School Highlights (cont'd) 

Science Week activities

Maree Locco, Academic Dean of Science 

Science Week celebrations were back and bigger than ever after two years of being in lockdown, when we were unable to celebrate. 

Students from ELC through to Year 12 engaged in a wide variety of activities throughout the week, and the Science Staff hosted a Morning Tea for Staff.

Here is a list great activities the students participated in over the course of the week. 

A huge thank you to the Science Faculty and Science Leaders - Abbey Huynh, Jess Bonham and Renae Bekas (Year 11), who were vital in the planning and running of all of the above activities.  

Thanks also to all our enthusiastic participants.  We enjoyed sharing our passion about our favourite subject with you. Happy ‘Science-ing’ all!

U2 Chemistry Excursion 

Louise Macfarlane, Science Teacher

Each of the U2 Chemistry classes had an excursion to the Victorian Space Science Centre for a full day of Analytical Chemistry. 

Students had training from expert chemists and then completed experiments using Atomic Absorption, UV-visible spectroscopy and High Performance Liquid Chromatography systems. 

Students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to use this sophisticated equipment, which is part of their U2 Chemistry curriculum. The hands-on training significantly improved the students' understanding of chemistry.

Year 9 Program Excursion 

Jacqui Goldenberg, Community Service Program Director 

On the morning of August 26, I walked with one of the Year 9 groups to Lygon St. Here, I told the students a personal story about my mum who, as a young child, lived on top of the shop there.

In the afternoon, I was fortunate enough to take some of the students to Seeing the Invisible – an augmented reality contemporary art exhibition in the Botanical Gardens. 

The students loved it. The mix of being in nature, using technology and enjoying art was a fantastic experience.

Press Club lunch with former AFL player 

James Cooper, Year 12 

On Wednesday August 24, Charlie Clancy, Kate McCorquodale and myself (Year 12) were granted the opportunity to attend the Melbourne Press Club Lunch event with Principal Rob French. 

The event was hosted by sports journalist Caroline Wilson and featured former Essendon and Richmond Football Clubs player, Bachar Houli, as the guest speaker. 

Bachar provided us with an insight into the highs and lows of becoming a premiership player in the AFL, but more importantly, the significance of doing so as a Muslim player. His presentation was broken down into 'Four Fs': Family, Faith, Football and Foundation. 

In terms of family, Bachar spoke about the key role family has played in his career - from his brothers helping him to get into football, his reluctant parents becoming his biggest fans, to his extended family community alone consisting of over 100 Richmond memberships! 

He also shared insights into his Muslim faith and, of course, discussed his football career. He expressed how football has led to the work he is doing now with the Bachar Houli Foundation. His Foundation aims to provide a pathway for young Muslim talent to enhance their AFL skills while staying true to their faith. 

Hearing Bachar’s perspective on life was insightful, and the humility and care he showed is a great reflection of his character and faith. Overall, I'm glad I had the chance to listen to Bachar’s remarkable story and thankful for the opportunity to attend this memorable event.