School Highlights (cont'd)

Gearing up for RoboCup 2025

Will Casey and Noah Smith, Year 9, Robotics Leaders

We're eagerly looking forward to this year’s RoboCup competitions. The Melbourne Regional event takes place on Saturday 26 July, followed by the State Championships on Saturday 13 September.

In 2024, we designed and built three state-of-the-art LEGO Mindstorms robots, which we entered in the OnStage division. 

These robots were coded to perform a choreographed mock battle to music, which led us to victory at the regional and state levels, and earned us a place at the National Championships in Brisbane—an achievement we're proud of!

Encouraged by last year’s success, we’ve now split into two teams, while continuing to collaborate and share ideas. 

This year, we’re returning to the RoboCup Rescue Line division. One team will compete in the Secondary division and the other in the Open division. Both teams have already begun designing and building new robots for the challenges ahead.

Year 11 Camp Jungai

Emma Nicola, Year 11

From 22 to 24 April, we ventured into the breathtaking Rubicon Valley for our Year 11 Camp Jungai — an unforgettable experience filled with nature, adventure and connection.

We camped alongside kangaroos and cooked hearty meals on our trusty trangias. On our first night, we were treated to a crystal-clear sky. Guided by our knowledgeable camp leader, we gazed up at the Milky Way, located in the South Celestial Pole, and were even lucky enough to witness a falling star! We also enjoyed marshmallows and stories around the campfire. 

A special highlight was learning from 'Aunty', who shared fascinating stories from the Aboriginal culture about reincarnation, and guided us in creating meaningful journey sticks that reflected our personal experiences.

We tackled the high ropes course with courage, cheering each other on as we faced our fears. The 18km hike was another standout moment — especially for those who made it all the way to the lookout for a stunning view over Lake Eildon. Sitting atop the mountain, quietly taking in the ethereal scenery, was a truly peaceful and rewarding experience.

Thank you to Mother Nature for the perfect weather, and to our Kilvington staff for their support. This was a camp to remember, and I’ll undoubtedly look back on these memories with fondness!