Out And About

National Youth Science Forum

Written by Deputy School Captain Alexandra Shacklock

The National Youth Science Forum is an 11-day camp during the summer holidays, where we had the opportunity to learn about different STEM media and explore our passions in the field. 

It was a hybrid style camp, with the first week being online, and we got the chance to hear lectures from different people who specialised in various scientific professions. This included pHd scholars, research scientists, and science communicators (journalists). Some of the talks that were available included learning about how food security and climate change are relevant issues in today's society, science design thinking, medicine as the field that keeps growing, and two very special Keynote Sessions with Dr Karl Kruszelnicki (science communicator) and Adam Spencer (math professor and comedian). 

The second week was in person, and we had the chance to visit different universities and explore learning pathways after high school. There were many options to choose from, and the ones I got the chance to do were the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AiE), Monash University (Parkville and Clayton Campus), Melbourne University (Parkville Campus), EnviroLab, and finally, the Australian Synchotron Research Institute. All of these places were so incredible to see, and really helped me learn more about what I could potentially do once graduating high school. 

The entire camp ended online once more, with a final two days filled with amazing lectures, ranging from a talk about the environmental impact of electric vehicles and how they can change the world, and a lecture on diversity in STEM and what we can do to improve this. 

Overall, it was a fantastic experience that I definitely enjoyed. Not only were the lectures incredible, but the like-minded people that I made friends with along the way definitely made this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I would recommend to anyone who got the chance to attend. 

Year 12 Retreat 

Written by School Captains (Kai Malcolm and Kelly Gilbert) and Deputy School Captains (Alexandra Shacklock and Hayden Van Kuyk) 

From the 1st to the 3rd of February, the Year 12 cohort went on an ‘Ignite’ Retreat Camp in order to become closer as a year level as well as develop and refine some crucial skills for the big year ahead.  From our knowledge, this is the first time Frankston High School has run a Year 12 Retreat or Camp at the commencement of the school year to kick start our studies. 

The three days were packed full to the brim with various sessions and activities at the Rawson Camp, where topics such as effective study techniques, life admin, looking after your mental health, finding your ‘why’, mindfulness, and career planning were discussed in detail.  The other activities included motivational speaker Dale Sidebottom, alumni Q&A with past students, team building within the groups, completing the high ropes and zip line course that was available, and writing letters to our future post-year 12 selves. 

The camp was incredibly fun, with nightly trivia competitions and lip-sync battles occurring too. Overall, the ‘Ignite’ Retreat Camp was a great way to get to know some of the key teachers for the cohort this year, as well as form closer bonds with our peers. 

A huge thank you to the Year 12 team - Ms Caminiti, Mr Jones and Ms Mitchell for all of their work behind the scenes to organise this camp!

Thank you to the team of staff who attended the camp – their collegiality, the relationships that were built and their proactive approach ensured things ran like clockwork.  A first-class example of teamwork! 

Thank you: Mr Jack Barbour, Ms Nicole Dickinson, Mr Ryan Jones, Ms Carla Caminiti, Ms Kelly Mitchell, Ms Ebonie Burley, Mr Andrew Watson, Mr Adam Martin, Ms Bec Ginsberg, Ms Georgie Long, Ms Sacha Fisher, Ms Kate Burgess, Ms Kate Adriaans, Mr Brett Cook, Mr Rohan Edleston, Ms Claudia Tymms, Ms Mel Donegan, Mrs Jess Bambridge and past students Paige and Sam Elvey and Harry Cook.