2026 School Photos

This week contained the school photos for the Fitzroy campus, and I'm sure they will turn out like they always do. We will get down there ready, maybe even prepared for the photos. Some people will have their hair done and everything perfect, other people will well… have turned up, but everyone will suffer the same fate. Everyone with a fringe will be told “your hairs in your eyes slick it back” or if you wear glasses and never take them off they will tell you “we wanna see your face take those off” and even after all that there will be one good photo and 30 horrible ones after years of experience and training in photography they will inevitably choose the worst photo and then that's that for a whole year.

My dad tells me, “they show a moment in time, it doesn't matter if it was a bad photo”, and while I do think they could make more of an effort to raise the quality of the photos, I also think that he's right, they are a moment in time and it shouldn't matter how dumb your photo looks.

I feel like more people should just embrace the bad photos and not try to make them good. More people should try to make their photo the funniest, not the best-looking. If the photo was always going to look bad, don't try to change that. I’ve always had this silly idea of wearing a Batman costume to photos, and while I haven't done so this year, I think people should next year and in years to come. Don't be so serious about photos, shave your head, wear that costume, just have fun with it. Everyone should care less about what others think and more about how funny that photo was.

Eamon K.

The swimming carnival at Fitzroy High School was a fun and exciting day for everyone

All students from Fitzroy High and Collingwood College were invited to take part in the Annual swimming carnival. Many students competed in races, while others came to cheer for their friends and their house teams. Teachers helped organise stuff, including a barbecue for the whole school and the events, and made sure everyone stayed safe.

The carnival included different swimming races such as freestyle, backstroke and relays. There were also some fun events for students who just wanted to join in and have a good time. Students earned points for their houses, which made the competition more exciting.

The carnival was held during the school term as a special sports day. It gave students a break from normal classes. The event took place at Fitzroy Swimming Pool, where students sat together in their house colours. The swimming carnival is important because it brings the school together. It helps students stay active, build confidence and show teamwork. Overall, it was a great day full of fun, support and school spirit.

Students walked to the pool, and some got driven there.

By Ana N.

MY NEW LIFE AT FITZROY

I cannot believe that I was walking down the street, past the Queens Parade shops, going to a new school. It's the first school day of the year. The first day of the term. I was definitely excited; however, I also felt anxious. Anxious about how people would think of me. Anxious that I would be a stranger. I knew that once I entered, there was no turning back. I had a tour the day before, but I still felt like I didn’t know where anything was. I went to the assembly, anxiously following my new peers. Once it was over, I got my locker and headed off to recess, where I stood alone. It took forever for the bell to ring; it felt like recess was going to take forever. I sat alone for the past 3 classes. I was definitely lonely, not knowing anyone in my class. I stood alone again at lunch, still didn’t have enough to go up to anyone. I kept telling myself that it would get better over time, and I know that I made the right choice. Well, you might be wondering why I’m at a new school? Because I want to do a subject that my other school could not do because of the amount of students wanting to do it. The second day, I met another new student, and I hung out with them at lunch. I felt better about it, as I found a new person to hang out with. Over the next few weeks, it went better and better, as I met more and more people, and I joined a group of year 10s. I started playing sports at lunch and recess. I felt I was part of Fitzroy High.

By James T.

The Stress Of Work Experience

In late term 2 of 2026, Year Ten students will be participating in 1 week of mandatory work experience. This information will be stressful to many, but also might be comforting to others. Students will go through a mix of emotions, including fear, anger, and worry. Students will be excited for the experience part, but others will be scared of organising a job for themselves, including me. The most stressful part of work experience is not doing work, it's organising a job. The reason it's the most stressful part is the fact that most students try as hard as possible to find a job placement early to get it out of the way. That is why most students are told to have a backup plan if their first idea doesn’t work out. If you are stressing about work experience, keep in mind that some of your friends might not have any idea what they are going to do for work experience. The best options for work experience are retail stores and volunteering, but your teachers might tell you that they would prefer you look for work that might positively impact what you want to do in the future, stuff like construction, engineering, medical, etc. When your teachers inform you of work experience, make sure to look for work as early as possible, the reason for that is because all year ten students in Victoria will be trying to find work at the same time.

Harry Z.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Throughout the years, Year 9 students have annually taken part in a 9 Connect program — a collection of excursions throughout the year level to help students learn and understand more about the community outside of the classroom. These experiences have allowed students to engage with organisations and projects across Melbourne.

For my own Year 9 connection experience, it began on February 20th with the Yarra Youth centre, where we initiated various activities like Djing, spraypainting, sports, and more, this place also provided us a place to go to after school hours. On March 6th, with a visit from the Women’s Trust, we explored historical conversations and equality. Shortly after, on March 12th, we learned about how The Big Issue is an enterprise that helps create opportunities for homeless people. On March 20th, we visited LCI Melbourne and discovered creative industries and future pathways. April 3rd, when we visited the Victorian Pride Centre, we discussed inclusion and identity.

During Term 2, we visited Headspace on June 26th and learned about youth wellbeing, followed by the Islamic Museum excursion on July 24th, which deepened our understanding of Islamic art and history. On September 4th, we participated in a cultural walk at Dights Falls, learning about local history.

Later in the year, we explored media and storytelling at ACMI (the Australian Centre for the Moving Image) on December 11th, where we watched ‘The Finishers’, a movie about reconnection and impossible dreams.

The Year 9 Connect program is an opportunity to reconnect with the place we live in and understand our community. These excursions appeared regularly and were a privilege that our school provided through weeks to months worth of planning. Throughout the past year, we developed awareness, empathy, and understanding, all of which we will now carry with us in year 10 and beyond, all to hope that this program continues on to provide future year 9s with the same skills, showing that learning doesn’t just happen in a classroom — it happens everywhere.

Catso B.

The Big Issue City Excursion

On the 19th of February, 2025, my year 9 class and I, assisted by the wonderful Shannon, headed into the city. We went by tram, enjoying the bustling, bright ride as each stop brought us closer to an adventurous, midday learning experience. On arrival, we were greeted by an unlabeled, mysterious door. Thankfully, before panic set in, it creaked open and out popped a friendly, enthusiastic woman who led us down a winding flight of stairs to the Big Issue classroom. In there, we learnt about what the Big Issue actually is and how they help those in need. Did you know that if you work with the Big Issue, you get to choose your own work hours? How helpful is that?! Overall, visiting the Big Issue was a perspective-changing experience. I had previously heard of and seen Big Issue workers around the city, but I’d never really paid attention to what they do or why they might’ve chosen this specific job. I believe The Big Issue has the ability to do so many amazing, powerful things with their work (excluding the absolutely awesome things that they already do). I would one hundred per cent recommend visiting, and I think the other grades at Fitzroy High School would benefit greatly from this excursion. Thank you for reading, and I hope that you also take the time to visit The Big Issue.

Frankie M.

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