Senior School Snapshot

Last Monday a special assembly was held just for Year 7 and Year 12 students, commencing with our two school captains (Jasmine Wolrige and Tom Shelley) welcoming the Year 7s and wishing them the best on their path through the school and suggesting they take up all opportunities available to make the most of school life.

In 2017 the then Year 11s wrote a letter welcoming the future Year 7s to Koonung. At this assembly each Year 7 was given one of the letters by a Year 12, whom then sat with them and had a short discussion, asking the new student about who they were, which school they came from, how they have enjoyed the school so far, and the Year 7s also asked questions about the Year 12 student.

Whilst it was a little daunting for the Year 7s to talk with the older students, it was equally challenging for the senior students to talk with the younger ones, both not having any prior warning of what the assembly was about.

Feedback from a range of both Year 7s and 12s was that they really enjoyed the event which we are hoping to make a tradition for future years.

Year level BBQ s

A BBQ was held for Year 12s on the February 11 and this week it was the Year 11s turn for a free sausage sizzle (or two) and drink as a welcome to the school year. Year 10s will have one on Monday the 26 February.

Co –Curricular activities

Seven year 10 girls were fortunate enough to attend a “Girls in Science” presentation at Government house in early February (see the following article).

Intermediate and senior interschool competitions were held in netball, tennis and cricket. It is great so many students willing to take on extra-curricular activities. Reports from the staff that took them indicated they were very proud their attitude and sportsmanship displayed, as well as how cohesively each team worked with the individuals in their teams. Good luck to all other teams that will compete throughout the year.

Our student leaders organised for students to purchase a Valentines’ Day heart which contributed to the Interact Heart to Heart charity fundraiser, surprising many peers and staff with a lovely message of kindness and appreciation.

Interschool debating teams were established for competitions during the year.

Senior school Art students attended the National Gallery of Victoria which was enjoyed by all.

The international students celebrated Chinese New Year with a scrumptious traditional dumpling luncheon.

There are so many extracurricular opportunities for students to opt in to and hopefully they all participate in at least one throughout the year, such as the forthcoming swimming carnival.

House swimming sports are scheduled for Wednesday 28 February at the North Balwyn pool. If students need to leave early for any reason we do require notification prior to the day. If they are unable to attend we also require approved absences by parents again prior to the day if possible.

Study skills

Year 10s were provided with a study skills session by an external provider (Educate, Elevate) on Wed the 21 February. Feedback from our current Year 11 and 12 students was that having this valuable presentation in Year 11 was a little late so it was decided to introduce it to Year 10s very early in the year. Hopefully they can prepare and adapt the strategies they learnt to suit themselves through the next three years of senior school. More on this next newsletter.

Trevor vandenDriesen

Year 12 Coordinator

Girls in Science

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

The Royal Women’s Hospital’s 2018 Meet a Scientist day:

On Friday 9 February, I had the pleasure of escorting seven Year 10 students to Government House for a day that proved to be highly engaging. A very big thank you to Mrs Caine who organised the event late last year, this will be a highlight that the girls will remember for many years and hopefully will act on some of the advice given to them by the lady scientists on the day.

Below are some of the thoughts and comments from the girls about the day;

On the 9th of February, myself and six other girls were invited to attend an event celebrating the amazing work of women in science. We heard from six different speakers including the Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, who we had the privilege of personally meeting later that day. The speakers discussed their interesting experiences of being a scientist and how they came to be where they are today. It was a most memorable and insightful experience.

Macy Saddington

Excited, ecstatic, thrilled. Just some of the feelings I encountered during the day. I feel truly honoured to have been able to attend such an amazing event and am so grateful to have been given this incredible opportunity. When I was approached about it even then I felt so privileged to have been chosen, and already I was curious to see what the presentation would hold. It certainly did not disappoint. I think I speak for all of us when I say we were awe struck the moment we walked through the front gates. Nervous energy surrounded us while we sat feeling hyped for the event to begin in Government House. The fancy finishes certainly did catch our attention and the uniformed people made us feel out of place in such a formal location. It was wonderful to hear inspiring women speak passionately about their professions, research and areas of study in science. It was such a rewarding and enriching experience and I hope anyone who is ever given this opportunity grabs it, I know we all wish we could do it again.

Phoebe Sava

When we arrived at the Government House yesterday, a lot of us didn’t know what to expect, but the Women in STEM day was amazing! We were served tea and biscuits whilst listening to inspiring speeches by some of the most influential female scientists in Victoria. I was particularly in awe by a woman called Louise Owen, who has dedicated her career to raising the survival rates of premature babies at the Royal Women’s Hospital. These presentations were followed by a Q&A, lunch, and Koonung was even fortunate enough to meet and speak to the governor!

Claire Morgan

Entering the Government House had been something like a dream to me. Looking back on it now, I don't think being invited to such an event really sunk in even as we rode the train from Box Hill to the city, and it was only when I finally sat in one of the seats at our designated table with a name tag pinned to my dress that I realized how prestigious the whole thing was. It was a really enlightening and inspiring experience, especially when hearing all those successful women speak so passionately about their work. Their messages to young girls about pursuing their dreams no matter where they may take them has really empowered me, and encouraged me to take up a career in STEM.

Angel Ouano

Seven Year 10 girls were invited to go to a Women in Science event organised by Royal Women's Hospital. It was a great experience and we all learnt quite a lot from everyone that spoke on the day. It was held at the Government House and it is a very fancy place. There were some amazing scientists that came to speak to us to the students from schools all over Melbourne. They talked to us about what it is like to be a scientist and what they had to go through to get to where they are now. Some of them moved here from other countries and others studied and did PhDs in Australia. They talked about what they do at the Royal Women's Hospital, such as; working with premature babies and researching ways to help them survive, endometriosis, HPV and everything that they do to reduce this disease in the population and about how they found a way to create vaccines for this diseases.

It was a really great chance for us to learn more about what being a scientist actually means and how much research and effort has to be put in to actually make any effect on something. I would most definitely go again to an event like this especially as it was aimed at young women. We were given the opportunity to be spoken specifically to and to know that we are capable of the same things as men are.

Mina Wakefield

It was such an honour and such a great opportunity to be invited to the Government House to listen to female scientists talk about their careers and experiences working in a male dominated field. It was very overwhelming as we walked in the gates and I think it was at that point we realised how special this opportunity was for us. Listening to the scientists talk about their lives from early days to where they are now really inspired me to strive and to follow my dreams. We were then able to talk with all the scientists after the speeches and get to ask them some more questions about their education, career and they gave some very good advice to us all which was to “do what you love and are passionate about”. Overall it was such an amazing opportunity and definitely an unforgettable experience.

Ellie Dooley

Our group with Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC

Macy, Ellie, Mina with Dr. Sue Matthews, CEO Royal Women’s Hospital

Fiona Kyrkou

Senior School Manager

Wellbeing & Student Engagement

Upcoming Parenting Support Programs