Peter Corkill
Principal
Dear Parents and Students,
Welcome back to term two. I trust everyone took the opportunity to have a good rest from school, after such a hectic 9-week schedule in term one.
Last week began with the annual Athletics Sports in brilliant weather, and we have just farewelled the team from Mahidol Wittayanusorn School in Thailand: 8 students and two teachers. My thanks to Mr. Peter Thompson and Mrs. Amanda Stephens for the excellent program organised for our visitors, and of course to our JMSS student hosts and their families who have looked after their young guests so well.
This is the return part of the exchange, and we were fortunate enough to experience in Thailand in January this year. Whilst in Melbourne, the students and teachers enjoyed the ANZAC eve AFL match between Richmond and Melbourne, had
incursions into the University, visited Healesville Sanctuary, and Melbourne city
ANZAC Ceremony
JMSS has become a school of great activity and diversity with much to occupy us all. The week ended with our annual ANZAC ceremony on Friday, always a moving tribute to all of those who gave their lives in the name of freedom in the two world wars and other conflicts in which Australia has been engaged.
We were really privileged to have former Deputy Prime Minister and National Party Leader, Mr. Tim Fischer, as our guest speaker.
Mr. Fischer was able to speak eloquently about the huge contribution of General Sir John Monash, not only to the Allies efforts in World War One, but also to science and engineering. He was most affirming of the mission of our school and the vital role science is playing in ensuring the future of our planet. He referred especially to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, an international effort to ensure the food security of the planet in view of the changing climatic conditions we are experiencing and expecting.
Regional Science Exchange
On Sunday 29 April, we warmly welcomed 12 student visitors from remote and regional Victoria, for our annual Regional Science Exchange.
We hope our visitors settle well into their new routine and environment, and rise to the many challenges inherent in this experience.
Our visitors come from an expanse stretching across the state, many several hours drive away, with school populations much smaller than JMSS in some cases. The welcome lunch on Sunday was a wonderful start to what we hope will be an exciting time here for these students.
The grateful thanks of our visitors and their families go to the JMSS home-stay mums, dads and children. I trust you will all build friendships which will last, and the opportunities your generosity has availed these young people cannot
be over-stated. We will be joined by regional teachers at the beginning of week 3 of the exchange, and we look forward to the projects these students will be undertaking being a feature of our October Science Fair. During their time with us, the visiting students will enjoy experiences in Science both at JMSS and within the university campus, and will taste a few of Melbourne’s delights, including an AFL Football match MCG-style.
Advice and strategies for JMSS Students
I usually devote the first three newsletters of term two to providing some timely advice around organisation, assessment and strategies to maximise the chances of students doing their best when the stakes are high.
I would urge you all to read these articles and discuss them at home with your families – the first is included on the next page of this issue of the JMSS newsletter
Peter Corkill
Principal
John Monash Science School