PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

SCIENCE WEEK 

Last week was Science Week, and our students engaged in a variety of hands-on and exciting activities designed to spark their curiosity and deepen their understanding of scientific concepts across both our McKinnon Road and East Campuses. 

Highlights included the thrilling "Imploding Watermelon" demonstration, where students witnessed the power of air pressure in action, and the intriguing Stroop effect experiment, which explored the complexities of human cognition. Also on the A1 stage, Riham Russel from Year 7 solved a Rubik's Cube while singing the periodic table song!

The Camera Obscura provided a unique look into the physics of light and optics, while the classic Mentos and Coke experiment never failed to amaze with its explosive reaction. Chemistry demonstrations were a hit, particularly the vibrant and foamy "Elephant's Toothpaste," which showcased an exothermic reaction. 

Our students also delved into environmental science with the Minecraft-based "Eco Detectives" program, learning all about biodiversity. Our Year 8 students participated in the Kummargee program, featuring a round robin of science challenges that tested their knowledge and problem-solving skills in a fun and competitive environment.  

We were also thrilled to welcome back McKinnon Alumni Professor Jim Bishop (class of 1965/66) and Kristian La Greca (class of 2010) who generously gave their time to educate some of our biology students about their career pathways.

Thank you to Katherine Johnstone, Jennifer Wallace, Cherie Marks and our wonderful Lab Techs Karen Romari, Csilla Almasi and Marni Beretta for overseeing these events and experiences.

SCIENCE KUMMARGEE CHALLENGE 

The celebrations for National Science Week continued over at East Campus with the return of the Kummargee Challenge for Year 8s. Within their Kummargee groups, the students were tasked with three team challenges: crafting a paper plane that flies the farthest distance, building the tallest free-standing structure with a limited supply of spaghetti and a marshmallow, as well showcasing their scientific knowledge in the Science Quiz. I thank Ms Marks for organising the event, the Year 8 science team, and all staff who facilitated and supervised each activity.

We hope that Science Week has been an inspiring and fun week for everyone involved!

BOOK WEEK

We celebrate Book Week this week, and it has been a joyous celebration of reading and literacy. It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm of our students as they have participated in activities throughout the week at both our East and McKinnon Rd campuses. 

Monday started with book trivia. Students worked beautifully in their teams deciphering genre questions, matching teachers with their favourite books and answering all sorts of questions on their favourite novels. 

The staff vs student debates were a very amusing battle of wits as teachers attempted to prove that reading is overrated, but luckily logic prevailed as students proved just how worthy reading is. The teachers reading from their favourite passages to ambient music was a delightful sharing of a range of texts from Shakespeare, Spiderman to Britney Spears! The point is, it doesn't matter what you're reading as long as you are reading. 

The baking competition that took place today was one of the more delicious competitions the school has run. Don't forget about the dress up competitions that are taking place at recess tomorrow at the GYM at East Campus and the A1 stage at McKinnon Rd. 

A big thank you to the entire school community for getting involved in this wonderful week. A special thank you to the English faculty for volunteering so much of their time and energy, the AV and Communications teams for their support and help, our staff debaters Ms Felmingham, Monsieur Chamontin, Mr Hunt, Ms Hooper-Duffy and Ms Walker, and all teachers for reading, volunteering to help run lunchtime activities and for dressing up tomorrow.

BRASS NIGHT

On Tuesday evening, 13 August, we held our annual Brass Night. The event was a resounding success, showcasing the immense talent and dedication of over 100 performers.

The night featured a series of captivating solos, duets and small groups, with each performer demonstrating their unique skill and passion for music. From the powerful notes of the trumpet to the mellow tones of the French horn, the audience was treated to an array of exceptional musical pieces. 

One of the highlights of the evening was the year level group performances. These large ensembles contributed to a unified and powerful sound that resonated throughout the theatre. 

The evening was further enriched by the presence of associate artists and special guests. Their performances not only added a professional touch to the event but also provided valuable learning experiences for the students. 

Behind the scenes, a dedicated multimedia team and support crew worked tirelessly to ensure the event ran smoothly. Their efforts in sound, lighting, and stage management played a crucial role in the success of the night, making sure every performance was presented in the best possible way.

Brass Night was a spectacular showcase of talent, cooperation, and community spirit. Congratulations to the brass staff, Colleen Wurfel, Tracy Videon, Leah Humphrey, Dmitry Serebrianik, all the performers, the supportive audience, and the behind-the-scenes staff who made the night a success.

VICTORIAN SCHOOL MUSIC FESTIVAL 

Congratulations to the McKinnon Symphony Orchestra students who attained a Silver placing at the Victorian School Music Festival held at the Hawthorn Arts Centre on Tuesday 20 August. Students had the chance to listen to other school orchestras perform different musical selections before heading to the warm-up room to prepare. They played three pieces for an enthusiastic audience of students and their families, and two expert adjudicators who recorded valuable feedback on their performance.

Thank you to their conductor, Tracy Videon, and Clare Bugeja, who both worked to prepare the ensemble for this performance; Leah Humphrey and Paschal Lee for helping to look after students throughout the evening; and all our instrumental teachers who helped students to learn their individual parts.

Congratulations to the Keenan Strings students who achieved a Bronze placing in the VSMF Intermediate String Orchestra Section on Wednesday 21 August. This ensemble was directed by Georgina Mead and assisted by Stuart Cook, Amelia In, Martin West and Megan Waugh. 

What an incredible opportunity for our students to take part in this statewide festival celebrating music, collaboration, and performance. Students in both ensembles played incredibly well, and these placings demonstrate the high level of competition in the sections. We are incredibly proud of these achievements.

SENIOR GIRLS FOOTBALL STATE GRAND FINAL

Congratulations to our Senior Girls Football Team who have, for the first time in McKinnon history, made the state final. We wish them all the very best for the grand final being played next Thursday.

Thank you also to their incredible coaches, Ms Owen and Ms Weiss.

OLD MCKINNON / GLEN EIRA FC

The Old McKinnon/Glen Eira women's team have had an incredible finals victory that sees the side progress through to the Grand Final in the VAFA Div 2 Women's competition. The side has been dominant all year, finishing in top spot with 12 wins from their 16 matches. Many former McKinnon alumni play in this side, including eight players in the winning final side. 

The team will play in their Grand Final on Saturday 31 August at a venue to be confirmed. 

The men's side has also achieved success this season, up in the Premier C division of the VAFA. The side will finish just outside the finals having won 7 matches in their first season promoted to the Premier division. 

The two Under 19 men's sides will finish their seasons this weekend after a challenging season up in Division 1 of the Under 19 competition. 

We congratulate all the former McKinnon students who have been a part of the Old McKinnon Football sides in 2024.