Secondary

Mr Chris Graham

Assistant Principal (Secondary)

Water cuts through rock, not because of its power, rather, because of its persistence

In recent assemblies for both Dunhelen and Brookhill students, I conveyed the idea that an ATAR rank is not necessarily a measure of intellect, rather one of diligence mixed with intelligence. Diligence is a quality that is developed through persistence and over time. Often, the way students learn to study in Year 7 and Year 8, carries on through to their time in Year 11 and Year 12. I’ve heard many students say that they only really need to ‘try’ when they get to Year 11 or 12, this is far from the truth. Coming up to the holidays, I encouraged all the students to put this diligence into practice. It is a perfect time to revise what they have learnt in the term so far and potentially extend themselves and ‘get ahead’ in their studies. As stated above, the enormous task of cutting through a rock (like achieving an ATAR) occurs through the habits and persistence of those habits over time, not through one massive burst of power (or in our example, massive burst of study). But please keep in mind that this needs to be balanced.

I would like to take the time to wish everyone a very Happy Easter. Please take time to remember the reason for the holiday, take time to be as a family and with friends. Please spend time enjoying, celebrating and relaxing. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you all refreshed in the new term.

Ms Melissa D'Amico

Deputy Head Secondary (Middle School Culture)

As we approach the end of term one, I wanted to mention the College’s theme of ‘excellence’. At our school, we believe that excellence is not just a goal, but a habit. Therefore, we would like to encourage our students to strive for excellence in all aspects of their lives. The pursuit of knowledge and understanding is at the heart of education. We encourage our students to develop a love of learning and to strive for excellence in their academic work. This means setting high standards for themselves, taking responsibility for their own learning, and working hard to achieve their goals. 

It is important to take a moment to reflect on the progress and achievements made by our students. We've seen a lot of hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm from both students and teachers, as everyone has adapted to the challenges of the new school year. We've also seen positive changes in our students' attitudes and behaviours, as they have embraced our focus on excellence. Overall, we are proud of what our school community has accomplished in Term One, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the coming terms.

Our Year 8 students participated in the Ylead program this term. Ylead is a leadership program that aims to develop young people's leadership skills, self-confidence, and sense of social responsibility. The program includes workshops, activities, and community service projects.

I would like to wish all those who celebrate Easter a very Happy Easter! This is a time to reflect on the many blessings in our lives and to spend time with loved ones. We hope that you have a joyful and meaningful celebration. To the students and staff of Dunhelen, I wish you a restful and enjoyable holiday. It has been a busy and productive term, and I hope that you take this time to recharge and relax. I look forward to seeing you all back after the holidays, ready to tackle the next term with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

Ms Melissa D’Amico 

Deputy Head Secondary (Middle School Culture)

The Ylead program has many benefits for our students. It helps students develop their leadership skills, which will be useful in all areas of their lives. It will also help them to become more self-confident and to build positive relationships with their peers and teachers. 

During the sessions, the students developed an appreciation for leadership beyond the ‘badge’ -  something that hopefully inspires them to reach for the stars.  They learned how they can take a stand and articulate their own opinions while listening to and respecting the opinion of others.  They explored through problem solving the attitude that behaviour has on results, environment and creation of culture. It was made visible to them that an environment of negativity and chaos can limit the opportunity of success for all. They were encouraged to ‘think outside the box’ and collaborate to come up with creative solutions to problems. We hope that the Ylead program will be a valuable experience for our Year 8 students and that it will help them to become confident, responsible and compassionate leaders.

Ms Sherry Daniel

Head of Year (8)

Here is what some of the Year 8 students had to say about the program:

I think that this program helped me see my strengths and the areas I could improve on, regarding how I saw myself as a leader. I learned that anyone can be a leader as long as you take initiative and you're really passionate about what you're doing. Leadership isn't just about a badge it's about doing what you love and helping others along the way. It really opened my perspective, and it was a really rewarding experience altogether – Aekam A

Ylead taught me a lot of things about leadership and how important it is to have a good mindset, listen to others opinions and have an open mind about everything, so even if you disagree with something or someone you can understand where they’re coming from and get a new perspective that’s different to your own – Caprice M

I personally believe that the Ylead was a wonderful opportunity to take initiative into, as it built leadership skills, working with others, and also meeting new people from different Year 8 classes and having the ability to get to know them as-well as working with them. Personally, my favourite part of Ylead was the Grid game – Japhar S

The Ylead program taught me that a leader is a person who is kind, respectful and courageous even when no one is watching – Owen M

The Ylead was great, it really got you thinking and working as team. Got to meet new people and realise they are amazing team members – Chrissa P

Ylead was very eye opening and made it fun to learn about leadership as they put it in a way that was interactive and not boring.  It made a difference to my thinking, and I hope that they come again next year for the next Year 8s because it made a big impact – Jasiah C

Mr Victor Salloum 

Deputy Head of Secondary (Senior School Pathways)

Term 1 Update

Senior students have had a successful Term 1 in Brookhill, this is a testament to the dedication they have shown and hard work they have put in. The students are working towards excellence in all they do including presentation, organisation and most importantly their learning. As the school term comes to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Aitken College students a happy and safe school holiday break. You have all worked hard throughout the term, and it's now time to take a well-deserved break and recharge for the next term. Use this time to relax, spend time with family and friends, and pursue your hobbies and interests. Remember to also take care of your mental and physical health by getting enough rest, eating healthy, and engaging in physical activity. Whether you're staying home or going away, make the most of your time off, and come back rejuvenated and ready for the next term. Remember to stay up-to-date with all your schoolwork, especially to our students in Year 12. Enjoy your break, and I look forward to seeing you all back at school soon.

Mrs Jenny Lilley

Head of Faculty - Vocational Major

The Year 11 and Year 12 students, as part of their Vocational Major studies, have committed themselves to supporting the Interschool Sport program that runs every Friday. The students support the teachers and staff by helping to organise the students, keep accurate goal scoring and assist in anyway needed.