Secondary School

Upcoming Dates

Head of Secondary

Last Monday, our Year 10 and 11 students spent their final day at Melbourne Cable Park as a reward for all their efforts across 2023. The weather was perfect as students enjoyed the challenges presented on the high ropes course followed by navigating their way around the water park on giant inflatable obstacles. Of course, many took the opportunity to conveniently fall off into the water to cool off. 

The Secondary Presentation night was then held last week on Tuesday 5th December in the K-Block Gymnasium. It was lovely to see many from the Secondary community make this time a priority as we came together to acknowledge the various gifts and talents of our students. 

Awards were presented to students in the following categories: Character (Bayside Way), Academic commendation, Academic excellence, Year level Proxime Accessit (second to Dux) and the Dux, Junior and Senior Secondary Sports and Arts, and a variety of distinguished awards. 

We also farewelled our ‘Class of 2023’ one last time as a community by inviting the Year 12’s on stage to receive their final graduation gift. The night was spectacularly capped off by some amazing musical performances by some very talented students who were also accompanied by equally talented members of staff. Well done to all Secondary students for your efforts across the year. We look forward to acknowledging many more of you next year.

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 making Gingerbread houses, playing beach games at Cape Schanck, painting like Picasso, or playing competitive games of basketball, all activities were well represented by students who all appeared to be having a lot of fun. 

On Tuesday, roller coasters and water slides were the activities of choice at Gumbuya World. Again, the weather was perfect for this occasion after the recent rain and cooler temperatures experienced. 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 your help.

Finally, as many of you are aware, Year 12 VCE results were released statewide on Monday morning this week. A huge congratulations to all our Year 12 students who were rewarded for the effort that they put in. 

A special congratulations goes to Jasmine Gleed, our College Dux for 2023, who received an ATAR of 97.7 out of a possible 99.95. We look forward to presenting her with the College Dux award at next year’s Secondary Presentation night and hearing all about her first-year journey post-Secondary school. Some additional statistical information about our ‘class of 2023’ VCE results:

• Percentage of students who received an ATAR score of 90 or more = 15%
• Percentage of students who received an ATAR score of 80 plus = 30%
• Percentage of students who received an ATAR score of over 70 = 55%
• Average ATAR score for the VCE cohort = 71.61
• Median study score across all subjects completed = 28 out of a possible 50 (perfect score)
• Subject study scores over 40 = 7.2 % (only the top 9% of students statewide achieve this result or higher)

An amazing effort Year 12’s! Well done.

I pray that you have a safe and enjoyable holiday period with family and friends and that you take the time to acknowledge and reflect on the significance of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ during the festive season. 

God bless,

James Kumnick

Head of Secondary

2024 Student Leadership

Year 7 to 9 Bike Day on North

The activity day focussed on riding was a huge success today with students working on the secondary track before riding a range of jumps and obstacles. We also rode along Peninsula Link to the Moorooduc train station and the students did a sensational job throughout the day. Thanks to David Goschnick, Peter Beismann and Shelley Cooper for helping run components of this day and to the wonderful Fiona Ryan for putting such an amazing program together. - Mr Ken Berry

Years 11&12 VM Students Visit 'Joy of the Earth'

Our senior VM students visited Frankston Council’s community garden, ‘Joy of the Earth’ to get inspiration for our own community gardens at school. The students toured the gardens and came back to school with heaps of ideas on things they’d like to build at Bayside. I’m looking forward to seeing their creations come to life in 2024. A huge thanks goes to David Goschnick and James Siede for taking the group on this excursion.- Ken Berry

Pantry Plus Christmas Hampers

Our Year 11 and 12 students ran an amazing Christmas Hamper program during HeadStart and we were able to deliver 12 hampers to the Chaplaincy team at Somerville Primary School and another 12 to Pantry Plus. These hampers will bring Christmas joy and relief to many families in our local neighbourhoods, who are unable to supply Christmas lunch. 

Our students loved putting these together and wrote individual Christmas cards for each hamper. A huge thanks goes to Ulli Austermann for supervising the packing and to Deb Eastman from Pantry Plus for running such an amazing program. The biggest thanks goes to our wonderful Bayside Community for being so generous throughout this year. - Ken Berry

Lunchtime Volleyball

Over the course of the year during one lunchtime a week, students have had the opportunity to play volleyball with their peers. During SIS competition season, one court was reserved for team training, whilst the other was open as a “social” court for all Y7-12 students. There has been great attendance and participation from players and spectators. 

At the last full secondary volleyball session on Friday of Week 9, approximately 50 students either played or watched over the course of lunchtime, with 24-30 playing at any given time. This program has been a great success in giving students another practical outlet to be physically active and continue to build social connections between classes. I am excited to see this space continue to grow in 2024 and beyond. - Mr J Goschnick

Music Showcase Evening

On Thursday 7th December we had our biannual ‘Music Showcase Evening’, where again we were able to appreciate and celebrate the fruits of all the hard work which the instrumental students have been putting into their learning this semester. Well done to all who performed, especially those who gave it a go for their first time!

Thankyou also to our wonderful instrumental teachers, who have put so much time and effort into helping our instrumental students grow in their abilities and confidence this year: Emma Rogers (piano and woodwind), Elizabeth Mallen (piano), Jacob Mahoney (guitar), Mark Berry (guitar), Bernadette Mether (singing) and Rupert Balint-Smith (strings). Thankyou also to all the parents, family members and friends for your ongoing support for the Music department!

Mr Dave Mallen

Music Coordinator