Our School
Principal’s Message
I would like to extend a warm welcome to every family.
Established in 1937, Upwey High School has a strong sense of local community and history having educated generations of families over that time. We are a medium-sized comprehensive secondary school in a magnificent mountain setting with beautiful views of the surrounding Dandenong Ranges. Our school provides educational pathways for students in VCE, incorporating the Vocational Major and VET Programs thereby ensuring that the needs of all students are met. Our Pathways Team works with students across the school to help ensure that they have the most up-to-date information about careers and possible pathways. We have recently undergone a substantial building program, introducing purpose-built cutting-edge facilities, and educating the youth of today in an industry-level environment.
We aim to develop students who will be resilient, responsible, highly motivated, lifelong learners. Through the establishment of positive relationships and high expectations, students will be encouraged to reach their full potential. The Years 7-10 curriculum is delivered using the Significant Teacher model where 80% of a teacher’s teaching is undertaken in one year level. This provides enhanced opportunities for teachers to build strong relationships and to better know the learners in their classes. Each teaching team is overseen by a year-level Team Leader responsible for wellbeing, student management, and the overall learning of the cohort. We have two sub-schools, Middle and Senior (Later Years) Schools, each of which has a Leading Teacher overseeing the three levels.
Our school values of Aspiration, Respect and Kindness are upheld throughout our classrooms and in our extracurricular programs which include: an Instrumental Music Program, a Volleyball Program (where ex-students are heavily involved as coaches), our annual School Production, a Surf Lifesaving Program (delivered in partnership with the Woolamai SLSC), local camps which are year level specific and support the development and learning of the level at which they are run. We offer interstate/international Tours: Year 10s are able to travel to Central Australia, students have the opportunity to travel to Japan to our Sister School in Mito and our Year 9 Volleyballers are able to go to New Zealand to play in a South Island tournament in November.
We embrace the student voice at Upwey High School and have an active Student Representative Council overseen by our four School captains, one from each house. Each year level has four House Captains, and we also have nominated Music, Production and Sports Captains. Students have multiple opportunities throughout their school journey to develop their leadership skills and support their peers in positions of influence.
We welcome the opportunity to invite you tour the school and look forward to speaking with you soon about your child’s high school journey.
Debbie has worked in education for over 35 years and values highly the strong sense of community at Upwey High School and the opportunity to be engaged with other schools in the Dandenong Ranges Network. She has been Assistant Principal at Upwey High School since 2014 and is currently leading the school as Acting Principal.
Debbie Martine
Acting Principal
The Leadership Team
Catherine Ford
Assistant Principal – Middle Years
I am a passionate teacher of Humanities (History) and Psychology who loved my time in the classroom. I became an Assistant Principal in 2006 as I wanted the opportunity to lead the development of quality curriculum and teaching practice. My focus is on supporting a calm and orderly classroom environment where students can collaborate and support each other in their learning. I came to Upwey High School at the start of 2023 in the role of Assistant Principal of the Middle Years. I was drawn here by the team approach to working with students and the very strong sense of connection with the community.
Tanya Au
Assistant Principal – Later Years & School Operations
In 1998 I graduated from the University of Melbourne and started out as a fresh-faced teacher and have never regretted my career choice in that time. Throughout my journey I have taught English, Business Management, Indonesian and several other things along the way, with a particular passion for pastoral care. I have had several leadership roles over the years and proudly started at Upwey High School in November of 2018 in my first substantive Assistant Principal role. I truly love the caring nature of students, staff and families at UHS and look to continue building positive relationships as we all navigate the future of education together.
Amanda Flink
Business Manager
I have been working in the education sector since 2006, accumulating 18 years of experience in both primary and secondary settings. Prior to my career in education, I spent 17 years in various industries, including media print, finance, and international trade. My passion for children’s development and education led me to transition into the educational field. Since 2011, I have been a part of Upwey High School, where I greatly value the school community and our dedicated team.
Vision and Values
At Upwey High School, our community and how we relate to each other is underpinned by three core values; Aspiration, Respect and Kindness.
We aim to develop students who will become resilient and responsible young adults, and highly motivated, lifelong learners. Through the establishment of positive relationships and consistent expectations, students will be encouraged to aspire and reach their full potential.
Aspiration
Students are encouraged to be ambitious and work towards a personal goal.
They are expected to:
Strive for Excellence
Persevere with learning and seek assistance
Participate positively
Contribute to school events
Be a positive role model
Take on challenges
Respect
Students understand the true value of things and treating them with appreciation; actively listening to others, being courteous, acting appropriately and supporting the learning of others.
They are expected to:
Allow for learning
Listen to others
Communicate respectfully
Take responsibility for their actions
Represent the school with pride
Interact positively with others
Be cybersafe
Kindness
Students demonstrate friendliness, generosity, and consideration towards others.
They are expected to:
Have kind interactions
Let others learn
Share the space
Help other people
Contribute to a clean and tidy environment
Share or post online only with permission
The House System
Our house system allows students to collaborate and compete across all year levels with points being awarded in class and at events throughout the school year. Our four houses; Bleazby, Chandler, Crow,and Knox, honour and remember four key figures who were highly influential in the establishment of Upwey High School. All four participated in a meeting with the Minister at the time, forming a deputation to request a permanent school in Upwey. our School was established in 1937 and these people were very active in the early years of development. The school continues to use these names today as a mark of gratitude for the wonderful school they built for us.
Bleazby
Mrs E.H. Bleazby was a local landowner in Upwey from 1920 onwards who was highly respected in her community. She spoke on behalf of local mothers, arguing that it would be safer to have a local school then to have local children travel to neighbouring Belgrave High School.
Chandler
The Honourable G.L. Chandler, M.L.C, was a dedicated worker for his constituents and also attended the deputation for the foundation of the school. He was said to be highly involved in the early years of the school, frequently attending functions such as Speech Days.
Crow
Mr G.W. Crow could be fairly described as the founder of Upwey High School. He was a committee member for the Combined Schools Conference in the 1930’s and Chairman of the School Committee. He organised the deputation that argued the need for a high school in Upwey and as a result, land was purchased for its development.
Knox
Colonel E.H. Knox, M.L.A also attended the deputation and continued to be actively involved in the progress of the school. He opened the bazaar which was held to raise funds for the purchase of the school and was a prominent figure in its early community.
Facilities
Set in the hills of the Dandenong Ranges, Upwey offers a uniquely beautiful high school experience. Although a well-established part of the Upwey community, the campus has undergone vast changes over the past 5 years with major developments that have transformed our historical site into an exceptional environment that caters to the needs of contemporary learners.
Modern workshops – including our state-of-the-art Music centre and photography lab– support The Arts and Technologies in teaching students industry-level skills that will prepare them for their chosen pathway. As well as shared specialist rooms, each year group has a dedicated area for open learning and a designated break-out space where they can build relationships with their year-level team leaders and peers.
Facilities include:
- Later Years Centre (Integrated Pathways and Study Area)
- Library and dedicated Classroom Libraries
- Science Laboratories and contemporary Technology spaces including fully-equipped wood and metal workshops
- ICT Labs supporting Digital Technology and Media
- Large Performing Arts Space
- Music Centre including recording rtudio and Music rehearsal rooms
- Visual Arts Centre with fully-equipped pottery studiokiln room and full-sized Photography Lab
- Brand new sports complex including a stadium, four indoor courts, gymnasium, as well as an outdoor fitness gym, netball and basketball courts and cricket nets
