Around The College
Vic SRC Congress
Over the school holidays, we got an opportunity to attend as delegates of Brentwood to Vic SRC Congress 2018, a three day residential camp at Ormond College, Melbourne University. There were more than 200 students who attended and two to three delegates per school came to represent their school and SRC all over from Victoria.
We were accompanied by passionate, optimistic peers as well as teachers, speakers that really wanted to make a change in Victoria. On the first day, there was an opportunity for anyone to pitch in their ideas they believe are the issues in Victoria and a wide range of topics were brought up such as : Transparency in the School System, Opportunities and Access for Rural and Remote Communities , Gender Equality in Schools, Discrimination in Schools, Transforming VCE and Time Management. We had an opportunity to choose what issue we are most interested in and got into Action Teams.
We chose to go in Time Management Team and we spent three days planning, brainstorming and coming up with valuable ideas how we can help other students, teachers overcome the issue of Time Management. In between, we had a choice to attend workshops such as how we can use social media to create positive influences, public speaking, boot camp and many more. On the second night, we had a fun four Decades, One Night (60s-90s) themed Gala Dinner where we made some good memories and many new friends.
On the last day, we had an open morning where we presented our projects of what we had worked on for the past three days in front of many guests such as Headspace Victoria, James Merlino, the Acting Premier and Minister of Education, parents, teachers and principals of various schools. During morning tea, we spoke privately with a representative from Headspace Victoria, a youth mental health service about the issues we believe are affecting youth.
Overall, we had an amazing time for the three days, learning new things and developing our leadership skills as well as taking action for the issues in Victoria. We want thank Mrs Wright and Brentwood for giving us an opportunity to attend Congress 2018.
Grace Lee and Sophie Merakis , 11E
Brentwood Tree Day
The Brentwood Green Team participated in Schools Tree Day on 27 July 2018 during periods 5 and 6. Parents, community members, students and teachers from Brentwood and Glen South Primary School attended the event. Collectively, we planted over 60 natives on the college grounds. The Green Team had the opportunity to share their actions and achievements with the community members. It was also a great opportunity to network and share ideas with the Enviro club members of GWSPS.
The Brentwood Green Team would like to thank the City of Monash for providing free natives, Waverley Toyota for organizing T-shirts, certificates and BBQ, Bunnings Vermont South for providing plants and tree guards. The Green Team would also like to thank everyone involved.
Venkata Kalva, Sustainability Coordinator
German Cuckoo Excursion
On Friday August 3, 107 Year 9 and 10 German students made their way to the Dandenong Ranges to visit the Cuckoo Restaurant. At the restaurant, students enjoyed an all-you-can-eat buffet and tried typical German foods such as Sauerkraut, Schnitzel, Würstchen, Rolladen and lots and lots of cakes. Students were also introduced to German singing and dancing and some students took part in yodelling and using German cow bells. This day was a great success and students can only be congratulated on their exemplary behaviour throughout the day.
Dorothea Bruns, Head of Languages
Annual German Poetry Competition – Regional Final
Every year, German students in Year 7 to 9 learn to recite a poem in German. The best students from each class take part in a selection process here at school. The four winners from each year level then represent Brentwood Secondary College at the Regional Final.
On Tuesday August 7, 12 students and their teachers travelled to Amsleigh Park Primary School to recite their poems in front of a jury and students from other schools in the region. We would like to congratulate the following students for taking part in this event: Owini Wijyasekara, Ella Nebel (first place – Year 8/9 open), Pratheep Logeswaran (third place – Year 7), Yashetha Ganegoda, Jude Mann, Ida Lichtwark, Danique Koops, Manuthi Hidellaarachchi, Lauren Collins (third place), Aayushi, Jesse Silber and Kiana Tango (second place – Year 9).
Kiana and Ella will represent Brentwood Secondary College and our region at the Poetry Competition State Final on Saturday August 18 at the Austrian Club in Heidelberg. We wish them all the best!
Dorothea Bruns, Head of Languages
Year 11 Biology - GTAC Excursion
Gene Technology Access Centre (GTAC) is one of the six Science specialist centres in Victoria. GTAC provides an innovative and collaborative educational environment in which Victorian students and educators access life science expertise through engagement with practicing scientists, contemporary knowledge and technology.
This term, our Year 11 Biology classes were lucky to immerse in a GTAC program related to Genetics. To begin with, we were allocated table groups and were taken through a presentation about chromosomes, genetics and processes such as mitosis and meiosis. Working with scientist mentors, we explored PKU (Phenylketonuria), a genetic disorder inherited from a person's parents. We were allocated a scientist based on table groups, and they introduced us to PKU, the role of genetics and the way that they affect us as individuals. Students learnt new concepts in genetics such as Guthrie tests, gel electrophoresis, Fluorescence In Situ Hybridisation (FISH) and DNA technologies to investigate the inheritance of PKU.
Overall, it was a fantastic experience as we were able to use the scientific equipment and gear used by scientists daily.
Emma Sitaru and James Shipston, Year 11 Biology Students
High Achievers Lunch
On Monday 29th July we held a lunch to celebrate the academic success of our high achieving students from junior School. To be invited to the lunch, students had to receive at least 5 High Distinctions across all subjects for the entire first semester. Only the top 30 students (from nearly 900 students in Junior School) were invited which demonstrates how exceptionally diligent and hard working these students have proven themselves to be. All students in attendance were presented a certificate by our Principal, Mr John Ballagh, after a delicious pizza lunch. Congratulations and keep up the hard work!