Across Campus

McAuley Resource Centre

Book an Adventure: Get Ready for Book Week 2025!

The most exciting week of the school year is almost here!  From the 16 to 23 August, our school will come alive with stories, characters and endless imagination as we celebrate Book Week 2025 with the thrilling theme "Book an Adventure.  

What Makes This Year Special?

This year's theme invites us all to explore the incredible journeys that books can take us on.  Every book opens the door to a new adventure waiting to be discovered.  

Exciting Events Throughout the Week

Please keep informed about Book Week events coming soon, through the Compass News Feed.  Come visit us now to see the wonderful displays in both our libraries promoting the theme.

Reading Challenge

Take on our "Adventure Reading Challenge" at home! Read books from different adventure genres – mystery, fantasy, historical fiction, or travel stories. 

The Learning Adventure

Book Week is about fostering a lifelong love of reading and learning.  Research shows that students who are excited about books become better readers, writers and critical thinkers.   By celebrating the adventure in every story, we are helping our students discover that learning itself is the greatest adventure of all.

So dust off your explorer's hat, grab your reading passport and get ready to "Book an Adventure" with us!

Happy reading, adventurers!

Ms Cathy Bennett

Learning Leader – McAuley Resource Centre

DAV Debating 

The fourth round of the DAV Debating season took place on Wednesday evening, 30 July, at Haileybury City Campus in West Melbourne.  The secret topic rounds always offer excitement and a great test of sharp wit and quick thinking. 

The Year 12 A-Grade Team represented by Alisa Sanelli, Olivia Leahy, and Alice Portz had a wonderful win beating University High, debating that teachers shouldn’t be subject to performance pay. 

The Year 11 B-Grade Team represented by Kayla Hanley, Charlotte McKay and Freddy Goddard were defeated against Melbourne Grammar on the topic of YouTube should be included in the social media ban, debating on the negative side. 

Both the Year 10 C-Grade and Year 9 D-Grade teams lost by one single point.  Well done to Alice Moffat, Sophie Teo, Michaela Xenoyiannakis at Year 10, for debating so well on their first secret topic with no hints, arguing for the affirmative that "we prefer offline entertainment to online entertainment".  The Year 9’s represented by Ruby Mills, Charlotte Jones and Hannah Carton argued on the affirmative side that "Australia should ban the use of herbicides and pesticides in agriculture".   Well done to Hannah Carton in claiming the best speaker award for that debate. 

As we approach the final round, Round 5, many of our teams are still in contention to make finals. 

Mr Stefan Odachowski

English Learning Leader

Earth At Academy

Earth at Academy’s first initiative for Term 3 was our ‘No Heaters, Casual Clothes Day’ that took place on Thursday, 31 July.  On this day, students and teachers came together to combat Academy's ever-growing carbon footprint, with a gold coin donation, students were told to bundle up and turn off the heaters for the WHOLE day!  The money raised is being put towards building Earth at the Academy's herb garden, which will sustainably supply our food tech department. 

This day was filled with good vibes, as the students bravely took on this challenge and faced the cold, with a Year 12 student saying “this day made me realise how excessively we use heating and how easy it is to turn it off!”. 

Clara Faraci - Year 12

Sustainability Leader

Dante Alighieri Poetry Recital Finals

We are thrilled to share the exceptional achievements of our students at the recent Dante Alighieri Poetry Recital Finals, held last Friday, 25 July at the University of Melbourne.   

Six of our girls proudly represented the Academy, competing against more than 200 finalists—selected from an initial pool of over 2,000 students across Victoria.

We are incredibly proud to announce that five out of our six students advanced to the playoffs, with three placing in the top three and another receiving a Special Mention.

Congratulations to the following students:

Year 9

 🥈  Romy Peuser  – 2nd Place

 🥉  Isabelle Naidoo – 3rd Place

Year 11

 🥈 Zoe Dafnais – 2nd Place

Year 12

 ⭐ Serena Barbara – Special Mention Serena narrowly missed out on third place, and so impressed the judges that they created a special award just for her—a true testament to her talent and presence.

☺️ Leondra Michienzi - was also in the final playoff for 2nd place against another student - close competition here.

To all six finalists—we commend your dedication, confidence and linguistic skill.  Reaching the finals alone is an extraordinary accomplishment, and the Academy is immensely proud of your efforts and the way you represented our community.

As one of the standout schools at the event, our strong performance sent a clear message: we are a force to be reckoned with in the study and celebration of Italian language and culture.

Award recipients will be formally recognised at an upcoming Conferring of Awards Ceremony, to be held with family and friends. Sono fiera di voi – I am so proud of you all!

Professoressa Elena Camera

Italian Teacher