SECONDARY (7-12)

Our exchange student is setting sail back to her home country Slovakia after spending 12 months at St Anne's College. We have loved having Karolina here and have learnt so much about her culture. A huge congratulations to Karolina for a successful year in Australia, embracing all things-Aussie. We will miss you!

rozlúčka Karolina!

It is with mixed emotions that we farewelled our much-loved Slovakian exchange student, Karolina, today. While we’re excited for her to reunite with her family and friends back home, we’re also sad to see her time with us come to an end.

Our Year 11 students came together to celebrate Karolina with a fun Aussie-themed lunch—complete with all the classics, including fairy bread' to which Karolina admitted she was not a fan of! 

As a farewell gift, Karolina received a thoughtful present featuring a personalised book capturing memories of her time at St Anne’s College. In return, she surprised everyone with her beautifully made, decorated, and packaged traditional Slovakian honey biscuits—a sweet gesture that reflected her kindness and creativity.

Wishing you safe travels and all the very best for what’s ahead, Karolina. You’ll be missed! 

Year 9 students have been learning about Aboriginal arts in the form of weaving and also ink resembling natural dyes from the ironbark tree. The students were asked to create an Aboriginal-style artwork, ispired by Yorta Yorta artist Treahna Hamm's artworks. Visual Arts Learning Mentor Mark Almond has previously worked with Treahna before passing on these skills of painting and weaving while the students who painted turned to local artist Troy Fibrace for inspiration. 

For the weaving project, students were tasked with creating a circular pattern using a blanket stitch and the materials used were natural and coloured Raffia resembling the reeds and grasses which are native to Australia.

Can small actions have a big impact? Do you have to be powerful and loud to be a leader? Could something you do help or inspire someone else? Could a small gesture change someone's life?

A group of Year 10 Leadership Learning Program students recently tested this theory out.  Combining their interest in nature and plants, being outdoors and being grateful for the people around them, they decorated a vase, made thank you cards then artfully constructed a bouquet of flowers from the school garden. Two learning mentors who have made an impact on them were the appreciative recipients of the flowers. There can be no doubt that this thoughtful gesture had a positive impact and that you can in fact lead and inspire others around you in your everyday life! Great work Livinia, Izzy, Zahraa and Maryam! (absent: Marwa).

Recently our talented Year 12 VM Personal Development Skills students completed this fantastic art piece for the walls of our Senior Secondary end of the college. The activity was part of a leadership activity in Dion's class.

Student organisers were Dante Sultana, Cooper McConkey and Riley Moreno.

The piece was painted by Fatema Alatheiry, Josh Alexander, Noah Booth, Charlie Bux, Georgia Darby, Tanis Espange, Charlie Henry, Jasper Micallef, Bodhi Tremellen, and LSO Aaron Niglia.

Students stated, 'We incorporated the St Anne's College logo across the nine pieces to symbolise the holistic, collaborative education that our college values.'

A big congratulations to our VET Active Volunteering students who displayed amazing leadership skills when they assisted the St Georges Road Primary School  students to build their school forest last week.

The St Georges Road students gravitated towards our students like big brothers and sisters and our students received many compliments from St Georges Road staff about how they led and engaged them in their outdoor environment.

Our current and prospective secondary students and their families are equipped with all the important information for the years to come after attending our Senior Secondary Information Night yesterday evening. 

Those in attendance heard from leaders, teaching staff and our captains on topics such as the importance of choosing an appropriate pathway, subject selection and so much more. 

A follow up afterschool event will be held on Wednesday 23 July from 3:30pm to 4:30pm in the Blackbox. Students who are currently in Year 10 and will move into Year 11 next year, and their parents/carers who did not attend on Wednesday night are expected to attend this catch-up session. 

To view a copy of the presentation, click on the link below:

A big thank you to Elicia from La Trobe University who visited the College last week to present information to our Year 11 and 12 students. Elicia spoke about the many aspects of getting into university, particularly regarding the ASPIRE Early Entry Program which is currently open for applications. 

Our Year 7 and 8 students were fortunate to welcome Hilda from Parks Victoria to their Cultural Studies class earlier this week. With 36+ years of experience working in the Nathalia region, Hilda brought a wealth of knowledge about the Indigenous peoples of our local area.

Students explored traditional Indigenous knowledge, learning about native food sources, sustainable practices, animal behaviours, and hunting methods. Hilda shared insights into the Yorta Yorta nation, made up of eight tribes, each with its own totem. These totems symbolise a commitment to protect and preserve particular animal species—never to harm or consume them. The health of these animals serves as an indicator of the overall wellbeing of the environment; if the animal is sick, the area is struggling, if the animal is well, the area is thriving. 

The class discovered a variety of local river species, native food and medicinal plants, and how these have been impacted by the introduction of non-native animals. Hilda also brought along fascinating artefacts, including Broadshell and Common Long-Necked Turtle shells, mussels, an emu egg, possum skin, and tools and weapons crafted from natural materials.

Students learned that jewellery was made from mussel shells, possum skins were sewn into cloaks, canoes and cradles were crafted from trees, and red gum and greenstone were used to create various bowls and tools. 

Hilda also spoke of traditional trading practices at Mt William, with tribes travelling along the Goulburn River, Broken Creek, and Campaspe River—important waterways in northern Victoria.

It was a valuable and inspiring session, offering students a deeper appreciation of the rich culture and sustainable practices of the Yorta Yorta people.

Monday 28 July - 50 Days Left of School: future career dress up day! Year 12 students can come dressed up as their future career, a possible career, or current work uniform. 

Thursday 7 August - Throwback Thursday: Year 12 students can dress up and embody their younger selves. Make sure to attach a photo of your childhood self to your outfit. On this day we are also planning a Year 12 class lunch. This will be held in the common space and we encourage each of you to bring your favourite childhood snack to share with the year at lunch time. Make sure to provide an ingredients list to account for any dietary requirements. 

Make sure to fill in the Yearbook form sent via email from Liliana.

For any requests or questions about the upcoming days, please feel free to send an email to either Liliana or Alick. 

Students are expected to wear full academic uniform on non-PE days.

This includes a knitted jumper and/or blazer for Year 10-12 students and a softshell jacket or knitted jumper for Year 7-9 students.

Students are not permitted to wear long sleeve tops underneath their academic shirts or PE t-shirts in lieu of wearing a jumper or for PE the rugby top.

For modesty, female students should be in the long winter skirt or pants with the long-sleeve academic shirt (blouse), jumper and/or blazer. Students are not permitted to wear the summer dress with layers underneath.

Please ensure you purchase any required items over the term break.

Any questions or concerns please contact Mez Lia, Rohan Lelliott or Sarah Baglin.  We appreciate your understanding and cooperation regarding this.

Parents/carers are reminded there will be immunisations for Year 7 students on the following date: 

• September 8 - Year 7 Immunisations (HPV and Boostrix), from 9:15am onsite at St Anne's College

Parents/carers will be sent a letter with further information as your student's immunisation date approaches as well as a link to the online form which you are required to complete.

If you have any questions regarding this initiative, please direct all queries to: 

Danica Worthington, Greater Shepparton City Council Immunisations Support Officer

Ph: 5832 9744 | Email: Danica.worthington@shepparton.vic.gov.au