JUNIOR School
Dear Parents/Carers and Students
Congratulations to all Years 7 and 8 students for a positive end to the year with the conclusion of the Early Commencement Program. It has been great to celebrate the year that has been with events like Presentation Night, house celebrations (go Tir-rer!), Lifesaving Camp, Arts Exhibition, Best Fest, Year 8 Tree Surfing, and our end-of-year activities program this week.
Semester reports have now been published via Compass and we encourage all students and parents/carers to read them carefully in conjunction with the feedback provided throughout the year on Learning Tasks. The reports provide a great opportunity for reflection, celebration and goal setting for the year ahead.
We recently welcomed our new Year 7 2025 cohort on campus for the first time as part of the state-wide Orientation Day on Tuesday 10 December. The students spent the morning getting to know their classmates and the 7-10 Campus then participated in a range of classes to get a taste of high school life. Thank you to the Junior School, Wellbeing and Inclusion teams and to all staff who were involved on the day. We also appreciate the support of our local primary schools throughout the transition process, and the partnerships with our parents/carers, to ensure students have a positive start at Frankston High School.
In 2024, our Junior School students were represented by their Year Level Captains: Charlotte Judkins, Harry McCarthy, Lucy Ulyatt and Oscar Wang (Year 7) and Layla Hayes-Marshall, Willow Moore, Chanrica Sok and Harlee Wallis (Year 8). These leaders met regularly, guided by Ms Sarah Bahramis (Head of Student Voice, Agency and Leadership), the Junior School team, and senior student leaders, to discuss their school experience and advocate on behalf of their classmates. Congratulations to these students for representing their peers with distinction, leading assemblies and school events such as Footy Day and the hotly contested Dodgeball Competition. Many other Year 7 and 8 students formed an integral part of the Student Leadership Council (SLC), driving change and leading initiatives for the betterment of our school and wider community.
The success of our Year 7 and 8 students would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication of the Junior School team: Mr Joel McMahon, Ms Phoebe Macreadie, Ms Catherine Kyriakos, Mr Mark Quiambao, Mrs Jess Knights, Ms Paige Whitworth and Mrs Sharee Dew. Their tireless work to support students’ learning and wellbeing is deeply appreciated, as they approached challenging roles with kindness, integrity, and unconditional positive regard.
We wish all Junior School families a restful and enjoyable summer break and look forward to seeing our 2025 Year 7 students return on Wednesday 29 January and our 2025 Year 8 students on Thursday 30 January.
Spotlight on student achievement
Congratulations to Izel Briones (Year 8) for winning first place in the Little Stories Big Ideas Writing Competition with her piece Obedient Generation (published below). Well done, Izel!
"Place and time of conception?" the government agent asked.
"1:00-2:30, 92 Aubrey apartment," the young couple responded.
"If the child's IQ is below 100?"
"Adoption," they said firmly.
"And above 100?"
"A career in programming, of course!" they answered eagerly.
"You are aware, if the IQ is over 135, you're legally required to have at least three more children?”
They nodded obediently.
"Good. Our department will contact you soon. Also, while you are here, please visit the curtain department about the new kitchen drapery regulations."
Judge’s Comment: Izel's clever piece shows us a chilling future where approval comes from following strict rules about every part of life - even down to kitchen curtains! The sharp, quick dialogue reveals how completely this society controls its people, while the couple's eager responses show how normal this control has become. The ending adds a brilliant touch of dark humour that makes the whole story even more powerful. This is dystopian fiction at its best: short, sharp, and leaving us with plenty to think about.
Mr John Simon
Campus Principal