News from Frankston High School

ALUMNI Update

On their first day of school for 2025, Year 11 and 12 students received important motivational messages from alumni, reinforcing the themes of connection and resilience and striving for Optima Semper (best always).

YEAR 11 – YUNUS CELIK

2014 alum Yunus Celik left the Year 11 cohort with some important messages, allowing students to start their school year with a positive outlook. 

 

“When I was a student here, I remember seeing the school motto, OPTIMA SEMPER written on everything from banners to handbooks, and even the school uniform itself. At the time, I thought the phrase ‘BEST ALWAYS’ was about academic excellence, test scores and winning awards. And yes, it is about pushing yourself toward academic success - but a decade later, I’ve realised that it’s also about showing up as your best self, even when life might feel less than perfect.

 

CONNECTION is about more than simply making friends and maintaining them. It’s also about being a catalyst for helping others. Reaching out to someone that you notice isn’t doing so well, could be the difference between them feeling burdened by overwhelm or feeling supported

 

RESILIENCE doesn’t mean never failing. In fact, I’ll go out of my way to say that failing is perfectly okay and completely natural. Resilience means failing, feeling all the emotions that come with that, learning from the experience, and getting back up again with new wisdom under your belt.” Yunus Celik, 29 January 2025

YEAR 12 – RECENTLY GRADUATED PANEL

A group of five new alumni discussed what went well for them during Year 12 and what, on reflection, they might have done differently. They provided advice around utilising spare time and making the most of opportunities that come up along the way. They all reflected on the value of connection with their peers and knowing their teachers were there to support them all the way no matter what.

 

Huge thanks to the following alumni (L-R in group photo) and wishing them well for the future:

  • Elli Symonds, 2024 alum, was drafted to be an AFLW player for Hawthorn Football club; she will also be studying paramedicine this year.
  • Jackson Long, 2024 alum plans to join the police force.
  • Thomas Landstra, 2024 alum will be studying Commerce and Computer Science this year
  • Molly Power 2024 alum, will be studying occupational therapy this year and hopefully travelling overseas within the uni breaks.
  • Venise Felix, 2022 alum will be going into her third year of a law/global studies degree this year.

ALUMNI. CONNECT WITH US

Thank you to all Frankston High School graduates who have already joined our alumni program and contributed back to their school in some way.

 

For those alumni wanting to become part of the community, we invite you to get in touch by filling out the form here. Alternatively, please email the alumni program coordinator Rhiannon Slatter on alumni@fhs.vic.edu.au if you have any questions or if there’s something you would like to discuss.

 

Please also follow us on Facebook and join our alumni group on LinkedIn, see links below:

Frankston High School Alumni Facebook page

Frankston High School Alumni LinkedIn group

 

ABOUT THE ALUMNI PROGRAM

Frankston High School is continuing to grow its alumni program in partnership with Ourschool, a not-for-profit alumni program for state secondary schools and the first of its kind in Australia.

 

By connecting with the alumni program, past students can provide career guidance and work experience opportunities for current students, establish scholarships and bequests, or volunteer in lots of other ways.

 

Ourschool is working with Frankston High to help these things happen by growing the school’s alumni community and coordinating the involvement of alumni in the school.

 

Ms Rhiannon Slatter

Alumni Program Coordinator