Celebrating Our Year 12s and Senior School Team

As the year draws to a close, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all Year 12 teachers for their tireless efforts in supporting students through the exam season. Special thanks to our Senior School team, who have managed a busy period of SACE-related tasks with dedication and care. Our recent, Year 12 farewell assembly, welcomed and acknowledged families, students and staff in a wonderful celebration of achievement and resilience. We congratulate all our our Year 12 students for their extraordinary commitment over the years at Underdale and wish them all the very best for their exams and final assignments.

Student Agency and Engagement on Display

Our students have shown outstanding initiative and engagement in recent weeks. Highlights include the creative Year 8 voting posters and a variety of extracurricular activities, such as our Outdoor Education camp. We were especially proud of four Year 7 students who represented Underdale High at the Learning Expeditions presentation at Adelaide Zoo, demonstrating impressive maturity, engagement, and school pride. Their efforts—and the efforts of our staff—were recognised by the Department for Education during the Secondary Years Sharing of Practice Day. It's wonderful to see student voice and rigorous learning design flourishing at Underdale High.

Learning in Focus

At Underdale High School, we are deeply committed to meaningful and future-focused learning. Our site learning plan has a strong emphasis on diving deeper into the resources and practices we know make a difference. One exciting initiative is our proactive approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital tools, which are being explored to help tailor learning for all students. From 2026, all students will have access to EdChat, an AI resource designed to support innovative and accessible learning at school.

We are also continuing to use teaching sprints, learning walks, and ELLI (Effective Lifelong Learning Inventory) to gather evidence of student progress and shape our teaching. Staff are working hard on mapping the Mathematics curriculum and providing evidence of learning in HASS, further strengthening learning outcomes across the school. As always, support and resources around formative assessment and self-regulation remain central.

Learner Management System

In 2026 we are very excited to announce our launch of Compass, we shared details with our Governing Council last term, and will provide more detailed information in the coming weeks. This system will replace our Daymap system.

Making a Difference in the Community

Underdale High students continue to shine beyond the classroom. We recently received wonderful feedback from a volunteer working alongside our students —during the Zambrero’s Plate 4 Plate program. Our students were praised for their energy, responsibility, and teamwork, bringing our school values to life in the community.

Strengthening Our Community Connections

Our Primary Principal Breakfast was a tremendous success—thank you to our Food and Hospitality students for creating a delicious high tea for our guests. Positive feedback poured in about our respectful and welcoming climate, the quality of learning, and the insightful tours led by our staff and students. Special thanks to Loula, Chad, and the team for providing hands-on learning experiences for Brooklyn Park Primary students in our Virtual Reality Lab.

Our recent Principal’s tour also received glowing feedback. Thank you to all staff and students who made our visitors feel so welcome and helped showcase what makes Underdale a fantastic place to learn.

Praise and thanks from our neighbours

We were delighted to receive this message from Yunni Seindanis, Principal of Torrensville Primary School, after their recent visit:

“It was a great opportunity to showcase the amazing things happening at Underdale High. Please pass on our gratitude and congratulations to all of the students involved. It took courage, confidence, responsibility and school pride to be involved.”

Feedback like this highlights the strength and positivity of our school community.

Recognising Our Educators

To celebrate World Teachers’ Day, our students wrote heartfelt cards for their teachers to recognise their dedication and support. These were distributed at our recent professional development day and were deeply appreciated by everyone.

Looking Ahead: School Learning Plan 2026

We are pleased to announce that our 2026 School Learning Plan will continue to prioritise effective learners, with a strong focus on metacognition, self-regulation, and ongoing literacy development. We look forward to sharing this work with you.

Our School Environment & Expectations

Maintaining a positive and respectful school tone requires a partnership with families. As we approach the end of the year and say farewell to our senior students, we appreciate your support in helping reinforce important expectations:

• Uniform: Please ensure your child follows the uniform guidelines, including correct skirt length and appropriate shoes.

• Mobile Phones: Phones are not permitted in school—thank you for helping us uphold this rule.

• Gum: Gum is not allowed at school, as it can cause significant damage to our facilities, please encourage your young people to not bring this to school.

• Attendance: Consistent attendance is vital for success. Please notify us of any absences and encourage punctuality.

Social Media Expectations

In December, we will further discuss our school’s updated approach to social media use and its implications for students and families. We will share expert advice, including valuable resources from the eSafety Commissioner, which you can also access here.

New School Canteen

In 2026 we will have a new school canteen, our Governing Council formed a procurement committee, and the successful provider was Metro Canteen. Their application provided a community connections for our vegetable garden and many other student opportunities.

Air-Conditioning Systems

Whist the wait has been long, our systems have reached the procurement process, and we should soon start the works for a full-scale repair on our dated air-conditioning units. This has been a slow process, but we are hoping our community will start to see some action before the end of the year.

International Opportunities: Principal Delegation to Vietnam

During the recent school holidays, I had the privilege of representing South Australian Government schools in Vietnam. Alongside six other principals, I spent time learning about the Vietnamese education system, visiting schools, meeting families and students, and participating in education expos and cultural tours.

We gained valuable insights into both the similarities and differences between our two education systems, especially in areas like technology use and teaching approaches. Sharing what makes South Australian education unique—including our focus on developing the whole child—confirmed the strength and quality of our schools.

A highlight of my visit was spending time at a rural Vietnamese school. The warm welcome from their staff and students was truly moving. Looking ahead, I hope Underdale High School students might be able to take part in a cultural exchange with that school, creating a special opportunity for international friendship and learning.

Our visit to the War Remnants Museum, reading former US Defense Secretary Robert S McNamara, who wrote in his memoirs - In Retrospect – The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam, “Yet we were wrong terribly wrong. We owe it to our future generations to explain why”. I was reminded of the universal power of education to bridge borders and strengthen connections between nations and their people. By speaking the language of respect and opening our hearts to others, we build empathetic relationships for future generations that foster mutual growth and understanding. These experiences broaden educational opportunities, uniting families, strengthening communities, and fostering environments where children and young people can learn, grow, and play with hope for a brighter future of peace, kindness and prosperity.

When we set high expectations, we aim for excellence. Resilience helps us bounce back from challenges. Optimism keeps us hopeful. Courage gives us strength to face difficulties. Curiosity fuels our quest for knowledge. Empathy allows us to understand others' feelings. Kindness spreads warmth and positivity. Respect shows consideration for everyone. By embodying these qualities, we create a supportive and harmonious environment where we can learn and grow together.

Mary-Lou Michael