06 Feb 2023
Dear parents, carers and school community,
Welcome to the 2023 school year. It has been wonderful to see our new Year 7 students make a successful start to high school, along with a large number of new Special Education enrolments who have joined us from across the local area. It has also been pleasing to see our Year 11 students make a positive transition to their senior studies. A special welcome to all students and families who are new to our school.
Following a rigorous staff recruitment period, I am pleased to welcome the following new staff to Belmont High in 2023:
Hayley Terry – Technological and Applied Studies
Renee Arena - Science
Emma Wooding – Special Education
Caitlin Lester - Senior Learning Hub
Kylie Brunt - Counsellor
Tanya Fisher – Student Learning Support Officer
I wish new staff all the very best for a long and positive association with the school. I would also like to congratulate Karen Newman who was the successful applicant for our newly established Head Teacher Learning Support position and Josie Mullington who has joined the school as relieving Head Teacher Special Education.
This year, we celebrate Belmont High School’s 70th anniversary, as the first comprehensive high school established outside of Newcastle. Over this time, the school has developed a long and proud history and we now have many second and third generation families as part of our Belmont school community. The school is planning a number of activities to be held throughout the year including promotional and documentary-style videos to commemorate this milestone achievement, and culminating in a large community celebration event in Term 3.
This year, Belmont High is focused on continuing our journey of academic improvement. In 2022, the school was proud to achieve the school’s best ever Year 9 NAPLAN Writing results and best Reading results in seven years. With NAPLAN for Years 7 and 9 students scheduled to begin on March 15, we are providing intensive support for students to help them to achieve their best. We also look forward to acknowledging and celebrating our Year 12 2022 students’ HSC success in our upcoming High Achievers Assembly on Monday 13 February, including the awarding of our HSC Dux to Thomas Saultry, who achieved an ATAR of 92.35.
Work on improving the appearance and amenity of the school will continue into the new year. The school has almost completed work on air conditioning all classrooms and staff areas, a $220,000 project. Following through from the tremendous work of our School Improvement and Promotions and PB4L Committees, we will have $30,000 of new signage installed, and upgraded internal fencing along the oval and COLA areas following the completion of the new perimeter fence last year. Listening to the voice of our students, we are working through delivering a number of projects advocated by our student leaders including the installation of new covered outdoor seating.
I look forward to communicating our plans and student and school achievements throughout what we hope will be a highly successful year at Belmont High School. We greatly value our partnership with our parent and school community and look forward to continuing to build our school in partnership.
Yours sincerely,
Gareth Erskine | Principal