Peter Corkill

Principal

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

The term continues its frantic pace, typical of the ‘third terms’ of the past few years, despite the extra pressures of the Covid19Stage Four lockdown. Subject selection and course counselling for current students, and the selection processes for new students, certainly keep things lively, alongside the normal work in online learning.

Course Information and Course Selection for next year

Online Information Nights regarding course selection for next year in Year 11 and 12, so therefore for current year 10 and 11 students and parents, have taken place in recent weeks. The excellent levels of attendance of recent years occurred again, and this has made the process of settling courses of study for Year 11 and 12 in 2021 so much easier. I would like to thank the VCE team for their excellent organisation of these events and the follow-up processes back at school. All staff involved in the Course Counselling process have enjoyed meeting our students and their parents, albeit online this year, listening to their aspirations for the future and settling on a pathway for every student to maximise the chances of each goal being reached.

New Students to JMSS in 2021

We have begun the follow-up selection processes for students applying for places here in Year 10 next year. Offers will be made to students in two to three weeks’ time once follow up interviews are completed. Offers for places for Year 11 next year have been made and we look forward to around 30 new students joining us in Year 11 in 2021.

Newsletter Feature – ‘We Bet You Didn’t Know That………’

We are continuing a section to the newsletter we introduced in 2019 - ‘We Bet You Didn’t Know That…’, which features a story of one of our students who is engaged in a sport or activity that might be somewhat different from the norm. I would like to thank Caitlin Lewis of Year 11 who has agreed to contribute this time. Unbeknownst to most at JMSS, Caitlin is an experienced ‘ball-kid’ at the Australian Open Tennis Tournament, as well as a genuine interest in Astrophysics. I hope you enjoy and are inspired by Caitlin’s story.

As you read this, if you too are involved in activity which might be a bit different, please get in touch with me and we will feature your story in an upcoming edition.

We Betchya Didn’t Know that…..Caitlyn Lewis is an experienced Ball-kid at the Australian Open tennis Tournament!

My name is Caitlyn Lewis and I was a ballkid at the Australian Open. Since I was old enough to hold a racquet, I’d always dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player, so it came naturally for me to tryout to be a ballkid.

After months of training and tryouts, I finally made it to the Australian Open- but none of it would prepare me for the excitement and exhilaration of being right next to my idols. 

Being on court with Nadal, Djokovic and Serena Williams was truly a dream come true! The atmosphere of every single person in the arena roaring with anticipation on a close match is something I will never forget.

I was so sad to see my ballkid career come to an end, as I am now too old, but the friendships and my memories from it will always live on. It too led to many opportunities for me such as becoming a Future Leader with Tennis Victoria, being a ballkid leader and a lines-umpire for Tennis Australia.

In the future I hope to continue to follow my passion with tennis and hopefully become a chair-umpire.

Regards,

Peter Corkill

Principal