In and around the classroom

Year 12 Camp

Kangaroobie camp was a real challenge of strength and perseverance unlike any other. Leeches were a regular reminder of the harsh and merciless surroundings, whether they were in the grass, rivers, or even the showers. Nearly every camper had a story about a close encounter with these tenacious animals, and many had souvenirs in the form of bites from their leeches. The constant rain made things more difficult by causing the campgrounds to become muddy and making even the most basic activities difficult. Nevertheless, despite these difficulties, there was a sense of unity and mutual success. It was both humbling and motivating to learn that five-year-olds from the previous year had successfully completed the difficult obstacle course and hiked to the beach, which felt like a much longer walk than its two kilometres. It was a lesson that would stick with us long after we had left camp—a reminder of the tenacity and resilience of the human spirit.

Even with the difficulties, there were times of breathtaking beauty and amazement that made everything worthwhile. The expansive views of grassy hills that continued out into the distance were spectacular. They reminded me of the wild splendour of the natural world, as if they were straight out of a nature documentary. With its towering cliffs and roaring waves, the estuary was a sight to behold despite its murky brown colour. The scenery appeared surreal, as though it had been taken straight out of a dream or painting. It was simple to forget about the discomforts and difficulties of camp life during those times and to just be in awe of the beauty of the surroundings.

Getting to know the farm animals was one of the unexpected pleasures of camp. All of the animals—dogs, lambs, cows, and calves—were amiable and eager to receive care and affection. Touching a 600-kg cow and feeling its rough, warm hide beneath your fingertips was quite wonderful. A little period of calm and serenity amid the bustle of camp life served as a reminder of our connectedness to the natural world. Even the pigs, who should not be petted, offered a never-ending supply of amusement with their lively antics and inquisitive disposition.

Ultimately, camp proved to be more than simply a physical hardship; it was also a test of perseverance and character. It tested us to the breaking point and made us face our anxieties and concerns. However, it also imparted to us invaluable knowledge about the human spirit, cooperation, and resiliency. We left camp with a renewed respect for the magnificence of nature and the resilience of the human spirit as we packed up our tents. Our journey at camp was one we would never forget and would carry with us forever.

-Bhumika Choudhary

Community Sponsorship with THE BROOK

Earlier this term, the Homestead Senior Cafe Crew applied for a Community Sponsorship Grant offered through The Brook Point Cook. 

As local establishments, we were both keep keen to build a partnership and work with each other to support the community. 

The project the Cafe crew applied for includes the resourcing of new benches, sinks and appliances as well as barista and food handling training for the students staff. 

Homestead was very lucky and proud to have received a $5500 grant through the Brook, this will go a very long way towards the Homestead Cafe and students. 

Year 12 Chemistry Excursion to the University of Melbourne

On June 7, the Year 12 Chemistry students experienced real life analytical chemistry in action at the University of Melbourne.

During this excursion, they were able to use devices such as InfraRed Spectroscopy, Mass Spectrometry, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography and more! This experience is not something that is possible in schools and so this is an incredible opportunity to feel like a real chemist. 

Thank you to Nasser and Christine for taking the class to this experience.

Year 10 Health Expo

Homestead Senior School's Year 10 Health Expo: Educational, Insightful, and Fun!

Last Thursday at Homestead Senior was all the rave, the Year 10 Health and Human Development students brought their knowledge and teamwork to create an awesome health expo held for the enthusiastic students and teachers of Saltwater P-9. This event was the talk of the week, it created a buzz of excitement and sparked meaningful conversations all about health and well-being.

"Fun and learning collided – it was amazing!" - Saltwater Student

The expo was an impressive showcase of our students' knowledge, creativity, and passion. From engaging presentations to interactive displays, the Year 10 students covered a multitude of essential topics in health which were designed to empower their peers. 

As period five approached, it was clear that this wasn't just another school activity—it was an unforgettable educational experience. 

The main goal of the expo was to educate and inspire the Saltwater students alongside  the community on vital health dimensions providing valuable information in a way that was both easy to understand and powerful. Our year 10 students tackled critical topics such as the ‘A - Z on your body’ the ‘Real issue on smoking’, and the essentials on 'Sti’s and Contraception: Safe N’ Sound’. Through these presentations, they aimed to provide their audience with the tools needed to make informed decisions about their health, and their own lives!

What set this expo apart was the interactive nature of the presentations. Students were told to use a mix of visual appeals, hands-on activities, and real-life scenarios to make their points stand out and boy did they do that! 

From paints, ball pits, and jar guessing, the Year 10s kept their audience engaged and eager to learn. The feedback from Saltwater students and teachers alike was incredibly positive, outlining how enjoyable and educational the event truly was. 

Beyond the scenes where the students of Homestead were working so incredibly hard, the expo was a celebration of learning and collaboration providing students, teachers, and peers with a greater understanding of important health issues and practical tips for daily life. 

