Secondary School
Head of Secondary
On Monday, our Year 10 and 11 students spent their final day on an excursion to the Enchanted Adventure Park followed by Mornington Indoor Sports & Inflatables as a reward for all their efforts across 2024. The morning weather was perfect for the outdoor activities as students enjoyed rotating through a variety of Mazes, strolling along the Canopy Walk, and flying down the hill on the Tube Slides to name a few.
They then visited Seawind Gardens to relax, have something to eat and look at views of Port Phillip Bay from the Arthurs Seat lookout. In the afternoon, students were seen ‘monkeying around’ on a variety of inflatable playground apparatus, challenging themselves physically. I’m sure that many of them slept well that night.
The Secondary Presentation night was held last week on Tuesday 3 December in the K Block Gymnasium. It was fantastic to see many from the Secondary community make this time a priority as we all came together to acknowledge the various gifts and talents of our students.
Awards were presented in the following categories: Character (Bayside Way), Academic commendation, Academic excellence, Year level Proxime Accessit (second to Dux) and the Dux, Secondary Sports and Arts achievement, and a variety of distinguished awards. We also farewelled our ‘class of 2024’ for the last time as a community by inviting the Year 12’s on stage to receive their final graduation gift. We wish them well for their next adventure. The evening was spectacularly capped off with amazing musical performances by some very talented students who were also accompanied by equally talented members of staff. Well done to all students for your efforts across the year. We look forward to acknowledging more student achievement in 2025.
Our Year 7-9 students, this week have spent their last days enjoying a three-day activity week. On Monday, students were able to choose from a variety of activities to participate in. Whether it was Christmas baking, playing beach games at Mordialloc, painting terracotta pots, or walking to Bushrangers Bay to name a few, all activities were well represented by students who had lots of fun. On Tuesday, roller coasters, water slides, and giant swings were the activities of choice for Year 7 and 8 at Gumbuya World and Luna Park respectively.
The Year 9’s were at school competing against each other in Laser Tag. Again, the weather was perfect for these occasions after the recent rain. The last day of the year for these students was spent giving back to the community – service day. Students were able to tidy and clean up both the South and North campus classrooms, locker bays, garden beds, and shared play spaces before enjoying a much-earned BBQ lunch and a 2:30pm early dismissal. Thank you for giving back to the school community in this way.
Finally, as many of you are aware, Year 12 VCE results will be released state wide on Thursday morning this week. We wish to congratulate all our Year 12 students and we hope that they will be rewarded fittingly for their efforts across the year. We look forward to communicating with the school community shortly, who our College Dux will be. In 2025, we will then present the College Dux award to this student at next year’s Secondary Presentation night and hear all about their first-year journey post-Secondary school.
- First Day (Year 7 – 12): Wednesday 29 January 2025, 8:45am start
May all our college community enjoy a blessed Christmas, as we spend time reflecting on the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and have a safe holiday with family and friends.
So, May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen.
God bless,
Mr James Kumnick, Head of Secondary
2025 Student Leadership
Secondary Awards Presentation Evening
The Bayside Way Award
Lucas Swales, Year 7
Emily Buchanan, Year 8
Maddie Bonnici, Year 9
Thomas Bell, Year 10
Hendricus Versteegen, Year 11
Owen Mathews, Year 12
Year 7 Award Winners
Commendation Award
Erica Maxwell and Nikolas Williams
Academic Excellence
Nevin Jibin, Amy Jones, Jake McMaster,
Gabriella Rajah, Quinn Sullivan, Rebekah Wilkinson and Phoebe Ward
Proxime Accessit
Rebekah Wilkinson
Dux
Quinn Sullivan
Year 8 Award Winners
Commendation Award
Ee Yang Chia and Elise Hallam
Academic Excellence
Emily Buchanan, Ava Harris, Isaac Kidney, Jasmine Slater and Molly Trotter
Proxime Accessit
Ava Harris
Dux
Molly Trotter
Year 9 Award Winners
Commendation Award
Jessica Blake and Lachlan Tickell
Academic Excellence
Nathan Faure, Zoe McMaster, Billy Ng, Dane Nolan, Penelope O’Brien, Jayda Ryall, Will Unwin and Mia Uulf
Proxime Accessit
Jayda Ryall
Dux
Will Unwin
Year 10 Award Winners
Commendation Award
Melissa Hattingh and Hannah Reed
Academic Excellence
Thomas Bell, Gabriella Cardona, Luke Faure, Annabelle Hughes, Eliza Kumnick, Asha Manning and Heather Stubbs
Proxime Accessit
Heather Stubbs
Dux
Annabelle Hughes
Year 11 Award Winners
Commendation Award
Ciara Feeney, Chloe Kidney and Levi Withey
Academic Excellence
Alexandria Cardona, Joshua Devenish, Emma Osterberg, Detroit Roncon and Hendricus Versteegen
Proxime Accessit
Joshua Devenish
Dux
Emma Osterberg
Year 12 Award Winners
Commendation Award
Jai Castro, Emma Martin and Hamish Mason
Academic Excellence
Ryan Baker, Hudson Bell, Rhys Coleman, Lachlan Dean, Chloe Devenish, Owen Mathews, Amaris White, Aaron Cohen, Lily Saltmarsh and Mackenzie Taylor
Sports Awards
Junior Secondary, Phoebe Ward
Middle Secondary, William Gascard
Senior Secondary, Amaris White
Arts Awards
7-9 Arts Award, Ava Harris
10-12 Arts Award, Alycia Hermawan
Distinguished Awards
AMPOL All-Rounder Award, Amaris White
Louisa Dunkley Shield, Lily Saltmarsh
Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars, Gabriella Cardona
ADF Long Tan Award, Isabelle De Haan and Ryan Hooper
ADF Future Innovators Award, Gabriella Cardona and Rhys Coleman
Chemistry
In Head Start, we have had a fun, hands-on introduction of Chemistry for 2025. The year 12s have begun learning about fuels, and so we made biodiesel together and burnt some of it to see how effective it was.
