Student News

Terry Bennett Cup Results

Each year, students from Suzanne Cory High School along with Nossal High School in the Terry Bennett Cup. Students compete in their respective houses at both schools, in a range of sports, games and activities with the aim to win the coveted trophy.

This year was the first time since 2019 and it was fantastic to see the united teams from Nossal and Suzanne Cory High School working together throughout the day.

Thank you to all the staff who helped run events today and who helped feed the hordes of year 9s. This day would not have run without your efforts.The overall rankings of the houses were:

Red (Kororoit and Phoenix)
Green (Cottrell and Pegasus)
Yellow (Rothwell and Griffin)
Blue (Blackwood and Garuda)

Terry Bennett Cup Mascot Competition

To celebrate the return of the Terry Bennett Cup, we ran a mascot competition. Students were asked to come up with a design combining the logos of both houses of the same colour.

The winners for each house colour are:

Blue: Norah H. (SCHS)
Green: Ateeb M. (SCHS)
Red: Illiana A. (Nossal)
Yellow: Rhian P. (SCHS)

Congratulations to the winner of each house, who took away a prize of a Pancake Parlour Voucher. Amazing work, you captured the logos of both schools house logos perfectly.

Intersectionality & Inclusivity Summit

On the 23rd of November the wellbeing leadership team, Naz, Emma, Meredith, Sammy and Mr Juricevich, went to MacRobertson Girls High School to participate in their 1st Intersectionality & Inclusivity Summit.

This excursion was attended by many schools and aimed to educate students and staff on how to be more inclusive in a school environment.

We started the excursion with a workshop on Intersectionality, which refers to the ways in which different aspects of a person's identity can expose them to overlapping forms of discrimination. We learnt that intersectionality is not about pitting minority communities against each other but recognising each other's challenges and helping each other grow. The intersectionality workshop also included a section on Rainbow Capitalism /

Pinkwashing where we got to choose a logo and “make it gay”. We chose the Gucci logo and made it rainbow, perpetuating stereotypes that can be problematic or reductionist. We continued to learn about how to be more supportive and inclusive through partaking in various workshops throughout the day, such as Introduction to Queer Theory, Infighting within Activism, Australia’s Free Press Dilemma, and Historical Depictions of Lesbian Identity. Some key topics we talked about were Exclusionism in the LGBT community and how culture can link into gender and queerness, such as the Hijras and the golden orchid society, some of the oldest organisations in the world, and the challenges that lesbians have gone through and still have to face because of their sexual orientation.

Through this excursion and subsequently the workshops the wellbeing team educated ourselves in how we can be more inclusive towards others and how we can incorporate this into our school community.

David Juricevich

Director of Proactive Wellbeing

Year 11 Camp

On November 13th, the anticipation and excitement was evident as we departed to PGL Campaspe Downs for the Year 12 Transition Camp. Three days and two nights away from home provided a much-needed break from our day-to-day routines, allowing us to spend time with friends and create lasting memories before going into our final year of high school.

The itinerary was packed with a variety of activities that fostered resilience and camaraderie. These included the exhilarating Giant Swing, which elicited screams I never thought possible, the strategic challenges of Laser Tag, the insightful ‘Level Up’ leadership workshop, Canoeing on the picturesque lake, testing our bravery on the Leap of Faith, and ‘Own Arrangements’ which provided ample time to spend time with friends and explore the campsite. Together, these activities combined to create a memorable camp experience which allowed for peer bonding and personal growth.

In addition, Trivia Night tested students' knowledge and wit, promoting healthy competition and plenty of laughter whereas Sports Night saw strong participation and commendable team spirit. Not only did these activities entertain, but they also reinforced the sense of unity within the cohort.

The camp organisers took excellent care of us, ensuring not only thrilling activities but also delicious and nourishing meals that fuelled us for these ventures. Despite the unpredictable weather, we embraced the challenges with enthusiasm, demonstrating the important values of resilience and adaptability that will serve us well in the year ahead.

All in all, this camp served as a fantastic end-of-year event. It was a great opportunity to unwind, reflect on the year, and embrace the upcoming challenges of Year 12 with an open mind and positive attitude!

A special thank you to the dedicated teachers who made this camp possible, ensuring that students had a safe, enjoyable, and memorable time :)

Wana Saifudin R1

CITIZENSHIP AT CORY

Gaza Humanitarian Aid fundraiser for the MATW project

As many of you already know, the conflict in Gaza has hit its citizens the most. Many people have not only lost their livelihoods but also their loved ones. The MATW project is an organisation that aims to take some of the burden off of these individuals who have lost everything due to the conflict. They also ensure that 100% of the proceedings go to those in need and directly to the cause. As a school we wanted to show our ongoing support to this cause and help out in any way possible. AND THE SUPPORT WAS PHENOMENAL!! In total we raised over $1000 which is truely an amazing effort.We would especially like to thank Musa Ahmed (Year 12) and Daniyal Qidwai (Year 12) for their generous and selfless donations.