For our Year 10 students, it was a chance to shine and make a real difference in their community. Their ability to present complex information in a fun and engaging way made the expo an event like no other. 

A huge thanks to Lachlan Mallia for encouraging all of us Year 10 students and putting together such an amazing event. His support and behind-the-scenes knowledge made this expo truly unforgettable. We can’t wait for the next health expo, where year 10 students from Homestead Senior will have the chance to participate once again!

- Written by Mahlaqa Shah on behalf of the Year 10 HHD Classes

Year 11 Legal Studies Excursion to Pentridge Prison

On Friday May 3rd, The Year 11 Legal Studies Class went on excursion to Pentridge Prison to learn about the history of the prison and the stories the walls could still tell. 

It was an incredible experiences as we got an insight into what life was like in some of Australia's worst prisons of the time. After a guided tour, students were given headsets that we were able to listen to stories on. A different story was told in each cell, each one more chilling than the last. 

It was great and an experience we would highly recommend to anyone. 

Thanks to Nerida for organising this for us. 

Strength Lab

The Homestead Strength Lab is an amazing place, not just because of its obvious benefits, but in a sense that it is a great place to form new bonds and friendships, as you push to hit a new PR. 

As the days pass on, more and more students show up to test their strength, and hit new goals. It is a really motivating and encouraging environment, as students push each other to hit that next rep, or go up in weight, students help each other, with all types of experience levels, some people going to the gym for up to a year, some looking to start their journey wherever that may take them. 

Facilitated by staff, everyone is treated like equals, and welcomed with open arms, with people being able to express themselves freely, day by day the Strength Lab becomes more and more popular, and more and more people turn out, creating a sense of community.

If you’d like to be a part of Homesteads newest community please come in throughout the week.

Tyson Oli (on behalf of The Strength Labbers)

Debating

Hey everyone!

Have you heard about inter school debating? We hope you have because Homestead Senior Secondary has been doing an incredible job at the Debaters Association of Victoria (DAV) competition this year. DAV, a non-profit organisation, is the debating body in Victoria, organising large competitions for both adults and schools across the region.

Our team started the season super excited and ready to put our prior skills to use. We've been training, improving, and most importantly, having fun while doing so. One of the most memorable moments for us debaters was our debate on “short-stay rental platforms doing more harm than good.” We nailed each point with our smart arguments and teamwork to bring home a win!

Of course, none of this would be possible without our incredible coach, Amy Carpenter, who’s always ready to help refine our debating skills, supporting us through challenges, and always having the motivation to uplift our goals. 

As the competition continued, our team kept showing how resilient and adaptable we were. Never giving up no matter the opponents and never seeing a setback as an endpoint but only growing from each debate win or loss.

We, in the debating team, have worked so incredibly hard to get to where we are today, and it's truly inspiring to see how far everyone has progressed. Not only have we polished our overall debating skills, but we've also learned so much through topics from the ethics of pop stars to the morality of shady businesses, our cohesive teamwork is insanely impressive!

With the final rounds coming up, our team is pumped and ready to continue excelling, making Homestead super proud.

Go Homestead Debaters! 

We can't wait to see how we do in the final rounds and cheer each other on every step of the way. Each debate has been better than before, and we hope to see more students participate in the next debating season!

- Mahlaqa Shah, Naisha Ajmera , Jamie Green, Anvi Karwa , Simran Kaur ,Saumya Padia

WynSpeak

Public speaking is the number one fear around the world, and yet it is one of the most necessary and important skills that one can develop. 

The Wyndham Youth Public Speaking Competition (or Wynspeak) was created in 2003 as a Youth Project to assist young people from the Western region of Melbourne in growing their self-confidence through the development of effective public speaking skills. In 2024, Homestead Senior Secondary College participated in this long standing competition for the first time, and considering it was our debut, Homestead performed exceptionally well. 

We entered three students into the competition, Zayan Awais (12), Mahlaqa Shah (10) and Simran Kaur (10). The students had the opportunity to choose their own speaking topics which resulted in passionate and effusive speeches. Zayan presented a beautiful, heart-stirring appeal for peace for the people of Palestine, earning him excellent feedback from both the judges and audience. Mahlaqa spoke about the dangers of perfectionism, a topic that many in the audience could relate to, while Simran held court on why The Hunger Games is the most important text published in the 21st Century. Both Year 10 students had competed in Wynspeak previously and you could see their experience and enthusiasm shine through their incredible speeches. All three students also had to complete a “short notice speech”, testing their ability to think on their feet!

Excitingly, Simran Kaur won her round for best prepared speech, going on to the Finals in June, while Mahlaqa Shah won for her short notice speech on “The Animal I’d Most Like To Be…”. All three students performed phenomenally and demonstrated the Homestead values admirably. They, and the Homestead community, should be very proud of their efforts. 

Well done, Zayan, Simran and Mahlaqa!