Senior School News
Bridges, brains and big ideas: it must be Science Week at SMC!
Curiosity, creativity and some very clever thinking took the stage at today's Science Week-themed Senior School Assembly.
We were privileged to host two distinguished guest speakers from STEM industries as part of our Science on the Sofa segment: Dr Julie Jansens, a senior hydrochemist with the CSIRO's specialist Engineering and Technology team, and Dr Jess Melbourne-Thomas, a Tasmanian marine scientist and Principal Researcher with CSIRO's Sustainable Futures Program.
Guided by our Prefect for Academia, Sarah Thomas (Year 12), our guest speakers shared fascinating insights into their innovative work, their reflections on female representation in STEM and the diverse future pathways available to students with a passion for science.
As Jess reflected:
"When I got my first job out of my PhD – I was working in Antarctic science, not only was I the youngest and only project leader, but there were also more men named Tony in the organisation than there were women.
I think that has changed a lot, but that kind of experience – along with my time studying at Oxford University and seeing very few examples of female leaders in STEM – motivated me to become involved in initiatives such as the Women in Polar Science Network and Homeward Bound, which focus on creating opportunities to elevate the voices of women in science and in climate-change decision-making."
Hailing from Belgium, Julie's formative experience in science looked a little different.
"I've been really lucky since starting university. I studied a Master's in Bio-engineering in Brussels, and the majority of my cohort was female, which was really lovely."
Julie began her PhD in 2012, specialising in Antarctic sea ice at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies in Hobart. This pathway has since allowed her to deepen her passion for researching some of the world’s most remote and fragile environments.
A very big thank you to Julie and Jess for inspiring our students and helping make today’s assembly both engaging and genuinely impactful.
No Science Week Assembly is complete without a little spectacle, and Dr Jeremy Just, our Learning Leader of Science, delivered exactly that with a dramatic, high-stakes bridge-building challenge that had students and staff on the edge of their seats.
Designed and built by our Year 8 Pillars groups, the miniature bridges highlighted students’ creativity, engineering instinct, problem-solving and teamwork, with each one taking on a different shape and size using everyday materials.
But aesthetics aside, the real question was: which structure could withstand the greatest weight? And as the load increased, beams began to flex and the possibility of collapse hovered, the suspense in the Nagle Centre grew.
Great job to all participating teams, and a special congratulations to those whose designs held strong under pressure! Our standout bridge could hold a whopping 16.5 kilograms – impressive stuff!
Our Science Week celebrations will continue throughout the week, with escape-room challenges, hair-raising experiments and collaborative learning in the labs alongside our Junior School students.
SMC alumni return to inspire the next generation
On Wednesday 12 August, our Year 10 students kicked off their Pillars lesson with the second Alumni Pathways Panel for 2026.
They heard from three former SMC students – Isabel (Class of 2022), Maddison (Class of 2011) and Sophie (Class of 2015) – who joined us for a relaxing, engaging chat about life after graduation and the real-world experiences that shaped where they are today.
Isabel is now a psychology and neuroscience graduate working in medical research; Maddison is a midwife and nurse at Calvary Hospital; and Sophie is a Senior Executive Officer in the Department of Treasury and Finance.
We’re so proud of the opportunities our alumni pursue and the impact they make beyond the College!
A huge thank you to our fabulous alumni panel for sharing their time, experience and encouragement, and to Lucy Paske, our Pathways and Course Advisor, for facilitating the session.
Our panellists offered honest, thoughtful advice and insights that will help students feel confident as they explore the many avenues available after graduation.
With this knowledge in their pocket, our current Year 10s are already stepping boldly towards their studies in 2027 and beyond!
Year 12s head into the final stretch
Our Year 12 students recently marked a special milestone in their graduation countdown – just 50 days remaining of their school journey. To celebrate, they took a trip down memory lane, arriving at the College dressed as photos of their younger selves.
Following many fun photo opportunities out on the College Green, the cohort gathered in the Year 11/12 Common Room for a celebratory cake cutting.
Reaching this point is such a big achievement and we're incredibly proud of everything the 'Class of 2026' has accomplished so far. Here's to making the most of these final 50 days and finishing off strong!