Melanie Denney
Assistant Principal
Dear Parents/Carers and Students,
It is remarkable to consider that Term 3 has already drawn to a close, despite feeling as though it only just started. The fact that it has flown by reflects the dynamic and demanding nature of school life in recent weeks, for both students and staff. When we take into account the breadth of outstanding events and accomplishments during this period, it becomes clear why the term has seemed to pass so quickly.
Recent Achievements
In the sphere of STEM, we have had students attending Science Fairs, along with some wonderful results from recent competitions.
Isabelle Goode, Alison Hurst, Neko McTaggart, Henryk Przychodzen and Michael Tikhanov, along with Dr Hale, returned from representing Australia at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics. Their dedication was rewarded not only with an enriching experience but also with a silver medal for Michael - an exceptional achievement!
We have also recently had a team of students attend the International Science Fair at the Australian Science and Mathematics School in Adelaide. Andy Zeng, Amy Hao, Ruby Poon, Zimo Xie, and Nicholas Tan presented their research and participated in STEM excursions and Challenge-Based Learning activities alongside students from around the world. Thank you to Ms Kacey Tran and Mr George Vlamakis, who supported the students on this trip.
August is always a big month for Science competitions with the International Chemistry Quiz, Science Olympiads and ICAS (Science) happening in quick succession. It’s fantastic to see so many students participating. A special mention goes to Alexander Korbatieh (Year 11) and Manasvi Vasipalli (Year 10), who received medals at our recent assembly for achieving a perfect score in the International Chemistry Quiz.
While we are still waiting on the Olympiad results, we know that we have had some exceptional achievements, with at least three students being invited to Olympiad Summer Schools, at which the Australian teams are selected.
Our Year 10 students have also excelled in the Humanities, with 14 students earning High Distinctions in the Australian History and another 14 students earning High Distinctions in the Australian Geography Competitions. Notably, Daniel Vincze placed in the top 1% nationally in the Geography Competition - an outstanding result!
Our musicians have also had some significant success. Particularly, the JMSS Concert Band achieved a Platinum Medal at the 2025 Victorian School Music Festival - the highest accolade JMSS has ever received in this event. What an amazing achievement!
Two of our students - Connor Russo (Year 12) and Rapha Kemplar (Year 11) - have progressed to the Grand Finals of the Victorian 2025 Evatt Competition, which is a Model UN competition for high school students. All the very best in the finals! Earlier this term, Rapha was also awarded a second place in the 2025 Parliament Prize for his 90-second video response to the question What would you say to parliament if you were an MP?’.
With so many amazing achievements, I always worry that I have missed someone (I sincerely apologise if I have)!
Unit 3 and 4 Studies - The Final Stretch
I want to acknowledge the incredible effort our Year 12 students have put into their studies this term. With a shorter Term 3 and a packed assessment schedule, their resilience and commitment have been commendable. While this time of year can feel bittersweet, I hope they’re finding satisfaction in ticking off some of those “last ever” school experiences.
While I know study will be a feature of this term break for most year 12s, I encourage them to pace themselves and take some time, particularly prior to the trial exams, to rest and engage in activities that bring joy and balance.
A reminder: students completing Unit 3 and 4 subjects are expected to attend trial exams during the second week of the holidays. These exams are a valuable opportunity to identify areas for further focus ahead of the final assessments.
Have a great break, everyone!
Melanie Denney
Assistant Principal