Outside the Classroom

Maths Club

Maths club takes place on Tuesday lunchtime and also Friday mornings, where students can go for extra support for any maths work. The environment is focused and welcoming, filled with students all striving to do the best they can. This wouldn't be possible without the dedicated teachers who attend—a quick shout out to TP— and I'd like to thank all the maths teachers for taking time out of their days at work to provide extra assistance to their students. We appreciate you.

Penelope C

Year 12

CALM at CHS

CHS are in the process of establishing a partnership with CALM Youth to support the establishment of a student-led club celebrating cultural diversity. Students from Years 7-11 have been part of some exciting incursions recently with the CALM team, you can read about these in our Year 8 SVL reflection in 'Teaching and Learning'.

We look forward to sharing more with you in the coming months!

Outdoor Ed Camp

Last week our Year 11 and 12 Outdoor Ed students went on an exciting camp to Mt Buller with Katherine, Bede, Elisa, and Cam.

A chance for our students to take their learning outside the classroom, and a highlight on their calendar. Hear more from one of our Year 11s below.

From the 13-15 of August the VCE Outdoor and Environmental Studies classes went on camp to Mt Buller to experience recreational activities like Downhill Skiing/snowboarding and white water rafting, while also learning about the environment in relation to the topics covered in our units of study. We were able to pick between skiing or snowboarding, and after a quick class to get the hang of things we were able to spend the day with our friends and try exciting trails, experiencing Mt Buller recreationally. The next day we went white water rafting down the Big River, which involved paddling down rapids in an inflatable raft. The whole experience was new and very different to recreational activities we usually undergo but was overall such a fun and thrilling experience, challenging us to take on new adventures when possible. While on camp, we learnt impacts on the environment such as invasive species in the alpine national park, in particular deer. Deer cause destruction toward the native flora and fauna and are currently being controlled and culled by Parks Victoria, as they are increasing in population and causing erosion and damage to native areas. Overall, the camp was highly enjoyable and something you don't get to do everyday, and I urge anyone thinking about doing outdoor ed in VCE to give it a go!

Eloise B

Library News

Book Week is upon us and we are doing all things book. From The Dreaded Shredded Book to Book Character Dress Up Day. It is going to be an absolute blast! There will be the winning costume, the overall Book Week winner and a few fun prizes to give away.

Most importantly though, who is the librarian dressing as? Ooh, wait until Wednesday and all will be revealed.

So, here is our wonderful list of awesome activities running in the library for Book Week.

Dianna Jarnet

Staff Book Recommendations

Looking for a new read? Our staff have a wide range of recommendations for you to check out!

Chloe Tayler - Humanities	Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen	I really enjoyed experiencing the same events through the perspectives of different family members, which allowed me to get to know each character deeply. I loved the book so much that I emailed the author to share my appreciation.
Aaron Zampichelli - English	Humankind: A Hopeful History	I found this book to be a timely antidote to the increasingly cynical beliefs and values that pervade modern society. Ultimately, a nice reminder that we are, pretty much, all quite lovely humans at heart.
Melanie Buscema-Moore	The Nevermoor series - Silverborn is the latest release - by Jessica Townsend	A great series for those who loved the world of Harry Potter. Jessica is an Australian author and the world of Morrigan Crow is fantastical and fun, with interesting characters and plot elements that unfold over time. In her latest book our protagonist is wrestling with her status as a feared Wundersmith while she learns to control her developing powers.
Fiona Cameron - Dance	That Deadman Dance by Kim Scott	A story from First Nations perspective of first contact with some beautiful writing, including in Noongar language (WA region). It is moving and sad but also hopeful and insightful.
Zhanet Zyka - HPE	Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas	Currently up to book 5, Empire of Storms. An incredible book series about a female assassin who is capable of so much more. A series that I am getting all my friends into. Some detailing can be a drag. I think the series is better than GOT… The next series will be Eragon, comics, and The Prince.
Nait Casamento - Wellbeing	Atlas of the Heart, Brene Brown	Focused on seeking connection through emotional experiences, Brown works with hundreds of peers to workshop definitions and other language that helps us identify emotions to ourselves and explain them to others.
Angela Cooper - Science	Convenience Store Woman, Sayaka Murata	A short novel about an earnest Japanese woman who takes great pride and comfort in her job at a convenience store. It’s funny and heartfelt and I found it incredibly unique and insightful. Also makes me want to get back to Japan immediately
Dianna Jarnet - Librarian	Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon	As a librarian, this book is a must. It is set in Barcelona at the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. It is at once surreal, mystical, a mystery, a love story, a melodrama. A bit of everything actually, and the writing is sublime. It is one of the rare books I could read multiple times.
Christina Scholzhorn - Senior School Admin	Intermezzo, Sally Rooney	I loved this book so much, set in Dublin, a tender tale about two grieving brothers and their messy love lives. If you love Sally Rooney’s books, I would highly recommend it.
Fiona Villella	The Gap of Time: The Winter's Tale Retold by Jeanette Winterson	Currently reading this modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale”. As is Shakespeare, it’s dramatic and engaging, providing an effective switch-off after a day of teaching!
Maria Silva/ Performing Arts	The Rain Heron by Robbie Arnott	It’s beautifully written, almost like poetry, with a powerful message about how harming nature is really just harming ourselves (and that message really resonates with me). Also, Magical realism is the best type of realism ever: a touch of fantasy in a world we all know.
Maria Barbera Fernandez/ Spanish	Lola In The Mirror by Trent Dalton	It is an emotional, magical and exciting novel full of dark and beautiful moments. It speaks of love, destiny, life and death, and all the things we can see when we look in the mirror: our past, our present, and all our possible futures.
Lachie Gaylard - English	The Golden Thread by William Dalrymple	The co-host of the Empire podcast is attempting to reposition India’s place in the spread of ideas across Eurasia. I’m firmly in my Indian History and Culture Era, so seeking out non-fiction books like this one contribute to my tiny knowledge about it, along with shamelessly bragging about having just read the Bhagavad Gita.
David Snaddon - HPE	Carn: The Game, and the Country that Plays it by Andrew Mueller	This is very cliche - a member of the HPE team recommending a sports book, but it is a wry and very insightful study of Australian football and society. The author has selected 50 games of Australian Football since 1897 (the first year of the VFL) and writes a brilliant and often hilarious account of each game and the social and historical context surrounding each one.
Gary Vella - English	The City and its Uncertain Walls by Harkui Murakami	Murakami novels are pretty much the Seinfeld of the literary world in that they are often not really about anything and rather a meditative way to while away the hours with some beautifully written prose. If you’re into Japanese literature then you know what I’m talking about!
Megan Thomas- English/Psychology	‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ by Khaled Hosseini	Using a parallel storyline, this novel follows the journey of two different women living in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. It is a testament to Hosseini’s writing that a novel with so much heartbreak and tragedy can still be a pleasure to read!
Liam McMahon- Maths	The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin	Maybe the best sci-fi book ever written, a man is sent to investigate a planet whose inhabitants have no fixed gender. Starts off as a fairly conventional sci-fi story but becomes a beautiful tale about human connection.

