Middle School

Social Entrepeneurs

As part of their Capstone Project, we asked the Year 9 students to become social entrepreneurs. In the weeks leading up to the Synergy Presentation Night, they were busily investigating a social issue, consulting experts, surveying our community and working collaboratively to develop a social enterprise. The Synergy Presentation Night allowed students to showcase their hard work by delivering a pitch for their social enterprise idea.

In the morning, we welcomed Sarah Witty, the Federal Member for Melbourne, to the College to learn about what matters to our students. Sarah was impressed by the social awareness and confidence of our students. She gave each group her endorsement and encouraged them to continue finding ways to utilise these entrepreneurial skills to create a positive impact in our community. 

In the evening, students presented their pitches to parents and special guests.  While the experience was understandably daunting for many, students later reflected on the sense of pride they felt having stepped outside their comfort zone and risen to the challenge. Guests were then invited to explore the students’ business stalls, where they showcased thoughtfully designed marketing materials and interactive activities for their social enterprise.

Companion and Co, developed by Olivia Nyhof, Freya McGlone, Lena Daoud-Kolusniewski and  Willa Cusick, was awarded the People’s Choice Award for the most compelling pitch of the night, closely followed by Astera created by Alessia Caruso, Chelsea Huynh, Audrey Moloney and Evie Kline. 

Guests also had the opportunity to vote in our Synergy Snaps Competition where students were asked to capture a photograph that celebrates Melbourne.  Madeleine Spriggs was the winner of this competition for her photograph of Melbourne's city skyline. 

Well done to all of the students in 9 Barak and MacKillop for their wonderful efforts this semester.   We look forward to welcoming the students from 9 Monash and Melba into the Synergy Program next semester. 

Ms Sherine Baydoun

Synergy Learning Leader

Languages Day 

Year 9 Academy students celebrated  Languages Day on Tuesday, 16 June and several student have shared their experience of the day:

Students spent the morning at school where they attended a session on the importance of learning a language with guest speakers, followed by a morning tea in the hall.  After recess, French students visited the NGV to analyse French artworks.  The Japanese students participated in an excursion to Japaneasy to take part in a calligraphy and origami session.  The Italian students headed off on a teacher-guided tour of Lygon Street, affectionately known as 'Melbourne's Little Italy' and attended Museo Italiano.

All students then headed off to lunch to sample the cuisine of the language they were studying and to explore the different cultural influences of that language on Melbourne.

Throughout Languages Day, I was able to learn a lot more about French culture and art while also having fun.  The lecture in the morning extended my knowledge of the benefits that come with learning languages through high school and persuaded me even more to continue studying French.  The visit to the NGV to see 19th-century French art was very beautiful, fascinating, and insightful for understanding the era.  Being able to go off on our own to French restaurants was great fun, and the food at French Fix was very delicious! Languages Day will definitely be a highlight of the year because of all the educational value as well as the enjoyment it provided.

• Angela Karpathakis

My Languages Day experience was incredibly engaging and enjoyable.  We explored the museum, admired European artworks, and answered questions in French, making the day both interactive and educational.  We also visited a French café, where I enjoyed a Nutella crêpe.  The guest speakers were inspiring, and I left feeling motivated and grateful for the opportunity to learn a second language.

• Dakota Ayton

Today, I learned about Italian culture, heritage, and the history of Italian migration to Australia.  For our excursion, the Academy students who study Italian visited Lygon Street, where we completed a booklet and explored different aspects of Italian heritage.  We also visited an Italian museum and learned about how Italian migrants came to Australia and the experiences they faced.  For lunch, my group and I ate at Papa Gino’s on Lygon Street. My favourite part of the day was spending time with my friends while learning more about Italian culture and history.  The excursion was both enjoyable and educational, and it helped me gain a better understanding of the Italian community’s contribution to Australia.

• Michaela Gakis

During the morning session, we learnt about the benefits of studying a language and how VCE language scaling works. The Japanese students then visited JapanEasy, where we participated in calligraphy and origami workshops before having lunch in the city. My favourite part of the day was  immersing myself further in Japanese culture and sharing this experience with my friends.

• Maisonya 

   

Ms Natalie Dickson

Languages Learning Leader

Author Visit - Alice Pung

The Year 9's were delighted to have much acclaimed Australian author Alice Pung come to speak to them about her life, the writing process and her novel "Laurinda". 

Born and raised in Melbourne, Alice is the daughter of Chinese-Cambodian refugees and she drew on how this background and her cultural experiences shaped her writing.  

The Year 9 cohort asked a fabulous variety of questions and Alice was delighted with their engagement.  Following the talk, many books were signed! 

Many thanks Alice!

Mr Stefan Odachowski

English Learning Leader

Bringing a Classic Cake to Life

Our Year 10 Food students recently took on an exciting and creative cake decorating challenge inspired by the iconic Women’s Weekly Train Birthday Cake.  This task combined practical baking skills with food science, planning and design to create an engaging real-world learning experience. 

Students were challenged to recreate and decorate their own train-themed cakes while demonstrating creativity, attention to detail and presentation skills.  From colourful icing and decorative features to carefully assembled carriages, each finished product showcased the students’ imagination and effort. 

Beyond the practical component, students explored the functional properties of food ingredients, researching how ingredients contribute to the structure, texture, flavour and appearance of cakes.  They investigated the important roles of ingredients such as eggs, flour, sugar and fats in achieving a successful final product. 

Ms Mara Atkins

Food Technology Learning Leader