PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

WINTER CONCERT

Congratulations to everyone involved in the Annual Winter Concert - a remarkable event that highlighted the impressive scale, spirit, and excellence of music education in our community. The concert featured over 620 student performers from all year levels, coming together in a dazzling array of ensembles that truly reflected the diversity and vibrancy of the program.

The evening’s program showcased months of hard work, creativity, and teamwork, with performances spanning classical, contemporary, and multicultural offerings. Families, staff, and friends filled the hall, sharing in the pride and inspiration generated by each student’s courage and commitment on stage. Special recognition goes to the dedicated music faculty - especially the Head of Performing Arts, Dmitry Serebrianik with the support of Clare Bugeja Head of Instrumental Music, and Zoe Bartholomeusz - whose leadership and tireless efforts were instrumental in bringing this event to life.

Behind the scenes, the concert’s seamless flow was orchestrated by the accomplished stage crew, expertly managed by Ellie Adler, Lucy Angell and Paschal Lee. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and poise under pressure ensured that every transition ran smoothly, contributing to the magical atmosphere experienced by all.

This year's concert also celebrated the achievement and resilience of our senior students, many of whom began their musical journeys during the uncertainty of Covid. Their strength and adaptability were evident as they joined their peers in creating a memorable night for all.

Well done to everyone involved.

WEAR IT PURPLE

Wear It Purple Day was held on Friday 29 August and it was fantastic to see so many staff and students wearing purple clothing and accessories on the day. 

This year is the 15th anniversary since the first Wear It Purple Day, and it is a day to show visible allyship and support members of our community; young LGBTQIA+ people. 

The numbers and statistics regarding mental health amongst LGBTQIA+ teens are distressing, and for these young people, having an adult they can trust and go to can be lifesaving. Along with IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia), Wear It Purple Day provides us with a significant opportunity to remind these students that they are loved, included, safe and supported. 

Thank you to Lauren Maserow who organised this celebration, along with Jordan Abela and Lee Laskaridis.

YEAR 11 GAMES NIGHT 

The annual Year 11 Games night was held on Friday 29 August in the Hall at the McKinnon Road Campus. The student organising committee delivered a wonderful night of interactive games, activities, live music and trivia, underpinned by the "Lost at Sea" theme.

Amongst a wave of Pirates, Lifeguards and Deep-Sea creatures, students battled it out in teams across a series of rounds to claim the prize of sunken treasure! From donut eating whilst "walking the plank" to tower building to "survey the seven seas" the games brought palpable excitement and competition to the proceedings.

Congratulations to all students who attended in their finest outfits, members of the organising committee, the members of the live band and the Year 11 Student Management team for delivering a night which brought much camaraderie and collegiality amongst the cohort.

MARKET DAY 

On Tuesday we held yet another successful Interact Market Day, with over 70 stalls across East Campus and McKinnon Rd. Students across all year levels, showcased their goods, selling everything from baked goods to arts and crafts. The atmosphere at both campuses was incredible, with all students, whether buying or selling, embodying great passion and positivity.

I acknowledge and thank all our stall holders, the Interact team - Mitchell Nham (Year 9), Chamath Dharmadasa (Year 8), Itay Volnerman (Year 9), Maleesha Dharmadasa (Year 11), Chloe Cooper (Year 11), Kiara Naidoo (Year 10), Shauri Pedavalli (Year 12), Ver Ronn Chung (Year 11) and Lereesha Govender (Year 10) - your positive attitudes and commitment truly made it an unforgettable event. Thank you also to Simon Belluzzo, Nethmi Ranasinghe and all staff members involved for their all-important guidance and supervision.

HEALTH AND PE DAY

On Wednesday 3 September we celebrated Health & PE day. Thank You to the PE department who organised some fun activities to remind us about the importance of being physically active for both our physical & mental health. Students who rode bikes to school were entered into a draw for rebel vouchers, at McKinnon Rd we participated in some Just Dance at recess, then across both campuses’ students played Futsal at lunchtime. 

PARENT-TEACHER-STUDENT CONFERENCES

Thank you to all families who have been involved in the recent online parent-teacher-student conferences and who have booked the upcoming interviews on Wednesday 17 September. 

These sessions provide important feedback to allow our students to receive the best possible advice and support.

It’s important that teachers work together with students and their families to ensure we all have a clear understanding of how students are performing and how we can support improvement.

YEAR 12 PRACTICE EXAMS

Good luck to all of our Year 12 students who will be undertaking their practice exams during the second week of the holidays. Student Compass schedules have been updated to reflect the exam times.

In order to optimise performance, we recommend students complete the revision exercises and past exams papers and use your time wisely.

OLD MCKINNON FC

A huge congratulations to the Glen Eira/Old McKinnon women’s football team on their outstanding victory over Monash Blues in the VAFA Division 1 Women’s Grand Final on Sunday, claiming the premiership with an impressive 21-point win!

The triumph was made even more special with the contribution of many former McKinnon alumni, including captain Gemma Strangio (Class of 2019), who led from the front and was deservedly awarded Best on Ground for her exceptional performance.

What an incredible season and an inspiring achievement to win back-to-back grand finals. 

Well done to all involved!

MCK RESPECT

The McK Respect Project continues to grow as a cornerstone of our school’s culture, reflecting our commitment to respect, equality and care. This year, the project will be highlighted through two major community events. The McK Respect Community Walk will be held on Friday 12 September, with an early finish at 2:30 pm for a 3:00 pm start. The Walk will conclude at 4:30 pm and will be a powerful demonstration of our community’s shared commitment to respect, equality and care.

Immediately following, the Community Footy Match will take place at 5:30 pm at Packer Park in partnership with the Old McKinnon Football Club. The match is non-contact, open to all genders and abilities, and is designed to bring staff, students, families and the wider community together in a show of unity. The Old McKinnon Football Club will also open their canteen to support the occasion.

Both events are grounded in the important work of addressing gender-based violence and highlight the role schools and communities can play in building a culture of respect and equality. They are opportunities to extend the McK Respect Project beyond the classroom, engaging the whole community in meaningful conversations about respect, gender equality and the role of the upstander. 

Registration details for both events can be found on Compass, and we warmly encourage families to join us in these celebrations of our shared values.

As this is the last newsletter for the Term, I wish all families a wonderful holiday period.