College Updates

Lowanna Institute of the Arts - Official Launch

After listening to community, student and parent feedback the college is excited to be offering a new, exciting and engaging program in 2026 - the Lowanna Institute of the Arts (LIA).

Last week we invited the community along for the launch of our new program. We had a fantastic turnout from members of the community that enjoyed musical performances and visual works of art by our students.

Applications for 2026 are now open (closing at the end of Term 2)! Click the below link to apply:

https://forms.office.com/r/GnN4tf32cD

For more information on LIA, visit our website below.

https://www.lowanna.vic.edu.au/lia-program/

Please note that LIA is only available to Year 9 and 10 students in 2026.

Arts Update

Year 7

Year 7 Art students recently finished their drawings.

Year 8

Year 8 students have finished the term by demonstrating their observation, value and drawing technique skills creating their Portrait CATs.

Year 9 and 10

Year 9 and 10 Drawing and Painting students have finished their Drawing Unit CATs and have started learning about colour theory and painting techniques.

Year 9 and 10 Ceramics students have finished their mugs and teapots and are moving into the architectural unit with structural slab building.

Year 9 and 10 students have been using watercolour skill building with graded washes.

Year 10

Year 10 Art students enjoyed experimenting with charcoal recently!

Our Year 10 Art students have been practicing their drawing techniques

Year 11 Art Creative Practice

Year 11 Art Creative Practice students are exploring the art form of painting. Experimenting with a range of water colour techniques, students are producing some interesting and skillful trials, as they each develop their own style and visual language.

Year 12 Art Creative Practice

VCE Art Creative Practice students have finished their first final artwork and are preparing a presentation for their critique.

VCE Arts Excursion

Our VCE Art Creative Practice students recently attended the Kusama Exhibit at the National Gallery of Victoria. Students were engaged throughout their time at the gallery and enjoyed the exhibit.

NAPLAN Update

Congratulations to all of our Year 7 and 9 students who recently completed NAPLAN. Students should be proud of the way they conducted themselves during the tests.

Open Day Information

Open Day is on Wednesday the 30th of April, where we welcome Grade 5 and 6 students to the college. Please note that this day will be a Student Free Day for Year 7-10 students.

An information evening will follow at 7pm that night where we welcome the community to find out more about the college.

Snow Camp EOI's Now Open

Expressions of interest are now open for the Falls Creek Snow Camp! EOI's close on Friday the 2nd of May!

Click the below link to express your interest:

https://forms.office.com/r/LVDK0v3UWK

Where Are They Now?

Are you interested to hear what our students do after high school? Check out our Where Are They Now? page on the college website to read some exciting stories about what pathways our students have chosen post-Lowanna.

https://www.lowanna.vic.edu.au/where-are-they-now/

Fun in the Kitchen

Year 8

Our Year 8 students enjoyed making yummy chicken wraps in their Food Technology class recently.

Year 9 Cooking

Our Year 9 students had some fun in the kitchen making yummy pancakes recently!

Year 9 Food for Health students have been busy creating a breakfast to fit a specific brief, which included making alterations to an existing recipe to increase fibre, protein and vitamins.

Year 10 Cafe Culture - Barista Course

Our Year 10 Cafe Culture students recently completed food safety training and a barista course (where they made over 400 coffees!). Students will receive two accredited certificates for completing the course. Well done to the students who have gained some real-world experience and skills to assist them in their future!

Year 10 Cafe Culture - Wellness Bowls

Our students recently had some fun making wellness bowls, looking at food trends and healthy eating.

Science Update

The Science Team in 2025

We welcome to the Science Team in 2025 Mr. Lockie Francis, Ms. Carmel King and Mr. Tim Hooper! Mr. Francis has previously worked at Lowanna College as a Numeracy Tutor and Ms. King was with us for part of Term 3 in 2024. This year Mr. Francis is teaching 8B and 8G for Science as well as some Maths classes; Ms. King is teaching 7A and 7E Science as well as 2 Year 9 Core Science classes and Mr. Hooper is teaching 7B and 7F Science and 8F Science.

Science Club

We welcome the return of Science Club for 2025!

Science Club is a hands-on experience that runs every Monday lunchtime in B10. Most of the experiments/activities conducted are student-led and we take on student's ideas! All are welcome and we’d love to see more students next term.

Pictured above are some photos taken at Science Club recently, where students enjoyed the experiment 'Picking Up An Ice Cube'.

Year 9 and 10 Science Electives

We currently offer Forensic Science and Introduction to Psychology at Year 9 and Agriculture and Horticulture across Year’s 9 and 10 – this semester it’s running for Year 10 students. These electives give students an option to continue their learning in Science with a different focus.

