Andrew Chisholm

Assistant Principal

Dear Parents and Students,

As I write this article our new Year 10 students are walking into the building to take part in an orientation day to assist them in their transition to JMSS. This group come from over a hundred schools statewide and it is great to see a number of students from rural Victoria again joining JMSS. Our orientation program for 2023 is nearly complete for current Year 10 and 11 students. Students have been able to get a “head start” on their courses for 2023 by familiarising themselves with VCAA study designs, background material and assessment styles. All students will have some tasks to complete over the break in order to better prepare themselves for the upcoming academic year. These tasks are to be finished by day 1 of term 1, which is Monday January 30 2023. 

Year 12 Celebrations and Results

As we approach a new and very different graduation event this coming Friday in comparison to pre Covid years, it will be a most opportune time to celebrate the efforts and achievements of our Year 12 students finishing their secondary education with their parents and JMSS staff.  The last 3 years haven’t been the easiest and I’m sure the resilience and flexibility shown by this group will hold them in good stead in future years,

All students completing Year 12 subjects in 2022 are able to access their results on the 12th of December. We hope all students completing Year 12 subjects will achieve results that match or exceed their expectations.  

For year 12 students there have been a number of posts on compass to inform students about who to chat to about their results and perhaps get some additional advice on changing preferences for university and early round offers. Don’t hesitate to contact Kirstine Carter or myself if you need any further information.

Olympiad Summer School

Congratulations to Michael Cotugno who has received an invitation to attend the Olympiad summer schools in Earth and Environmental Science based at ANU in Canberra over January. The summer schools will be run virtually and hopefully these students will go on to represent Australia in these subject areas in 2023.

Reef and Rainforest 2023

The 2023 Reef and Rainforest trip was launched last week with our current Year 10 students. The trip is an 8-day experience and has a maximum capacity of 60 students. The trip includes 2 days in Daintree Rainforest and the James Cook University Rainforest Research station, 2 days in liveaboard boat on the Outer Great Barrier reef and day trips to Fitzroy Island, JCU Aquarium and Atherton Tablelands.  The total cost will be around $3500, includes all flights and accommodation and can be paid in instalments. Mrs Vandenberg at school can answer any questions about the trip.

Finally, I would like to congratulate Erin Hayley and the student team on their efforts in completing another brilliant  school magazine this year. Erin is leaving us at the end of the year to pursue another marketing role and I would like to thanks her for all her efforts in promoting JMSS to the wider community over the last 4 years. Again the magazine provides an excellent coverage of all of the events and achievements that have characterised the 2022 JMSS year.  

I would like to wish all members of the JMSS community a safe, Covid free (hopefully) and relaxing festive period and  that there are many opportunities to get together with extended family in this time! 

Look forward to seeing you all in 2023

Andrew Chisholm

Assistant Principal