Middle School Report

Message from the 

Director of  Learning - 

Mr Tom Tahos

A massive congratulations to all of you for being such wonderful students.

The way you have been able to adjust to remote learning and engage in all activities, speaks volumes. Keep up the great work and remember to get fresh air every day, have a good night’s sleep and eat well.

Try a few of the following: read a book, go for a walk, ride your bike, listen to music, dance, write your own book, song, or poem. Look after yourselves and your loved ones and remember to stay connected.

Some quotes to ponder

• Difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations.
• A year from now you will have wished you had started today.
• One day, or, Day one….You decide.

Mr Tom Tahos

Director of Learning - Middle School

Year 10 Work Experience

What an exciting time for our Year 10 students who completed work experience in the Term 2 holidays. 30 students gave up a week of their break time to seek employment in a range of companies. My first visit on Thursday of Week 1 was Greenvalley Ptd Ltd. The beautiful smell of oiled cutting boards as I walked in to see Jackie Hong was breathtaking. The owner and director Lin Zhang hurried over to greet me and explained the line of work. It turns out the company makes camphor boards that are exported all over the world. I couldn't believe how many different complex machines were in operation to produce and finish the boards. My next stop was to visit Jionryck at Reece, then onto Em's Nail and Beauty Spa in Brighton to see Melinda, Sunny at Chemist Warehouse Springvale, Zaima at Bunnings Springvale, and finally Zaine, Zeyi, Srey, and Junkai at Westall Secondary College. All the employers spoke highly of our lovely students - showing enthusiasm, fulfilling tasks with competence and precision. It was beautiful to see Zeyi and Zaine in their element - large rollers in hand, painting the gym walls. Alex reported that he had to prompt the students to take breaks. They were so absorbed in their work that they didn't take time out to stop. Zeyi was so busy that he quickly said hello to me and then went straight back to work. The most exciting news of all - Zaima was offered a part-time casual position at Bunnings! The manager was so impressed with her work ethic and competence. Congratulations on her great achievement, and well done to all the students!

National Gallery of Victoria Excursion

The Design Art students visited the NGV and the Ian Potter Centre and Federation Square this term, as part of their folio exploration and studio practice. The students viewed a range of art exhibitions, which included indigenous Australian art, Contemporary Australian, Eastern works, as well as Gallery collections, the Joseph Brown, to name a few. The students were asked to write about two exhibitions they saw and critique the theme and the artworks represented in each show. The students gained incredible insight into the importance of presenting and exhibiting artworks for specific audiences. For many of the students, this was a first-time visit to a Gallery. The students' etiquette as they moved and viewed works in the different Gallery spaces, was most impressive. We explored Birrarung Marr and the great Yarra River. In our travels, we discovered Federation Square's 'Winter Village' of transparent igloos and an outdoor ice-skating rink. What was exciting we walked through free of charge. It was a great day that saw us immersed in Melbourne's history and the amazing world of Art.

Following up from this wonderful day is a free virtual tour of the Impressionist Exhibition that the NGV has invited us to explore. Looking forward to sharing our experience!

Ms. Helen Ifandis

Year 10 and Arts Coordinator

Year 9 and 10 Design Arts

The Year 9 and 10 Design Arts students were invited on a virtual tour last week of the Impressionist Exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia. We were one of the very few schools to be invited to join this free event. The students were shown some of the highlights of the exhibition and artworks by Claude Monet, Camille Pisarro, Berthe Morisot, and Eugene Boudin. Tour guide and education officer, Leah Santilli, took us on a journey of the impressionist's world, painting in the great outdoors, from the land and on the water. The students were in awe that Eugene Boudin painted on water from his own private floating studio boat. He captured the forever moving and changing water. The exhibition design was beautifully curated with digital images and furnishings to entice the viewer and bring you closer to the natural light captured in the artworks.

'En plein air' was what the Impressionists all shared - outside in the natural environment and natural light.

The students were set a task to promote the work of one of their favourite Impressionist artists by creating a flyer, a brochure for an Exhibition design, and merchandise. The design ideas were remarkable!

Created by Sothica Lim

Ms Helen Ifandis 

Year 10 and Arts Coordinator