Senior School Report

Message from the 

Director of  Learning 

Senior School 

Mr Denholm Pickering 

Senior School Report

Newsletter – Term 3 Week 5

At only 9 weeks, Term 3 seems to be going fast and ending soon! 3/4 subjects will be all tied up by the end of the term, with 1/2 subjects continuing into Term 4. Let’s reflect on what has already been a busy term and cast eyes forward to what is coming up on the horizon. 

VM/VPC Fresh Take Initiative

The VM students in Year 11 and 12 are working towards a health initiative called Fresh Take in their Personal Development classes. This project focuses on vaping prevention in youths. They participated in the second workshop provided by the Kingston Youth Council where the creatives guided them in their projects. Many of the students spent the day developing storyboards and video making, writing scripts for podcasts, even designing posters. The day was a big success with many groups meeting a key milestone in their campaigns!

Year 12 VTAC Workshop

Representatives from Monash University came out to run a workshop on VTAC applications for Year 12 students. Information on VTAC applications is available here – students have until September 29 to apply. 

Elevate Workshop

Another workshop from Elevate Education ran during study space this term, this time on The Finishing Line – how students can prepare effectively for the end of the year, their exams, and life after school. 

Year 12 Formal

Get excited for the Year 12 formal on the final day of Term 3! With tickets no longer on sale the committee is hard at work making preparations to ensure it is a night to remember. 

I can also confirm that School Council has approved the final day of term 3 to be free of Year 12 classes. 

See you all at Hotel Chadstone!

Course Counselling 11>12

Year 11s heading into Year 12 will undergo course counselling on Monday 25th August. 10 minutes will be allocated to each student to discuss future subject selections. Appointment times will appear on Compass – please keep an eye out if you are currently in Year 11.

Mr Denholm Pickering 

Director of Learning - Senior School 

Year 12 Physics Students Visit the Australian Synchrotron

On 7th September, our Year 12 Physics students visited the Australian Synchrotron as part of their Unit 4 SAC 1 – Outcome 1. This excursion gave them the chance to experience advanced science in action and deepen their understanding of concepts studied in class.

The day began with a guided tour of the synchrotron facilities, where students explored the impressive accelerator ring and support laboratories. They learnt how the synchrotron works to generate powerful beams of light, and how these beams are applied in areas such as medical imaging, environmental science, and materials research. This tour helped students make important links between their studies of nuclear physics and real-world scientific applications.

In the afternoon, students took part in hands-on practical experiments focused on the interaction between light and matter. They investigated the behaviour of light as a wave and light as a particle, reinforcing key physics concepts such as diffraction, interference, and the photoelectric effect. These activities allowed students to move from theory to practice, gaining valuable insights into how scientists test and validate ideas in experimental physics.

The excursion proved both educational and inspiring. It gave students a rare opportunity to connect classroom learning with large-scale scientific research, and many left with a stronger appreciation of how physics underpins discoveries that shape the modern world.

Mr Kevin Phan 

Classroom Teacher

MODEL UN

On Thursday 24th July, twelve of our Year 12 students attended the Monash International Society’s Model United Nations. Each worked with a partner from another school to represent a member state. Our students represented countries such as Japan, China, Indonesia, South Africa and Nigeria.

They then took part in a moderated and unmoderated caucus session, addressing other countries and forming alliances to pass amendments to draft a resolution around the implementation of Artificial Intelligence.

Our teams had great success in negotiating and debating clauses, collaborating with their teammates and others to see their country’s interests best represented. It was an amazing day!

Well done to Kai Lin, Marline Modi, Leyna Nguyen, Erin Groarke, Gianna Luon, Sarah Chea, Rin Prum Monkol, and Louise Espino! A special congratulations goes to Kai who, along with her fellow delegates for China, won ‘Best Delegates’ for the day!

Ms Anna Papagiannopoulos

Classroom teacher