Overall we have to thank all the student participants (including Emina who was the main student organiser) and Mahnoor (Maz) Asif for their ongoing commitment and support. Lastly we would like to thank all of you (teachers included) who made this bakesale possible and such a big success! Another huge thank you to Ms Cook for being the supervising teacher in charge of the bake sale.

“Thank you SCHS students for putting an amazing effort into baking and raising money through the MATW project, and this will go toward a great cause for people in Gaza.”

-Emina Rahman

“Thank you all for the immense support you’ve shown this fundraiser. This moment of school solidarity towards such an important cause was wonderful to see, and truly a moment everyone in the community should be proud of.

That being said, please remember to keep educating yourself and others on the heartbreaking (yet, do not forget, ongoing) situation in Gaza.” - Mahnoor (Maz) Asif

Remembrance day stall for the RSL

Our first initiative as 2024’s Citizenship captains was the Remembrance day stall to raise funds for the RSL. The RSL primary objective is to provide and support returned and current veterans and their families. We raised over $100 by selling 50 cent poppies to the student body. This event would not have been a success without the help of the initiative captains (Diya Godkhindi, Keyara D’souza, Sahnan Saini and Akshya Ajbani) who went around homegroups promoting the stall. Overall this was a fantastic start to this journey and we can't wait to work with more reputable organisations in the future.

Christmas fundraiser for UNICEF

During our first few weeks as Citizenship Captains, it has become apparent how motivated our students are to get involved with the community. This Christmas Fundraiser, planned by Ishita Gupta was no exception! Thank you to Mr Holmes for being the supervising teacher in charge for this event as well.

With all proceeds donated to UNICEF, Suzanne Cory managed to raise $150 for this cause. Thank you to all teachers and students involved in this fundraiser! Your help and dedication to citizenship at Suzanne Cory means so much to us and we thank you deeply for your contributions.

“This bake sale was a great opportunity to help children and to help make Christmas Enjoyable for them around the world!! I would like to thank everyone who participated and helped raise money for this bake sale!!!” - Ishita Gupta

Overall, it’s been a fantastic first few weeks in our leadership positions. We look forward to what the future holds!

Your 2024 Citizenship Captains,

Iti Ashta (K4) and Zahara Nazir (R3)

EXTRACURRICULARS AT CORY

Hey, Suzanne Cory!

Maz and Sid here, your whole school extracurricular captains for 2024! You may have seen our announcements on Compass recently, granted it’s been a busy term for SCHS’s extracurricular program, but you’ll only be hearing more from us in the coming year. Before we get into our future plans, though, let’s look to the past events that we’ve successfully hosted over the last few weeks.

Firstly, we started the 2024 house cup off with the intermediate house debating competition. Year nine and ten students from each house competed in two rounds of debates on various contemporary topics, that ranged from finance, to cancel culture. Overall, the houses outdid themselves with the staggering number of sign ups and amazing participation, as well as their achievement in the debates themselves. Kororoit ultimately took home the win, but every house gave it their absolute all.

Shortly after, we hosted the tryouts to pick SCHS’s teams for the debater association of Victoria’s (DAV) inter school competition, set to be held in early 2024. This annual competition is an excellent opportunity to foster your research and speech skills through a series of debates, and challenge your critical thinking and spontaneity with the secret topics. DAV enables students to engage and socialise with competitive and like minded individuals from other schools in the region, and has seen many new friendships (and, let’s be honest, the rare rivalries) form.

Of course, we couldn’t have hosted any of these events without the contribution and aspiration of the wonderful house initiatives captains, and every single student who fills in those EOI’s we put out; thank you all, and we sincerely hope to keep seeing you around next year, too.

That being said, we can’t express how easy it is to jump into the rich extracurricular program at our school, even if you may not have been able to participate in an event we held this year. Whether you’re worried you won’t have enough experience for debating, are nervous about competing against others in chess, or believe that nobody would be interested in joining a club you’re eager to start - do it!

Truly, the aim of the extracurricular program at our school is to foster the passions of our students in a productive manner. Whilst we all know how easy it may be to lose yourself in that hyper competitive selective school culture, the extracurricular program does not demand perfection, but participation. You can never know how ‘good’ or ‘bad’ (as if such arbitrary words could ever capture the entirety of your performance) you are at an activity, unless you try.

We have ambitious plans for the program next year, to cater to a wide range of special interests and unique talents, and because we know just how much the students of Suzanne Cory love a challenge, here’s one from us, but only if you’re willing to rise to meet it; take part in at least one extracurricular activity outside your comfort zone in 2024. You know, the one activity you’ve always wanted to try, but never quite got around to.

(And if not for us, do it for your house. We’re generous with house points ;))

Finally, if you’ve got any questions, email us (Mahnoor ‘Maz’ Asif @ asi0001 or Siddharth ‘Sid’ Anand @ana0009) and we’re always more than happy to help. It’s what we’re here for, so don’t hesitate in reaching out to us, both as your extracurricular domain captains for next year, and as wise (debatable) year twelves with even wiser advice.

