Around the School

Bell Shakespeare Players Performance

Term 3 Shakespeare.

For English classes in Years 9 to 11, term 3 has seen the students take a deep dive into the world of Shakespeare’s plays.  Building upon the collaboration with the Bell Shakespeare Company’s visit last year, Baimbridge was able to secure a very rare, sponsored placement with their Artists in Residence program for 2025. 

Bell Shakespeare Actor/Educators Meg and Grant came to Hamilton for week 2 of this term and worked with staff and students in a series of workshops throughout the week.  Year 9 students explored Romeo and Juliet, Year 10 unpacked Twelfth Night and the Year 11s deepened their understanding of Macbeth. The workshops were full of engaging, up-and-out-of-your seat activities which challenged staff and students to work collaboratively to embody the characters and consider the big ideas of the texts from the perspectives of the different protagonists.

Meg and Grant also ran a workshop in our staff meeting which provided staff with a few fun large group activities and games which help break the ice, build group cohesion and energise people for learning.  The experience across the week was fantastic and a rare treat.  Many of our aspiring young actors, particularly those involved in this year’s brilliant production of ‘Beauty and the Beast’, relished the opportunity to work with professional actors who have pursued their dream, studied acting and made this their full-time profession. 

The Artist in Residence program coincided with Bell Shakepseare’s travelling ‘Player’s Performances’ so the following week we were treated to two shows – ‘Such Sweet Sorrow’ and ‘Macbeth: the Rehearsal’.  The first show took students through the entire play of Romeo and Juliet in 60 minutes, highlighting the key dilemmas, scenes and themes of the play.  ‘Macbeth: the Rehearsal’ took students behind the scenes to a small troop of actors trying to polish up their version of Macbeth prior to a performance.  This show cleverly took students deeply into the motivations of the characters while also unpacking the many decisions directors and actors make when performing to shape the audiences’ experience of the play.

Both programs have been a valuable addition to the English curriculum for our students in the middle years.  Shakespeare is often regarded as ‘too old’ or ‘totally irrelevant’ but such performances and experiences help students to understand the plays and see that Shakespeare was just putting our common emotions, experiences, ambitions and concerns on the stage and whilst the times (and language) change, the human condition remains more or less the same.

Sheepvention

Baimbridge College was once again front and centre at Sheepvention this year, proudly connecting with our community. It was fantastic to see so many past students drop by to share their journeys, and to meet members of the public curious about the wide range of programs and opportunities we offer.

A big thank you goes to Mrs Donehue for her organising behind the scenes, and to Sophie, Dhanuka and Dave for their efforts with setup and pack up. We are also grateful to all staff who gave their time — Mr Price, Mrs Colquhoun, Mr Macdonald, Mr Churchill, Mrs Scullion, Mrs Sanders, Mr Lynch and Mr Sevior — with HDSC also proudly represented.

And a special shout out to Brennan, Mia and Olivia, who gave up their Sunday to represent Baimbridge. You were exceptional ambassadors and true examples of our values of Pride, Courage and Respect.

Legacy Badge Selling 

On Wednesday 3rd September, Baimbridge College students proudly stood alongside Legacy House to support Legacy Week 2025. Selling badges, teddy bears and pens in the heart of our community, students not only helped raise funds but also carried forward the tradition of service and remembrance that Legacy represents.

Each student represented the school with pride, showing courage and respect as they engaged with members of the public. It was a powerful opportunity to strengthen their communication skills while contributing to a cause that supports the families of veterans.

We were delighted to receive a letter from Legacy last week, commending our students’ efforts and announcing that together we raised an incredible $2,665. What a fantastic accomplishment and a testament to the generosity of our community.

Thank you to Legacy for giving our students such a meaningful way to connect with the wider Hamilton community and to live out the values of Pride, Courage and Respect.

-Jill Robinson

Year 10 Food Studies

Amely and Alaya recently showcased their skills in the kitchen with a delicious Moroccan Chicken on sweet potato dish. The rich flavours and beautiful presentation reflected not only their hard work but also their creativity and teamwork.

HDSC Sport Coaching Certificate II - Excursion to Xtreme Bounce

On September 16th, HDSC students completing their Sports Coaching Certificate II celebrated the end of their practical unit with an excursion to Xtreme Bounce. 

During the visit, students had the opportunity to engage in a variety of physical activities designed to challenge their agility and coordination in a fun and dynamic environment. All the aims of the excursion were successfully met, providing students with valuable learning experiences.

Highlights & Student Feedback:

“Being undefeated at the Battle Beam!”

“A great place to spend your birthday.”

“Wipeout was so much fun!”

“High jump wall was exciting.”

“Loved being able to walk the wall.”

“Slam dunking on the basketball trampolines was the best!”

A big thank you to Dr. Hill and Mrs. Macgugan for organizing and taking us to Ballarat. 

— HDSC Sports Coaching Students