School Highlights
Reading to Preps
Our Principal, Mr Charlton, recently took some time out of his busy schedule to read to some of our Preps. They look like they enjoyed the story!
Year 7 Cultural Day - 'Kon'nichiwa and Bonjour!'
Teagan Strachan, Isabella O’Brien and Ethan Grey, Year 7
On Tuesday 19 March 2019, the Year 7s had their first Cultural Day celebrating the different aspects of French and Japanese cultures.
For one of the activities we made eclairs in the Food Tech room guided by Monsieur Jouve, our French Chef. He took us through the different ingredients and steps it takes to make the perfect éclair. Then we decorated and ate our éclairs.
Following that activity, we had our Year 7 Languages Cultural Assembly where we were welcomed by the Year 12s speaking Japanese and French extremely well. It was very interesting to hear them and to see what we might be able to say in French or Japanese when we reach Year 12.
Next, we had the Japanese section of the Cultural Day. Two Japanese drummers called Ayako and Ayakocame to the School to show us Japanese drumming. It was really amazing and everyone enjoyed it.
At the end of the session, we got to play the drums ourselves. Some people did a drum roll while others played their own made-up song. They also taught us some Japanese words and how to count to ten.
Overall, the day was a great experience for us to expand our knowledge of Japanese and French culture!
Year 8 English Runner Excursion
The Year 8 English students recently went on a 'runner' excursion to the city. English students traced the footsteps of the protagonist, Charlie, from Robert Newton’s novel The Runner.
Geography Field Trips - Years 8 and 11
Year 8 and Year 11 students recently had the opportunity to go on Geography field trips. The Year 8 class went to Hampton Beach while the Year 11s went to Kinglake.
Here are student accounts of the trips.
Year 8 - Hampton Beach
Jess Bonham, Year 8
On Tuesday 19 March, Year 8 students travelled to Hampton Beach. We went to explore the natural processes and human activities that take place there and to look at how effectively these are being managed.
We walked along the beach path from Green Point, Brighton all of the way down to the Sandringham Yacht Club, which allowed us to observe the coastal environment and the human influences on this landscape.
We also saw examples of the management strategies being implemented e.g. the sea wall constructed to protect the cliffs against erosion.
Overall, this was a great excursion because we got to experience the natural landscape first-hand, which enabled us to conceptualise what we had learnt in the classroom and apply our knowledge to a real-world context.
Year 11 - Kinglake
Clare Moffat, Year 11
On Wednesday 20 March, we travelled to Kinglake to investigate the impact of the Black Saturday bushfires on this region.
By visiting various locations, we were able to explore in-depth the devastating social, economic and environmental effects of this natural disaster.
As February marked the ten-year anniversary of these bushfires, we were able to view first-hand the resilience of the community, as reflected by the hard work undertaken to rebuild the town and once again reinstate it as a tourist destination.
This was a highly worthwhile excursion that opened our eyes to the terrible hardships faced by people living in a fire-prone area. Thank you to Miss Szpak and Mr Schmidt for accompanying us on the day.
Visual Arts Excursion to the NGV
Ella Dorne, Senior School Visual Arts Captain
On Friday March 15, Years 11 to 12 Studio Art and Visual Communication Design students as well as Year 10 Art students travelled to the city to view the works of Dutch artist M.C. Escher.
Held at the NGV, the Escher X Nendo exhibition featured Escher’s artworks in displays designed by the Japanese design studio ‘Nendo’.
The exhibition combined aspects of both viewing and interacting with artworks which helped give the gallery a lively and pleasant atmosphere.
I personally loved the range of visual illusions incorporated into almost all the artworks throughout the event. I had trouble taking my eyes off the numerous displays as the longer I looked, the more I found.
Being able to visit this exhibition with fellow students was a memorable experience. I would recommend visiting the impressive display before its closure on 7 April.
Harmony Day
Jacqui Goldenberg, Community Service Program Director
Last week the Senior School celebrated Harmony Day with 'Harmonies for Harmony'.
Students gathered on the PVC lawn to listen to a number of student bands and to eat orange cupcakes.
Year 12 students wore orange ribbons in their hair to represent inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background.
Money raised from the sale of cupcakes has been donated to the Asylum Seeker Resource Center charity partner for Term 1.