Student News
Duke of Edinburgh 2019
The Duke of Ed students have been getting ready for their upcoming camps. They have been practicing using the trangias, setting up tents and completing their online first aid modules. The students went to the You Yangs last week to practice their bushwalking skills and to test their walking shoes in a hilly walk. We were lucky to have such a beautiful afternoon with all the rainy days about. The practice camp will take place at SCHS on September 4th-5th and the Qualifying camp will be October 23rd-25th in the Grampians. The students have been working hard on attaining their service, skill and physical recreation hours and I feel confident that they will all achieve their certificate by the end of the year.
Ms. Claire Breed
Duke of Ed. Coordinator
Art, Design & Technology Week | Report
The annual Arts, Design and Technology week occurred in the first week of Term 3. It was an action packed week that began with Australian jazz pianist Monica DaSilva performing in the auditorium and on Tuesday students were able to strike a pose in front of the green screen which then transformed them into one of the selected backgrounds.
On Wednesday, there was an algorithmics session that was positively received and a round of theatre sports on Thursday. Throughout the week students had the opportunity to create a clay sculpture that would become a part of a house totem pole to be displayed in the school garden and participate in a baking challenge that involved preparing and cooking choc-chip biscuits. Thank you to the ADT team for facilitating an array of activities and the students who got involved and had a go!
Ms. Nalan Velisha
ADT Faculty Leader
Units 3&4 Ancient History Excursion
| The Hellenic Museum and NGV Ancient Galleries
Finely detailed pottery, Greek coins and a hyper realistic statue. These were some of the many intricate objects on sight when the Unit 3/4 Ancient History class attended the Hellenic Museum excursion. The pottery made by the Etruscans gave us deep insight into the reasons why they were valued so highly in art and functional aspects for trading. The coins illustrated the evolutionary shift of legal tender in Ancient Greece from sheep to a currency of coins.
At the end, we were led into a dark room, where the only lit item was a life sized, hyper realistic statue known as 'The Messenger,' by internationally recognised artist, Sam Jinks. The artistic piece was of a woman, inspired from the Greek goddess Iris. Her skin could be described as immaculate and her wings immense and coated in gold. The finer details grafted in her skin left the question to if she would simply begin walking among the class :)
The session was informative, and the guide was passionate and helpful, as she led the class, answering many questions when the class grew curious. The overall excursion was fascinating and granted students the ability to comprehend the history content, through the primary artefacts encapsulated in the museum.
Aina K (Year 12)
Snow Trip 2019
This year we saw the snow trip get back up and running in spectacular style. 32 students and 4 staff ventured to Mt Buller on June 24th for 4 days of skiing and snowboarding. The weather was great the whole time with endless bluebird days, and although snow coverage was average it was enough for the SCHS beginners.
The students took part in lessons everyday and developed their skiing and snowboarding skills. There were many falls on the first day but as the trip continued the students were successfully making it down the mountain on their feet. Aside from being out in the snow the students played cards, table tennis, billiards, foosball and swam in the pool and spa. The trip was a great success and fun was had by everyone, we are hoping to get the trip up again in 2020 if there is enough student interest. Stay posted.
Ms. Claire Breed
Snow Trip Coordinator & Director of Student Engagement
Health And Physical Education (HAPE) Week 2019
National Health and Physical Education Day is recognised on the 12th of September so join the Health and PE team for a week of celebrations! A variety of lunchtime activities will run with a focus on physical and mental health and wellbeing including a staff vs student table tennis competition and Jump Rope for Heart. Look out for information on the Compass newsfeed closer to the date.
High School Dance | So You Think You Can Dance?
Tryouts for High School Dance Competition 2020 are happening from the end of Term 3 to early Term 4. Each year, Suzanne Cory attends the Dance Comp and comes back with awards and prizes - check out the collection in the trophy cabinet if you don't believe us! Be part of these spectacular shows and experience the excitement for yourself next year by getting involved with the dance, music, or choreography. The Competition includes all dance styles - with a Bollywood twist. Check Compass for audition info and come try your luck!
Cherry P
High School Dance Team
Student Leadership Positions | 2020
The 2020 student leadership application process has started. Students are eagerly completing various applications for whole school and house leadership positions. There are minimal changes to the 2020 structure, however the wellbeing leaders will now be integrated into the houses. All applications need to be submitted through Dropbox by the relevant due dates. I’m looking forward to reading all the applications and wish students all the best in the process.
Ms. Claire Breed
Director of Student Engagement
House Debating
Recently, our school had the pleasure of both watching and participating in the Senior House Debating program, in which the quality of debate was incredibly high, and a joy to spectate. Despite the skill displayed by everyone, there had to be a winner: with both Kororoit and Blackwood in equal first and Cotrell and Rothwell in equal second.