That’s all from us for now, but happy holidays and/or new year in advance, SCHS!

Your 2024 Extracurricular Captains,

Siddharth Anand (R8) and Mahnoor Asif (R1)

Year 11 SRC

YEAR 10 SENS CUP

On the 22nd October 100 Year 10s of Suzanne Cory participated in SENS. We participated in 8 events spread throughout the 4 selective schools. We participated in table tennis, chess, netball, chess, talent show and game show where we competed against the other schools to legally become the best selective school till the next time. Everyone had a blast playing their sports and people we met were exhilarating.Melbourne High held Cricket and talent shows. At Mcrob, we played table tennis and gameshow while at Nossal we had debating and volleyball. Suzanne hosted netball and chess; where the chess players were working so hard chessing away in the air-conditioned auditorium while the netball players enjoyed the luke-warm 30 degree day.

As a wise person once said, "It's not about the destination it's about the journey”, and though we may not have won the SENS cup, the people we met and bonds we created were a win in itself. Everyone had a blast.

Student Testimonies:

✩✩✩✩✩ - “Highly recommend, must do again”

✩✩✩✩ - “Why is Nossal so far away”

✩✩✩✩✩ - “quite exquisite and impeccable”

Your Year 11 SRCs

Jayesh Mohan, Rithvik Yadav, Diya Sonu and Bea Payla

Extracurricular captains address

Hey, Suzanne Cory!

(And if not for us, do it for your house. We’re generous with house points ;))

That’s all from us for now, but happy holidays and/or new year in advance, SCHS!

Signing out,

Sid and Maz

Sports Captains Address

Hi guys !!

We are thrilled to introduce ourselves as your Whole School Sports Captains for 2024! I'm Keerat, and alongside me is Alesha, and together, we are committed to making this year an unforgettable one filled with exciting sports opportunities for everyone.

Our primary goal is to enhance the inclusivity and enjoyment of sports in 2024, and we're already hard at work with the fantastic House Sport Captains: Fredy, Gregor, Nathanael, and Sam. Together, we're brainstorming new ways to make sports more engaging and entertaining for each and every one of you.

What's New in 2024?

We're thrilled to announce the introduction of fresh house competitions, including soccer, to spice up the sports calendar. Get ready for some fierce competition as we strive to create an inclusive environment for everyone to showcase their sporting talents and crown the best house. Keep an eye out for more Staff vs. Student events and whole school competitions, where we can all come together for some fun and spirited matchups.

Looking ahead

The sports fever kicks off early in Term 1 with two major events - House Swimming and Athletics. We encourage everyone to participate, dress up in your house colors, and let your house spirit shine! Whether you're a swimming sensation or a track and field enthusiast, these events are the perfect opportunity to show off your skills and contribute to your house's success.

Growing love for sport

Our vision for 2024 is not just about competition; it's about fostering a genuine love for sports. We believe that participation, teamwork, and sportsmanship are key elements in creating a positive and thriving school community. So, let's lace up our shoes, grab our gear, and get ready for a year filled with growth, camaraderie, and, most importantly, fun!

We can't wait to see each and every one of you on the field, in the pool, and on the track. Here's to a year of sports, friendship, and unforgettable moments!

May the best house win !!

Keerat Sidhu (R8)

CITIZENSHIP CAPTAINS INTRODUCTION

Hello Suzanne Cory Community,

We are honoured and excited to introduce ourselves, Iti and Zahara, as your 2024 Citizenship Captains.

Our role is to oversee community engagement at Suzanne Cory Highschool, which includes fundraisers and initiatives which aim to bring awareness to contemporary issues.

The goal we have for 2024 is to revitalise the Citizenship domain, building a strong, powerful culture whilst bettering communities. We believe that it is crucial in order to become well rounded individuals to have a desire to connect with communities and we hope to foster this influence at Suzanne Cory. We strive to do our best in any event we plan and together we hope to spark excitement into existing traditions and potential new events.

As leaders, we want to emphasise that we are always here to help. Citizenship at this school without the support of students would not be possible, so please be aware that if you have any ideas for events regarding community engagement to please come see one of us. We are always eager to help! :)

We look forward to our future together,

Your 2024 Citizenship Captains

Zahara Nazir (R3) and Iti Ashta (K4)

(Art by Zahara Nazir)

Year 10 Media Transition

Students were tasked with creating advertisements to sell products or concepts that were ‘unsellable’. The task was modelled on ‘The Pitch’ segment from the ABC show ‘The Gruen Transfer’.

The winning ad in each group was awarded the Cory trophy, and each member of the group got to take home a little Cory trophy keychain.

The winners in Ms Hall's class were Iris, Sybil and Prisha with their ad for the ‘Pair Tag’ child tracker and the runners up were Arya, Annelise and Manjot with their ad for ‘Chilli Charm’ beauty cream.

The winners in Mr Woon's class were Lily, Safa, Ema, Leroy judged by Ms Velisha and her Y12 Media.