Peter Corkill
Principal
Dear fellow members of the JMSS Community,
I trust this Newsletter finds you all well. A much-needed break from the rigors and challenges of term three looms large. Congratulations to all staff and students on a fantastic term’s work. Term Three is always the busiest term of each year, with major events such as the Year 10/11 Formal (a brilliant success on Wednesday night by the way – congratulations to Mr. Mackinnon and his team for organising and running such a marvelous evening’s entertainment, and a huge thanks to the staff who gave up their evenings to help supervise) being a recent highlight. We now look forward to the much-anticipated annual JMSS ‘Battle of the Bands’ event on Friday afternoon, after which students will be dismissed for the term three break.
The offers to the students who will form the new Year 10 cohort for 2024 were sent last week and we are currently working through the processes in place to welcome them to JMSS at a special Information Night in the first week of term four. Finally, the International Science Fair hosted by our friends from the ASMS in Adelaide took place recently, and many thanks to Lara King and the students for representing JMSS so well. They are now all back safe and sound.
Students doing one or more Unit 3, 4 subjects should note the timing of practice exams in the second week of the holidays here at school. Attendance at these exams is compulsory. This is the first time since the Covid years that we have brought them back onsite. Students in the past have all found them to be EXCELLENT preparation for the real thing which follows in a few weeks.
Finally, a big shout-out to Jono Wheelton in Year 12 who took part in last weekend’s State School’s Spectacular as a vocalist. Look out for his article in this end-of-term newsletter, another inspiring JMSS story. Great work Jono, we are all really proud of you, and hope your singing continues to take you to wonderful places and present you with amazing opportunities post-JMSS.
My best wishes to all staff, students and families for a fantastic, well-earned break. I look forward to seeing everyone back at JMSS fit and raring to go for the start of term four.
Oh and by the way, with apologies to those not of the black and while persuasion – GO PIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best regards
Peter Corkill
Principal
Betcha Didn’t Know That!!!
Jono Wheelton Year 12
In my everyday life, you will almost certainly hear me humming away to a tune, singing to my morning music as I get ready for school or harmonising in the shower! That’s because I have grown up loving to sing – from the little performances I would put on for my family, to the annual Christmas caroling at local nursing homes I would go about doing with siblings. I have also grown to love the wonderful music that choirs create, having never stopped singing in one ever since my very first spark for choral singing way back in primary school. I cannot give enough credit to my primary school music teacher/choir conductor, for the passionate way she taught music, and just how fun she made choir out to be for all of us at such a young age.
Throughout all the schools I have attended, I have been fortunate enough to sing in multiple school choirs & vocal ensembles, and to have competed in various regional eisteddfods, competitions & music festivals. In fact, I am currently an active member of JMSS’ two choirs, the school choir & chamber choir, and I love singing with others who love creating music together. This year, with the return of the Generations in Jazz (GiJ) music festival in MountGambier, SA, the chamber choir was lucky enough to go on the three-day trip with stage band to compete and take part in festivities! Outside of this, I have also taken part in other state government interschool music programs like the North Eastern Victoria Region Youth Concert (NEVR Youth Concert) where I was able to perform with many other secondary school students in a combined choir at Hamer Hall.
But the recent Victorian State Schools Spectacular (VSSS), was an experience that I am still filled with the utmost pride & joy over as something that will remain fondly remembered for the rest of my life! Being my first time in this production, it was extremely rewarding to perform with a combined cast of well over 2000 students, and to put on not just one, but TWO shows at John Cain Arena on Saturday, 9th September for our families & friends. This experience has opened up a whole new perspective in the world of performing arts for me, being not just a typical theatrical production, but rather the BIGGEST live arena show in Melbourne, where all of us were very fortunate to have worked with industry professionals, and showcase all our amazing student talent, both on-stage & behind-the-scenes!
I am extremely glad to have met so many like-minded young artists from schools all over the state (yes, even from outside of metropolitan Melbourne, believe it or not), and to have formed these unlikely, yet unbreakable bonds with many of them through our shared love of music & performance. I, myself, was a baritone chorister in the Victorian State Schools Choir (VSS Choir), and cannot emphasise the growth that each chorister has achieved as a musician, and the memories we have made together. We worked hard, rehearsing 3-4 hours weekly in Collingwood, with many of us, including me, sacrificing the entire Saturday because of travel time, but it was sacrifice well made.
For me, VSS Choir was my happy place, a place to sing, be happy, express myself freely & create music like none other. I was able to prioritise schoolwork during the school week, knowing that the arrival of the weekend meant I could head up, be part of something meaningful, contribute to a show that meant so much to everyone, and belong to a group of keen & talented musicians from years 5-12, who had auditioned, and traveled from far & wide to be there. Oh, and the fun we would have during breaks talking about our music inspirations or harmonising to our favourite songs!
Through the VSSS program, I rehearsed at Melbourne Town Hall, recorded in a professional recording studio, and performed at John Cain Arena, all for the very first time! If I had to put it all into a sentence, I am so thankful to have taken part in the VSSS this year, for all the fun we had, the memories we made, the unique opportunities we had, the talent we put on show, and the music we made – singing altogether in harmony.
I know that I wish to continue to spread the joy of music in the future, whether I go into the music industry or not. I have plans to explore options for choral singing after high school, and to never let go of my passion for singing in whatever I choose to do. Who knows, next time you might find me touring! And in times when you won’t find me on the stage, rest assured that I will be on the other side, watching on – or more likely – singing on to the show.
For those of you who have external/extracurricular interests, do NOT be afraid to pursue them and continue what you enjoy doing. And for those who are interested in auditioning for VSSS24 (singing, dancing or any other skill you would like to showcase), registrations & expressions of interest open in mid-October, so keep yourself up to date! I cannot recommend it highly enough. Go on, do that one thing you’ve always loved doing/wanted to do and don’t let“school” be the reason to quit. Now is the best time to do it, and just know that (however corny this may sound) the school is here to support you, guide you & celebrate you as an individual!
And a shameless plug, but if you missed the live show, it will be broadcast on Channel 7 in Victoria on Saturday, 9th December! Please also feel free to view this year’s program: https://www.vic.gov.au/victorian-state-schools-spectacular-souvenir-program-2023
~ Jono Wheelton
Congratulations Jono, what a great ambassador for JMSS you have been!
I am sure you will inspire other students to have a try at something they never thought they could do. We wish you every success for the final exams and for the brightest of futures which beckon.
Peter Corkill
Principal