General News
VCE Art Making and Exhibiting Excursion – MUMA & Duldig Studio
On Tuesday, 12th August, our VCE Art Making and Exhibiting students embarked on an inspiring excursion to the Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA) and Duldig Studio as part of the MADE program. The day was filled with opportunities to see extraordinary artworks up close, explore behind-the-scenes spaces, and deepen our understanding of the care and conservation of artworks in professional settings.
At MUMA, students were introduced to the work of renowned artist Nusra Latif Qureshi, whose exhibition spans her 30-year career. Qureshi is celebrated for her intricately detailed miniature paintings, which weave together historical and contemporary references. Her art speaks of migration, tradition, and experimentation, offering students the chance to experience first-hand the richness and complexity of Pakistan’s cultural history through her lens. Many students commented that seeing Qureshi’s work in person allowed them to truly appreciate the precision of her brushstrokes and the delicate layering of detail, something that reproductions in books or online simply cannot capture.
Following this, students were taken behind the scenes by MUMA educators Melissa and Jen, who shared valuable insights into conservation practices. From climate control to careful handling, students learnt just how much work takes place to protect and preserve artworks for future audiences. We were fortunate enough to see a Rembrandt etching they had in the storeroom up close, which was gifted to the gallery and is kept as a part of their collection. This session will directly support their studies in Unit 4, particularly in understanding the responsibilities galleries have towards both artists and artworks.
After a brief lunch on campus, the group travelled to the Duldig Studio—a unique house museum and sculpture garden. Here, Gina Panebianco led students through a behind-the-scenes tour, giving insight into how curatorial and conservation practices function in a more intimate, domestic gallery space. Students reflected on the differences between the two institutions: while MUMA represents the scale and resources of a contemporary university gallery, the Duldig Studio highlights the personal stories and context of an artist’s life and home.
Overall, the day provided students with not only vital knowledge for their upcoming Unit 4 assessments and exams but also personal inspiration. Being surrounded by original works, rather than digital reproductions, sparked lively discussions and encouraged students to think deeply about the value of art in our communities. One student summed it up perfectly: “Seeing the brushstrokes and textures up close made the artworks feel alive—it reminded me why art needs to be experienced in a gallery, not just on a screen.”
We thank MUMA and Duldig Studio for their generosity in sharing their time and expertise, and our students for engaging so thoughtfully throughout the day.
VET Health
Year 1 VET Health students have been busy in the kitchen, completing one of their Health units, Follow Basic Food Safety Practices. As part of the assessment, students demonstrated their knowledge and practical skills in food safety by preparing a chicken stir fry. They were evaluated on key areas including hand hygiene, food hygiene, and maintaining a clean and orderly workspace. While the official assessment focused on safety practices, the verdict on taste was left to the students themselves - judging by the smiles and satisfied reactions, it was a unanimous thumbs-up.
In addition, the VET Health students had the privilege of meeting Peter from Wheel Talk, who shared his personal journey as a paraplegic and his experiences of life in a wheelchair. This session provided valuable insight into the challenges faced by individuals who are wheelchair users, and offered important context for the unit Transporting Individuals. To round off the visit, students put their learning into practice while enjoying a lively game of wheelchair basketball, building both new skills and great memories.
The battle of brains and big ideas: SPC’s ToM-tastic talents take the stage!
By Marco Mathew (Augustine), Michelle Jayasuriya, (Glowrey) and Sam Villos, (Glowrey)
On Sunday, the 17th of August, 17 talented students from St Peter’s College, Clyde North, proudly represented our school at Tournament of Minds, held at Deakin University. After six weeks of intensive rehearsals, planning, and problem-solving, three teams—one STEM and two Language & Literature teams—took part in this Australia-wide and international academic and creative competition.
Team 1 STEM: The Power of Spheres The STEM team
“Philomats” (meaning "lovers of learning"), tackled a complex and interdisciplinary challenge: to design and present a 3D emblem of Earth’s four spheres—lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere—that could break apart and reassemble to represent disruption and resilience. The emblem had to have dual symbolic meanings and fit within a 10-minute performance.
Initially, the team attempted papier-mâché spheres, but construction problems led to a new idea—an infinity cube. Built from paper and printed images, the cube unfolded to display both healthy and polluted versions of Earth’s systems. Accompanying this was a set of posters outlining environmental problems and solutions, and a video demonstrating the interconnection of Earth’s spheres. This work required creativity, engineering, adaptability, and plenty of teamwork.
