Senior School Reflection
Year 12 Term 2 Update
In Term 2, our Year 12 Theatre Studies class performed a rendition Noel Coward’s ‘Present Laughter.’ Here are some reflective statements from those involved.
‘It was reminiscent of building a house. For months, everything was relatively stagnant. Then, in two or three days, it all came together’
‘Our performance was a testament to not only rigorous rehearsal and collaboration, but to the unyielding passion interwoven imbued within our little theatre family.’
‘Immersive… extravagant?’
‘This show was particularly fun, though albeit chaotic to perform. The chaos, though, only made it better.’
‘Comedic and enticing – left at a loss for words’
‘Awesome to work on such a silly show. We are bonded eternally.’ - Manon Charbonnier
Year 12 Formal
The subject of a plethora of high school movies, and what many people consider to be the highlight of year 12, the formal is a milestone many of us look forward to for much of our senior schooling years.
It’s the culmination of 13 years of school and the cohort we spent them with, and thanks to the tireless work of Bianca and the year 12 Leadership team, our formal did a phenomenal job celebrating all that.
Taking place in the stunning San Remo ballroom, the class of 2026 celebrated in style pulling out their flashiest suits, dresses, heels and ties. We made excellent use of the photo booth and pulled out our... best? moves on the dance floor.
The night was a fantastic opportunity to recognize the amazing group of people we’ll spend the last of our high schooling with, and a memory that I know I will treasure for a long time now.
Year 11 Term 2 Update
Our Year 11 students have had a very busy few weeks as they completed their final assessments and Semester 1 examinations. I have been incredibly impressed by the way students managed their workload, balanced competing demands, and approached this challenging period with maturity and resilience. Their dedication and commitment to their studies have been commendable, and they should be proud of their efforts.
Our VCE Vocational Major students have also been hard at work completing their Safe Handling of Food and Barista courses. It has been wonderful to watch them develop practical workplace skills and confidently showcase their coffee-making abilities. Their teachers have certainly appreciated the steady supply of quality coffee as we approach the end of Semester 1! These hands-on learning opportunities provide valuable experience and help students build confidence for future employment pathways.
Year 10 Term 2 Update
Year 10 Students Embark on Work Experience
Year 10 students participated in Work Experience placements across a wide range of industries and workplaces in the last week of term. The program provides students with a valuable opportunity to explore potential career pathways, develop workplace skills, and gain firsthand insight into the expectations of employers. We thank the many businesses and organisations that have generously hosted our students and look forward to hearing about their experiences when they return to school.
Inspiring Visit from Nick McKenzie
Students recently had the privilege of attending an incursion presented by Nick McKenzie, one of Australia's most respected investigative journalists. Nick is a journalist with The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald and is renowned for his groundbreaking investigations into organised crime, political corruption, national security, and human rights issues. Throughout his career, he has received numerous prestigious awards, including multiple Walkley Awards, Australia's highest honour in journalism.
His engaging and thought-provoking presentation encouraged students to consider the value of trustworthy information, media literacy, and active citizenship in today's world.
ABC Competition Success
Congratulations to Alexa Fernandez who is the winner of the ABC's In Our Neighbourhood competition for term 1. Students were asked to write an open letter to an individual or group who they think can make a difference on a political or social issue that’s important to them and were competing against students from all over the country. Here is Alex's winning entry.
An open letter
By Alexa, Year 10, VIC
Dear Federal Government,
The privatisation of education is segregating Australia's next generation irreparably. The overfunding of private schools is not only unethical but detracts from the public school system. This is forcing students with less stable economic backgrounds to have less resources, support and opportunity, while providing the students who have been able to attend private school with far more career potential. Especially fields like professional sport are directly funnelled from the best of private schools, proving nearly impossible or requiring much time and effort for public school students.
The funding gap does not go unnoticed between high-school aged students of Victoria. As social circles grow there becomes overlap between private and public school students. The difference in opportunity and wealth of the school is undeniably evident in the plenitude of resources. From international school trips to daily needs, it is clear that private schools are able to provide more opportunity and support. From a young person's perspective, these gaps can easily be confused with our own proficiency. A year 10 public school student said, "The resources he [private school friend] are more good quality" and other said, "He has much better sports equipment". It is heartbreaking to watch peers feel inadequate to achieve their goals, when it is largely out of their own hands. It is vital to the Australia's future of young people that the public school system ceases to inhibit Australian youth by preferencing profitable investments because nothing should be more valuable to our government than the emerging generation.
It is a crucial time in which the Australian Government must stop and invest in the country's young people before it is too late. Once the gap in social classes' education become apparent in will be the first step towards an irreversibly class based society. Socioeconomic disparity would eventually reach a point in which children with lesser economic background could never have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. It is time for those in power to look upon what fundamental societal shifts they are causing and the devastating effects they will have on the future of this country.
Please take this into account,
Alexa
In addition, we also had a number of students at PHSC shortlisted as finalists. These students were Xuan, Dang and Tom C. Being selected as finalists is a significant achievement and reflects the creativity, dedication, and storytelling skills of our students. We wish them the very best for a potential future in the Journalism field and look forward to celebrating their success.
Looking Ahead to VCE Subject Selections
As we move into next term, students in Years 10 and 11 will begin the important process of selecting subjects for their VCE studies. Information sessions, course guides, and counselling opportunities will be available to support students and families in making informed decisions about future pathways. We encourage students to start considering their interests, strengths, and career aspirations as they prepare for this exciting next step in their educational journey.