Senior School News
During the term I had the privilege of attending the State Principals’ Conference in Melbourne. It was an inspiring and energising event that brought together educational leaders from across Victoria, providing us the opportunity to reflect on our work at Park Ridge and connect with some of the country’s most respected voices in education.
One of the standout sessions was with Dr Sonja Hood AM, CEO of the Scanlon Foundation and President of the North Melbourne Football Club. Sonja’s keynote, Leadership Matters, highlighted the vital role leaders play in building inclusive, connected communities — not only in schools, but across all sectors of society. With more than 30 years of experience in public policy, community development, sport, and philanthropy, Sonja spoke passionately about the importance of social cohesion and how strong, values-driven leadership can shape positive futures for young people. Her insights resonated deeply, reinforcing the importance of the relational and inclusive work we do every day as educators and leaders in our school community.
Professional Learning Update – Lead Applied Learning
Over Semester 1, I completed the Lead Applied Learning course, which has further strengthened my ability to support staff in promoting the benefits of applied learning across the curriculum. This course provided valuable insights and strategies to embed applied learning into everyday practice and highlighted the importance of connecting theory to real-world experiences.
An added benefit of the course was the opportunity to network with educators from other schools in the region. These connections will continue as we collaborate to ensure consistent and effective applied learning practices are developed and maintained for years to come.
In our final session, we had the privilege of hearing from Scott Widmer, Deputy Secretary of Strategy and School Reform at the Department of Education. He spoke about the development and implementation of the Senior Secondary Certificate and the department’s commitment to preparing students for life beyond school—equipping them with the skills needed for further education and employment.
As a school, we are proud to support this initiative. Looking ahead to next year, we are excited to offer a wider range of VET courses to provide students with more opportunities to explore and pursue their chosen pathways. The introduction of the new VCE Vocational Major (VCE VM) further enhances the range of successful pathways available to our students, helping them achieve success in ways that best suit their interests and goals.
I encourage all students and families to consider the many options available to personalise and individualise student programs, ensuring every learner is supported on their journey to success.
Parent Information Evening – A Great Success
We were thrilled with the fantastic turnout at our recent Parent Information Evening. It was incredibly pleasing to see so many families taking the time to invest in their child’s future success.
The evening provided a wealth of information around the Senior School Reform and VCE pathway options, helping families better understand the choices available for students as they enter the final years of schooling. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to such a positive and informative event.
To further support your understanding, we encourage you to explore the following link:
🔗 Your World, Your VCEhttps://www.vic.gov.au/vceThis resource offers comprehensive information about the new VCE structure and how it supports student success in education and beyond.
Upcoming: Introduction to VCE Subjects – Friday, 25th July
As part of preparing for senior school, all Year 10 students will take part in a VCE subject taster day on Friday, 25th July. Students have selected a variety of subjects to trial, giving them a clearer understanding of what to expect and helping them make informed decisions about their future studies.
This is an important step in the course selection process and will be the final opportunity for students to experience subject options prior to Course Counselling.
🗓️ Course Counselling Day – Thursday, 7th August
Please note: Year 10 students will not be required to attend regular classes on this day, but they must attend a course counselling appointment at some point during the day, accompanied by a parent or carer, to finalise their 2026 course selections.
We look forward to supporting our students and families through this exciting stage of their learning journey.
Elevate Education Sessions
Throughout the term, our Year 10 and 11 students participated in informative and engaging sessions run by Elevate Education.
Our Year 11 students took part in a session titled "Study Sensei", which focused on developing effective study habits, goal setting, and revision techniques. Meanwhile, Year 10 students attended a session on Time Management, equipping them with strategies to manage their workload, prioritise tasks, and stay organised.
These sessions provide valuable skills that go beyond the classroom. By developing strong study and time management habits now, students are better prepared and more confident as they progress through their studies. The tools they gain from these programs will support their academic journey and set them up for long-term success.