Chloe Tayler

Year 7 Incursion

Our Year 7s enjoyed an energetic and interactive West African dance and drumming incursion on the last day of Term 2, celebrating culture and rhythm to end the term on a high note.

James Rozek

Girl Power in Engineering and IT

This year, I had the opportunity to participate in the Girl Power in Engineering and ITProgram at the University of Melbourne. The four-day residential camp was full of hands-on workshops and group projects, and it was a lot of fun.

The best part for me was meeting girls from all over Victoria who were also interested in maths, science, and problem-solving. Everyone was really friendly, which made it easy to make friends quickly. Working together on projects, coding exercises, and creative challenges showed me how useful teamwork can be. By the end of the camp, I felt part of a group of peers who shared my interests.

At the Creator Space, we designed and tested small wooden planes, learning how different designs affected how well they flew. In the Robogals workshop, we learned basic Python coding, which gave me a good introduction to programming. The bridge-building challenge let us work in teams to make the strongest structure we could. We also did a renewable energy workshop, testing small wind turbines, and a drones workshop, where we learned how drones are used in things like agriculture and conservation.

One of the most exciting parts was our group project based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. My team worked on Life on Land and designed The Wombot, a small robot shaped like a wombat that collects litter with a long retractable arm. By clearing litter, it helps prevent bushfires and protects wildlife.

Overall, the program was really fun and inspiring. I’d definitely recommend it to any current Year 8 students-next year’s camp is a great chance to try STEM projects, meet friendly people, and explore engineering and IT.

Tamanna D

Year 9

Careers Expo

Students Exploring Future Pathways

Last month, students from Year 9 had the exciting opportunity to attend the Melbourne Career Expo 2025, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday the 25th of July. The Melbourne Career Expo is one of Australia’s largest and most diverse career-focused events, featuring over 120 exhibitors from universities, TAFEs, registered training organisations, and major employers across a wide range of industries. Students had access to a wealth of information on jobs of the future, study pathways, apprenticeships, and vocational training options.

Throughout the day, students explored various booths, spoke directly with industry professionals, and attended interactive seminars and workshops. Key topics included resume writing, interview skills, and insights into fast-growing sectors such as healthcare, trades, IT, and sustainability.

The trip gave students the chance to explore real-world opportunities and begin thinking seriously about life after school. Many came away feeling inspired and better equipped to make informed decisions about their senior subject choices and future careers.

A big thank you to the staff who organised and accompanied the excursion, and to the students for representing our school so positively. The experience was a valuable step in helping them explore the many pathways available in today’s workforce.

Tate Forster

Year 10 Formal

On the evening of August 15th, our Year 10 students gathered at The Sovereign in Thornbury for their much-anticipated formal-and what a night it was! The venue was buzzing with excitement as students arrived dressed to impress, ready for an evening of celebration.

The dance floor was alive all night as students showed off their best moves and enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere. One of the highlights of the night was the photo booth, which proved to be a huge hit; capturing fun, laughter, and plenty of unforgettable moments with friends.

It was a fantastic night filled with joy, music, and memories that will be cherished for years to come. A big thank you to everyone who helped make the evening so special!

Olivia Siciliano & the Year 10 Team