Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award – State Final

Recently, Sofia C of Year 9 competed for the second consecutive year in the State Final of the Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award. As with previous years, the 11 finalists came from an array of schools, and were extremely talented public speakers. When you consider that at the start of the process, 480 students participated in regional finals, making the final 11 is an amazing achievement.

For her prepared speech, Sofia addressed the topic of disabled veterans with sincerity and the respect such a topic deserved. The impromptu speech required all finalists to address the topic of ‘Cold Feet’. Some speakers took this literally; however, most were able to discuss the notion of being afraid to commit to something. Unfortunately, Sofia did not win on the day but she performed superbly in both the prepared and the impromptu speech. The winner was a speaker from Melbourne Grammar School and the runner-up, a student from Genazzano FCJ College.

I would like to thank Sofia for all her dedication and professionalism in preparing for the competition again and would like to wish her all the best with her future public speaking commitments.

Mrs Belinda Jarvis-Dymond

Public Speaking Coach

Class of 2014 – Five Year Reunion

Friday 25 October

Well, didn’t those five years zoom by! It seemed not so long ago that we welcomed Alumni from the Class of 2014 back to the College for their 1 year reunion. Much has happened in the interim.

Some Alumni are pleased to have finished degrees or apprenticeships. Some are embracing further study and will begin work towards a Masters or PhD qualification. Many have started their first full time professional employment.

Their talents are spread across diverse industries with some of the occupations represented here: Aborist, Advertising executive, Animal Vet & Bioscience grad, Civil Engineer, Electrician, Electrical Engineer, Executive Assistant, Lawyer, Legal Assistant, Manufacturing & Mechatronics Engineer, Marketing Officer, Media Client Executive, Network Administrator, Photographer, PhD candidate (exercise science), Plumber, Project Manager, Real Estate sales, Robotics Engineer, Service Designer, Soldier, Theatre nurse and Teacher.

When asked their fondest memories of their time spent at Aitken, Alumni comments shed light on the importance of relationships and the culture of the College.

Best memories include:

Friendships I made
Open spaces, green of the trees and the country-like landscape
Playing saxophone in the musical productions
Mr Perri & Mr Murphy – they are the best
Year 12 Health & Human Development with Mr Prentice; he is the teacher I aspire to become
Teachers support and encouragement
Where I learnt the value of education and how education can change a person’s life.

We look forward to welcoming them back in another 5 years for the 10 year reunion in 2024.

Ms Rae Gibbs

Alumni Coordinator

Community Meal

I would like to invite you and your family to our End of the Year Community Meal dinner. The plan is simple – you bring the food and we will provide the place. I would like to invite you to bring to the school one of your favourite home cooked foods and bring something that expresses your culture. Along with the food bring some stories to tell about yourself.

We will meet again at the Food Studies Centre. This venue provides a great opportunity for your children to play and engage with each other on the basketball courts and soccer field while the adults chat with each other. As we arrive we can put the food we have prepared on a table in the centre of the room. There will be tables and chairs set up. After getting some food from the centre table join with some people from the school at a table to eat and talk. Share the food and share your stories.

Please note: Be mindful that others may have allergies to foods such as seafood or nuts. A label with your food listing the ingredients will be useful for others and do not forget – this is a family event – bring your kids. So, please come. The school will also provide the plates, cutlery and drinks. The details are:

Saturday, 23 November
5.00pm - 7.00pm
Food Studies Centre

Refer to the attached flyer for further details.

Rev. Jim Vaughn

Community Chaplain

Aitken College Giving Tree

The Aitken College Giving Tree is a wonderful opportunity for our community to share our resources with those who might otherwise miss out at Christmas. You are invited when purchasing your Christmas Gifts this year, to buy one extra for the Giving Tree. We are looking for any school-age appropriate present for boys or girls (no guns please). It needs to be new, without a price tag and UNWRAPPED. The Giving Tree is in the Chapel and Performing Arts Centre foyer however, the gifts need to be taken UPSTAIRS to Mr Ward’s office. In the past, we have helped many families who struggle to provide for their children at Christmas; we do this in partnership with Uniting Care in Broadmeadows. We all know just how significant the giving and receiving of presents at Christmas is for children. Please support the Giving Tree this year, and many thanks to those who already have.

Mr Chris Ward

Director of Chaplaincy & Student Services

Community Activities

Greenvale Football Club

Greenvale United Soccer Club