Senior Secondary

Year 11 Challenge Day

The Year 11 Challenge Day was a great day out. I loved the cable kneeboarding, the inflatable water course and the high ropes course. It was so much fun getting to run around and knock each other into the water. It was also a great time to connect with friends and build relationships with one another. My favourite things about each of the three activities were; High Ropes: getting to challenge myself with some of the more difficult obstacles and being encouraged into the scariest obstacle by my friend who never did it after me, even though they said they would, Cable Kneeboarding: being able to experiment with the limits of my capabilities while doing loops on the kneeboard, Inflatable Water Course: my favourite part about the inflatable water course was getting to knock some of the teachers off into the water, my friend and I managed to get Mr Noy into the water which was our best achievement that day. Overall the challenge day is a great way to create stronger bonds with friends, have some fun, and challenge yourself in many different ways. I would highly recommend it to any who are yet to do Year 11, don’t miss out on such a fun day.

Nicholas

Year 11 Challenge Day was such an amazing day full of fun and competition. We started on the high ropes course where there were different levels with varying difficulties. Me and my friends headed straight to the top though when we got up there we realised just how high it really was! Even though it was super high we still persevered and went on the different obstacles even though I was terrified. After the high ropes course we moved onto the kneeboarding and wakeboarding, here we all grabbed a helmet and kneeboard and lined up ready to give it a go. As I got closer to the front of the line I started to get more and more excited, joking around with my friends teasing them about how they were going to fall off. When it came to my turn I knelt down onto the board and was ready to go as the instructor gave tips. Then I was off being pulled behind the cable rushing around the course. When I got to the first corner I came off because I wasn't prepared for the turn. So I swam back to the bank and ran back to the start ready to give it another go. As the day proceeded I ended up upgrading to the wakeboard and managed to get up on that as well. After the wakeboarding we headed over to the inflatable park. When we got there we all pulled on our life jackets and hopped onto the course. It was really tiring running around slipping and sliding as we tried to tackle each other off into the water below. All in all, the challenge day was such a great day to hangout with my friends as well as getting to explore new friendships and activities in such a safe space.

Noah

VCE VM Healthy Workplaces Excursion & Coffee Training 

As part of our Work Related Skills topic of 'healthy workplaces', we went on an industry visit to a local business 'Bean Around Town' in Bayswater. Students had a tour around the factory, considering safety practices and hearing from the owner about how the company grew into a successful business. It brought up lots of interesting discussion around work-life balance, why we work, and how to create a positive culture amongst staff. Students listened to some candid perspectives around young workers and gave us some great insights into what employers value in their employees. 

After this time with the owner, we enjoyed doing training in all things coffee. Each of the students had the opportunity to learn about both filter coffee and espresso coffee styles, and dabbled in latte art. It was a fun experience to have and the students engaged really positively with the training staff. We also were able to purchase some supplies for our cafe in Senior School, which is run by the VCE VM students. 

Nicky Joiner

VCE VM Coordinator

Easter Biscuit Bake

Last week five Senior School students gave up their lunchtime to participate in the annual Easter Biscuit Bake for prisoners. Along with other volunteers in the Ringwood area we collectively baked over 3000 biscuits.

Each year Prison Fellowship provides every Victorian inmate with 10 home-made biscuits, together with a card that explains the meaning of Easter. By baking biscuits our MECS students will once again show Victorian prisoners that they aren’t forgotten.

Below are reflections by prisoners on the Biscuit Bake.

Many of the inmates who receive the biscuits are moved, even humbled, by the fact that people around the state are willing to go to a lot of trouble to provide them with a treat at Easter. 

Some prisoners are not good at delayed gratification and so the biscuits can disappear in one sitting. I (a Prison Fellowship volunteer) asked one elderly inmate how he had enjoyed the biscuits. He said, “Oh, I haven’t touched them yet. My family is coming to visit me next weekend. I never have anything nice to give them, so I am saving the biscuits to share with them when they come. I am really looking forward to it!”

Sharon Payze

Senior Secondary Teacher