MIDDLE SCHOOL

2025 IMPORTANT DATES

Friday 31 January

Year 9 and 10 students START

Monday 3 February

School Photo Day 1

Duke of Ed Parent Information Night | 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Tuesday 11 February

School Photo Day 2

Tuesday 18 February

Arts ACCA & NGV: Units | 8:30 - 4 pm

Wednesday 19 February

Year 9 ADP 100km Challenge Camp | 19 to 21

Friday 28 February

Swimming Carnival

Year 9 and 10

Awards Ceremonies

Friday 6 December

Congratulations to our Year 9 and 10 students who received awards, certificates and badges for their achievements in Semester 2.

As part of the Ceremonies, we celebrated students who are excelling at Lilydale High School and continually demonstrating our values of excellence in learning, resilience in life and those who are thriving in the community.

Year 10 Awards

2024 Year 10 Captains

Tayla Allan and Alannah Peet

2024 Year 10 Vice Captain

Luci Johnston Atkinson and Coby Cox

2025 Year 11 Captains

Amy Weatherhead and Ruby Paola

2025 Year 11 Vice Captains

Tayla Allan and Peter Bouw

VCE Subject Awards

Units 1/2 Biology - Tori Cliff

Units 1/2 Drama - Tim Bassett

Units 1/2 Maths Methods - Chris Weinert

Units 1/2 Health and Human Development - Alyssa Brennan

Units 3/4 Outdoor and Environmental Studies - Jaymie Makin

Instrumental Music Student of the Year

Matt Whittaker

Female Sports Champion

Tabitha Young

Male Sports Champion

Jasper Barry

Academic Excellence and Endeavour Awards

In 5 and 6 subjects

Grade Point Average (GPA) Awards Outstanding 4.85 or higher

Point Badges - Blue (100-199 points)

Bryn Ballagh
Peter Bouw
Rachael Elderhurst
Liam Hartigan
Joel Barry
Ewan Hills
Tabitha Young
Benjamin Hade
Jasper Barry
Andrew Makowski
Nykeeta Taylor
Tameaka Hawkey
William Milton
Alyssa Brennan
Jett Bateman
Isabella Harper
Tori Cliff
Isabel Findlay
Luci Johnston Atkinson
Lucinda Meilak
Alannah Peet
Alani Lewis
Amy Weatherhead
William Kinloch
Max Sheen

Point Badges - Bronze (200-299 points)

Gemma Kerr and Cooper King

Thriving in Community Award

Cooper King

Resilience in Life Award

Nathan Robinson Darvell

ADF Future Innovators Award

Liam Hartigan

Long Tan Youth Leadership Award

Bryn Ballagh

Kwong Lee Dow Scholars Award

Niina Lazarus

2024 Student of the Year

Peter Bouw and Torri Cliff

2024 Principal's Award

Liam Hartigan

Year 10 Awards Photos

Year 10 Captains' Speech

This year has been eventful, and as a year level, we have had a chance to grow and mature as people. It was so nice to see everyone gain confidence throughout the year, developing skills as students and young adults.

Many students this year started doing their VCE studies early, giving them an insight into the rigors of VCE study and allowing them to further develop study skills moving forward in their education. This year also included some of our Year 10 cohort participating in the school production, including main roles all the way to backstage. On August 16th, the Year 10s had their first formal event! It was amazing to see everyone in their dazzling outfits and arrive in fancy cars/limos. Tatra Receptions presented us with an amazing venue with a three-course meal and lots of great music! Everyone there on the night had an amazing time socializing with friends and dancing on the dance floor.

The Year 10 camp to Central Australia spanned five days, from Monday, October 21st to Friday, October 25th, and was an amazing experience for all of us that included events like getting the chance to see Uluru and going on a camel ride. We did many different walks and hikes. We went to John Flynn's grave and Simpson's Gap on the first day; then on the second day, we went to Lilla and had a cultural Aboriginal experience. We went for a walk around the caves up in Lilla. On day three, we went on a massive hike, walked up the canyon's rim, and got to see the “Garden of Eden” and the “Lost City.” Then, on the fourth day, we got to go and see the beautiful Uluru.

It was an amazing experience for everyone. We went on a few walks around the rock, and later in the afternoon, we went to have a camel ride. Then on the fifth day, we returned home and rejoiced in getting back to our own beds and seeing family and pets.

What a fantastic year it has been to look back on! We congratulate everyone on their achievements this year and look forward to our future studies as we head into our chosen pathway.

Long Tan Youth Leadership Award 2024

The Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Award, established in 2006 by the Australian Defence Force, honors students for their leadership and teamwork in school and the community. It recognises values like respect, mateship, and doing one’s best—qualities important in Australian society.

Congratulations are extended to Bryn Ballagh the Year 10 recipient of this award for 2024, who has displayed these qualities throughout the year. This prestigious award includes a monetary part.

Kwong Lee Dow Scholars Award 2024

The Melbourne University Kwong Lee Dow Scholars Program is an academic enrichment program designed to support high-achieving secondary school students in achieving their personal best.

Each year, high-achieving Year 10 students from Victoria and select schools in the border regions of New South Wales or South Australia are encouraged to apply for the Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program.

Successful applicants will take part in an exciting two-year program of events and activities that will expand their academic and personal horizons and set them up for success at Melbourne, and beyond.

When you finish your secondary studies, you could also be offered a guaranteed place in an undergraduate degree, financial assistance to move to Melbourne, and an overseas scholarship during your studies.

This prestigious program is highly competitive, and congratulations are extended to all nominees, especially Niina Lazarus, the Year 10 recipient for 2024.

Year 9 Awards

2024 Year 9 Captains

York Newell and Emily Allard

2025 Year 10 Captains

Isla Canning and Hue Martin-Webb

Instrumental Music Student of the Year

Isla Canning

Harry Garside Sports Award

Georgia Gow and Jasper Waite

Female Sports Champion

Georgia Gow

Male Sports Champion

Blake O'Kane

Academic Excellence and Endeavour Awards In 7 to 9 subjects

Grade Point Average (GPA) Awards Outstanding 4.8 or higher

Point Badges - Blue (100-199 points)

Hue Martin-Webb
Layla Wotherspoon
Sarah Hade
Noah De Pedro
Jessica Kay
Abbey Woods
Evelyn Blake-Witton
Emma New
Kane Pimblett
Jensen Barry
Isla Canning

Point Badges - Bronze (200-299 points)

Myra Craig
Jack Marshall
Fletcher Palfreyman

Point Badges - Silver (300-399 points)

York Newell

Thriving in Community Award

Tanner Miles

Resilience in Life Award

Camdyn Jones

2024 Student of the Year

Abbey Woods

2024 Principal's Award

Noah De Pedro

Year 9 Awards Photos

Year 9 Captains' Speech

2024 has been an exciting year for the Year 9s! We kicked off the year with the chance to choose electives, and some real standouts emerged. Café Crew served up delicious drinks every Thursday, the Duke of Ed group tackled a three-day hike, and Community Sport took their skills to local primary schools. What an amazing way to learn and grow!

We also experienced the full swing of our Select Entry programs; Athlete Development, Excellence in Sports, and the brand-new Arts Enrichment Program. These programs offered tailored opportunities that made learning even more engaging.

This year, we faced our first exams in core subjects, a daunting but important step toward our senior years. Whether or not we hit our target results, we gained the confidence we need to tackle future challenges.

A big highlight was this year’s production, Curtain Calls and Chronicles. For the first time in years, it was a dramatic work instead of a musical. With several Year 9s shining on stage and behind the scenes and Tanner Miles as MC, it was a phenomenal success!

Another standout was our camp in Tasmania. Crossing Bass Strait on the Spirit of Tasmania was a thrill, and the activities were unforgettable. From exploring Cataract Gorge and walking the Tahune Airwalk to learning about history at Port Arthur, we made incredible memories and strengthened friendships along the way.

Throughout the year, we enjoyed so many activities; Health and Wellbeing Day, athletics carnivals, fancy dress for Book Week, and even running our very own Year 9 Election. It’s been a year of hard work, fun, and friendships.

It’s been an honor serving as Year 9 captain in 2024. Best wishes to everyone for Year 10 in 2025, and we hope you have a well-deserved break over the holidays!