In year 11, we started with the electron configuration configuring and the classic flame tests, seeing different colours with much brightness and enthusiasm, while consolidating the safety components that must be conducted while in the laboratory.
We even had a moment where students were so committed to the glorious excitement of Chemistry, that personalised cupcakes of the class’ favourite elements were made. Shout out to Heather and Gabby for going the extra mile to make our classes all the more fun and memorable.
I know I am definitely excited for what the coming year holds for us in the Chemistry classroom.
Miss Amy Partridge, Secondary Teacher
Debating Team
On Tuesday 19 November, a group of three very courageous Year 8 students set off to participate in the BP Debating Championship at Ivanhoe Grammer, where they were being met by some very elite and highly trained competitors. Over the course of the day, there were three debates, and our team each time had the more difficult position to represent:
In debate 1, our boys had to argue that it was unwise to give public land back to Indigenous Peoples. This was a hard stand, as the adjudicator threw out a number of valid arguments as being too critical of the First Nations People, and in the end, there was not much left to say.
In debate 2, our team had to take the stance that wealthier sporting clubs should be taxed significant amounts and give their incomes to less wealthy sporting clubs.
And in their final debate, our team had to argue in favour of giving Art to private owners over making it available to the public in galleries and museums, once again a tricky position to be in.
The teams were not allowed to do any research and had to rely solely on their knowledge. Our group of three argued valiantly and represented the school with poise and integrity. Next year, there will be a Bayside debating club, like many other schools have it already, so watch this space.
Mrs Ulli Austerman, Secondary Teacher
SIS News
The SIS Junior Boys Touch Rugby team finished the season strong with two key wins, including a 7-5 victory over the second-place team in their final game. Their growth and development were evident, and the hard work paid off. Looking forward to an even stronger season next year—well done, boys!
Mr James Siede, Secondary Teacher
Vocational Major News
Pantry Plus Christmas Hampers
The Year 11 & 12 VM students did an amazing job running the Christmas Hamper program for Pantry Plus. We want to thank the entire school community for being so generous bringing hamper items to school. We were able to donate 20 spectacular hampers to Somerville Primary and Aldercourt Primary. Both communities were incredibly grateful and very much appreciate our support. Our students even created handmade Christmas cards and wrote heartfelt letters of encouragement to the hamper recipients.
Compassion Community Market
The VM students did a great job running stalls at the Christmas market and we’ve been able to send over 15 months ($755) of sponsorship to Riri, Anton and Brayen through our community partner Compassion. These funds will transform the lives of these young people living in poverty in Indonesia through their local churches. A massive thank you goes to Justin Mason, James Siede and Ulli Austermann for helping to set up / pack up and to Lis O’Brien for her wonderful promotion and signage for the market.
Pantry Plus working Session
The Year 11 VM class worked with the volunteer team at Pantry Plus to help prepare necessary items for vulnerable people in our community. They worked hard to support this wonderful organisation, and we also weeded the community garden built earlier this year.
VM Interview Panel
Years 10-12 VM students participated in an Industry Interview Panel with Bayside business owners Trent Jones, Robbie O'Brien and Nathan De Haan. Students got to hear their testimonies and how a variety of different career pathways and life choices influenced how the guests ended up in their chosen industries.
Mr Ken Berry, VM Coordinator