I extend a warm welcome to every student and family across our F–12 community as we find ourselves almost in week 6 of 2026. It is a privilege to walk alongside your family in the year ahead. Our eNews will continue to serve as a key engagement channel for our community. Two editions will be published each term. We review engagement and feedback to ensure each edition remains relevant and valuable to you.
Ours is a school shaped by many different stories — learners joining us for health reasons, elite pursuits, shared enrolments, fresh starts or new directions. In this edition of VSV Life, you will find dedicated articles for our primary, middle years and senior school communities. Each has been designed to offer more specific insight into the learning focus, supports and priorities relevant to that stage of schooling, yet with one consistent focus – to support every student to move forward with confidence.
In our inaugural Celebrating Success edition of VSV Life late last year, we reflected on the idea that success is not a fixed or universal measure. It is personal and contextual. It looks different depending on the individual and their journey. For some, success may be academic growth; for others, it may be engagement, confidence, resilience or courage in trying something new. That philosophy continues to shape our approach in 2026. At the same time, we celebrate those moments when achievement is visible on a national or global stage. We are immensely proud of alumni Scotty James and Jakara Anthony, whose Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic accomplishments reflect years of dedication, discipline and balance between study and elite sport. Their journeys remind us that pathways can be both unique and extraordinary.
Equally important are the structures that quietly underpin student wellbeing and belonging. The establishment of our on-site sensory room ensures that whenever students attend in person at VSV in Thornbury, there is a thoughtfully designed space to support regulation and comfort. Our Abilities Day morning tea held in December further reinforced our commitment to inclusion and understanding, celebrating the diverse strengths within our community. These are not standalone initiatives and events; they are expressions of our core belief that every learner should feel safe and supported.
We also recognise the vital role of families in an online learning environment. Our Parent Wellbeing article acknowledges that learning from home requires partnership, structure and encouragement. Empowering families with practical strategies and reassurance is central to student success, and we remain committed to clear communication and responsive support throughout the year.
Finally, I encourage our students to read about Amelia’s work experience placement opportunity at Melbourne Zoo, occurring early in October. Amelia’s efforts to secure work experience in a place reflecting her passions is a reminder to lean into curiosity and pursue interests with confidence. When students take initiative and follow their passions, they begin shaping pathways that are authentically their own.
I look forward to the year ahead and to the many forms of success — quiet and celebrated, personal and shared — that will unfold across our community.
Warm regards,
Fiona Webster
Executive Principal