Year 10 Deakin University Day
Visiting Deakin University was both a fun and insightful experience. During the first half of the day, I chose to partake in the Law workshop which focused on criminal legal studies. We explored the process of prosecuting an individual, understanding how the system works and discussed what makes a person guilty. We were then spilt into two groups: Prosecution and Defence to use our newly learned skills in a court case.
During breaks, we were able to see the campus which were quite open. It had many food places and quiet places to study creating a balance for those in university.
As for the second workshop, I partook in psychology. We looked at the different parts of the human brain and saw how each part affects how we behave. We got to play some memory games to see how different attributes affect an individual’s memory, making it more interactive.
Overall spending the day at Deakin provided an insight into what further education would be like where learning doesn’t just happen in the classrooms but in the outside world too. It was a great opportunity to explore future study paths and prepare us for when the time comes to choose these paths.
Written by Emily Nguyen 10F
Trade Fit Expo – Girls
When going to the Trades and Tech Expo we were genuinely surprised with the number of interesting stalls and hands-on activities available, Lily even took a turn on a flight simulator, though her aviation career was short lived (she crashed the plane almost instantly!) The expo opened our minds to countless possibilities and pathways we had never even considered. Everyone we met was very friendly and happy to share experiences, from how they got into their careers to why they chose them. It was a fantastic day, and we highly recommend it any female or gender-diverse student exploring future careers or considering any Tech or Trade industries.
Written by: Alisha Torell 12F, Jessica Bonato 12F, and Lily Black 12E
Interact club Update
Birthing Kits
On Friday 13th June 2025, the schools Interact Club held a highly successful and meaningful community event. Members of the club successfully packed 200 life-saving birthing kits to be sent to remote communities and developing countries.
These kits were supplied by the Birthing Kits Foundation Australia. This incredible charity works to supply clean birthing kits for overseas countries where access to proper healthcare is limited. Each kit contains supplies that significantly reduce the risk of infection for both mothers and newborns, ultimately saving lives.
Each of the kits packed costs $5. The event was proudly sponsored by the Rotary Club of Greater Dandenong & Endeavour Hills. The Interact Club would like to thank Leanne Byron from Rotary for her support in making this impactful event possible.
The Interact Club is incredibly proud to contribute to such a meaningful cause. This event showcased how Interact Club members are actively making a positive impact on the world.
Written by: Alisha Torelli
Wonderful Celebration of Student Achievements – Semester 2
We had a fantastic time celebrating the achievements of our students over Semester 2. Congratulations to all students who received awards—your hard work and dedication truly paid off. Continue to thrive, work hard, and remember that success follows perseverance. We are incredibly proud of the number of awards we were able to present this semester.
A special highlight of the event was hearing from one of our 2015 alumni, James Syrios. James now works as a paramedic with Ambulance Victoria, where he plays a vital role in both emergency response and community health education. He shared his inspiring journey—from his time at Lyndale to how he pursued a career in paramedicine, including the key influences and experiences that shaped him along the way.
We look forward to seeing James remain an active member of the Lyndale community for years to come.
State School Spectacular
Hamsini Karthik – Principal Dancer
My name is Hamsini Karthik; I’m 12 years old and I currently go to Lyndale Secondary College. My dancing journey started when I was just 2 years old! I used to always have fun dancing to songs in front of my family and soon later my parents enrolled me into a dance school. I have been dancing for over 10 years and the styles of dance I do are Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop and Acrobatics. In year 6 I was selected to be the only primary school student principal dancer in the Victorian State School Spectacular. On September 14th, 2024, I performed in front of over 10,000 people for the VSSS, that performance was a very memorable moment. This year I auditioned again for principal dancer and got in. I cannot wait to perform! Apart from my dance achievements, I was awarded the Community Spirt and Leadership Award as well as the DUX of my school in 2024. I became a school captain in year 6, and an SRC. I was also a part of the Children’s Advisory Group in year 5 and I helped host the Little Day Out 2024! During my time as a school captain, I read a speech in front of many people including the Mayor and Julian Hill MP for my primary schools 150th year anniversary.
Lyndale secondary College has 16 talented dancers who will be participating in the Mass Dance production at John Cain Arena on Saturday 13th September 2025. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketek.