Academic Activities
The World Skills Regional Competition
On Thursday 3 of our students in Year 12 – Skyline, Carlos and Sina- competed in the World Skills Regional Competition at Chisholm TAFE in Frankston. The trainers were thoroughly impressed by the attitude, the commitment, and the dedication our students showed. The competition went from 8.00am – 4.30pm.
It gives us GREAT pleasure to announce Carlos Macasarte of 12E in being crowned the Regional Winner of Worldskills 2022.
Carlos will now be invited to compete in the Victorian State Competition, with further details to follow.
Carlos was supplied with a Full Drill Set and carry bag and Radio from their generous supplier AEG.
Chisholm reported he is ‘Such a delightful young man and he should be very proud of himself’, as are we at our College!!
We wish Carlos the best of luck in the State Final and will share his success as soon as we know more.
This is a wonderful achievement for Carlos and for Hampton Park Secondary College.
Well done to all who were involved!!
Rugby Academy Camp
This week the Rugby Academy travelled to Marysville to participate in a 3 day outdoor education camp. As part of our program, we attended this camp to build resilience, teamwork and challenge members of our team with memorable outdoor experiences.
On day one we arrived and settled into our cabins. We then had a great time being involved in canoeing and bush cooking. A few canoes were tipped and competition in the races was soaring.
On the second day we hiked up a local mountain and in to town. Students were challenged by some steep terrain but the view and feeling of achievement at the end were worth it. We then got to enjoy a tour in the local town of Marysville (and try some local treats from the lolly shop!). During the town tour we were taken to the local bushfire museum for a tour. Through the tour we were able to learn that our actions in the environment have consequences, and the power of people uniting, how communities’ band together to rebuild after something so devastating. Our students were so engaged in learning how the fire spread and who and how was affected by this devastating event. We then got the opportunity to walk to the memorial site and pay our respect to those lives lost and hike back to camp through forests.
Abseiling and rock climbing up a 22m wall were two favourite activities that challenged students on the second day and enabled them to recognise their strengths and the power of determination. It was so great to see them supporting and encourage each other to push out of their comfort zones and succeed.
We had a minute to win it games night, where students participated in a range of hilarious activities led by camp staff, this was a lot of fun, each cabin working together to try and score points for their team.
In our spare time we enjoyed working together through Rugby skill games and activities with a side of highly competitive touch and volleyball!
On the final day after packing our cabins, we focused on teamwork in our bush skills session, critically thinking about resources we would use if we were lost, negotiating and communicating these in teams. We learned how to make a spark and smoke signals, how to make traditional aboriginal soap from leaves and finished off with a hut building competition.
Thank you to Mr Christiansen, Mr Illangakoon and Miss Louden for providing a fantastic experience for our students and a huge congratulations to all students for their positive energy on camp, we are proud of how you represented the college and challenged yourselves.
VCAL WheelTalk Incursion
On Monday 22nd August, our Year 10 and 11 VCAL students participated in a wheelchair basketball session. Students were joined by Peter Ogunyemi from WheelTalk, an interactive program that encourages students to think about diversity, acceptance and disability – with a primary focus on inclusion.
The aim of this incursion was to teach students how to play the game as opposed to regular basketball, place them in a practical scenario to develop real life skills, as well as develop a stronger understanding for those who have a physical disability. Following this, students will then write an instructional text on 'how to play wheelchair basketball' to support their writing outcomes for the practical purposes VCAL unit.
Read more about WheelTalk here: https://www.dsr.org.au/wheeltalk
Year 12 Personal Development Class
On Tuesday 23rd August, our Year 12 Personal Development class worked with Hampton Park Primary School and it was amazing to watch our students in action! The students led sessions on leaning dispositions and leadership skills, and we are very proud of their effort, organisation and leadership!
Thank you to HPPS and congratulations to all involved.
Robotics Tournament!
On Monday 5th, some of our students travelled to Templestowe College to compete in a Robotics Tournament! This was a state round of the competition that required students to design and build robots to complete a series of skills and challenges against students from other schools.
William Angliss - Learning Through Lunch!
On Friday the 9th September 20, Year 10 VCAL students were invited to a ‘Learning through Lunch’ excursion sponsored by Ardoch. Students went on a campus tour of William Angliss and were then seated at the Angliss Restaurant with Ardoch volunteers on each table- aiding discussions with students on future pathways, life experience and family. Students enjoyed a delicious 3 course lunch, with some students experiencing fine dining for the first time.
Arts Centre Melbourne!
On Wednesday 31st August, 41 EAL students attended the Arts Centre Melbourne for a multicultural bilingual (Afghan/English) performance that was amazing! Dorr-e-Dari is a Persian poetry influenced performance, and was created and performed by three Afghani-Australian artists now lining in Western Sydney. It is a 'crash course' in classic Persian Poetry exploring music, dance, poetry and video projections. All HPSC students were well behaved and enjoyed the performance greatly!
Outdoor Education!
Last Friday, our Outdoor Ed class went down to the Mornington Peninsula for their practice hike before camp next term. They hiked to Bushrangers Bay and back!
Write a Book in a Day!
On 25th August, five of our Extension and Enrichment Writing Program students participated in Write a Book in a Day - Estelle Foo Souye Chan, Yousif Hana, Casey Lumm, Ivy Nguyen and Winudi Wimalasekere. In just one day, they had to plan, write, edit and illustrate a 4000-word book including ten random characters, settings and words. They did a fantastic job despite the time pressure! Copies of the book are on display in the CRC and will be donated to kids in hospital with cancer as part of the Kids’ Cancer Project.
2022 HPSC Poetry Competition!
The HPSC English Week Poetry Competition has been judged and decided. Congratulations to our winners, who all earned house points for their contributions. Check out the award winning poems below!
First Place:
'Two Faced '
By Yesha Marie Apilado (Year 9)
I ask myself, for those in favour.
The difference between lords and saviours.
My question to humanity.
Is one that you might not have seen.
The rightful place of good and bad.
The rightful truth that burned to ash.
The world may seem harmless,
to those who don’t understand.
Each wordless piece of logic gone,
each single argument.
Our lives exploited, the day we arrived.
The hallow shell of all who abide.
A single question that breaks the mind,
Of those who have been stuck in time.
The line that draws all good and bad,
Expanded those of the richest sand.
Ignoring the wishes the lords have set
To a world of black and white.
Second Place:
‘A Simple Love Story’
By Winudi Wimalasekera (Year 9)
In the canary fields a quiet autumn wind blows,
The sky is pallid and grey.
With the sun’s soft glows,
The meadow ahead was where you would lay.
Stretches of vast open green, dappled with wildflowers,
This is the place you were most happy.
And now here stood what could be two lovers,
Like a scene from a movie, quite tacky.
When Nyx paints her starry night, everything is still,
Dew glitters from the moon’s soft milky glow.
A prison, I’m told to stay in against my will,
And you, paying the price of a heart you stole.
In a shadow land it not just the fire that sparks,
A hollow true love’s kiss, for the heart belongs to another.
A war-torn land, fuelled by a corrupt monarch,
Midnight wings wielded by a proud bluffer.
In the snow capped mountains or the summers dry terrain,
In light or dark, in rain or shine not matter the hassle.
Together we are connected by cupid’s chain,
And together we venture on our moving castle.
Third Place:
'The Lonely Cloud'
By Elijah Dichoso (Year 10)
The single cloud, so lonely in the sky
Wishing for someone, to maybe catch its eye
As the cloud floats along the lonely sea
It stops for a while and wonders what it’s supposed to be
As the cloud contemplates
It’s humble soul mediates
The thoughts rush byFilling it’s empty plate
The cloud’s eye was caught
By something it’s never seen
Maybe it was just a thought
Or truly something worth chasing
The cloud was joyful
The cloud grew white
The cloud became happy
The cloud became bright
But suddenly the cloud was grey
It’s beautiful white was soon stripped away
Soon, tears would fall from the cloud
It hurt inside but it couldn’t say a sound
With every tear, it’s size would change
Eventually the cloud faded away
As the last tear drop left its face
Honourable Mentions:
‘What is life?’
By Zenani-Philips Onekon (Year 8)
Life is a beauty we should savour
Life is a gift we should appreciate
It is a challenge we should overcome
It is a game we should play
It is a puzzle we should solve
Life is a beat we dance to
Life is a strength we have
It is a weight we shoulder
It is a beginning
It is a life we live
'The Wonders of Nature'
By Casey Lumm (Year 9)
The things in life that are full of wonder,
Are hidden in plain sight,
Flowing waterfalls and terrifying thunder,
Pretty skies, events that fright.
Light can flow across the sky,
In every colour imagined,
Lights up every face that wonders why,
The world is filled with passion.
A deadly river of snow,
Slides at a fast pace down the mountains,
At any moment one might blow,
Check all the skiers are accounted.
Below the surface made of limestone,
A twinkling city glow,
Down under in the unknown,
Rising and hanging rocks grow.
Spectacular fish and vibrant coral live in harmony,
Sadly, the landscape could be destroyed,
So, this is the place I’m going to see,
The view that should be enjoyed.
Huge sand dunes, mountains in brilliant colour,
This world is amazing for us to be,
So stop that life that’s duller,
And explore, enjoy and be free.
'The aftermath of emotional trauma’
By Nayab Nawrozi (Year 8)
I lack empathy
I lack emotional availability
I lack mentally stability
I don’t take things deeply
I don’t fall in love easily
And I am not easily loved
I don’t feel sympathetic
For people going through a lot
I’m not a good listener
And I’m not a talker
I don’t miss people when they leave
And I don’t mourn themI’m a shell of what society told me to be
I should be
'It Starts from Us'
By Najiba Shaikh (Year 11)
They live threatened, under the green leaves
Soon they would lose their strong peace,
Let the animals feel safe like me,
Whether that starts with either we or me.
The shade, the exposure,
The lakes, the dryness,
The cold wind, the harsh breeze
All the animals dazzled including the bees.
Let the lakes of their land be filled,
Let the wind feel cool,
Let it receive the shade from the tree,
And all of this starts from me.
So here we plant, more and more trees,
And leave alone the beauty of the greens,
Make the animals feel safe like me,
Whether that starts with either we or me.
Honorable Mention'
A Soldier’s Prayer'
By Shifa Gul (Year 10)
Oh lord, thou not with man at war
But with man whose tyranny sought an end
In fear of the fruit his greed should bore
In humanity, did man find a friend?
Oh lord, unheard was nightingales invoke
Calm a nation’s plea,
The grave made to be its abode
O great marshal of a fallen army
Oh lord, stolen was man’s yearning for amity
Brotherly bonds turned to tantalize
His soul was made lone and weary
Harmony was but a fantasize
My Poem'
By Joy Jigi
I long and I yearn for your presence
Never can a million sorrows bring you tomorrow
Nor can a million weeps bring you back from your endless sleep
It was November the 9th the day you said goodbye
The day my heart was shattered, never to be mended again
Reminders of him
Reminders of you, as your aroma lingers around our room
I am in an abyss of despair, knowing you are not there
Until we meet again in heaven
My shining florous friend
'Why is everybody so rude?'
By Summer Dean (Year 8)
Why are you so rude?
How do I, being chubbier than you, make me less than you?
Why are you so rude?
How does my hair colour make me less than you?
Why are you so rude?
How do my pimples make me less than you?
Why are you so rude?
How do my clothes make me less than you?
Why are you so rude?
How do my teeth make me less than you?
Why are you so rude?
How do my friends make me less than you?
Why are you so rude?
How do I trying to stand up for myself make me less than you?
Why are you so rude?
How does my struggle make me less than you?
Why are you rude?
How does my home life make me less than you?
Why are you so rude?
How do my interests make me less than you?
Bonus Poems
'Roses are Red'
By Bria Gardiner (Year 8)
Roses are red
Violets are blue
I love hpsc
And I hope you do too!
'Be Your Best'
By Yesha Marie Apilado (Year 9)
Be your best.
Don’t strive for worst.
These broken dreams won’t cure your thirst.
Our dreams you take.
All strings attached.
Were all but puppets.
In a life that’s been snatched.