Around the Campuses

VUSC China Study Tour 2026 – A Journey to Remember

From 12 to 22 September 2026, 25 students, our Assistant Principal Jason Austin, and three teachers - Michael Lewis, Meijin Zou and Scarlett Kennedy, took part in an exciting 11-day China Study Tour, visiting three cities: Beijing, Yangzhou and Shanghai.

Our journey began in Beijing, where students explored some of China's most famous historical and cultural landmarks, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. Students also had the opportunity to experience traditional Chinese culture through activities such as Tai Chi and exploring the historic Hutongs.

The next stop was Yangzhou, where students spent three days at our sister school, the High School Affiliated to Yangzhou University. This was one of the highlights of the trip, as students experienced Chinese school life, participated in classroom activities, and built friendships with local students. It was a wonderful opportunity to exchange ideas, learn about different cultures and strengthen the connection between our two schools.

Our final destination was Shanghai, where students experienced the modern side of China. From exploring the famous Bund and Nanjing Road to spending an unforgettable day at Shanghai Disneyland, there was plenty of excitement and fun.

Throughout the trip, students also had the opportunity to taste a wide variety of traditional Chinese dishes and experience the rich food culture of different regions.

Beyond sightseeing, this trip provided students with valuable opportunities to practise their Chinese language skills, develop independence, experience a different culture and build lasting friendships.

The China Cultural Tour was truly a memorable experience for everyone involved. We hope the friendships, experiences and memories created during these 11 days will stay with our students for many years to come.

Below are some reflections from our students about their experiences during the trip:

The 2026 China trip was the perfect trip I could ask for. Over the 10 days, I made so many friends and got along with all the teachers and students from both VUSC and the High School Affiliated to Yangzhou University. I learned about Chinese history, their culture, their landmarks and the stories behind them, and learned how to bargain really well with my Chinese. Overall, the China trip was an unforgettable experience that gave me memories and friendships I will cherish for years to come, and I am truly grateful for this opportunity. It is an experience I will never forget.

Shoutout to Sam for being a good friend. I would have been lonely without you.

Daksh KUMAR 10E

At one point, I was eagerly awaiting the upcoming trip, and before I knew it, I had already landed in China. It was a mix of anticipation and restlessness, a feeling words can’t describe. Bonding with my fellow peers and immersing ourselves in the Chinese culture and language was a fresh experience. The laughter, the chatter, and the memories are things that will forever remain unforgettable. 

Before this trip, my Chinese language skills were limited to the classroom, but during this trip, my friends and I had the opportunity to practise our Chinese continuously and live in the moment. The beautiful landmarks and amazing cuisine left a deep impact on our hearts, from aching feet to full bellies. Each city felt like living in a technocentric world, yet every day we encountered history, new adventures and meaningful interactions.

Fostering a friendship with the buddies at our Chinese Sister School and sharing our daily life definitely opened my horizons. Every moment was a highlight, but my days in Beijing at the start of the trip remain the most significant highlight of the expedition. The welcomes and hospitality, the pictures, and the wall-like steps of the Great Wall took my breath away. 

The 10 days passed quickly, like a mere heartbeat. However, they were 10 days I don’t regret. If given the opportunity, I would definitely love to come back with friends to relive the experience in the future!

Tuong Vi TRINH 11G

The China Cultural Exchange trip was a great bonding and learning experience. It gave me the opportunity to explore a different country and make priceless memories with my friends. Beijing was a beautiful and bustling city, which I learnt a lot about from our tour guide. At the sister school in Yangzhou, I discovered differences and similarities between classrooms, subjects, and school days, and met a bunch of friendly people. Finally, I had so much fun running around Shanghai Disneyland. Overall, it was a really valuable experience that I will always look back on.

Vivian LY 11G

My favourite experience during the China trip was definitely Disneyland! It was absolutely amazing walking around and admiring all the details on the buildings, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I loved the rides the most! The rides were all so immersive and fun, even despite the long wait times. I really appreciated the Shanghai Disney Resort App since you were able to view all of the rides within Disneyland, the wait times, and distances! It was an absolute lifesaver to quickly pull out the app to check which ride was worth the most of our time! I had a blast roaming around China with my friends and creating new memories with them. This experience was a unique, one-of-a-kind trip and was really fun overall. Shoutout to my friends for making this trip so memorable for me!

Chau VO 11I

To me, the school trip to China was an unforgettable experience that allowed me to explore Chinese culture, improve my language skills and build new friendships. Throughout the trip, I visited many famous historical attractions and learned more about China's history and traditions. One of the highlights was visiting the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City. Seeing these historical landmarks in real life helped me appreciate China's rich history and impressive architecture. I also visited Qianmen Shopping District, where I explored traditional shops, tried different street foods and experienced the lively atmosphere of the streets.

Another meaningful part of the trip was visiting our sister school in Yangzhou, where I had the opportunity to meet new people, make friends with them and learn more about their school life in China. Communicating with Chinese students encouraged me to practise speaking Chinese and become more confident in using the language. Although I sometimes struggled to express myself and understand them, I learned that making mistakes is a natural part of learning.

