School Highlights
Year 6 Leadership Conference
Cherry Nguyen, Year 6
Recently, seven Year 6 leaders attended a leadership conference alongside students from other schools. We travelled to Firbank in Sandringham, where we were welcomed and placed into mixed groups with students we had never met before.
BE THE CHANGE
We began by introducing ourselves to the six people in our team. Our facilitator, Ben, then led us in a discussion about a powerful leadership quote: 'Be the change you want to see in the world.' These famous words from Mahatma Gandhi reminded us that, instead of waiting for others to make a change, we should take the initiative and be the change ourselves.
THREE ASPECTS OF LEADERSHIP
Next, we played a teamwork game outside. In our teams, we passed a tennis ball around while sharing our name, hobbies and perspective of leadership. Ben then introduced us to three aspects of leadership: self-leadership, leading others, and leadership through service.
FOLLOWSHIP
After a short break, we watched a video on ‘followship'. I learned that followship means it's okay to step back and follow at times. While leadership is vital, the act followship helps to build on leadership. I realised that you don’t always have to be the leader in every situation and, sometimes, the best way to contribute is by supporting others and building on their ideas.
APPRECIATION
Our final lesson of the day was to reflect on how we had seen each other demonstrate leadership throughout the conference. It was really nice to hear everyone take a moment to appreciate each other.
One leader who really stood out to me was a student from another school. She gave clear, concise directions, especially during the scavenger hunt, which helped lead our team to success.
I look forward to bringing these lessons back to campus and sharing my experiences with the other Year 6 leaders.
This workshop taught me about leadership, but it also taught me about followship, which is just as important as leadership. We worked in teams on many tasks where we had to use key strategies, teamwork and communication. I believe that this workshop was very effective and a great experience. Maisie Lewicki, Year 6
A highlight from the leadership experience was getting to know leaders from other schools. The playground activity demonstrated the key leadership qualities to us: trust — knowing that the leader will tell you the right instructions; listening — so you don't hurt yourself; and empathy — because a good leader cares about others and wants to give them the right instructions. Mia Nation, Year 6
Throughout the day, we learnt how we can use our leadership skills to help others and how we can be a leader to ourselves, to others, and for the community. We also learnt about followship and being the one to first follow a leader. Layla Korenko, Year 6
Years 5 and 6 Australian Synchrotron Excursion
Noah Ha, Year 6
In February, a group of Years 5 and 6 students had the incredible opportunity to visit the Australian Synchrotron at Monash University Clayton, a world-class research facility where scientists conduct groundbreaking experiments.
BEAM ME UP PROGRAM
During our two-day excursion, we participated in the 'Beam Me Up' program, led by researchers Declan and Maysam.
HIGH-TECH TOUR
On the first day, we took a fascinating tour of the Synchrotron itself. We learned how electrons are accelerated and manipulated using powerful magnets and sophisticated technology. We even saw live footage of electrons being moved around by a camera, which was both thrilling and surreal! It was awe-inspiring to see such a high-tech environment up close.
HANDS-ON EXPERIMENT
After the tour, we conducted a hands-on experiment to explore how different ultraviolet (UV) light wavelengths and colours manifest in chemical forms.
REAL-WORLD CASE STUDIES
On the second day, we delved into real-world case studies, discovering how synchrotron technology has been used to solve mysteries. One fascinating example was the investigation into Phar Lap’s death, a famous Australian racehorse from the 1930s. Synchrotron research revealed that Phar Lap was poisoned with arsenic, solving a long-debated historical mystery!
LASER EXPERIMENTS
We also had the chance to work with serious equipment—Class 2 lasers, which are much more powerful than the lasers we encounter in daily life. Using green and red lasers, we conducted experiments to measure the size and properties of laser beams. This experience made us feel like we were truly stepping into the world of professional scientists!
SCIENCE IN ACTION
Overall, our time at the Australian Synchrotron was an unforgettable experience. It wasn’t just about learning new facts — it was about seeing science in action, witnessing how discoveries are made, and getting a glimpse into the lives of researchers who are pushing the boundaries of knowledge.
We left with a greater appreciation for science and an eagerness to return and explore more in the future. The program was eye-opening, and we all hope to visit the Synchrotron again someday!