Hello Preshil community,

Welcome to another edition of the Weekly!

This week our Peppercorns participated in their excursion to Sovereign Hill.

While there may have been some tired faces on return, the experience has already had a deep and lasting impact. A key priority for us is to ensure that students have a myriad of meaningful learning experiences throughout their time here. Experiences that extend beyond the school grounds and involve genuine interaction with the world.

This camp achieved that on many levels. We are tremendously grateful for the care, planning and thoughtful delivery our staff invested in making it such a rich experience. As will be the case for all our camps, these programs are built on Preshil’s educational principles and are designed to provide the essential conditions for growth.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to launching the year so positively. It has been an impressive start to our “best year yet” in 2026.

Warmly,

Aaron Mackinnon
Principal

Welcome to VCE VM Sausage Sizzle
On Thursday our VCE Vocational Major students proudly hosted their Welcome BBQ alongside the student-run Pokémon event and it was a fantastic success.

As part of their Numeracy Unit 1 assessment, students planned, costed, advertised and ran the sausage sizzle from start to finish. They managed, budgeting, food preparation, sales, teamwork and customer service while welcoming students and staff to the VCE VM space. The BBQ area was full of Pokémon costumes, conversation and community spirit.

The event was a wonderful example of applied learning at Preshil in action, with students demonstrating real-world enterprise skills, confidence and responsibility while contributing to school life.

Thank you to everyone who came along to support the students, and especially to our Vocational Major class for their organisation, enthusiasm and hard work. We are very proud of what they achieved!

Grade 6 at Sovereign Hill
Grade 6 stepped back in time in Ballarat. Panning for gold, heading underground on a mine tour, walking the 1850’s streets, sitting in the old schoolhouse and proudly wearing the clothes of the era, which they absolutely loved.

Hadestown
Here’s a sneak peak of our extraordinary cast of Hadestown: Teen Edition as rehearsals begin for our 2026 production at Chapel Off Chapel. Opening night is set for late July 2026 and the work is already underway.

This year, the cast will be creating their own behind-the-scenes footage and character content for our social media. Not polished. Not scripted. Just students shaping the story on stage and off.

For nearly a century, we’ve trusted young people with real responsibility. Watch this space for more.

Welcome Picnic
Last week’s Welcome Picnic reminded us why community matters so much at Preshil. In the heat and sunshine, we gathered with cold drinks in hand, music in the air and an ice-cream truck that was kept busy all afternoon.

Our young people took to the stage – no fuss, no polish, just courage and joy. Thank you to our students, families and staff who made it such a generous afternoon.

Days like this aren’t extras, they’re part of who we are. A chance to connect, to welcome new faces and to strengthen the relationships that sit at the heart of our school.

VCE Drama Excursion to Robot Song
Last week, our VCE Drama 1/2 and IB Theatre class went on an excursion to see “Robot Song” in St Kilda. The musical involved how families cope with the pressures of neurodivergence. We also had a chance to meet the robot prop!

Pokémon Day
This week, our staff and students celebrated Pokemon Day! It’s now been 30 years since the original games, Pokemon Red and Green, were crafted in Japan. Our celebration included costumes, trading cards and a screening of the first movie. Thank you to Emily and Laurie for organising.

Blackhall Homework Support Sessions
The Blackhall Campus runs two optional homework support sessions each week with secondary school teachers:

Mondays 3:15pm – 4:00pm and Thursdays 8:15am – 9:00am

These drop-in sessions take place in the Blackhall Library and provide students with additional academic support.

Students can receive assistance with; upcoming assessments, in-class tasks, study skills and organisation, managing Google Classroom tasks and deadlines. This is a great opportunity for students to seek clarification, stay organised, and build confidence in their learning. We strongly encourage students to take advantage of these sessions when they need extra support.

Registration Online Space Teams Academy
Registrations are now open for Students become fully prepared and empowered for future academic and career endeavours in STEM-related fields. Space Teams Academy is an immersive virtual engineering experience covering all aspects of space mission design and planning. Sign up here and start March 4.

Calling all Preshil Primary Alum
Join us at Arlington for the Preshil Primary Reunion and Open House on Saturday 21 March, from 2pm to 5pm. This invitation is for former Primary students, families, educators and friends of our community. It’s an afternoon to reconnect, wander the grounds and share stories across generations of Preshil.

Please RSVP by 7 March to archive@preshil.vic.edu.au so we can prepare for the day and share details about meeting places.

Preshil Merchandise
Our Preshil merchandise range has expanded and now includes a hoodie and some fresh new branding. You can shop the range here.

Classroom Cuisine
At Preshil, we’re pleased to offer families access to Classroom Cuisine, an online lunch ordering service designed specifically for schools that provides fresh, seasonal lunches. The menu for Term 1 has just come in and can be viewed below.

Visit classroomcuisine.com.au to get started.

Preshil Careers Hub
Discover everything you need to make a successful transition through high school and into the ‘real world’. Sign up to receive our Pathways & Careers Newsletters, access the latest guides on life and money management, work experience opportunities, and parent resources. You can also connect with the Careers and Pathways Team for personalised support. Click the link below for more information on Preshil’s Careers Hub.

Preshil Careers Hub

The Week Ahead

Monday 2 March

All Day: Blackhall- Year 7 – 10 PAT Testing Begins

Tuesday 3 March

12:30pm – 3:00pm: Blackhall – IBDP Art Exhibition Visit – Glen Eira City Council Gallery in Caulfield
3:15pm – 4:00pm: Blackhall – Senior School Homework Sessions – Blackhall Library
6:45pm – 7:45pm: Blackhall – Year 12 Parent Pre-VTAC & SEAS Application Presentation – Online

Wednesday 4 March

9:30am – 11:00am: Arlington – Open Morning
12:30pm – 1:30pm: Blackhall – Year 11 & 12 Study Without Stress – Media 1
12:30pm – 3:15pm: Blackhall – Respect, Protect, Connect
3:45pm – 5:45pm: Arlington – Family Check-Ins

Thursday 5 March

8:15am – 9:00am: Blackhall – Senior School Homework Sessions – Blackhall Library
9:00am – 2:30pm: Blackhall – Year 9 Science Student Climate Commons – Melbourne Museum
9:00am – 3:00pm: Arlington – SunRoom CBD Architecture Amble
9:00am – 3:15pm: STEM F1 Driver Learning Program – Albert Park
3:45pm – 5:45pm: Arlington – Family Check-Ins

Friday 6 March