9-12 Community News

As we come to the end of the week, it’s hard to believe that we are halfway through Term 3. It has been a very busy few weeks and the remainder of this term is jam-packed with opportunities for students and many events on the College calendar. 

In the classroom, students have been working hard and committing themselves to achieve their best, including camps, excursions and hands-on practical activities, as detailed below. 

Year 11 Leadership Opportunities for 2027 

While we are only half way through Term 3, we are already looking ahead to 2027 and asking our current Year 11s to look towards 2027 and the ways in which they can demonstrate their commitment to the St Augustine’s community and build their leadership skills. There are many opportunities for leadership at St Augustine's and all our senior students are considered leaders in our College. We are grateful to, and celebrate, all students who show leadership qualities and continue to work and serve to improve and enhance our school community and strive to develop and extend themselves. 

This week, our Year 11 students have been invited to nominate for student leadership positions for 2027. Students can access the Student Leadership Information Package 2027 and consider the roles they would like to apply for in 2027. Please contact Mrs Chapman at school if you have any questions. 

On 27th August we will celebrate St Augustine’s Feast Day with a College Mass. At the end of the Mass, we will have the opportunity to hear speeches from our current Year 11 students who are nominating for the role of 2027 College Captain.    

Current Year 10 students are reminded of the opportunity to apply for the University  of Melbourne’s Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program. This program is open to students from all Victorian schools, offering access to exclusive University of Melbourne events and academic enrichment activities for two years. Current Year 10 students who are considering applying for tertiary study, at any university, are invited to apply for this prestigious program.  Applications close on 30th August.  

To round out a busy Week 5, we are finishing this week with the Years 7-12 students dressing up in their house colours and taking part in our House Athletics today.  

As we head towards the end of winter, students are reminded that in line with the College Sun Smart policy, from Week 7, hats are once again expected to be worn when outside during recess, lunch and outdoor class activities.  

The College Uniform Guide and Uniform Policy can be found on SIMON/PAM and the College Website.  

Finally, we look forward to seeing many parents and students attend our Subject Teacher Conversation Day to be held on Monday 24th August. This is a great opportunity to meet staff and have a conversation about your child/rens academic progress and work habits as we head toward the end of another busy term. 

VCE Unit 4 OES Alpine Experience

The Unit 4 Outdoor and Environmental Studies (OES) students left a very foggy and cold Kyabram on Sunday 19th July for the sunny skies of Falls Creek. With unusually warm temperatures in the Alps for this time of the year and thick fog in central Vic it meant Falls Creek was warmer than Kyabram. 

Monday had us learning to cross country ski during a lesson and learning about the Alpine National Park through discussion and observations, collecting primary data for our assessments back in the classroom. This trip was the first time some students had seen snow and the first-time skiing for most students. The downhill skiing was the highlight for most of us as we enjoyed learning to control our speed and turns and challenge ourselves with a new skill. 

Wednesday morning was very foggy and we had to keep a close eye on each other so as not to get lost. This trip continued to show us the effects of climate change both to the economy, with the number of possible skiing days declining as the weather gets warmer, and the environment, with the impact of warmer weather on native species decreasing populations and changing the natural balance of the Alpine environment. 

Thanks to Mr Lewis, Mrs McIntosh and all the OES students for a great few days out in the real world. 

VCE Biology

Our VCE Biology students have recently been investigating antibiotics in action in the lab.

VCE VM Torrumbarry Excursion

Our Year 12 VCE VM students recently visited Torrumbarry Weir to learn more about this important piece of water management infrastructure in our region. 

The students toured the weir facilities and learned how it helps regulate water for agricultural, environmental and community needs. They also gained an insight into the engineering, maintenance and operational roles involved in managing the weir, while hearing about career pathways in the water industry. 

The visit provided students with a valuable hands-on learning experience and an opportunity to explore sustainability, technology and the challenges of balancing environmental and regional needs.