Finally, visiting Shanghai Disneyland was one of the most exciting experiences of the trip. I enjoyed the fun rides and the parade, explored the park with my friends and created many happy memories with them.

Overall, this trip helped me grow both academically and personally. I became more confident in communicating in Chinese, gained a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and made new friendships. The moments I experienced and the memories I created with my classmates were unforgettable. This journey taught me the importance of stepping outside my comfort zone and being open to new experiences. I will always treasure the lessons and memories I gained from this trip to China.

Han TRINH 11H

The China school immersion trip was an amazing learning opportunity. Whether it was sightseeing famous locations such as the Great Wall of China, learning how to do calligraphy in a classroom or going on rides at Disneyland, this was a phenomenal experience that I will cherish. Over the 10 days we were there, I have made many close friendships and am forever grateful for having the chance to experience the rich culture in China.

Ayaana MOOSA 10I

The China trip was a really memorable experience, and I had a lot of fun exploring China and learning more about its culture. Visiting the sister school showed me how learning is like there and allowed me to meet lots of new people. My favourite part of the trip was going to Disneyland and trying all the rides. The firework show at the end of the day was beautiful and it was amazing to see the castle and all the lights. The trip was really fun and truly unforgettable.

Michaiah MENDERO 10I

It was a wonderful trip, and we learnt so many things. At first, I thought Disneyland was the highlight of the trip, but then I realised that it was about the friends I made in China along the way, especially the students in Yangzhou. They were friendly and helped me in numerous ways. The food was unbelievably cheap; you could get the best drink in the world for under a dollar. My favourite moment was riding the Tron ride at Disneyland because it was my first rollercoaster. My worst memory there was getting blacklisted from three stores at AP Plaza because Shaquille O'Neal was there, and he's my idol. This unforgettable trip has motivated me to travel more and appreciate the little things in life. If you ever get the chance to go to China, I recommend you take it without hesitation.

Also, shoutout to Daksh for being a good friend. Without you, this trip wouldn’t have been 100% perfect!

Sam Liu (10G)

Our trip to China was an absolutely unforgettable experience, and I am so grateful for how warm and welcoming everyone was, especially the students and staff at our sister school, the High School Affiliated to Yangzhou University. We actually got to attend classes there, which was amazing because we learnt so much about what it is truly like to be a student in China. The landmarks and attractions were spectacular. We managed to visit the historic Forbidden City, conquered a massive hike along the Great Wall, and had the absolute best time at Disneyland, which was easily my favourite part of the entire journey. The food throughout the trip was just as incredible, especially getting to try authentic Yangzhou fried rice. It completely lived up to its reputation as the best fried rice in all of China, alongside all the amazing noodles and dumplings we tasted. I would definitely go back again in a heartbeat, and I highly recommend this incredible experience to anyone.

Alexis FRANKLIN 8E

The VUSC China trip was an amazing opportunity that allowed me to learn more about the culture, history and the way people live. During the trip, I got to explore new landmarks, experience different traditions and learn things that I would not normally learn in a classroom using their different methods of teaching. One of the best parts was interacting with the Chinese students. I also enjoyed spending time with my classmates and teachers and make unforgettable memories together. The trip allowed me to experience a different culture. Overall, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to go on this trip because it helped me learn more about the world, appreciate different cultures and gain memories that I will cherish for a long time.

Abeeha AIZAZ 8I

China was an immaculate experience. We visited many cultural experiences such as Slender West Lake, Great Wall of China, Disneyland and many more. The highlight of the trip as definitely Disneyland, where we made many valuable memories as a group. My friends and I especially loved the local cuisine - soup dumplings, fried rice, Peking duck were all so delicious! Most importantly, we gained insight into the daily lives of Chinese students and their culture.

Joshua RANAS 9H

The China trip was an experience to remember. It was filled with joy and was extremely fun. My favourite experience was visiting our sister school. The students there were kind and treated us with respect. The only thing I would change is the number of Chinese-speaking teachers we had. It would have been better to have more than one because of the communication differences. Other than that, it was an amazing trip!

Tapaswini EDAMAKANTI 8H

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RUOK Day

On Friday 11th September we celebrated RUOK? Day across the college. 

Students and staff raised $707 for the RUOK? campaign, aimed at supporting positive mental health and the importance of checking in on your mates. 

In the morning the Year 12 VCE VM students travelled to the Junior Campus to deliver presentations to Year 7 classes about the importance of checking in with others and asking, “R U OK?”, and hosted a sausage sizzle and activity stations at lunch time to encourage connection, provide a welcoming lunchtime experience and allow Year 12 students to apply their communication, teamwork, leadership and event-management skills in an authentic setting.

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Camp SEEK

During the September holidays, four of our girls in Year 10 attended the Camp SEEK  four-day immersive daily learning program for Year 9 and 10 girls and non-binary students. They spent four action-packed days at SEEK HQ in Melbourne, learning about careers in technology, developing coding, design and product practical skills, exploring real-world problem solving and pitching with other fellow Camp SEEKers.