Alyssa and Ben
School Debating Captains
High Notes! | From the Music Department
Dear Suzanne Cory Families,
Term 3 at Suzanne Cory means that it is very busy for Music and our staff and students. Following on from our successful House Chorals in Term 2, Term 3 presents our School Musical, which this year was Cinderella, our second series Soiree, a combined concert with the Westgate Concert Band and our preparations for Presentation Night, including Massed singing and our ensembles.
What’s been happening? Our musicians have been in demand for performances across our local area and for conferences.
SCHS Contemporary Trio performs for the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals
Tuesday August 13, saw the SCHS Contemporary Trio of Jay Brendan D R (Piano), Alexi M (Accordian) and Thusagar R (Tenor Saxophone) perform a concert segment for the Principals and Assistant Principals associated with the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals Conference held at the Pullman on the Park hotel and conference venue. It was a great opportunity for our students to perform at this prestigious event in front of so many outstanding educators, many with their own high performing music programs. The trio were received very well and their repertoire was enjoyed by the conference. I would like to thank the students for their efforts and the Association for providing the opportunities for our students as this was the first time SCHS has been asked to perform at an event such as this.
SCHS Year 10 ensembles Perform for the launch for the Wyndham Learning Festival
It is great to be a part of our own local learning community. Last Friday, Students Nika A, Elsie B, Jay Brendan D R, Nathania E, Gliana Trisha G, Alexi M, Jordan N, Thusagar R and Mahleat T were engaged to perform at the opening launch of the Wyndham Learning Festival in the performance rooms of the Wyndham Council Chambers. This was a terrific event for our students to showcase their musical talents in our own community where they were greatly received. Many thanks to the Wyndham Council and the Learning Festival directors for providing our students with this opportunity.
Cinderella
Our School Musical was again an outstanding success. The choice of staging the Musical Cinderella was certainly well founded with record numbers of students auditioning and ensuring that the cast, crew and orchestra were all of the highest order. With a magnificent score from Rodgers and Hammerstein, it was a measure of how our music program has progressed that this was the first year that SCHS was able to provide a symphony orchestra for its own production. It was my great pleasure to conduct this fine orchestra, even though none of the orchestra or myself ever saw the show as we were in a room out the back! The wonders of modern technology. I’m told that it was a beautiful production with great costumes and sets. Ms. Emma Wu, as last year, wonderfully trained the singers and chorus for this delightful production. I would like to thank the students and staff who participated in this production, it was magnificent.
What’s Coming up?
Second Series Soiree, Tuesday September 3 6:00 pm
Our series Soiree has become a focal point for the School’s Music program. Please come along and support our students as they and their Instrumental Music Teachers provide some wonderful music in solo, duo and small group settings in a range or different idioms and genre. There will be something for everyone at our Soiree. This year, this event is supported by the Wyndham Council as a part of the Wyndham Learning Festival.
Sunday September 8, Combined Concert with the Westgate Concert Band at SCHS
On Sunday September 8 at 2:00 pm, our School Concert Band will perform in Concert with the renowned Westgate Concert Band here in the SCHS Auditorium. The Westgate Concert Band are a wonderful community Band that give many concerts in the community. They are a mix of old and young musicians and we are privileged to be asked to perform in concert with them. Our own Concert Band will perform selections from our repertoire as well as combining with the Westgate Concert Band for a few special pieces. This concert promises to be full of fantastic music making for our students and I do hope that you are able to come along to experience this on Sunday September 8 at 2:00 pm.
Mr. Tony Paye
Director of Music
Music Captains Report | Winter Concert & Whole School Musical 2019
We have reached near the end of our school year and our musical events and responsibilities as whole school music captains have only gotten bigger. A successful end to chorals led to our annual winter concert which showcased the talents of many of our large school ensembles. It was a great success and it’s amazing to see the talent that has evolved these past years. It was a pleasure to end the night with a collaborative number “Save The Last Dance” with our audience and I’m sure to many it was the highlight of the night.
In addition to the Winter Concert, another grand event that occurs yearly in our calendar is the school musical, performed from the 7th of August to the 10th of August. Despite only half a week of performances, the SCHS rendition of Rodger and Hammerstein's “Cinderella” began its production early this year in March with rehearsals running twice a week. With an all-student cast, orchestra, and stage crew, the musical is a big commitment for a large number of students ranging from all year levels.
This year was the first musical our school has had with an external company. GJ Productions worked closely together with all our students to put on 4 amazing shows met which was received well by the audience. Congratulations to all those involved and as future music alumni of Suzanne Cory, we hope to see this event continue to grow in support.
