I warmly welcome back the students, staff and parents from the nine weeks of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and congratulate all of our students for their effort and hard work throughout this period.

We still need to maintain our vigilance to ensure the wellbeing and safety of our school community, as directed by the Chief Health Officer and Education Department. Please continue to read the weekly Newsfeeds, as they contain important information and updates.

Our priority for the students and staff will be to ensure that this transition back to on-site learning will be a positive and safe experience and together, we will work through any of the challenges that may arise.

Last week, there was a real sense of excitement and anticipation about the return of the VCE students and staff. The VCE students appreciated having the time, as a cohort, to reflect and chat with each other and their teachers during the staged approach to the resumption of onsite learning and teaching. Next week, on Tuesday 9th June, we will welcome back the students in Years 7 -10, who will continue to undertake their remote learning and teaching this week.

I would also like to thank and acknowledge the commitment and dedication of our teachers and education support staff, which has been affirmed by the positive emails and phone calls that we have received, some of which are set out on the next page of this newsletter. Finally, a big thank you to the parents for your wonderful contribution and support.

The Blackburn High School Community received some fantastic news last week with the announcement of funding for a new STEM Centre of Excellence from the Andrews’ Government. We thank the local State Member for Box Hill, Mr Paul Hamer, who last week, accepted the school council invitation to discuss this initiative with them. We will use the STEM Centre as a catalyst for a new approach to learning and teaching across the curriculum.

Mrs Joanna Alexander
Principal