CAPTAIN'S CORNER

SENIOR CAPTAIN

Just like that, the day we’ve been building up to for 2,086 days, 298 weeks, 68 months or 6 years for, has passed us by and the class of 2025 has officially graduated from our schooling journey. 

On Monday 13 October, final festivities began as we prepared for a week of celebration like no other, spending our final days together as a cohort with dance competitions, dress up day (or perhaps one may call it dress up hour…) dress and shirt signing, Year 12 assembly and of course, the event we have been anticipating since we first stepped through the front gates as tiny year sevens, Valedictory, at the stunningly lavish Crown Palladium. 

What a week it was. 

The experience of graduating is one you can’t even begin to describe unless you can live it for yourself. No matter the emotion - relief, excitement, sadness - each and every single student that walked through the halls of the senior building for the final days was filled with an unfathomable nostalgia. Melancholy hung in the air as we went from teachers to friends, to peers having our uniform signed with words of support, gratitude and well wishes. For many of us, reading the signed messages from people we’d only smile at in the halls, thinking we’d been forgotten amongst the flurry of years, never truly realising the permanence of our impact on the lives of those around us. 

Year 12 assembly, an event of which had been planned tirelessly in the weeks before the mere thought of exams had even begun to creep in, proved to be the complete full circle moment we have waited so eagerly for. With humorous skits, performances and speeches for the whole school period, which then moved to a reflective array of thank yous, baby photos and plenty of tears, it was the final time we shared together as a cohort in the school we have grown up in for five of our six years.

To officially close the doors to this incredible 13-year journey, we came together with our parents, carers and teachers to party one last time at our beautiful Valedictory evening, filled with an abundance of celebration, reflection and appreciation, dancing the night away after being awarded our graduation certificates. To call it unforgettable would do no justice to the memories created on the night of Thursday 16 October.

As we formally part ways with McKinnon Secondary and are left to begin our long-awaited exam period, commencing on the Tuesday 28 October, on behalf of each of the senior school captains we wish to thank every single person who has contributed to shaping the individuals we have become. Through COVID, being the first cohort to graduate from East Campus and our senior school journey, we are immensely grateful to have been part of this incredible school community, or might I even call it a family. Thank you, McKinnon.

Amelie Hicks

Year 12 Student

JUNIOR CAPTAIN

On Thursday Night, East Campus hosted its highly anticipated Wisdom and Service Presentation Night. An incredible celebration and display of the weeks of effort and commitment that went into each student’s project. 

Students created a community project that encourages them to propose an idea that will improve an aspect of the community, reflect on their learning and how they model 'wisdom and service' in the community. The event brought together students, staff, and families to showcase the inspiring projects, which encouraged students to engage with real-world issues and give back to their community.

The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement as parents and visitors explored a wide range of displays. Students proudly presented their projects, explaining how they planned, problem-solved, and worked both individually and collaboratively to make a difference. Families and guests were invited to vote for three projects they felt would have the greatest community impact.

Eight groups were hand selected to present their pitch to improve the community as part of the "WASP Nest" challenge:

Kira Barnes & Mia Kinross - Together by Ink 

Martin Curnow - Road Ready Program 

Arnav Chitnis & Sacha Rose - Debating Mentoring Program 

Sam Hicks & Daniel Chen - HelpMeStudy Website

Alexa Rhode - Understanding VCE, VCE-VM, ATARs & Uni 

Sophia Rink - Water Safety 

Patrick Rule - Checkmate for Charity

Alice Leung - Stop Racism 

This year the community project was linked to the Year 9 Thistlelonians Awards. Each year, three Year 9 students are identified and acknowledged for their contribution to the community and presented with their award during the end of year Presentation Night. As the Wisdom & Service Project promotes identifying a community issue and proposing (and acting on) a solution, it made sense to combine the two. 

The students nominated to present at the WASP Nest presented to a panel that was made up of Mr Kan, Mrs Barrow, Mr Quinn, Mr Geoff Woolnough (Thistlelonians), Ms Jenny Cooke (Thistlelonians). The winners will be notified and announced at a later date.

Each presentation was engaging, thoughtful, and showcased the incredible talent within our school. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to making the night such a success, especially Mr Pantelios for his leadership and organisation, and to all the teachers who supported students and helped the event run smoothly. It truly was an inspiring evening celebrating wisdom, service, and community.

Yael Lasnitzki

Year 9 Student