海角大神

Mothers Day & Hope

The Easter season that we remain in until Pentecost is a season of hope. The possibilities for a new way to live were recognised by the early followers of Christ, whose members even referred to themselves as 鈥楾he Way鈥� (Acts 24:14). This hope is very much present in the Gospel story of two mothers: Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, as will be recounted in the Feast of the Visitation later this month. In Australian Catholics鈥� , Fr Chris Gleeson notes that Mary was a young peasant woman in a time of Roman occupation who had walked for many days on an arduous journey to visit her pregnant cousin. Despite this, upon arrival, 鈥榳e see two mothers-to-be singing and dancing and embracing one another鈥�. Their focus was on the joy in seeing each other and the futures of their unborn children.

PRAYER FOR MOTHERS

During this autumn season we pray in a spirit of hope for all mothers that they will be life-givers and continue to reveal the female face of God to us. 

We thank God for our mothers for giving us life, for nourishing and enlarging that life, and for doing without that we might have. 

We pray for those mothers who must mother below the poverty line, who are too young to mother, and those who must watch their babies starve or grow up with hate and violence in their hearts.

Above all, we pray for mothers that they may continue to sing songs of hope to us in the chaos of our world.

Happy Mothers Day to all mothers and female role models in our 海角大神 community!

Mothers Day Mass - Tuesday 14 May

I look forward to a wonderful community celebration on Tuesday 14 May for our Mothers Day Mass. All members of our community are invited to join this liturgical celebration in our Chapel at 7.30pm, with supper provided afterwards.

Musical journey to success

Congratulations to the staff and students involved in last weekend鈥檚 Generations in Jazz trip to Mt Gambier, South Australia. By all accounts, our young musicians were not only great ambassadors for the College, but also acquitted themselves very well on stage. Please read below for details.

We look forward to the range of performance evenings across this term and next, along with our College Musical - High School Musical - whose rehearsals are well underway.

Master Plan consultation - Thank you!

Last week, we conducted Master Plan consultation with staff, students and families. Many thanks to the parents who attended the in-person session, along with those who contributed via the online survey. Many valuable insights for improving our physical facilities and grounds were gained from each section of our community.

Council of International Schools CIS

海角大神 is an accredited member of the Council of International Schools (CIS), which recently held a meeting of our local chapter. Among the sharing of ideas, we were pleased to receive great feedback from the international representatives and our Victorian peers about the 29 different projects staff began in 2023 and continue to collaborate on into this year. Our 鈥楧eep Dives鈥� to improve and innovate are grouped into the following areas:

• Learning for Wellbeing 

• Students Achievement and Increased Academic Rigour

• Cross-faculty Collaboration for Increased Learning Opportunities

• Engagement in Student Learning

• Citizenship - Digital and Global.

Later this year we begin the process of CIS re-accreditation and look forward to involving staff, students and families in this journey of continual improvement.

David Broadbent

Principal

 It may seem ridiculously early to be mentioning this, but we are currently organising subjects and processes for 2025 and before any of the material is sent out at the start of term 3 (there are seven weeks left of term 2 so it鈥檚 not far away), now might be a good time to think about the possibilities for next year.

The basic guidelines on choice are that the College will ensure that all compulsory subjects are studied and students can choose some that develop their interests or meet their future ambitions. The way to choose has a hierarchy. The three most common questions asked to help are

• What do you like? 
• What are you good at?
• What do you need for the future?

For students in each year level, this will be different:

Year 8 students have not made any subject choices at 海角大神, so these questions are important to the next phase of their educational journey. Getting a sense of what they would like to do and how they see themselves in the future is very important to the process.

Year 9 students have made some choices, and they have another semester of choices ahead of them so they should be starting to get a sense of where they would like to be. There are still chances to change but as they move to Year 10 they should be more confident about what they would like to study and where that might take them.

Year 10 students will be choosing VCE subjects. Most students, most of the time will undertake these subjects for the next two years so the What you like? question is important in the decision making process.

Once we get back to term 3 the process will go quickly, talking about interests and aptitude now could make subject selection a more engaging and fulfilling experience.

Michael Box 

Deputy Principal

Teaching our kids to stand for what is right

As parents, we are entrusted with the profound responsibility of nurturing our children to become leaders of our future societies. In a world fraught with stereotypes and harmful societal norms, it becomes imperative for us to guide our children towards authenticity and empathy, in ways that reflect Christian Values in action. One pressing issue that demands our attention is toxic masculinity; the rigid construct that not only limits boys and men but also perpetuates harmful behaviours and attitudes.