The girls enjoyed their experience & have learnt a lot about tech careers, coding & design. They also met & worked with many students from other schools. Congratulations to Ridhima Chawla 10B, Hannah Thea 10D, Aafreen Syed 10B & Alisha Mohd 10J for taking part!

Ms Emirler

Community Engagement Coordinator

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Felicity 2026 Book Launch

This year, both Lucinda and I worked as co-editors-in-chief for the 2026 issue of Felicity. It was such an unforgettable experience, and it was all worth it in the end when we were able to celebrate our combined effort at the launch party that was held on 15th September. 

At the launch party, not only were we able to show the physical copies of art pieces included in the magazine, but we were also able to get the authors of the pieces to share excerpts from the published copy. Though it took a mountain of effort, we are proud to be able to hold something that was worked on tirelessly by our team, making it all worth it.  I would gladly do it again. 

Rose Cilia 12E and Lucinda Prelec 12D

Co-Editors Felicity

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Congratulations to our school-based apprenticeship stars!

HeadStart would like to congratulate the Year 12 SBAT students for 2026: 

• Jordan Vella
• Wassim Sobh
• Muayad Jebrita
• Viliami Anau

These students have successfully balanced school, work and trade school in their chosen industries. We wish them all the best as they transition to full-time in their apprenticeship/traineeship role. Keep up the fantastic effort as you pave the way to a bright future!

If any students would like to discuss the possibility of beginning a traineeship or apprenticeship while you are at school, please see the Careers team for more information.

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Rugby League Gala Day State Finals

On Tuesday 15th September, three of our squads competed against The Grange College in the Cam Smith U14 & Cam Munster U16 - State Finals with some amazing results!

• The 14s Boys team won all 4 round games, the Semi AND the Grand Final, only conceding 2 tries the whole day! Congratulations to the boys who are Cameron Smith Shield Champions!
• The 14s Girls team made the Grand final after producing some awesome results for the day with 1 draw and 5 wins before the Grand Final. Congratulations to the girls who are Cameron Smith Shield Runners Up!
• The 16s Girls team also made the Grand Final but unfortunately lost with 30 seconds to go!! Once again, they produced amazing results for the day with 3 wins and 1 loss prior to the Grand Final. Congratulations to the girls who are Cameron Munster Shield Runners Up!

Congratulations to all these students on a great day with great competition! 

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Sports Update

On Thursday 7th October our school competed in the Western Metropolitan Region Track and Field event and achieved some fantastic results: 

• Olivia Saumalu – 1st place in Girls 16 years discus and javelin progressing to the State Track and Field Championships.
• Jay Gurung – 2nd place in the Boys 12-13 years triple jump
• Leanne Ng – 2nd place in the Girls 16 years high jump
• Eti Taliauli – 3rd place in the Boys 17 years discus

Well done to all VUSC athletes who competed at the event.

And a huge congratulations to Olivia for placing 2nd in the 16yrs girls discus and 4th in the16yrs girls javelin at the State Track and Field Championships! Amazing effort!!

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Excursion to Sunshine Magistrates Court

As part of studying the Victorian criminal justice system, the Year 10 Deep Learning Legal Studies class visited the Sunshine Magistrates' Court in the first week of Term 4. 

At the Court, Magistrate Urfa Masood spoke with the students about the work of a magistrate, as well as the opportunities and challenges of working in criminal law. The students then spent a few hours observing different cases, including burglary, driving under the influence and minor assault cases. 

Anh Nguyen said it was the most enjoyable and interesting excursion she had ever been on, and that it inspired her to pursue her passion to be a lawyer. Mason Jury said that the experience opened his eyes to exploring a career in law as he saw first hand how the practice of the law affected the lives of both offenders and victims. 

Mr Anderson

Legal Studies Teacher

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Chess Club - all welcome!

The VUSC Chess Club at the Junior Campus is a welcoming place for both beginners and experienced players to practise and enjoy the game of chess. Students in the club are friendly and supportive, and are always happy to help anyone who is new to the game. The club runs every Tuesday and Thursday at lunchtime in A3, providing a great opportunity for students to relax, challenge their thinking, and connect with friends. If you already know how to play chess, come along and challenge others. If you are interested in learning or looking for a new hobby, the Chess Club is a great place to start. Everyone is welcome!

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Breakfast Club - All students welcome!

Come along for some toast, milk, fruit and snacks! 

• Junior Campus Tuesdays and Thursdays 

  8:15—8:55am in Room A4 

• Senior Campus Wednesdays and Fridays 

  8:15am—8:45am in the Building B kitchen

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Lunchtime Games and Clubs - All welcome!

Junior Campus

Board games every Thursday in Room C1

Chess Club every Tuesday and Thursday in Room A3

Rainbow Axolotls every Friday in Room T3

Senior Campus

Console games every Monday in Room D11

Board games every Thursday in Room D15

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