Andrew Chisholm
Principal
Dear Parents and Students,
The end of term 2 has been highlighted by a number of successful events and a busy exam period. Reports have been released on Compass and the Term 2 break is a good chance to recharge the batteries, catch up on any work missed and prepare for the 9-week third term.
Our party of 89 staff and students is currently enjoying a range of experiences in Far North Queensland; we have three students, Sihan Chen, Junxiao Jiang and Yixuan Xu at the Korean Science Academy Fair in Busan, South Korea and two students Georgi Demosthenous and Brendan Kang who are representing Australia at the International Young Physicists Tournament in Sweden. Pictured below are Georgi and Brandon at the opening ceremony in Lund.
2024 Premiers Awards
On Wednesday 2nd July three JMSS students were recognised at the 2024 Premiers Awards. These awards are given to the top student in each subject that is offered at Year 12 level. Congratulations to Georgi Demosthenous for Algorithmics, Katherine Luu for English as an Additional Language and Mahdis Soroush for Persian. To receive one of these awards is a remarkable achievement. Mahdis is pictured below with Ms Aldous and Ms Pattiaratchi at the ceremony at the Convention Centre.
Science Immersion Day
Our Year 10 students were fortunate to experience a range of practical science activities within different schools in the Monash University Science Faculty. These activities are unique to JMSS and exemplify the strong relationships existing with the schools of Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Earth Science and Mathematics in the University. It was also pleasing to see a number of JMSS alumni who are completing PhD’s at Monash assisting with the sessions. The photo below shows Rory McNab from the JMSS class of 2016 running a session on Paleontology.
The JMSS Microforest
2024 and 2025 has seen a very active green team who are working hard to improve the environment within and around JMSS. The team that has more than 30 students participating and led by Year 12 students Nisseem Potabatti, Arnav Bagal and Arvind Indukuri have been collaborating with both the University and Monash Council to build a microforest between JMSS and Wellington Road. 140 indigenous plants have been donated via Monash Council and the team has planted 90 of these to date. A picture of one of the planting sessions is shown below.
Harmony Day
Day 2 of Term 3, Tuesday July 22nd, sees the annual JMSS Harmony Day where the school celebrates the many cultures that comprise our community. Students are encouraged to wear dress that reflects their cultural identity and there is a student’s organised assembly that will see many students participate in music and dance performances of significance to their culture(s).
The JMSS school council would like to encourage parents to be part of this celebration. So, if you can, we are asking families to bring a dish which represents their culture and heritage for the students to sample at lunchtime. (Please bring a list of ingredients as well.) If you can participate in this celebration, please contact our school council president Ms Natalie Isborn for further details.
She can be emailed at: Natalie.Isborn@education.vic.gov.au.
World’s Greatest Shave
Congratulations to all staff and students involved in raising money for research into blood cancers via the Worlds Greatest Shave. It was a great event and to be able to donate nearly $17,000 to this charity was a mighty effort. Pictured below is Bree losing her hair under the watchful eye of Mr Mackinnon. Some of the hair cut off during the event was also donated to charity.
I am looking forward to seeing all of our students back at JMSS on Monday July 21st refreshed and ready to hit Term 3 with enthusiasm. Some of the events happening at the start of Term 3 are covered later in this newsletter.
Have a great break
Andrew Chisholm
Principal