Newsletter 16 - 2026

With Term 4 underway, I would like to thank our students and families for their support as we settle back into school routines.

Thank you to everyone who completed the Parent and Carer Opinion Survey last term. Your feedback helps us understand families’ experiences of the college and identify where we can improve.

With warmer weather arriving, we have reminded families about summer uniform. Shorts must be plain black and mid thigh length, worn with the school white polo or House polo. Approved dresses and skirts are also suitable. Bike and football shorts, leggings and sandals are not permitted. Thank you for supporting these expectations, and please contact the college if you need help accessing uniform.

Teachers have also reinforced expectations for the oval at recess and lunch. The soccer pitch is reserved for students actively playing soccer, while other activities should take place on the main oval. Students must remain within the oval ring, including the wooden seating, and keep away from the back paddock and bushland. Thank you for following staff directions and leaving the soccer nets in place without climbing or swinging on them.

Thank you to families keeping the school side of Snodgrass Street clear for buses. This applies to both drop off and pick up, even when stopping briefly. Families may use the opposite side where parking signs permit, ensuring students cross safely.

Finally, thank you for your patience with ongoing roadworks and temporary transport arrangements. Works around Marchbanks Road, Short Street and Hamilton Street may affect travel to school. Please allow extra time, follow traffic directions and check the October works notice on Compass for details.

Last week 20 Year 8 students participated in an all-day incursion with STEM Punks and a couple of engineers associated with the Inland Rail project. In Session 1, the students were given an overview of STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics), the Stem Punks team roles of Sara & Gwyneth and the careers of the two guest engineers, Brent & Joel. Session 2 gave the students a chance to practise using coding to program Microbits. Session 3, the students used these Microbits to program a four-wheel robot with a camera. They were able to move the robot all directions and use facial recognition in their group. In Session 4, our students were set the challenge to design “grabbers” for their robots that could be controlled to pick up a “container” and then move this container from one place to another. Each group got the chance to battle it out for the overall honour of the most effective robot.

Thanks to the STEM Punks educators and Inland Rail for funding and delivering this free incursion.

Mitchell Shire Library Crime Lovers Festival

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A full day of crime writing, true crime and rural noir will come to Seymour Library on Saturday 14 November.

Join some of Australia’s most compelling crime writers and podcasters for three standout events exploring the craft of crime, the stories behind real cases and the darkness lurking beneath quiet country towns.

10.30am to 12pm – Crime Writing Workshop with Vikki Petraitis
Got a crime story in you? Bestselling author Vikki Petraitis leads a practical workshop covering plot, character, suspense, pacing, twists and tension. Perfect for aspiring writers, emerging authors or anyone curious about how gripping crime fiction is built.

1pm to 2pm – From True Crime to Fiction with Emily Webb and Vikki Petraitis
Emily Webb and Vikki Petraitis come together to talk true crime, podcasting and the leap from real cases to fiction. Emily spent seven years co-hosting Australian True Crime with Meshel Laurie, while she and Vikki have now teamed up on The Unthinkable podcast.

2.30pm to 3.30pm – Rural Noir Author Panel
Small towns. Dark secrets. Big crimes. Emily Webb chairs a conversation with Vikki Petraitis, Bronwyn Hall and Lyn Yeowart about why rural and regional Australia provide such rich territory for crime fiction.

Come for one session or make a day of it. Bookings are essential at: Crime Lovers Festival

https://www.mitchellshire.vic.gov.au/residents/libraries/library-events-and-programs

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Charlie Warren is a Year 11 student at Broadford Secondary College who has commenced an electrical school-based apprenticeship with Forsam Electrical Pty Ltd, a local electrical business based in Kilmore. Charlie has attended VET Electrical at Kangan this year which has provided a great introduction to the electrical industry. Charlie completed work placement this year with Forsam Electrical, this exposure to both the industry and employer has allowed Charlie to develop a work ethic and potential in the trade where his employer Luke Forbes offered Charlie a school-based apprenticeship. Charlie will continue to work one day a week in 2026 and transition to two days a week in 2027. He will attend trade school at Kangan in Broadmeadows.

Forsam Electrical has been a great supporter of providing students with work experience in the electrical industry. Their current third year apprentice commenced with the business as a school-based apprentice.

Good luck Charlie.

Photo – Luke Forbes of Forsam Electrical with Charlie Warren.

The conveyance allowance is a form of financial assistance to help families in rural and regional Victoria with the cost of transporting their children to their nearest appropriate school/campus. The conveyance allowance is available to eligible students travelling by public transport, private car and private bus. The conveyance allowance is also available to eligible students whose nearest school is not serviced by a free school bus.

Eligibility criteria:

• The eligibility criteria varies depending on the type of school attended and where it is located. Students attending a government or non-government school must:
• Attend their nearest government or non-government school/campus appropriate to their year level at which admission is permissible
• be enrolled at a school/campus outside Melbourne’s metropolitan conveyance boundary
• reside 4.8km or more by the shortest practicable route from that school/campus attended
• be of school age (5 to 18 years old at time of application) and reside in Victoria.

Please follow the link:
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/PAL/conveyance-allowance-form-1-car-private-travel.docx