In and around the classroom

Instrumental Music

Homestead offers an adaptive, engaging and fun instrumental music program for students with diverse musical experience and abilities. Students hone their talents on a variety of contemporary instruments under the guidance of dedicated mentors.From the first tentative notes to the virtuoso performances on stage, our students experience transformational growth, both as musicians and individuals. Through practice and collaborative ensemble opportunities, they not only develop technical proficiency, but also invaluable life skills such as teamwork, resilience and self-expression.

At Homestead, our commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive music community ensures that every student has the opportunity to explore their music interests. Whether they're analysing the nuances of theory and composition or pushing the boundaries of contemporary soundscapes, our students are empowered to embrace their unique musical voice and share it with their peers and community.For more information about joining the instrumental program, Chat to Patrick O’Brien - patrick.obrien2@education.vic.gov.au

Fashion Awards Australia Competition

For those interested, there is also a fantastic opportunity to enter a competition via the Fashion Awards Australia. Click here for more details.

Donations Needed

To get off to a great start, we are also asking the community for donations of materials or any other items that could be useful to inspire the creative minds of our students. Please contact the college or Fiona Martin (Fiona.Martin@education.vic.gov.au). 

Food Technology in action

Food Tech classes have recommenced for the year and have been well received by all students. Here we have the year 11 class show casing their chia seed puddings, with a strawberry and rhubarb compote and tuile. This recipe is based on early food systems, the use of ancient grains in everyday cooking and their health benefits. Well done year 11s, great cooking!

Athletics Day

On Tuesday the 27st of February, Homestead Senior Secondary College participated in the annual Athletics Carnival. We are excited to report that the school's athletics carnival was a resounding success! The carnival was a joyous occasion that brought the entire school community together for a day of fun, competition, and celebration. The students were buzzing with energy and excitement, eager to take part in the day's events. 

The students competed in a range of track and field events, including 100 and 200m sprints, long distance running, high jump, long jump, triple jump, shot put, and discuss. There were also plenty of opportunities for students to simply enjoy themselves, with novelty games set up around the field. There were terrific smiles on the students' faces as they played games with their friends or just enjoyed a well-earned break from academic life. The costumes were an absolute highlight this year, with most of the students dressing up in their house colours on the day. It made the day extremely colourful and vibrant.

We are incredibly proud of all our students for their hard work, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship, and we are grateful to the teachers and staff who made this day possible. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making the athletics carnival such a memorable and enjoyable event. We can't wait to do it all again next year! 

We would also like to thank Elle Harding for producing this wonderful video of the day!

Homework Club

The college offers a structured homework club for all students. While all subjects can be a focus, the Math and English departments run this program and offer extra support to students who wish to get the extra help. Our HSSC Tutor, Charles, is also there each Thursday.

It might be that they just want to complete homework and not take as much home. For some, it is a more engaging way to study as it is with their friends. 

Whatever the reason, it is a great way to continue to build upon the positive culture of learning across the college.

All students are encouraged to attend when they can.

Homework club is held in the library from 3pm-4:00pm each Thursday.

Congratulations to Elle Harding

Elle Harding, one of our college captains has achieved the amazing level of Officer in the Australian Air Force. We congratulate her also on winning the 404 Squadron Cadet of the Year. Well done Elle. 

Congratulations to Jacob Burfoot

Jacob Burfoot, graduate of 2023, has been selected to play at the  VCAA Season of Excellence, Top Class 2024. This is an enormous achievement and we could not be more proud of him. Well done Jacob.

Congratulations to Arnav Singh

Arnav has been selected to represent the U18 cricket team for the west region association. The team participated in the finals and emerged victorious, making them the best team in a competition that brought together the top U18 cricketers from all regions in Melbourne/Victoria. We are so proud of Arnav in his achievement!

ONE Wyndham-Youth Person of the Month

Wyndham City Youth Services is committed to supporting and promoting the ingenuity and accomplishments of young people across the municipality.

Each month Council will select a Wyndham resident aged between 12 – 25 to be awarded the young person of the month – ‘One Wyndham’ recipient.

The award aims to build the profile of young people who are positively contributing to the Wyndham community and thank them for their contribution and dedication and acknowledge their achievements. The selected monthly candidate will be a positive role model to other young people in the community who may have similar aspirations and goals. 

What the award entails

Winners of the One Wyndham Young Person of the Month will receive:

• A $300 gift voucher
• Profile image and article in the Council monthly newsletter; Wyndham News, 
• Profile picture and biography on the One Wyndham webpage
• A bi-monthly advert in the Star Weekly newspaper, highlighting their achievements
• A certificate, which they can reference in their CV and job applications
• Invitation to attend the monthly - One Wyndham Peer Networking Dinners.

One Wyndham Application Form (self-nominate)

One Wyndham Nomination Form (nominate someone else)

https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/awards-one-wyndham

Year 11 Literature-Picnic at Hanging Rock excursion

“There was a delicious freedom about the swift steady motion of the drag and even in the warm dusty air blowing up in their faces that set the passengers chirping and chattering like budgerigars.”

― Joan Lindsay, Picnic at Hanging Rock

Just as the girls from Appleyard College felt a joyous sense of freedom on the morning of Saint Valentine’s Day, so too did the students from Homestead Senior Secondary College as we embarked on a similar journey to the mysterious Hanging Rock. As a part of the first Literature class that Homestead has run, the Year 11 students are studying Joan Lindsay’s seminal Australian class Picnic at Hanging Rock, investigating how as readers, we interpret what we read differently to other readers depending on our contexts, our beliefs, our identity and our understanding of the world around us. 

As a part of this study, we went to visit the eponymous setting of the book, the fabled Hanging Rock, to have our very own picnic. After an hour-long drive (thanks to our brave bus driver, Danijel) we explored the information centre, learning about the natural environment, the First Peoples of the Hanging Rock area, and the lost in the bush mythology that permeates Australian culture. 

After this, we set up our picnic at the base of the Rock, toasting lemonade to Saint Valentine, just as the girls in the novel did and feasting upon delicious nibbles and of course, a cake. Having eaten our fill, the group began the epic trek up the summit track, taking photos of the menacing rocks that appeared to be leering at our party as we strolled (or dragged ourselves) up the hill. At various points on the walk we were able to explore the magnificent rock formations, crawling through nooks and crannies, scrabbling over boulders and admiring beautiful views. 

At the summit, we sat and absorbed the atmosphere as we regained our breath, listening to the sounds of nature and then, excerpts of the novel describing the very place we were perched. The stillness of the Rock helped us understand the “overwhelming lassitude” that the girls experienced before they were lost, taken or just simply vanished into the cool, high altitude air of the mamelon they were exploring. 

Going to Hanging Rock was an incredible experience and a unique gift of studying the novel- to be able to walk amongst the inspiration for Joan Lindsay’s beautiful words is a privilege. Thank you to Danijel for driving the bus, and thank you to the Literature class for attending the excursion and completing the summit walk, even when it became difficult!

-Amy Carpenter