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I am delighted to have been provisionally appointed to the role of Principal, Footscray High School, pending the standard Department of Education appeals process. The appointment will commence from Term 2, 2025.
Recently I met with our Campus Principals to reflect on some of the Footscray High School data and our school’s overall performance. It was great to see that there are many areas that are real strengths for the school, and these are worthy of acknowledgement.
Footscray High School has had excellent VCE results, completions, and post-secondary destination data over a sustained period of time. We have outstanding results in Reading, Writing and Numeracy, being above state NAPLAN averages by 10 to 15 percentage points. Pleasingly, we also have strong results in the state-wide student opinion survey, with students at Footscray High School scoring our school above similar schools and the state averages. Specifically, students rate us highly in terms of the quality of teaching and learning practices at the school and school safety.
At the end of each year the department gives every school across the state a performance rating. Footscray High School has been rated as ‘High’, which is the top score available. The learning outcomes for our students were rated as a strength of a school, with overall high performance and a positive trajectory.
The leadership of the school and staff are looking forward working with our amazing students to building on these strong results, strengthening the school’s culture, teaching and learning and positive community impact in the years to come.
I wish all members of the school community a satisfying, energising and safe break. I look forward to welcoming our students back for Term 2 on Tuesday 22 April.
Jillian English
Acting Executive Principal
What an incredible day it was for our Footscray High School Rowing team at the Footscray Regatta this past Saturday, March 22nd! The sun was out, the Maribyrnong River was calm, and the atmosphere was electric, making for a perfect day of competition and camaraderie. Even the placement of our tent seemed spot on, giving our supporters and athletes alike the best vantage point to witness some phenomenal racing action.
The morning kicked off with a thrilling race in the Under 17 Single Scull event. Aster White showed her fierce determination, dominating her heat with ease and then edging out the competition in a nail-biting photo finish. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as she crossed the line to claim the gold medal in what was an absolutely outstanding performance. Well done, Aster!
But the excitement didn’t stop there! The Under 17 quads were up next, with two Footscray teams bringing the power in their respective heats. The first crew, consisting of Izzy Innes, Pip Liston, Hazel Rickard, Ada Innes, and coxed by CC Varone (who celebrated her 14th birthday on Sunday – happy belated birthday, CC!), had a tough race but managed to secure a well-earned second place. The second quad, made up of Lillianne Heaton-Harris, Sophia Brownstein, Matilda Herbert, May Silvester, and coxed by Chloe Strachan, showed incredible resilience through a competitive heat, also finishing in second place. Both crews gave it their all and showed why Footscray High School is a force to be reckoned with!
As the day went on, the senior squad stepped up in the Mixed Quad event, where Molly Strachan, Charlie Hodgeson, Tom Shackell, Indi Beattie, and Chloe Strachan faced off against some formidable senior athletes. It was a race of grit and determination, and Footscray High School’s crew claimed an impressive second place!
The grand finale was nothing short of spectacular, with the Mixed Double of Levi Porfyris and Charlotte Philpots. The crowd was eagerly waiting, and the duo delivered – crossing the finish line to secure a gold medal for Footscray High School! A stunning finish to an already remarkable day of racing.
This regatta was a true testament to the growth and dedication of all our rowers. From the Juniors through to our Seniors, every athlete showed immense progress, teamwork, and resilience throughout the season. Their achievements at the regatta reflect the commitment they’ve shown to the sport and to representing Footscray High School in the wider community – an extra special shout of to Year 7 Pilgrim LCL Nancy Johnstone who took time out of her Saturday to come and cheer these young athletes on, we were so grateful to have you there supporting from the bank.
As we take a moment to reflect on these incredible victories, I’d like to express how delighted we are of each and every one of our rowers. You’ve made Footscray High School proud and proven that hard work truly pays off.
Next week, I will be diving into what it’s like to be a rower at Footscray High School – giving a glimpse of what a season looks like from the inside, highlighting the ups and downs, and recognizing the countless hours students and parents have put into the program.
Until then, congratulations once again to all our athletes, and enjoy the well-deserved lie-ins! Let’s keep pushing forward – the best is yet to come.
A huge shoutout to Jake Mannix (Year 12, Class of 2024) for being selected for the Australian U20 Men’s Lacrosse team for the 2025 World Lacrosse U20 Men’s Championship in Jeju, South Korea this August!
Jake has also signed with Mars Hill University (NCAA Div 2) in North Carolina and will begin his college journey in Fall 2025.
Well done, Jake! We are incredibly proud and will be cheering you on every step of the way.
