Principal's Welcome to the 2026 School Year

Good morning everyone — students, staff, parents and families — and welcome to the beginning of a new school year.

The start of a year like this is always full of mixed emotions. There is excitement and possibility, a little nervousness, and a sense of anticipation about what lies ahead. This year, though, many of us arrive carrying something heavier as well.

Just before Christmas, our country was shaken by the terrible events at Bondi. Like so many Australians, we felt shock, sadness and confusion. For some in our community, those events felt very close to home. More recently, the Victorian bushfires and floods have again reminded us how quickly lives can be disrupted, and how loss and uncertainty can touch people we know and love. Some members of our community may have been directly affected — through evacuation, damage, or the worry of waiting for news.

It is important to say this clearly: it is ok to feel unsettled. It is ok to feel sad, anxious, or unsure. And it is important that we notice those feelings in one another and offer care, patience and understanding.

One of the great strengths of a school community like ours is that we come together — especially when times are hard. Schools are places of learning, yes, but they are also places of care, safety, and belonging. Here, every person matters.

Our school is built on values — and two of the most important are respect and courage.

Respect means seeing the humanity in each other. It means listening, even when we disagree. It means recognising that everyone you pass in the corridor is carrying a story you may not know.

Courage is not about being fearless. Courage is about choosing kindness when it would be easier to turn away. It is about speaking up for others, asking for help when you need it, and being willing to learn from mistakes.

When difficult things happen in the world, it can be tempting to feel powerless. But peace does not begin in headlines or with governments — it begins in everyday moments. It begins in classrooms, playgrounds, staffrooms and homes. It begins in the way we speak to one another, the way we include others, and the way we respond to difference.

To our students — from our youngest learners to our Year 12s — you are not “too young” to matter. Every act of empathy counts. Every time you choose understanding over judgement, or kindness over anger, you are shaping the world you will one day lead. You are learning not just subjects and skills, but how to live alongside others with care and responsibility.

To our staff — thank you for the compassion, professionalism and quiet strength you bring each day. You help set the tone for what respect and courage look like in action.

And to our parents and families — thank you for your trust and partnership. Together, we help our children feel secure enough to learn, grow and hope.

We cannot promise that the world will always be calm or predictable. But we can promise this: at ELTHAM College, we will look after one another. We will listen carefully. We will keep learning. And we will believe that by practising empathy and understanding every day, this generation of young people can help create a more peaceful future.

So, let’s begin this year with open hearts, steady courage, and a shared commitment to caring for one another and for the world we share.

Welcome to the new school year.