speeches were amazing. We have some great kids at GHS.
Toilets
I just wanted to update the school community on our ongoing toilet upgrade. I had earlier written to the school community indicating a delay of up to 4 - 6 weeks. This was due to an electrical switchboard update being delayed. This has now been resolved, and we should have the toilets by mid-November at the latest.
Smart Start
In 2025, we are moving students up to their new year level for 3 weeks in preparation for 2026. Students will meet most of their teachers and start work for 2026. We see this as an extremely valuable learning time and as an opportunity to embed key concepts, whilst keeping students on task and learning until the end of the year.
Key Dates
Later in the newsletter there are a number of key dates for the remainder of the year. Please keep up to date and checking these important dates.
It was with excitement, pride and great sense of achievement that the Class of 2025 celebrated their Graduation on the 24th of October at GMBHA Stadium. It was a sensational celebration with students, parents and the Geelong High teaching staff coming together to acknowledge the dedication of our Year 12 students to finish their secondary schooling.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 and we wish them all the best with their future endeavours.
Geelong High School is excited to present its Art & Technology Show for its second-year return. The show highlights our incredible creativity and talent of our students.
This year's show will be held on the 12th of November running from 6pm - 8pm held in our college Atrium. Throughout the exhibition, attendees will have the opportunity to watch an array of performances from our Music, Drama and Dance students. A coffee van will also be set up in the college backyard where you can purchase hot drinks such as tea, coffee. Small refreshments will be available on the night, made by our Technology team and students.
We warmly invite families, friends and wider community members to join us in celebrating the artistic achievements of our students. We look forward to seeing you there!
2026 YEAR 7 INFORMATION NIGHT AND ORIENTATION PROGRAM
On the 24th of November we are very excited to welcome our 2026 Year 8 cohort and their families to Geelong High School to meet our leadership team and their house leaders.
This evening leads into our Year 7 orientation program on the 9th and 10th of December.
Hello! I'm Anusha from the Be Bold Be Heard team, and I'm excited to share that this term, the leadership members of our girls' group proudly helped organise and participate in the fourth forum of 2025. This forum showcased the confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills we've built throughout the year. The session was an incredible success, highlighting not just the voices of female students, but the power of collaboration and independence our GHS team has developed together.
In preparation for the forum, members of our leadership group worked with students from other schools to independently allocate roles and plan the event - from coordinating guest speakers to managing logistics. This experience allowed up to put into practice the communication, organisation, and problem-solving skills we've developed through the year. It was inspiring to see members take initiative, contribute ideas, and step up as leaders in their own right.
During the forum, several of our members proudly presented our achievements to groups from nearby secondary schools. We shared our goals - to create an inclusive, safer, and fairer environment for our peers - and the actions we took to achieve them, along with their positive outcomes.
We are incredibly proud of how far the Be Bold Be Heard team has come this year. What started as a space for student voices has blossomed into a powerhouse of confident young leaders. Huge congratulations to everyone who made this term's forum such an inspiring success!
A big thank you to our Be Bold Be Heard Champions, Mr Walsh, Ms Tolley and Ms Garcia who have supported and empowered us through the year.
Year 9 GPEP Students recently embarked on an unforgettable trip to Central Australia, giving students the chance to experience the heart of the country beyond the classroom. Over the course of the journey, students explored iconic landmarks such as Uluru, Kata, Tjuata and Kings Canyon, immersing themselves in the rich culture, history, and natural beauty of the region. At Lilla, a remote indigenous community, the group learned about the deep spiritual significance of the land and gained insight into Indigenous traditions through guided tours and storytelling from traditional owners.
Beyond sightseeing, the trip fostered teamwork, independence and resilience as student navigated long travel days, camping under the stars, and sharing responsibilities. Whether watching a desert sunset, cooking kangaroo tail, or performing in our first talent show, the experience strengthened friendships and broadened perspectives. The Central Australia trip was not only an educational adventure but also a powerful reminder of the importance of connection.
On the 16th of October, 11 year 7 and 8 students participated in the Coding Challenge held at Docklands. There they competed in small groups in challenging and fun coding challenges.
The Year 8 Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) maths class participated in the Melbourne University Statistical Challenge. The students worked in groups to solve a problem and then wrote a report presenting their findings.
Congratulations to Zhiqing Li, Hudson Andrews and Lebron Gorman for receiving a certificate of merit. Well done to all students!
At the end of term 3, twenty (20) students from Year 8 to 11, accompanied by three (3) staff members, travelled to Japan for an unforgettable study tour from 13 - 24th of September 2025. The group spent four (4) nights in Tokyo, two (2) nights in Hiroshima, two (2) night in Kyoto and two (2) nights in Nara, exploring Japan's rich history, culture and modern life. A clear highlight for many was visiting our friendship school, Seishin Gakuen, where GHS students played traditional Japanese games, participated in language exchange activities, visited a nearby temple and even taught the Seishin students how to Aussie Rules football. The trip offered a unique opportunity to experience Japanese culture first-hand, and many students were proud to discover that their Japanese language skills were more proficient than they had realised, as they confidently communicated in real-life situations.
In March 2026, we will again welcome twenty (20) Seishin students to Geelong High School. Families interested in hosting one of these students can find more information in the advertisement in this newsletter or contact Bradley Rankin at school. Hosting provides a wonderful opportunity for our students and families to share Australia culture while learning more about Japanese life, strengthening the friendship between our two schools and communities.
Host families will receive a tax-free stipend of $50 per night per student in their home.
Families can take two students if they have spare beds and car space.
Students will attend Geelong High School, and they will attend organised excursions with Jenny to Sovereign Hill, Ballarat Wildlife Park, Booln Booln and Deakin University.
No airport pick up – drop off.
If this interests your family, please contact Jenny Harrison
