Around the Grounds - Senior School

Year 10 Personal Projects

In Term 3, the Year 10s worked on their Personal Project – a project dedicated to giving them the opportunity to explore a passion. The Year 10 Mentors and I have been incredibly impressed with the breadth of projects the Year 10s worked on; it appears we have card counters, go-kart makers, artists and chefs in the making!

On Wednesday 11th of September, we hosted the inaugural Year 10 Personal Project Expo Day. The Year 10 area was set up akin to a Science Fair, and students had their own table to create an interactive presentation of their work. As always, the Year 10s represented themselves with poise and pride, and thoroughly impressed the various visitors we had throughout the afternoon. Check out some testimonials and snaps of the day below!

Ms Adrienne Oates

Year 10 Coordinator

I really enjoyed the personal project, as I found this as an opportunity to express my passions in a creative and entertaining way. The expo day that we all presented our projects at was really fun and enjoyable for me and my friends, as I got to explain what my project meant for me. I chose architecture and rendering, which has been a passion of mine since a young age, and this project was the opportunity I needed to expand my knowledge of this topic.

Ashton S

Winner of the People’s Choice Award

I've really loved working on my Personal Project over this past term!! The most memorable part for me was doing all the hands-on work on the go-kart and making the check-in video that showed our progress halfway through the project. The project forced me to become much better at managing my time and helped me get a much better understanding of how automobiles work, furthering my interest into cars and other vehicles.

Abyaz S

I really enjoyed Personal Projects, the times of challenge and self-growth were something I enjoyed working through. My Personal Project was to run a marathon in under 5 hours. I bettered my skills in self-discipline, making training schedules and perseverance. Throughout the process of achieving my goal I discovered an interest in long distance endurance activities, I’m now going to build off that passion directly because of the project.

Gabe B

I really enjoyed doing the personal project throughout the term! It was a really great experience to motivate people to embrace their hobbies and interests outside of school. I loved the process of being able to express my passions whilst being able to gain knowledge on something I wanted to explore after school. Through making clothes from recycled materials, I felt like I could contribute to helping the environment and sharing an art.

Emma D

Winner of the Bruce Mentor Personal Project Award

I enjoyed the process of creating a video; researching, writing, filming, editing, were all different but parts of one project. Doing that helped me find skills I enjoyed and was better at doing verses what I could improve on in media. Ultimately, I have gained a better understanding of my passion for film and the process behind it.

Savreen G

Victorian Schools Mock Trial Competition

Over the course of Terms 2 and 3, seventeen students across two teams participated in four rounds of legal cases, demonstrating not only their legal knowledge but also their teamwork and critical thinking skills. They competed against schools from across metropolitan Melbourne, taking on the roles of barristers, solicitors, witnesses, and court staff, running a full case each round.

The students, who are part of Year 10-12 Legal Studies at Huntingtower, developed legal arguments, cross-examined witnesses, and delivered compelling opening and closing addresses to persuade the court of their case's merits. The cases covered a variety of legal issues, ranging from criminal matters such as assault, burglary, and theft, to civil issues like negligence and trespass.

A unique highlight of the competition was the privilege of having some cases overseen by a retired Supreme Court judge. Not only did the judge rule on the cases, but they also provided valuable guidance on court procedures and offered invaluable feedback. This gave students a rare insight into the journey from lawyer to judge and allowed them to see the law in action.

Both teams advanced to the semi-final round, held at the Monash University Moot Court Room, a location recently used for a Federal Court case. While they were unable to prove their civil negligence case on the balance of probabilities, we commend their preparation, enthusiasm, dedication, and teamwork.We look forward to building on these experiences and skills in next year’s Mock Trial competition. A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the students' success throughout the rounds.

Ms Sara Gavillucci

Legal Studies Teacher

Write a Book in a Day

On Sunday 18 August, one-hundred-and-seventeen Huntingtower students, spread across fourteen teams, competed in the Write a Book in a Day competition.

Working together, each team was given their own special unique set of parameters, and had to plan, write and illustrate a picture story book, all within 12 hours. The task took great teamwork, creativity, organisation and time management, but all fourteen teams succeeded in submitting their finished books. 