Chloe T & Damien H
Whole School Music Captains
House News | Blackwood
Blackwood has yet again had another amazing term to continue the momentum we’ve been building all year. To kick it off, we’ve got our Year 11 and 12 giving it their all in house soccer. With only a few more games left in the intra-school soccer competition, we encourage all knights to come along and support our soccer stars. On the topic of intra-school competitions, Blackwood has performed exceptionally well at senior house debating. Our Year 11 and 12s have endured through 3 straight debates, and their analytical arguments partnered up with their sharp thinking, have left Blackwood finishing 1st place, tied with Kororoit. As the grand final is shortly approaching, the whole house is rooting for our debaters.
As intra-house debating and soccer reaches an end, we’re now looking for our finest chess players to battle it out against Kororoit, Cottrell and Rothwell in the annual intra-school chess competition. Look out for the announcement, and make sure you get involved.
As we’re all settling into the new vertical home group structure, we’ve implemented homegroup run assembles into our house. Every two weeks, in our house assemblies, each of our nine homegroups take it in turns to run their own assembly. For example, in our inaugural home group run house assembly, Mr. Stewart’s B2 put together a fun and competitive whole-house musical chairs activity, where there could only be one winner. Time will only tell what other exciting house assemblies the other eight Blackwood homegroups have in store for us.
And finally, we’re now on the lookout for the next generation of our Blackwood leaders. Applications are currently open for the 2020 Blackwood Leadership team, and we’re eager to meet our new House, Vice, Sport, Initiatives, Chorales and Well-Being Captains, as well as our new SRCs. If any of those positions interest you, make sure you apply to get involved with our great house!
Melvin M
Blackwood Vice House Captain
House News | Cottrell
For House Assembly this term, Cottrell has introduced homegroup-run assemblies, requiring each of our nine homegroups to come up with unique and entertaining ways to run assemblies for the rest of the house. Instead of sitting down and listening to the teachers and house Captains, the students have a chance to organise what activities they would prefer to do in assembly. It is also an effective team-building exercise as all students within the homegroup must cooperate with each other and take part in some way, either through the designing process or when presenting. This term we've witnessed a variety of fun and loveable ways to run house assemblies and get students engaged, such as the Spicy Ramen Challenge which left the audience laughing a little too long. Overall, the HG run assemblies were something new and enjoyable leaving students to finally look forward to house assemblies.
Leadership positions for 2020 are now open. The school offers a wide range of roles, both in whole school leadership and House leadership. Keep in mind, whole school leadership positions are only available to Year 12s and include School Captains and School Vice Captains, as well as Captains for Sport, Music, Debating and Citizenship, all with 1 x male and 1 x female for each. House leaderships positions are available for each of the houses (Blackwood Cottrell Kororoit Rothwell) and include House Captains (2 x Year 12s), Vice House Captains (1 x Year 9, 10, and 11), SRC Representatives from each year level, and Domain Captains for each Sport, Chorals, Initiative, and Wellbeing. Leadership positions within Suzanne Cory are valuable responsibilities and a great way to involve yourself in leading the students and making an overall positive impact at school. Application forms and additional information can be found online through Compass.
Hiruth W and Nikita J
Cottrell House
House News | Rothwell
After an amazing chorals run, Rothwell have come even closer to becoming first place overall winner of the House Competition. With a total of 346 points, Rothwell is behind Kororoit by only 19 points. The only thing left to earn House points is by doing well in Intra-school sports, in which students play sports to earn House points. For Intra-school sports, the competition has been very close for both Year 9 and Year 10, where they are only 26 points and 14 points, respectively, behind first place. Students can also earn House points by collecting values cards or competing in the House Chess Competition which will be coming up in the near future.
To further connect Rothwellians and promote forming new bonds amongst various Year levels in the vertical homegroup system, each homegroup is required to run the House assembly for approximately 30 minutes of the second half of house assembly and to do any activity of their choosing in those 30 minutes.
During the Term 2 holidays, one of our students from Rothwell, Year 11 Jeffrey O, went to Los Angeles, America to participate in a basketball camp at the University of Riverside California. He also competed in 4 tournaments in Phoenix, Texas and Las Vegas.
As a new year dawns, the applications for Leadership Positions for 2020 are now open and we encourage all students to apply as there are many great opportunities that can come out of being one of the school’s leaders. Alongside with the current options like House captain, Vice House Captains, SRC, Chorals Captain, Sports Captain and Initiatives Captain, in 2020 there will be a new leadership role named Wellbeing Captain. This leadership captain will have the role of encouraging positive relationships amongst students such and promoting activities such as lunchtime discussions and forums on social issues of interest. They will also provide opportunities for students in the House to focus on their own positive mental health and self-care such as group relaxation activities.
William T and Patrick N
Rothwell House