One of our team members reflected, “One of the biggest things I learned was how something small, like missing a picture or a fold in the cube, could shift the whole plan. But it taught us to adapt quickly and rely on each other’s strengths.”
Despite nerves, we drew strength from months of practice and the supportive energy from teachers and judges. The creativity, symbolism, and teamwork on display impressed everyone.
Language & Literature: Reimagining Cicada
Two of our Language & Literature teams were challenged to reimagine one of Shaun Tan’s classic tales of humanity, maintaining its themes while creatively reinterpreting the setting and meaning using shape and colour. Two of our teams independently chose Cicada, a powerful story about workplace isolation, bullying, and transformation.
Team 2, “Flying Free,” initially planned to use puppetry as the main performance device, but creatively adapted to using puppets as symbolic props instead. Despite several setbacks—including needing to split into two teams and managing rehearsals with a team member overseas we created a compelling stage play that used simple, everyday items like a stick mop, sock puppets, and paperwork to explore deeper themes. With help from drama teacher Ms Jacobs, we refined our performance using dialogue, props, and sound via a Bluetooth speaker. The judges praised the final act as “unique,” and the teamwork and resilience were clear to all who watched.
Team 3 “Table” began the journey with plans for a poetic and interpretive dance performance. However, two weeks before the tournament, we realised we had stayed too close to the original storyline and weren’t meeting the “reimagine” criteria. Undeterred, we restarted with a new concept: setting Cicada in a modern school environment. With renewed focus and energy, we built a new performance using miming, masks, symbolic props, minimal dialogue, and a soundscape. Everyone took on roles—writing, designing, scripting, and creating props—and rehearsed through lunchtimes and extended meetings. The result was a bold and symbolic performance that truly brought the story to life in a fresh, thought-provoking way.
Presentation Day Highlights
Tournament day was a mix of nerves and excitement. After a morning bus ride filled with laughs and last-minute practice, teams were welcomed warmly at Deakin University. The performances were completed within the strict 10-minute time limit, supported by encouraging judges and teachers. After the main challenge, each of our teams tackled the spontaneous challenge, where we had to think on the spot and respond creatively as a team.
The day ended with a well-earned trip to McDonald’s, shared laughter, and new friendships across year levels.
Looking Ahead
Tournament of Minds was an unforgettable experience for all involved. Students gained skills in collaboration, creativity, communication, and time management. Most importantly, we built confidence and friendships that we will carry beyond the stage.
A special thanks goes to Ms Lark, Mrs Gallagher, Ms Hyland, and Ms Jacobs, along with the Drama department for their ongoing support and encouragement. ToM is a journey you’ll never forget!
St. Peter's College Dominates at Years 7-8 Rocket League FUSE Cup
On the 20th of August, eight of our Year 7 and 8 students competed in the Melbourne South Schools Rocket League FUSE Cup competition, hosted by Haileybury College. The FUSE Cup is a global esports competition for schools that provides students with a safe, inclusive, and structured environment to compete. Throughout the day, a key focus is placed on encouraging good sportsmanship and developing positive digital habits.
The atmosphere at the Rocket League tournament was electric. From the start of the day, our students were filled with excitement for the competition ahead. A massive field of 34 teams from various schools battled it out, but our St. Peter's teams demonstrated exceptional skill and strategy from the outset.
We are incredibly proud to announce that all four of our teams—Liam & Ryan, Blake & Oliver, Jonathan & Kyran, and Louis & Xiao—successfully advanced through the group stages to the top 8 quarter-finals. In an amazing display of College talent, the quarter-finals featured two all-St. Peter's matchups.
The competition intensified as two of our teams, Blake & Oliver and Louis & Xiao, powered through their semi-final matches, setting the stage for an incredible all-St. Peter's College Grand Final. After a tense and thrilling best-of-three series, Blake and Oliver emerged as the champions!
With this victory, Blake and Oliver have qualified for the FUSE Cup national championships, which will be held on the Gold Coast at the end of the year. This is a phenomenal achievement, and we wish them the best of luck.
All our competitors represented St. Peter's with resilience, teamwork, and a positive attitude, perfectly embodying the spirit of the FUSE Cup. These events are a fantastic platform for students to build friendships, sharpen their strategic skills, and practice outstanding sportsmanship. Well done to everyone involved!
Michelle Simpson & Thomas McTaggart
Learning & Teaching – Digital Learning Coaches
