News For Students
Production 2020 | Cast Announcement
Auditions for the 2020 College Production were a roaring success and we have finally got the cast of Mary Poppins Jr. locked in and underway! Despite times of uncertainty, the Production Team are working on ways to best deliver this whole school initiative to the community. We believe that in times of high stress and panic, creative outlets and a safe space to work are important so that students feel supported and are reminded that their college cares for them. As Mary herself says, “Anything can happen, if you let it."
Ms. Genelle Lentini
Performing Arts Leader
Year 7 Geography Excursion | Liveability Walk
As part of Year 7’s Geography studies on Liveability, some classes undertook an excursion to visit the local Wheelers Hill area. Students were able to undertake a survey on the area based on how liveable the area is – while walking to the local shopping precinct, as well as the Monash Gallery of Art and nearby lake.
This field trip supported them in their completion of their first CAT, where students were able to suggest changes to the local area to improve its liveability.
Ms. Elisa Baldwin
Year 7 Geography
Year 9 Humanities Excursion | Port Phillip Bay
Across three days in March, all Year 9 students had the opportunity to visit Half Moon Bay, Sandringham Harbour and Hampton Beach to apply their geographical knowledge and skills in the field. Students completed activities in the Fieldwork booklet, looking at coastal landscapes and landforms, as well as management strategies.
Students were able to collect data in the form of photos, sketches and notes to assist in their completion of their first CAT - a Fieldwork Report. This is what the students had to say:
“It was good to see what we have been talking about in class.”
“It was a nice day to be together and learn.”
“It was interesting seeing in real life what we have been learning about in the classroom.”
“I learned a lot more about Management Strategies in relation to Coastal Landscapes and Landforms.”
Ms. Michelle Galea
Year 9 Humanities
Theatre Studies Excursion | The Importance of Being Earnest
One classic play, two amazing actors, a theatre full of VCE Theatre Studies students... a theatrical experience guaranteed to delight! Travelling to Malthouse Theatre, VCE students had the privilege of watching Oscar Wilde's timeless classic, “The Importance of Being Earnest” performed by the English company, Ridiculusmus.
Sharing nine roles between 2 actors, the students were privileged to witness a performance of incredible design, direction and acting.
Ms. Genelle Lentini
Performing Arts Leader
“I thoroughly enjoyed this excursion, taking part to be an audience member in a complex but well thought out performance. The Importance of Being Earnest engages themes such as marriage, class, social expectations, and the lifestyles of the English upper class. My peers as well as myself, understood and grasped the concept on the performance. Broke down the important segments and demonstrated our ability to write about the play. Watching this performance made me analyse and think of different theatre technologies and theatre styles and conventions the actors and the entire crew manipulate on stage. I would definitely see this performance again!” - Jess H (Year 11)
“From mistaken identity to cucumber sandwiches and tea cake, seeing the hilarious chaos that was Ridiculumus’ rendition of the Importance of being Earnest was a great learning experience and overall incredibly enjoyable to watch. When we weren’t crying from laughter we were learning about different styles of theatre and how they are used on stage. Seeing two grown men in pretty pink dresses, skipping around the stage will always be enjoyable and seeing the same two actors embody over many different characters is astonishing and inspiring to witness. Being given the opportunity to see live theatre and learn about it will always be something I am so grateful to experience as a part of my VCE studies.” - Felicity G (Year 11)
“Being able to watch the Importance of Being Earnest was a phenomenal experience that I will cherish for years to come. We learnt about and fleshed out much of our knowledge in regards to everything that goes on during the development and presentation of theatre. This was especially present during the Q&A section at the end of the performance where we were able to get an insight on the many challenges that had to be overcome by the actors and crew in the process of creating the play. Aside from being a valuable learning experience, the Importance of Being Earnest was one of the most exhilarating and hilarious pieces of theatre that I’ve had the pleasure of watching, from the witty innuendos, to the absurd physical comedy, this play was one that I will not soon forget.” - Rabi Z (Year 11)
Year 12 Physics | Luna Park Excursion
On the 4th of March, our Year 12 Physics class embarked on a journey to Luna Park to explore the physics of amusement park rides. This would help them to gain a direct experience of the concepts covered in class as part of motion and formed the basis of one of their SACs. It would also be potentially enjoyable for the students and mildly amusing for myself.
The students were spun and bumped, turned and dropped, but eventually they got off the bus at St Kilda where the real rides began. After facing the terrors of the Grand Carousel, the students had the opportunity to experience acceleration, g-forces, circular motion and apparent weightlessness as they spun, climbed, dived and looped on the various rides at Luna Park. The Twin Dragons produced changes in kinetic and gravitational energy as the ride oscillated backwards and forwards. It also gave the students a quick rinse and spin with the help of a passing shower. The Enterprise allowed students to measure the forces in horizontal and vertical circular motion as they spun round at high speed. The Top Drop generated apparent weightlessness and high g-forces as students were dropped from a great height and slammed to a stop. Pharaoh’s Curse spun them upside down and shook all the change out of their pockets. And of course there was the challenge of the Speedy Beetles.
Overall, a fun, educational, and slightly nauseating day was had by all.
Mr. Paul McGlynn
Senior Physics Teacher
International Women’s Day 2020
On March 4th, Riversdale Golf Club held an International Women’s Day Lunch to celebrate successful business women and women in the space industry. Carley Scott, the CEO of Equatorial Launch Australia, is the amazing woman who spoke to us for majority of this lunch. She is someone who has dominated in her field and continues to represent women on behalf of all her work. She’s Australian born, and attended Wellington Secondary College and Monash University whilst growing up in Dandenong North. Currently, Carley Scott is leading the development of Australia’s first spaceport in the Northern Territory and has secured a world first with NASA planning to launch from the site in 2020. While attending the special speech we were given an insight to the upcoming plans and what is to be expected in the coming years, in not only Australia but the next movement in the world of space.
We were given the privilege of attending this lunch, for free, as an extension to our trip to NASA in the USA as of late 2019. Carley talked about various things that were of immense interest to us and our futures, including her journey and what pathways she took to get where she is. The lunch also consisted of a delicious two-course meal, a main meal comprised of either salmon or steak with various vegetables; followed by desserts, pannacotta or pavlova, both of which were beautifully presented.
We got to sit with successful, strong-willed women, including Ms Anderson, and hear about what they do and how they’ve been successful. We also participated in a quiz that included questions about women; such as how there is 130 million girls denied education, how a woman would need to work 56 more days than a man to earn the same wage from the same job, and more disappointing yet not surprising statistics about how women and girls struggle for equality in society.
To sum up our experience, we were captivated by the group of determined women we talked with and were pleased to have the opportunity to speak our mind and talk about all the various programs Wheelers Hill supports. It was a very special day and gave us a lot of insight into just how hard the women, all over the world, work to get to the places they are today. We are very privileged to have been selected to attend this lunch and hope it will inspire other students to take the same opportunities.
Erin S-J (10C) & Laura S (10A)