LANGUAGES
WELCOME TO THE FRENCH EXCHANGE STUDENTS
Our 15 French students had their first experience as McKinnon students on Monday 17 June. Dressed in the uniform, they arrived promptly for their induction session. For these students, the uniform is quite a novel experience as French schools do not enforce a uniform.
After learning a little about Victorian education and our school, they were then greeted by the Principal Team and the Year 10 Student Managers who gave them all a warm welcome. Three very generous Year 12 students of French then took them on a tour of the school grounds to help familiarise them. Merci beaucoup to Erika Phan, Jesse Marlow and Oliver Sirota for giving up their time to show the French kids around.
They then started attending classes with their exchange partners and helping out in French lessons. We look forward to having them here for the next two weeks.
Ms Kellie Dickson
French Exchange Co-ordinator
FRENCH / AUSTRALIAN EXCURSION TO POINT NEPEAN NATIONAL PARK
At the end of their first of four weeks down under, the French exchange students and their Australian counterparts set off on a trip to Point Nepean National Park. After a 1.5 hour bus ride from school, we arrived at the park which is a mix of beautiful landscape and rich history situated at the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula. As it turned out, we had picked an excellent day with sunny blue skies, to allow our visitors their first real glimpse of Australia. Our hike started at the Quarantine Station from where we followed the path across rolling hills to the point of the peninsula.
The party was expertly guided by Pierrick Hubert from Northcote High School which accommodates a part of the French group that has come to us from Centre International de Valbonne school near Nice. Also involved were Anne Bouchard (from the school in France) who ‘swings’ between our two schools to ensure that all French students are well looked after and the school’s photographer, Andrew Krause, who tirelessly and patiently responded to requests for photos in various group formations and in front of various backdrops of the outstanding coastal scenery.
After we had finally made it along the headlands to the point of the peninsula, we were rewarded with some most spectacular views across to Queenscliff and out the Port Phillip Bay Heads and, of course, our well-deserved picnic lunch. A football mysteriously appeared providing endless entertainment due to its unpredictable bounce effects. Another highlight on our way back was that we were closely observed by an inquisitive kangaroo (…a wallaby rather) which must have been intrigued by the happy noises of the group laughing, singing and dancing along.
For our Australians this also proved to be a wonderful opportunity to see things in Australia that they normally would not see. As an exception, mobile phones were not out of bounds and were put to good use. With hundreds of photos between us to catch the moment, this getaway will remain an unforgettable experience. These 15,000 steps or so that we did together mean sharing a special bond with our friends from France that will last a lifetime.
Mme Annette Reid
French Teacher
CITY EUREKA TOWER EXCURSION
On Tuesday 18 June, the French exchange students were about to set off on yet another excursion in Australia.
Our arrival at Flinders Street Station was earlier than anticipated. Rather unexpectedly, we bumped into the other half of French exchange students and their accompanying teachers, all of whom are staying with their exchange partners from Northcote High School. However, it was a convenient surprise, as we were planning to meet up at the destination later. It was a joyous reunion of the French kids, who are staying far from each other at two different schools, especially since they had not seen each other since their arrival in Melbourne 10 days ago.
By the Yarra River, together we took a leisurely walk, to the famous skyscraper Eureka Tower. Located in Southbank, this skyscraper is 297 m high (just a few metres less than the French Eiffel Tower, which is 300 m). We took a speedy ride to the 85th floor of the highest point in the Southern Hemisphere; the complex’s Skydeck. Quite a few of us wanted to test our fear of heights and see Melbourne from a different perspective, which we did from the ‘Edge’. It is a suspended cube (the walls, ceiling and floor are all made of glass), through which one has a unique panoramic view of the city and the whole bay. Although the city was cloaked in fog to start with, the haze had quickly subsided, which meant that those who chose to enter the ‘Cube’ could look forward to the thrilling experience and breathtaking view below.
After the Eureka Tower visit everyone was famished, so it was time for lunch. Therefore, we hurried to Southbank Food Court, which had a lot on offer for very hungry tummies.
Once everyone was nourished, by not only the beautiful ‘’vistas’’ but also from their lunch, we headed towards another visually exciting destination; Melbourne’s famous street art lanes. The French students were taken to the hub of the graffiti scene in the centrally located Hosier Lane, which is just a stone’s throw from both Federation Square and Flinders Street Station. Everyone was in awe, fascinated by the dynamic walls of line and colour. Besides the amazing street art, our troupe also enjoyed the unique atmosphere and a shopping spree in an “à la mode” streetwear and footwear store “Culture Kings” which had countless brands from around the world.
Once, plenty of photos were taken and some purchases were made, we headed back to McKinnon Secondary College via Flinders Street Station.
Although the weather wasn’t particularly welcoming, the excursion was nonetheless an enjoyable experience, where every French student was enriched with memories and knowledge of the land down under.
A huge thank you to Ms Dickson, the organizer of this very wonderful day out.
Ludmila Antal
French Teacher
FRENCH EXCHANGE EXCURSION TO PUFFING BILLY
It was such a privilege to spend a glorious Melbourne winters day in the magnificent bush of the Dandenong Ranges with the French Exchange Group on Wednesday 26 June.
The first stop was Grants Reserve, Belgrave to feed the swarking white cockatoos. After a bit of intrepidation, the students relaxed enough to have the Aussie birds sitting on their shoulders and interacting with them. The tall timbers towering overhead made it all the more exciting. The second stop was to board Puffing Billy. We knew we were in good care when we met our past principal Mr Alan Lawrence as our conductor who escorted us into our own VIP carriage at the back of the train. The group disembarked at Lakeside where the group enjoyed an informative talk by the driver about the workings of the engine. A souvenir showbag was presented to Mme Ann Bouchard (the teacher from France) and the group including treasures of a piece of coal and a nail used to secure the track.
The students basked in the sunshine of Emerald Lake enjoying their lunch before the Purple Swamp Hens started attacking their food and enjoying the cheezels! With my limited high school French coming back to me, a pleasant stroll around the lake concluded a really lovely day with our international guests.
Merci pour une belle journée
Madame Hooper