In the News
School marks 60 years
Brimbank Leader
9 February 2016
WHEN St Albans Secondary College first opened its gates, there was a cow pad- dock next door and students walked to school on dirt tracks.
Last week, three former students – Andy Kratsis, Ge- orge Pyers and Lana Mala- kunas – visited their former school to address an as- sembly.
This year, the school, orig- inally named the St Albans High School, will celebrate its 60th anniversary.
Ms Malakunas, Mr Pyers and Mr Kratsis were the first-ever Form 1 (year 7) students to start at the col- lege in 1956.
Principal Kerrie Dowsley said, at the time, there were 126 students from 21 nation- alities at the school.
In comparison, nowadays, the school has 1370 students from 50 language groups.
Mr Pyers, a former mem- ber of the school’s football team and cross-country run- ner, still remembered watching steam trains run under a footbridge as he walked to school.
Mr Kratsis said during the ‘50s, the school was also next to a cow paddock.
Ms Malakunas, who was a house captain, said children
used to walk to school on un- paved dirt tracks.
The trio of former stu- dents attended a deb ball in 1960, at the Tin Shed in St Al- bans, which was started by the school’s librarian, Lorna Cameron, whom Mr Kratsis described as a “stalwart in the community”.
Another well-known school staff member was Tom “Doc” Walsh, a history, English and drama teacher and football coach.
Mr Kratsis remembered a class when Mr Walsh in- formed students that he had lost their exam papers while sitting on Williamstown pier on a windy day.
Ms Malakunas said the students also used to partici- pate in marching contests, drama groups, choral festi- vals and sport.
“We were really like a family,” Ms Malakunas said. St Albans College has in- vited past and present school community members to join its celebrations at a dinner dance on June 11, fol- lowed by an open day on June 12.
The school is also looking for memorabilia, such as old school photos or uniforms.
For more information, contact the school office on 9366 2555, or go to stalbanssc. vic.edu.au.
George Pyers, from the class of '56,
gets a tour of the school from Year 7 student Cindy.
Story by Alesha Capone
Picture: MARK STEWART
ATAR and university offers: a tale of two university students
The Age
18 January 2016
GRACE KIERNAN
St Albans Secondary College
It was the way her teacher called the roll one morning that inspired Grace Kiernan to apply for a teaching course.
There was something about the way the teacher was able to command the attention of the room, she said.
"I could see myself sitting up there and I really liked that thought."
On Monday afternoon, she was on her way: she got into arts at the University of Melbourne with an ATAR of 93.65, and plans to follow with a Masters of Teaching.
There are faster routes to a teaching career, but Grace chose to study at the University of Melbourne because of its "amazing reputation," and noted that schools were more likely to hire graduates from there.
At university Grace hopes to study a double major of English and history, psychology as her breadth subject and continue learning French as a Diploma of Languages.
Grace said she is looking forward to studying at the University of Melbourne because of its reputation, location and the amount of subjects she has to choose from.
"I want to study everything," she said.
Grace is heading straight to university this year rather than taking a gap year because she can't wait to continue studying.
"To get to teach what I'm passionate about sounds like a dream."