John Monash Science School

Peter Corkill

Principal

Dear Parents, Students and Friends of John Monash Science School,

 

We are nearing the end of one of the busiest terms in the school year. Nine years have sped by, and after saying farewell to the Class of 2018, who are no doubt enjoying the freedom of post-school time, we have welcomed around 30 new Year 11 students who have begun their studies at JMSS during Orientation, as well as the 200 new Year 10s who joined us for the first day of the Orientation fortnight. These years have shown us that JMSS will have a long and rich history and I know our graduates will continue to do us proud wherever they go.

Presentation Night

Tuesday 4 December marked the annual JMSS celebration of student learning and achievement at the Robert Blackwood Hall, with the graduation ceremony of the 2018 Year 12 cohort a much-anticipated highlight. Multiple academic, sporting and cultural awards were made to deserving students, and we again enjoyed some outstanding music performances which have become a regular feature of the event. Our music program has advanced to a remarkable level of excellence and we are all very proud of our students and their teachers. My sincere thanks again to Sally Cheah-Johnston in advance for her wonderful co-ordination of the event, and to our AV and IT support teams and other students and staff who ensured another memorable night for everyone.

 

The evening also featured a fond and very thankful farewell to Emeritus Professor Rob Norris and Professor Cristina Varsavsky who will be leaving the JMSS School Council after nine years of service since the opening of the school in 2010. Professor Norris, former Dean of Science, was the school’s Treasurer and chairperson of the school’s Finance Subcommittee. Professor Varsavsky, currently Deputy Dean of Science at Monash University, was a key member of the inaugural Curriculum Committee which designed the structure of the school’s program in 2009. In the years since Cristina has been a wonderful support to and advocate for the school. We thank both Rob and Cristina for all of their hard work and wish them good health and happiness for the years ahead.

 

I would like to finally thank the School Captains of 2018, Andrew Harrison and Angela Frentiu, as well as Tikiri Silva and Jonathan Deng, our Vice Captains, for their terrific leadership of our school this year. My best wishes for whatever the future holds. Our sincere congratulations go to Rajpreeth Gaddam and Francine Machin, our 2019 School Captains, as well as Ned Callander and Sadhana Sridhar, our Vice Captains. My best wishes for their journey in leadership next year – I am sure they will be terrific role models for their student colleagues at JMSS and lead our Student Parliament with vision and energy.

Supercomputing Conference and World Challenge Adventures

I would like to take the opportunity to highlight two wonderful opportunities which many of our students have either recently taken part in – the Supercomputing Conference in the US led by Toan Huynh attended as staff leaders, and the current World Challenge expedition to Cambodia and Laos being led by Ms. Erica Trickett. All of the students involved will have had an amazing and unique experience by the time they return, overcoming many individual and group challenges in a wonderful part of the world. My sincere congratulations to them all in anticipation of a job very well done.

Reports

Final reports for all Years 10 and 11 students are available using your Compass login. Please access these and discuss the information with your sons and daughters, celebrating the outstanding work so many of them have done, and putting plans in place to achieve improvement next year.

Important Dates for 2019

Please note the following important dates for 2019:

  • Monday, 28 January 2019
  • Tuesday, 29 January 2019
  • Wednesday, 30 January 2019
  • Year 10 Induction Camp begins, Year 11 and 12 classes begin at JMSS;
  • Thursday, 31 January 2019
  • Friday, 1 February 2019
  • Monday, 4 February 2019 
  • Student Free Day (Staff Professional Learning Day #1, no students required)

 

  • Year 10 Induction Camp concludes, students return to JMSS, Year 11 and 12 classes continue;
  • Year 10 Induction Camp continues, Year 11 and 12 classes continue;
  • First Day for JMSS Staff (no students required);
  • Australia Day Holiday

Many thanks to all, have a wonderful Christmas and restful well-earned holiday

To our staff my eternal thanks for the commitment, hard work, undying optimism and belief, and wonderful collegiality you have brought to this workplace. You have set the bar high for others to follow, in terms of professionalism and dedication, and I look forward to us continuing to build this wonderful school together. To our students, my thanks for your hard work, for your continued belief in us, for your enthusiastic embrace of the ‘JMSS Way’ and for the wonderful support you have offered one another. It has been another memorable year and I hope the positive difference it has made to you will sustain you in the busy years ahead.

 

To those students and staff leaving us, my best wishes for the important years ahead, strive for your dreams and remember your time with us fondly. We will always be keen to keep in touch and hear of your exploits.

 

2019 will be another big year but after the achievements of 2018 we all will need a good rest. I wish all members of our community a happy Christmas and a safe and restful holiday break.

Peter Corkill

Principal

John Monash Science School