On Wednesday, the 26th of March, we were able to celebrate 10 of our students who won a Western Chances Scholarship in 2024! We also celebrated the success of three of our Alumni Scholarship Winners! Amanda Pudelka was the guest performer and sang an amazing version of Graffiti on the Overpass. Fathima Zakiya Ahamed Zuhdi graduated as an Alumni of the Western Chances Scholarship Program having had a scholarship with them since being at FHS and carried it through her University Studies. Farah Qamareen also received one of the highest awards of the night – the Lynne Wannan Award of general excellence. This is due to Farah’s incredible work in the STEM field.
Western Chances is a scholarship program based in Melbourne’s west and provides students with the chance to fulfil their potential and overcome barriers to success by providing scholarships, opportunity programs and ongoing support. Our scholarships support talented and motivated students who may not otherwise have an opportunity to pursue their education dreams. Western Chances provides scholarships for up to $1000 a year for Secondary School Students and once a recipient, they are eligible for a renewal of their scholarship every year whilst engaged in an education pathway. Last year we received $24,200 in scholarships for 27 students. We will be looking forward to nominating new students in July!
A fantastic day down at Kardinia Park for the Regional Swimming Championships.We had 15 students represent FHS in the pool, with some standout performances.Huge congratulations to Elli M in year 7, who had 4 individual events, placing 1st in the 50m Butterfly and Freestyle and a close 2nd in Breaststroke.
Yan L, our only state swimmer from last year, has gone back to back with a 1st place in the 50m Freestyle and a close 2nd in the breaststroke.Zoe Hine, our only year 12 representative, came and conquered in the 50m backstroke, claiming first place and progressing to the state finals early next term alongside Elli and Yan.Georgia A, with 3rd place in the 100m freestyle, capped off what was a great day for the girls and FHS.
Fantastic effort to all 15 swimmers who entered the water and did FHS proud.
The year 7 girls had a fantastic time competing in their volleyball inter-school tournament. Having lost 1 and won 1 match, they found themselves in the semifinals against Creekside. The girls unfortunately lost 2-0 in straight sets, but showed amazing skill nonetheless!
The MVP was Essie J, who bossed the court and was an absolute magician in creating excellent volleyball play, winning many points for the team! Thank you to all the students that came along and represented Footscray High School!
As for Boys Volleyball, the Pilgrim boys lost all 3 games but won a few sets.
The Barkly boys won 2 sets and lost 1. They narrowly missed the final.
All players had a lot of fun, and showed great development in their skills throughout the day.
A big unexpected win at year 7 Tennis today.
The boys tennis team won every match, led by Finian C. This was the first time the boys had played together and had a big team to navigate positions. Aidan & Finian won every single match. Well done to the boys, who will now progress to the Regional Championships held in Geelong on November 7.
The girls won every match leading into the final. The team trained together as a team from week 2 this term. Victoria, Elli, Ivana, Tamira & Roxy played so well as a team where we played Southern Cross Grammar in the final which they beat us by 1 match but tied in games. Roxy sacrificed her spot in the final to ensure we had the best shot of winning the final round.
So proud of our new year 7s.
Well done and good luck.
Congratulations to Katya B of Year 12 on her incredible achievement in securing a fully funded scholarship to participate in the Earthwatch school holiday program; Exploring Ecosystems of the Murray and Mallee Region in South Australia.
This highly competitive program received over 150 applications from students across Australia, with only sixteen placements awarded. Katya’s selection is a fantastic accomplishment—well done!
As part of the program, Katya will join scientists at Calperum Station to study the boom-and-bust cycles of plants and animals in the semi-arid zone along the Murray River. She will contribute to vital research on ecosystem recovery following 150 years of cattle grazing and explore how this knowledge can aid land restoration efforts and help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Her research will support the Australian Landscape Trust, which manages Calperum and Taylorville Stations, in developing effective conservation and restoration strategies.
We wish Katya a rewarding and safe experience and we extend our gratitude to the George Alexander Foundation (GAF) and Earthwatch Australia for making this opportunity possible.
Kate Kershaw – Environmental Science teacher.
WANTED!
We would love your donations for the whole school production of Mamma Mia later this year. If you have any of the following at home, please contact 08388609@footscray.vic.gov.au to arrange drop off.
COSTUME: male and female ALL sizes welcome.
Disco-Abba-sparkle-style clothes/beachwear/bright/boho/floral/patterns/blue beachy towels/flippers/goggles/resort wear/wedding guest outfits/wedding hats/beach hats/sarongs/priest costuming/mens suits in small sizes-any colour preferably not darkPROPS: wedding bouquets/folding-reclining chairs/beach chairs/beach umbrellas/taverna or Greek style chairs small tables.
As we wrapped up Term 1, the Kinnear campus came together to celebrate the achievements of our Year 10, 11, and 12 students during the Celebration Assemblies. This event provided an opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and accomplishments of our senior students.
