What's been happening 

IDAHOBIT DAY

17th May was International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia, and for Bairnsdale Secondary College, this was our 5th year celebrating and honouring the date.

Our College held activities at lunchtime with speeches for invitees rounding off the occasion. The day was very successful, and we would like to thank all the students, staff and special guests for supporting us on the day. We had a number of young students lead our event and are so proud of them for contributing to the success of the day. 

Once again, the highlight of our IDAHOBIT celebrations were the speeches, and a special mention must go to the Year 7 students who volunteered to introduce the crowd to the meaning behind the day and its importance.

GLCH Healthy Equal Youth Group workers James and Alex joined our IDAHOBIT event, and their badge making activity was incredibly popular with our students. The badges on offer expressed wonderfully important messages regarding LGBTQIA+ empowerment, allyship, and advocating for respect for all - regardless of gender, or sexual orientation.

James and Alex, both as H.E.Y workers and former students, also spoke during our Session 4 event. Their speeches added humour and passion, and really inspired the crowd, especially attendees who were LGBTQAI+. Thank you to both - we consider ourselves very fortunate to have H.E.Y.s support in so much that we do at our College.

Once again, we are so thankful for our IDAHOBIT organising teams and supporters. We could not run the day without the help from our staff, student and external groups.

We hope that Bairnsdale Secondary College staff and students continue to model our values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience, especially on such important days such as IDAHOBIT.

Stage 2 Building works

New Year 7 building - We have a frame!

Science Centre renovation - We have a slab!

Children’s Day

Children’s Day on the 5th May is celebrated in Japan with an event koinobori where koi flags are flown.

In Japanese culture, the carp symbolises courage and strength because of its ability to swim up a waterfall. The Children’s Festival was originally an event, expressing hope that each child in the family will grow up healthy and strong like wild carps.

Year 10 Japanese students flew koi flags to celebrate children’s day from the College flagpoles.

Blue Edge Program

Blue EDGE (Educate, Develop, Grow, Empower) is a holistic program that is currently running each Wednesday and Friday mornings before school. A great program run by Blue Light in partnership with Victoria Police combining games, physical training, mentoring and life skills. We currently have students from Year 7, 8 and 9 participating. The students are developing skills such as team work, effective communication skills and development. 

Over the past two weeks (four sessions) the team have been fostering new relationship and teamwork skills and applying these to the program and sessions. It has been fantastic to watch the group educate each other, develop one another, grow as a team and as individuals and empowering resilience and confidence in themselves and each other.

Mural Project

If you have walked behind the BARC to go between campuses, you may have noticed the new mural under development. Three local artists – Tracy Solomon, Lee Nickless & Anli Vuong – have teamed up with students in Year 10 Drawing and Painting, Year 9 2D Art and VCAL to create this piece, and despite it still being in development, it’s already brightening up the area. Be sure to take a look next time you walk between campuses!