The Year 9 Forensics students have been exploring blood spatters and how a Forensic Scientist can use this evidence to work out exactly what has happened in a crime scene or accident (pictured below).

The Year 9 Introduction to Science students have been exploring the brain and nervous system (general Science photos below).

Year 9 Introduction to Psychology student photos below.

The Year 10 Ag and Hort students have been learning about plants, including maintaining a small garden in the B Building courtyard.

Sport Update

Gippsland Swimming Success

We had a number of students attend the Gippsland Swimming Tournament in Sale. Congratulations to Zane Poxon and Darcy Connell who have progressed to the State level which will be in May. Well done to Darcy who broke two Gippsland records on the day.

Middle School Cricket

Earlier this term we had two Middle School cricket teams compete in the West Gippsland Competition. Well done to both teams who were victorious!

Outdoor Education Studies

Year 12

This term our Year 12 Outdoor and Environmental Studies students enjoyed being on the Mornington Peninsula for their coastal camp. They made links between the theory they have been learning in the classroom and their outdoor classroom experiences. They enjoyed a coastal hike, snorkel charter and student lead adventures. Students sat their first SAC on camp on Friday morning before returning home.

Leaders at Lowanna

GRIP Leadership Conference

Our SRC students attended the GRIP Leadership Conference in Melbourne this term, where they had the opportunity to develop essential leadership skills and engage in interactive workshops. Throughout the event, they gained valuable insights into teamwork, communication and problem-solving, equipping them to become more effective leaders for our school and community.

Martin Cameron MP Visit

Thank you to Martin Cameron MP for visiting our SRC recently, handing them their captain and SRC certificates and providing information to students about his experience working within the Gippsland region and as a local MP.

ABC Visit

Earlier this term we had a number of our students, accompanied by Mr. Lakeman and Mr. Trewin, visit the ABC Studio in Melbourne for the live streamed Q&A session, where students submitted questions to the Prime Minister. Students listened to a range of election issues that will affect them in the coming years, particularly for those who will be voting for the first time this year.

Sports Academy Fitness Testing

Earlier this term our Year 7-10 Sports Academy students participated in fitness testing which was facilitated by Rookie Me. It was great for the students to be tested in a high-performance environment and to be able to see where they rank compared to other athletes in their age group across the country. Staff noted the excellent behaviour of our students and the rapport amongst the group.

Thank You Mrs. Rock

The college would like to thank Mrs. Melissa Rock who has been working as an Assistant Principal this term at the college. Mrs. Rock has been completing some really valuable work with our staff, working on Explicit Teaching and coaching our leaders.

We wish Mrs. Rock all the best as she returns to her substantive position as Principal at Yarragon Primary School.

Athletics Day

On Tuesday we held the annual Athletics Day at the Joe Carmody Athletics Track. Students enjoyed getting involved in track and field races and novelty games.

Attention Year 10 parents/guardians

Year 10 students will be involved in Teen Mental Health First Aid training this year as part of our partnership with Live4Life Latrobe Valley. Please find attached letter with more information.

Life4Life Letter - Year 10 Parents 31032025.pdf

Sociology Excursion

Our Year 12 Sociology students recently visited the Melbourne Immigration Museum to deepen their understanding of ethnicity in Australia. As part of their study into ethnicity and the concept of othering, students explored the powerful Identity and Belonging Exhibition, examining historical and contemporary experiences of inclusion and exclusion in Australian society.

The excursion also included time in the adjacent Joy Exhibition, where students reflected on the universal and personal aspects of what brings happiness and meaning to our lives. The experience provided a valuable opportunity for students to connect theoretical concepts to real-world stories and perspectives, enriching their understanding of identity and culture in Australia.

Drumming Program

Our students who participate in the Drumming Program at the college treated us to a performance at recess on Wednesday. Well done to all students and staff involved!

VCE VM Students

Recently, Albert Street Primary School approached Lowanna College wanting some assistance with their newly developed Traffic School. The VCE-VM team worked with Albert Street to identify where we could assist and then prototyped and produced sign bases and poles ready for the finished traffic signs.

Our Senior School students Kobe Briggs, Jack Jeffery, Lucas Down, Declan Osborne, Tristan Jones, with assistance from Mr. Jackson and Mr. Mitchell, produced the finished products, ready for delivery to Albert Street Primary School.

We cannot wait to see the finished products in action in the future, helping educate local students about safe pedestrian and bike safety.