PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Michael Kan
Michael Kan
VICTORIAN EDUCATION EXCELLENCE AWARDS
I am so proud of our Wellbeing Team who were nominated as finalists for the 2024 Victorian Education Excellence Awards.
It was a pleasure to attend the award ceremony last Friday night, and whilst they didn’t win on the night, we know how incredibly important their work is and how fortunate we are to have this incredible team at McKinnon.
Congratulations Patty Etcell, Peter Gale, Miri Iser, Tyron Lauago, Alexsandra Lonsdale, Janine Mitchell, Gulzabeen Mohammed, Natasha Moshinsky, Kate Richardson and Nicole Smolyar.
BIG BAND BASH
Congratulations to all students involved in the Big Band Bash on Friday 18 October. Our Stage Bands performed to an excellent standard, and our Gigs On The Green bands were also exceptional as they performed energetically to an enthusiastic audience.
Thank you to the AV team, facilities, student helpers, all the music staff for their ongoing support and the ensemble directors: Stuart Byrne, Martin West, Colleen Wurfel and Andrew Albanis for their work with students throughout the year.
PIANO BY CANDLELIGHT
Congratulations to the students who played at the Piano by Candlelight concert last Thursday night. The talent on display was incredible and I would thank all 22 students who performed.
Thank you again to our AV team for setting up a very atmospheric performance space, the staff who attended and helped out with the evening and the friends and families who attended and provided their continued support.
Particular thanks to Tom Baldwin who organised this wonderful evening.
WISDOM AND SERVICE
This week East Campus hosted our Year 9 Wisdom & Service program's Community Project exhibitions across three afternoons. Students were tasked in addressing a particular community need, and this involved considerable research, collaboration and creativity.
As part of the afternoon's exhibition, students set up their stalls across the campus, and welcomed questions and feedback by many parents, staff and students that were in attendance. A selection of student volunteers proudly presented their project work to all in attendance in the Gym, showcasing the range of initiative and learning that was undertaken throughout the year.
Well done to our Year 9 students for being outstanding ambassadors of our school and proudly showcasing their work. I also wish to thank and congratulate Mr Chris Pantelios and the entire Wisdom and Service team for their efforts in successfully delivering this important, and unique, school experience for our students.
MIPS INTERVIEWS
The Managed Individual Pathways interviews for our students are being undertaken over the coming weeks, where students discuss their course selections or make modifications. Each student is individually catered for.
Thank you to our incredible Student Management teams, our Head of Year Levels and our careers advisors for their dedication in undertaking this important process.
COUNCIL OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS: COMMUNITY SURVEY
McKinnon is a proud member of the Council of International Schools, a globally recognised accreditation of the highest standard for schools. Every five years, member schools undertake a cycle of re-accreditation to ensure that continuous improvement remains a core component of school management.
A key part of this cycle of re-accreditation is the feedback of our school community. All parents and guardians of McKinnon Secondary College students have received an invitation to undertake our CIS Community Survey; your participation and support is a vital voice in ensuring our school remains true to its values while continuing to innovate and support our incredible community. Please note that, for your convenience, the survey is also available in more than thirty-five different languages.
If you have any questions regarding the survey or the CIS accreditation process, please contact our School Accreditation Coordinator, Phillip O'Brien (obp@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au)
STATE ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP
Congratulations to the following athletes on their success at the State Athletics Championships on Monday 21 October. Qualifying for the State Championships is a huge accomplishment meaning they are in the top 16 in the State.
Well done to Anushka Mehta, Sophie Arbaitman, Luca Sirianni (Year 7), Jasmine Chilco-Burns (Year 8), Harry Robertson, Luka Sideridis (Year 10), Christina Tan (Year 11), James Spencer, Alex Koulatsos (Year 12), but a special mention has to go to Allegra Orso (Year 11) who came 1st in all 3 of her events - 100m, Long and Triple jump, Archie Sideridis (Year 7) who came 1st in both the 800m and 1500m and Hugh Du Toit (Year 11) who came 1st in the 110m Hurdles, these are incredible achievements. Congratulations everyone and to Miss Weiss and Miss Owen for their support on the day.
THISTLELONIAN AFTERNOON TEA AND REUNION
On Saturday 26 October, the Class of 1974 was invited back to school to attend an Afternoon Tea to celebrate 50 years since graduation, and we also invited the group of students we refer to as ‘The Originals’ who celebrate 65 years since graduating from McKinnon.
It was heartwarming to witness their reunion and show them around the school, which has changed quite a bit since they were here! We were even lucky enough to have a teacher from 1959 in attendance, Mr Andrew Leopold.
Our Grand Reunion event, held in the evening, brought together 12 year levels who enjoyed a fun night catching up and reminiscing with school friends.
Thank you to our incredible Thistlelonian Committee for organising these wonderful events and to the many volunteers who contribute to the success.
In particular I thank President, Geoff Woolnough, Andrew Newton, Jenny Cooke, Pam Dickfos, Andrew Krause, Chelsea Stanley and Melanie Lynch.
I also want to acknowledge and thank string quartet students Kevin Jin, May Tran, Phoebe Rodda and Jack Sweeney (Year 12) who kindly played at the afternoon tea.
I share with you a letter of appreciation:
THISTLELONIAN - THANK YOU
I would love to thank you for the opportunity to catch up with our 50 years gang.
It was so amazing to chat with those in our group. Your incredible efforts throughout the day did not go unnoticed.
The recollections of things made me laugh and it was great to see although we are 50 years beyond our journey we absolutely have not changed. The majority of us have led amazing lives with incredible opportunities and many still working!!
I loved listening to: “remember in the typing/shorthand room the teacher had a sign at the door. Thank You is two words!
Others had a ton of memories, very special.
You can view more photos of these events here.
POSITIVE AMBASSADORS
I recently received a lovely email from a member of the public who contacted me about a group of our students traveling from school to the city on the train.
It’s always wonderful to receive this kind of feedback, which I would like to share.
“I would like to inform you about a train trip I took this morning. I got on at Ormond and got off at Malvern.
A large group of students and a few staff from your college were already in the carriage.
I wanted to tell you how impressed I was by the students’ behaviour and the respectful way in which the teachers spoke to their students.
Both my daughters went to McKinnon SC and I’m really proud that they did and that we can still be proud of the college.
Just wanted you to know that they were great ambassadors for the college.”
GLEN EIRA COUNCIL ROAD SAFETY VIDEO
As we approach the end of the school year the roads, parking and school crossings surrounding your school are very busy.
Glen Eira Council has created a short, animated video which was shared with you all in February this year. This video was created to be passed on to your school parents and community. It is a fabulous two and half minute video that explains parking signs, how the school crossing operates and aims to promote safety surrounding your schools.
It encourages students to walk or ride to school too, even if only from a few blocks away, to help ease traffic congestion, improve healthy activity and to help the environment.