PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

VCE ORIENTATION

Congratulations to Mr Noble, the Senior School Management Team and VCE teachers on running a very successful Orientation Program for our Senior School for 2013.

Students were given course outlines and a very good understanding of the course requirements for next year. They all worked very well and I hope they cope with all the set homework. More importantly I hope they enjoy the learning next year and thrive both academically and socially.

PEER SUPPORT

Our 2014 Peer Support Leaders have been selected from a large number of possible candidates.

Year 10 students immersed themselves wholeheartedly into the Peer Support training program. Our 2014 Peer Support Leaders have been selected from a large number of possible candidates. I congratulate those selected and wish them well with the very important role they play in assisting our new student’s transition into our school.

I would like to acknowledge and thank Mr Vanlangenberg and Ms Lehmann for coordinating this program.

The following are our Peer Support Leaders for 2014:

Shani Abrahams, Jefferson Lam, Aiyana Alexander, Hamza Abbas, Orly Atzmon, Asher Ginsberg, Rachel Braude, Marlo Sullivan, Ruby Cameron, Daniel Tritt, Rachel Caruana, Karl Wegman, Dorothy Chung, Callum Lloyd, Hannah Cole, Nykolai 

McHerron, Bridgette Collins, Ben Exell, Laura Corbett, Will Robertshaw, Mollie Currie, Joe Magee, Elle Dagres, Aaron Murray, Paris Dagres, Shaun Samulenok, Tizzie Diamond-Gatoff, Nick Bullas, Eliza Fischer, Monique Kostelac, Marie Georges, Ashray Annavarapu, Liss Gibert, Jules Kaufman, Ana Guberman, Roman Lisnyak, Jenna Kadish, Naoki Liu, Penelop Kaltzis, Liam Head, Allira Lignos, Bryan D’Souza, Emily Lyubic, Zeon Thayalan, Deanna Manolas, Roni Dyskin, Jade Mastwyk, Jason Moncrieff, Robyn Pedetti, Guy Toledano, Shai Pik, Jack Doherty-Brown, Tali Pinkus, Sebastien Ernest, Lucy Rhodes, Matthew James, Elizabeth Riaikkenen, Allister Bayangos, Alexia Samiotis, Moran Zhou, Lauren Sawicz, Riley Parker, Freya Stevenson, James Hunter, Aya Tamir-Regev, Fraser Rhind, Michelle Weng, Joseph Shim, Breanna Whitehead, Ross Sandler, Vanessa Wong, Lachlan Campbell, Ryan Etlis, Daniel Rockman, George Harte, Daniel Ledda, Connor O’Reilly, Ellie Adler, Ellie Donovan, Chloe Duchesne, Roy Eini, Ellen Kalaja, Corey Kalb, Harjyot Kaur, La’el Kimchi, Amy McCutchan, Nicole Olascoaga, Jess Osburn, Callum Parish, Lauren Rosenberg, Lizzie Rosin, Jack Ryan, Luca Soprano, Camille Stone, Saskia Thiagu, Rahul Thimmareddy, Zena Zenonos and Lena Zhan.

JUNIOR SCHOOL MUSIC CONCERT

Congratulations to all the staff and students involved in the music concert which was held last Thursday in the school hall. The standard of music was exceptional.

The growth and development that has occurred in our student’s musical learning over a very short period of time is outstanding. I would like to particularly acknowledge the efforts of Mr West our Instrumental Music Manager and Ms Papworth, our Classroom Music Manager and our very talented Music Staff.

Thank you to all parents, grandparents and friends who attended to offer support and encouragement.

I hope all the children continue to enjoy their music and pursue their talents.

GREAT VICTORIAN BIKE RIDE

The GVBR has been run for another year and I would like to thank so many people for their contribution to this marvellous event. I have received so many positive comments from parents celebrating their child’s participation in this very positive opportunity.

I would like to acknowledge and thank the following for their efforts:

The teachers who attended were Mr Blackwood, Mrs Hooper, Mr Shepherd, Mr Baker, Miss Schmidt, Mr Farthing, Mr Cukierman, Mrs Roney, Mr Hislop, Miss Andrieux, Mr Stubbs, Mr Machin and Miss Cozens. I would like to make special mention of Mr McLaughlan who organised the McKinnon team. The logistics of this event is enormous so a very big thank you to James for his tremendous efforts.

The parents and friends who attended were: Kate McLaughlan, Meg Perelear, Phil DeSalvo, Camille Hudson, Melissa and Danny Kah, Spiros Mouzakis, Michael Oaten, John Willis and Robin Mackey. 

Congratulations to you all on this wonderful achievement.

MEDIEVAL DAY

This day was a great success. The students learnt about and took part in workshops about medieval weapons, dance, crime and punishment and tournaments. They feasted on roasted chickens and entertained each other in a grand medieval banquet, capping off a successful semester of history of the middle ages. I would like to acknowledge and thank Mr Cukierman for organizing this wonderful event for all Year 8 students.

FRENCH EXCHANGE

I have received a number of emails from Mr Hubert, who is currently overseas with the McKinnon SC French Exchange. He has informed me of the great time the students are having and the experiences and memories they will have to remember for the rest of their lives. I would like to acknowledge and thank Mr Hubert for his efforts as well as Mr Absalom for coordinating this outstanding experience for the students.

WORLD CHALLENGE

I have also received emails from Mr Quinn, Miss Dickson and Mr Blackmore who have coordinated the World Challenge which is in Costa Rica and Nicaragua this year. The students are very well organised and enjoying all that this adventure has to offer. I would like to acknowledge the abovementioned teachers for their efforts and wish the students all the very best for the remainder of their journey.

SUCCESS STORY

Congratulations to Irene Tartiris who has been successful in her application to be a ‘ball kid’ at the Australian Open over the summer. Over 2600 students from all over Victoria applied, so this is a significant achievement. We wish Irene well with this endeavour and we will look out for Irene whilst either at the tennis or watching on TV.

BOOKSTALL

Another major undertaking at the end of each year is the Bookstall. I would like to acknowledge Jo Robinson who has coordinated and organised this very difficult task extremely well. I would also like to acknowledge the many volunteers who assisted in the Bookstall over the last few weeks. 

Thank you for your efforts: Yvette & Jaris Rener, Lynette Kohlhagen, Ada Wan, Patricia Loh, Judith Abbott, Yvonne Huggins, Di Exell, Ann Yarrow, Annie Alexiades, Haroula Vayenas, Marlene Bronstein, Debbie Warner, Debbie Rosenberg, Jun Li, May Lim, Georgia Shaw, Nitzan Schell, Faye Robjant, Jenny Vu, Gaylor Ledda, Christine Dawe, Glenda Haw, Linden Carnie, Anne Marie Williams, Rhonda Maier, Marg Degering, Lien Diep, Deepa Nair, Alexia Keats, David Zivin, Cath Tritt, Linda Cartledge, Cheryl Aizowitz, Helen Menashe, Sally Difford, Jamie Binnion, Emma & Charlotte Robinson and Rosie Patterson. This initiative provides significant assistance to our families.

THISTLE MAGAZINE

We have had published a most impressive Year Book that truly captures the 2013 year. It is a celebration of a tremendous year of activity and I thank all the staff and students who made it all possible.

The Thistle was produced by Mr Andrew Krause and Mrs Grace Turner. I thank them for 

putting together such a wonderful ‘keepsake’ with many memories captured for students, staff and parents.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all families the very best for the festive season. Thank you for your kindness and support throughout the year and I look forward to the safe return of our entire school community in 2014!

Pitsa Binnion

Principal