These assemblies were led by our incredible SLC student leaders, who did a fabulous job hosting the event with confidence and enthusiasm. Their leadership set the tone for a truly memorable celebration.
During the assemblies, we recognised students who have excelled in academics, leadership, and personal growth. A highlight of the event was the Term 1 Awards, where numerous students received well-deserved recognition for their outstanding efforts and commitment to learning.
These celebrations created a vibrant and inspiring atmosphere, reminding us all of the hard work, resilience, and determination that our students consistently demonstrate. Congratulations to all award recipients and to every student who has worked towards personal and academic success this semester. We look forward to seeing what you will achieve in the months ahead!
Thank you to all parents, guardians, and students who attended our Year 12 Information Evening on Monday, 24th March. We appreciate your participation and hope you found the session informative and valuable for your child’s academic journey.
This important event provided essential insights into what lies ahead for our Year 12 students. We covered key aspects of the final school year and discussed how families can support their young person’s success.
Topics covered included:
Year 12 is both an exciting and challenging time, and we are committed to supporting our students and their families every step of the way. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the school office.
We look forward to a successful year ahead and appreciate your ongoing support!
A big congratulations to the Year 7 students who represented our school so wonderfully at the Footscray West Writers’ Fest launch last Friday. They did an excellent job in preparing and reciting their poems and stories in front of a sizeable audience at the West Footscray Library. It was a joy to witness them in action.
The students were fortunate to then hear from wonderful local authors Maxine Beneba Clarke, Andre Dao and Ernest Price.
– Emma Pollock.
Student opportunities
Please keep an eye on the student opportunities page which is updated regularly.
The Maribyrnong Swifts Soccer Club are looking for new players. More info here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X0U63oxhnQgxe8ScRsnrCHF2JjhqDaOhKJzaeVBwbYU/edit
Why do diagrams of the cardiovascular system show veins in blue and arteries in red? And does our blood really change colour like that? Your year 8 science students should be able to tell you why, or why not.
Last week the year 8 science classes had the opportunity to experience a heart dissection of a sheep heart. Students followed the directions of their teachers to successfully locate the major structures of the heart including the atriums, ventricles and valves.
This was definitely a highlight for a lot of students in our Year 8 Biology unit. This term, we learned about what cells are, and the differences between Animal, Plant and Bacterial cells. We also dived into the world of cell specialisation, which includes things like heart muscle. Students then chose a particular specialised cell and presented a poster for their summative assessment this term.
Next term, year 8 students can look forward to Chemistry: Atoms, elements, compounds, physical and chemical changes.
This year the VET Cookery students are thrilled to be working with Howard Stamp, owner/Chef from Bar Thyme as we bring back the Chefs Dinner. Howard is a world-class chef working across Europe and his home in the UK. From Michellian starred restaurants in Europe to Melbourne’s own Movida he has incredible experiences in the culinary world. In 2020 he opened his own restaurant, Bar Time Bistro in Barkly Street, Footscray which he has designed to be an extension of his home. The VET Cookery class has been working with Howard and the VET Horticulture class to design a menu for our event in May.
On Thursday while taking a break from parent teacher conferences the current VET cookery students along with Year 12 students who completed the course last year, enjoyed an exquisite dining experience at Bar Thyme. In between sipping house made apricot and ginger spritzes (non-alcoholic of course!) we tasted a three course meal of seasonal produce. Contention for the most favourite dish was discussed with great passion, as each course was better than the last. Howard and his team spoke with the students on how the dishes were made, where the ingredients were sourced and the origins of how each item came to be on the menu. Our students left on a high and full of ideas for our next discussion with Howard when we finalise the menu for the Chef’s Dinner on the 29th of May.
It is an honour and a privilege for Footscray High School to be working with a consummate leader in the hospitality industry and a pioneer in the transformation of Footscray’s food scene into a Foodie destination. More details to come so watch this space or head over to Bar Thyme for a truly beautiful meal over the break.
From a student perspective:
Coming up on May 29th will be the FHS Chef’s dinner, returning for the first time since 2019!
The Year 11 VET Cookery and Horticulture students, will supply, cook, and present a 3 course dinner, in collaboration with Footscray bistro Bar Thyme’s owner Howard Stamp.
So far, the Year 11 students have discussed with Howard menu ideas, seasonal ingredients and how the dinner is going to be prepared and presented. Some of our ideas include a French dessert plate, beef wellington, and woodfired pizza for canapes. The Farm has also been growing a variety of fresh, organic ingredients such as honey Jak has collected from the hives, and zucchini and chilli we have used to prepare pickles and jam in advance. For further inspiration we are set to visit Bar Thyme and take a look into how the restaurant is run, and the range of European-based dishes they serve.