As a fundraiser for the Kids Cancer Project, the teams also helped to raise over $5,000 to help fight childhood cancer. The books that the students create are also distributed to children who are undergoing cancer treatment in Australian hospitals, and we hope that our students’ efforts will help brighten their days. 

There was an overwhelming sense of pride and relief at a job well done as all of our teams submitted their books. After Huntingtower students last year took out the top places in the senior division for Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, we look forward to seeing how they go this time when results are announced later this year. Well done to everyone who was involved!

Mr Matthew McDonald, Mrs Leonie Perry & Ms Madeline Mullan

Write a Book in a Day was an amazing experience, allowing us to connect and communicate with friends. Throughout the day, we learnt so much about each other, such as their artistic talents, fabulous writing skills and strong leadership qualities, which we all used to create our final book. 

In addition to writing a book with peers, we made these books for a great cause, the Kids Cancer Project for young children with cancer. Overall, writing a book in a day helped everyone develop important skills, such as time management, exercising writing/art talents and teamwork skills.

Tiasha S

(Year 10) 

Participating in this year’s Write A Book In A Day, was an incredible experience for my team. Our story, set at an old-army-base-turned-fishing-retreat, challenged us to creatively weave together a narrative under tight deadlines. We had to incorporate five specific parameters and five random words, which pushed us to think outside the box and integrate unexpected elements into our plot. 

During this day, we learnt the art of writing a book in a day; but the experience went far beyond simply crafting a narrative. We faced the complexities of teamwork head-on, learning the art of negotiation and collaboration under pressure. These challenges taught us invaluable life lessons in communication and compromise. The ability to harmonise diverse ideas and work together towards a common goal, proved to be just as crucial as the creative process itself. The skills we gained from this intense, collaborative effort are not only useful for future writing projects but also to every aspect of our personal lives.

Overall, WABIAD was not only evidence for our collective creativity, but also a profound learning experience in teamwork and problem-solving. We’re proud of what we achieved and are all excited to apply these lessons in future endeavours.

Lara L 

(Year 8)

WABID was a fun and successful day for all students. Starting from the beginning of the planning process, team members were able to collaborate on ideas for our story plot based on the list of required words we were given, learning to compromise and listen to everyone’s different ideas to eventually create a draft with all of our thoughts and unique perspectives. Through this, we were able to interact and understand individuals who may not have talked much before WABIAD. 

Later, we utilised our respective strengths to begin building our story with our assigned roles. Those who were good at writing were given a chapter and emotions they needed to deliver while the illustrators worked hard to draw the pictures commissioned by the writers. As the day neared the end, we all gathered together again to edit together, rereading the final draft of our story and adding in words from a list of words that were required to be in our book. Eventually, we wrote the blurb and did one final reading together with the finalized chapters and drawings, appreciating what our collective effort had created.

Liana C 

(Year 11)

Food Glorious Food

Wellness bowls, sliders (with bread baked from scratch!) and French sweet treats were made in Food Tech classes this term!

Junior School District Athletics Carnival! 

 On Friday 06 September, seventeen dedicated Year 10 students from Huntingtower showcased their outstanding skills at the Junior School District Athletics Carnival. These students, who are completing their Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation, delivered a performance that was nothing short of exemplary.

Throughout the day, these young leaders took on key responsibilities to ensure the smooth running of the carnival. They coordinated all field events, expertly marshalled track events, and efficiently started the races. Their roles required a high level of competence across several units of study, and they rose to the challenge with professionalism and enthusiasm.

One of the highlights of their involvement was their ability to provide clear and effective demonstrations to younger students. This not only contributed to the smooth running of the events but also helped build a strong rapport with the participants. Their approachable and supportive demeanour ensured that all students felt safe and encouraged throughout the day.

Safety was a top priority for our Year 10 students. They diligently monitored activities to ensure every participant’s wellbeing and that events proceeded without incident. Their vigilance and proactive approach was commendable and played a significant role in the carnival's success.

Most importantly, our students fostered a fun and inclusive environment. They encouraged younger students to participate with enthusiasm, ensuring everyone enjoyed the spirit of the carnival. Their positive influence created a memorable experience for all involved.

The day’s achievements were a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Year 10 students. They not only demonstrated their skills in sport and recreation but had also shown leadership, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and look forward to seeing them thrive in their future endeavours.

Ms Julieanne Douglas

VCE/VET Sport and Recreation Teacher