Community Engagement and Enrichment

Ylead Leadership

Over the summer holidays, the school captains had the privilege of attending the YLead Leadership Camp, an experience that combined fun, challenges, and invaluable life lessons. Beyond the engaging activities, we were fortunate to hear from two inspiring guest speakers whose stories left a lasting impact on us.

Lessons from Alex Dekker: Turning Passion into Action

The first speaker, Alex Dekker, is the founder of Alex Makes Meals and a Young Australian of the Year nominee. His journey started unexpectedly—when COVID-19 struck, he made a simple Facebook post offering to cook meals for those in need. Expecting only a handful of responses, he was shocked when 800 requests flooded in. Despite considering himself just an “average” cook, he stepped up to the challenge, reaching out to businesses, securing donations, and growing his initiative into a fully established non-profit organization. Today, Alex Makes Meals provides over 40,000 meals to Victorians in need.

From Alex’s story, we learned three key lessons:

• Hard work is a great substitute for skill – You don’t need to be an expert to make a difference. Dedication and effort can take you far.
• "You can do things, but it’s up to you to decide what those things are." Your impact is in your hands.
• "We before me." Always consider how your actions affect others. Even small acts, like providing a hot meal, can change lives.

Insights from Emily Hamilton-Smith: The Three C’s of Success

The second speaker, Emily Hamilton-Smith, is a renowned hockey player from the Australian Jillaroos team. She shared with us the Three C’s—three principles that guide success in both sports and life:

1. Curiosity – Never be afraid to ask questions and pursue what you want.
2. Challenges – Embrace difficulties and find solutions to overcome them.
3. Comparison – Focus on your personal growth instead of measuring yourself against others. True success comes from self-improvement.

Emily also left us with a powerful message: “In order to succeed, you must be willing to fail.” Failure isn’t the end—it’s a stepping stone to success. Every failure is an opportunity to learn, grow, and get one step closer to achieving your goals. Her words reminded us that setbacks are not roadblocks but essential parts of the journey.

A Lasting Impact

The YLead Leadership Camp was an unforgettable experience that not only strengthened our leadership skills but also deepened our understanding of resilience, initiative, and teamwork. The lessons we learned from Alex and Emily will undoubtedly shape the way we approach challenges and opportunities in the future.

As Shool Captains, we hope to pass on these insights to our peers, inspiring them to take action, embrace challenges, and participate in school activities

Sienna, Maggie and Blake

College Captains

Bigger Buddies

The first day of high school is always a mix of nerves and excitement, and for our new Year 7 students.

Stepping into a bigger school with new faces and new routines can be overwhelming, but thanks to the support of their Year 10 Bigger Buddies and amazing teachers, the transition was made much easier.

Each Year 7 class was accompanied by their Bigger Buddies, who helped guide them through their first day. From navigating their way around the school to getting to know their classmates, the support and friendly faces made the experience much less intimidating. 

Yesterday, the Year 10 Bigger Buddies continued their role in helping Year 7s feel comfortable in their new school by visiting their homerooms for an engaging and lively session. One of the highlights of the day was a paper plane competition, which quickly turned into a fierce but fun contest.

Along with the competition, the session also included discussions about upcoming school events, including the swimming and athletics carnivals. 

Year 7 students were given insight into what to expect and encouraged to get involved in the exciting activities ahead.

With such a fantastic start to the year, both the Year 7s and their Bigger Buddies are looking forward to more fun-filled experiences and opportunities to connect in the coming weeks!

Hana K

Bigger Buddy