We’d love to see some community support, so don’t forget to book!
By Archer L.
Tickets are selling now. Click on the link below to book a table or join others on theirs!
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1382396
Senior Humanities
The unusual diversity of Humanities subjects available in the senior years is one of Footscray High School’s flagship strengths; Economics, Politics and Philosophy as well as the more common subjects of Legal, Business and History. It demonstrates a student body with intellectual curiosity and strong reading and writing skills. Our inaugural full class of Year 12 Ancient History is an example, as only about 600 students do this course across Victoria.
Despite two Year 11 Ancient History classes, Modern History is still going strong, with teacher Prue Mann reporting that she has a fantastic class working to a high standard. They have been evaluating each others’ video documentaries on the Cold War.
This year we re-introduced compulsory half-year history at Year 10, to ensure we are educating all on key events in the 20th Century. Earlier this year, the four Year 10 classes visited the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, and were lucky to hear a survivor talk about his experience. The other Year 10s will visit in August.
Other disciplines are doing well, with a really keen class of Year 10 Politics students who are running mock elections, hard working Legal Studies classes and three Business Management classes at Year 12 for the first time.
Year 9 parents may be beginning to consider options for their child accelerating in Year 10 (doing a Year 11 subject). Business Management is a good accessible subject that not many students apply for. Last year Sandra and Elizabeth did Business in Year 12, and passed on some feedback. Sandra said, “it helped me understand what Year 11 and 12 would look like. It helped me with other subjects, especially with Legal and Politics. I found the content not too complex and a lot easier to learn, and overall helped me get ready for year 12.” Elizabeth said, “Business is a lot less intimidating than other subjects. The way we were taught really helped set me up for my other classes. The content in business is very repetitive so it really gets drilled into your head. Each area of study, a new concept would be introduced but if you really broke it down it was just another way of applying content previously learnt, so we didn’t need to stress as much.”
Junior Humanities
This year we have an outstanding Junior Humanities team, with a range of highly experienced staff collaborating with enthusiastic and knowledgeable early career teachers. In our meetings, we have been incorporating the government’s new curriculum changes, reducing risks of student AI use, and strengthening the capability of junior years to build core study skills and writing skills to improve success in VCE. It’s great to hear students are meeting high expectations by bringing textbooks to class, reducing dependence on the distracting laptop!
Year 7 have started the year with an Economics test, followed by the Life Project. They are currently doing Civics, with a focus on Australian values. Year 8 have been focusing on Geography, with a major research case study on Migration. Year 9 have also been studying Biomes and Food Production all term, culminating in a major test.
In Term 2, Year 7s will study Water access issues in Geography, Year 8s are doing Landscapes and Mountain Landforms, while Year 9s are beginning the Industrial Revolution.
All Year 8s will have the opportunity to undertake the Australian Geography Competition in class, which is a 30-minute online test. We appreciate parents and carers paying the $5 to ensure their child’s participation. Please keep an eye out on Compass for other prizes and opportunities for keen junior Humanities students to participate in.
Kate Habgood
Humanities Learning Area Leader
Student safety at Footscray High School is our highest priority and the safe and appropriate supervision of students is an important element of our duty of care to students. Part of this duty is ensuring parents and students are aware of our student supervision arrangements before and after school.
Before school: Students are supervised inside the school building from 8:45am
After school: School grounds are supervised until 3.15pm. The bus stops near Kinnear and Barkly are supervised until 3;30pm.
Please note that the grassed area by the railway line at Pilgrim is out of bounds before and after school.
Students on school grounds outside these times will not be supervised (unless they are attending a before or after school program or supervised extracurricular activity).
Please contact the Operations Assistant Principal on 9112 9500 if further assistance or information is required regarding yard duty supervision.
School council recently endorsed the Statement of Values and School Philosophy Policy.
The following polices have been updated.
Action Plan added.
All school polices are located here on our school website.
Please be reminded that items of personal property that are lost, stolen or damaged at school or during school activities, including camps and excursions is not the responsibility of Footscray High School or the Department of Education. Staff and students are reminded not to bring items of value to school.
Also note the Department (which includes our school) does not have accident insurance. Parents/carers are liable for student medical expenses, including ambulance costs, unless the injury or medical incident resulted from a negligent act or omission on behalf of the Department. The principal team or delegate may not contact the parents/carers, if in the principal’s or delegate’s opinion, an ambulance is required without delay.
We encourage parents/carers to have up-to-date ambulance cover for their child.
If required please refer to our school Personal Property policy and Claims for Property Damage and Medical Expenses.