Student News

Remote Learning - Thank you

What a massive term it has been from home! From a teaching and learning point of view, both students and teachers have worked so hard to continue to keep moving through curriculum and assessments during this challenging time. We could not be prouder of the work both teachers and students have been doing, and their ability to stay motivated over the last few weeks. Teachers have been creative in keeping students engaged and students have opened the communication lines to seek support and feedback on their work. As we move into an uncertain Term 4, I think it is important to acknowledge the work done so far. Aspiration is one of our school values, as as a school, we continually aspire to be better, work harder and improve. Take the time over the next two weeks to rest, get off the screen and recover, ready for a big term 4! 

Laura Ruddick- Acting Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning

Student leadership 2022

The student leadership selection process was conducted online this term. It consisted of students submitting online applications, participating in online interviews and presenting speeches in the virtual assemblies. There was an outstanding amount of applications this year demonstrating the students eagerness to contribute to the Suzanne Cory community. It is fantastic to hear all the ideas of students and how supportive they are of one another. 

It gives me great pleasure to announce the 2022 captains below:

Miss Claire Breed - Director of Sport and Student Engagement

VicSRC

Hello Suzanne Cory!!

I’m Aakriti Malhotra, a year 10 student at SCHS and also the Co-Chair of the Student Executive Advisory Committee at VicSRC, a state-wide organisation empowering students and our voices.

The last 18 months has been a difficult period for students, to say the least. With the constant shifts from onsite to online, and limited access to our social support networks, this time has taken a toll on our mental health - and this is especially true for VCE students. 

So VicSRC listened to Victorian students, and created a petition entailing the following 3 proposals for the DET, VCAA and the government: (find out more through the petition linked below!)

1. Two state-wide mental health days for every student and educator
2. Return to school term 4: Year 12 students and at-risk/vulnerable/essential worker students return to school immediately, and other cohorts attend for one or two days per week
3. Change the year 12 exams to give students a choice based on areas of study (such as in further maths), allowing students to focus their learning

I was recently interviewed about the petition, and the article was published in the Herald Sun. I was also interviewed by Sammy J on ABC radio, and wrote a piece for PRObono Australia.(Links are below!) 

I spoke about the importance of youth mental health in the current climate, and highlighted how these circumstances are unprecedented, and henceforth, the support we receive should reflect that. 

I’m very honoured that I was able to represent my Victorian peers and be a voice for you all!

View the Herald Sun article here

Listen to my ABC radio interview here, (skip to 1 hour 47 mins and 15 secs!)

View the PRObono article here. 

Sign and share the petition: www.change.org/studentvoicevic - not just students, anyone can sign!

Aakriti Malhotra Year 10, R8

40 Hour Famine

For 40 years Australians have been putting their money where their mouth is and going without to raise money for the 40 Hour Famine. But how much do you know about the ground-breaking youth event? After coordinating with external organisations and the school staff, I created a team for Suzanne Cory, in which 33 students participated in the ‘World Vision Australia’s 40 hour Famine’ fundraiser challenge from the 27th-29th of August. Right now, 41 million people are at risk of falling into famine. Children and families have been devastated by conflict, extreme weather events, and been affected especially by COVID-19. This ground-breaking youth event challenged students to live without something they rely on for 40 hours. Students were creative - as choices varied from some living without technology, while some lived without favourite food and even furniture! The school’s target was to raise $500 and we raised a total of $526.90. Thank you to everyone who participated, stood up and showed their support for those that need it more than ever for a fun and rewarding weekend! 

Aanchal Sharma Year 10, R8

Virtual Co-curricular 

Virtual Co-curricular was back in Term 3 due to the lockdown. Students suggested sessions they wanted to host and facilitated the sessions on zoom. It was a good opportunity for students to engage with one another and have fun. 

Some of the sessions included:

Thank you to the students who set up and ran sessions for the benefit of their peers. Well done!

Miss Claire Breed - Director of Sport and Student Engagement

Year 9 Art - Photography

The Year 9 Art students are studying a Unit on Photography. A task within the Unit required them to look at the artworks created by the masters and then replicate it at home using the props available, in order to photograph it. The task was an opportunity for students to study the compositions, colours and over all effect being created by the artwork. Originally it was started last year during the pandemic by Getty Museum.

It  turned out to be a really engaging task with students sending in multiple entries to showcase their creativity and improvisation. These are some of the examples created by 9.03 Art students.

Ms. Manan Walia -  Studio Art | Visual Communication Design Teacher 

Latin Reading Competition

In the second half of Term 3, a group of Year 10 students participated in the Latin reading competition, producing a recording of themselves reciting a passage of Latin poetry. The event is organised by the Classical Association of Victoria and this year's theme was 'Horses'. The students recited a passage from the Latin text Metamorphoses in which the Roman poet Ovid describes the transformation of the nymph Ocyroe into a horse. The competition requires students not only to recite the passage adhering to the rules of Classical Latin pronunciation, but also to pay attention to the lengths of syllables in each word, to place the correct stress on these syllables - known as 'accent', and to convey the meaning  of the Latin words through emphasis and emotion. This is a complex task and the students spoke beautifully. Well done to Tanisha, Izan and Nikhil  - factum optime!

Updated VTAC University Application Dates 

Year 12 students commenced their universities applications through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Center (VTAC) in Term 3. Thank you to all the students who have submitted.

Due to the delays caused by Covid-19, VTAC have modified the ATAR release date and course offer dates at the end of the year. These dates are available on the VTAC website, and are listed below. 

I will check every Year 12 student’s VTAC course preferences at the start of Term 4, and help students to make good course and career choices.

Mr. Brendan Taig - Careers Practitioner

High Notes!  from the Music Department

Her we are again in our second year of lockdown at the same time of year.  We have been fortunate in that we were able to have concerts in the first part of year, but we are back to our own ingenuity once again.

Our incredible music teachers have been very busy providing music and musical activities for our students and our community through their online lessons.  We are indeed fortunate to have staff who not only understand how to use technology in their lessons but are able to make this happen through their remarkable skill sets.  A big shout out to Mr Mulcahy and Mr Hart who have been fantastic in sharing their skills and expertise with film and sound production with the staff and students throughout the school.

As we are now old, experienced hands at this lockdown business, we have to acknowledge our students and how they have been able to facilitate music making through our classes and our online performances.  Online Soirees and Open Mics have become the thing and we do them very well.  Our recent online Open Mic was a great success with the breadth and depth of student talent and application on show.  Many thanks to all staff and students who contributed to this fun event.  We are currently producing our next online Soiree which should be available through the holidays.  I do hope you all take the time to watch and enjoy the work of our staff and students.

Mr. Tony Paye - Director of Music

Music Captains

This term, we have again been thrown back into an extended lockdown, however, the music department has still persevered! This lockdown, we held an online open mic to provide as a break from the monotonous routine of our remote learning lives. We received numerous applications from extremely talented individuals from different singing backgrounds and overall, we are so very proud and thankful to everyone who performed! Clips of performances can be found on the SCHS Facebook and Instagram pages.

Furthermore, for R U OK Day this year, we had whole school music captain, Arati Nair, compose, produce and record a song with the help of Mr Luke Hart (Mixing and Mastering.) This year's prompt was to write an original positive focused song on coping in this world we live in. Arati wrote about how the lockdown helped her discover herself as an individual, although it may have felt despondent at first. The song was then featured in the 'Dream Big 2021 Music Festival' on the 9th of September. 

Finally we would like to thank all the music department staff and students for pushing through this year, regardless of the many difficulties we've had to face. We are so grateful for each and every one of you and we would not have progressed as far as we have if it weren't for the dedication and support we received from you all. Please look forward to the upcoming soiree to admire all the hard work and effort these people have put in!

Music Captains, Arati and Matt