Toxic masculinity manifests in various forms, from the pressure to suppress emotions to the normalisation of aggression and dominance as the young person makes sense of the world around them. It's a stifling framework that inhibits the emotional growth and wellbeing of our sons while perpetuating harmful dynamics in our society which can have a direct, negative impact on our daughters. As parents, it's our duty to dismantle this harmful paradigm and empower our children to reject it.

Children learn by observing adults, particularly those they respect, therefore, it is important that we all model healthy behaviours and attitudes towards gender roles. As Christians, we are called to demonstrate that strength lies in vulnerability, empathy, and respect for all individuals, regardless of gender. It is well documented that boys are often socialised to suppress their emotions, leading to emotional repression and difficulties in forming meaningful relationships. We must encourage our sons to express their feelings openly and without fear of judgement. We offer many spaces at the College, where students can talk about their emotions.

As parents of two young people, a female and a male young adults, my wife and I became mindful of the messages conveyed through media, toys, and books as the kids were growing up. This challenge is now further complicated with the access that our children have to social media platforms which barely censor what is being promoted. We must encourage our children to question stereotypes and traditional gender roles through critical literacy and an appreciation of what is right.

A key task for each one of us is to teach our children the importance of consent and respect in all interactions. Emphasising that coercion and aggression have no place in healthy relationships must be a priority. We must teach them to recognise and challenge behaviours that perpetuate power imbalances and disrespect. In doing so, we foster Empathy and Compassion as the cornerstone of healthy masculinity. This will always underpin their commitment to standing up against injustice while supporting those who are marginalised or oppressed.

As parents and teachers, we must work together to ensure that both girls and boys understand that gentleness, compassion and empathy will always lead to respect, peace and the sanctification of one鈥檚 own dignity. Our kids are exposed to a cyber world that can lead to great opportunities but equally pose great threats. Below is an article from the eSafety Commissioner regarding a growing threat to young people. Please make reference to the wonderful resources that are offered.

I wish you all the best as you do your part in teaching our boys and girls that there is no place in our community for Toxic Masculinity, oppression or objectification of people. We function as a community committed to goodness.

is a serious online concern, especially for young people. But what exactly is it, and how can you support your child if they鈥檙e targeted?

What is sextortion? Sexual extortion or 鈥榮extortion鈥� is a form of blackmail that usually originates via a dating app or social networking site. It involves criminals using fake profiles to pose as someone charming and flirtatious to manipulate their targets into sharing nude images or videos of themselves. Then, they threaten to share the compromising material unless the person complies with their demands. These criminals are increasingly targeting people, especially young men.鈥�

What can I do? As parents and carers, we encourage you to play an active role in your child鈥檚 online life. Having conversations, being curious and getting involved can help anticipate when they might need support and advice. If you鈥檙e unsure how to start conversations about these topics, read our .

If your child has been targeted, reassure them that it is not their fault, there is help available, and you can help them make a report. These criminals are practised in the art of manipulation and know how to isolate, shame and corner children.

Here鈥檚 what you and your child can do:

1. Cease all communication with the blackmailer 鈥� Stop all contact and do not pay the blackmailer or provide any more intimate content.
2. Seek additional support 鈥� If your child needs further support, they can contact or 24/7 for immediate assistance.
3. Report the incident 鈥� If they鈥檙e under 18, report it to the . If they鈥檙e over 18, report it to the platforms where the blackmailer contacted them. If their intimate image or video is shared, or the platform doesn't help, .

Nap Rodezno

Deputy Principal

 

Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News. Mark 16: 15-20

This Sunday we celebrate Jesus鈥� ascension into heaven. He appeared to the disciples, clearly telling them to go out and proclaim the Good News. After he had spoken to them he ascended to the right hand of the Father. As for the disciples, they are at first, left wondering. Jesus has truly gone and they are looking to see what are the next steps - where do they go and what are they going to do. Then they followed what he said; 鈥済oing out, preaching everywhere, the Lord working with them鈥� Mk16:20

Working at a Catholic school today, I can relate to the disciples' feelings the moment Jesus ascends; looking around, looking up to the sky and thinking now what? Where is Jesus? How do we do this? Preaching the Good News to people who often do not want to hear what we have to say or see it as irrelevant to them. The answer is also in this reading. The Lord works with them. We teach our students that it is through their words and actions that they teach the Good News and it is that which we as a community need to model. Acts of kindness, compassion and forgiveness. Speaking up for others. Caring for our environment. Welcoming those who are alone.

Sound familiar? Go to our 海角大神 College homepage and read our core values. This is our mission, our Spirit of 海角大神. In developing and practising our core values, we are witnesses to Christ and with his help, we are preaching the Good News.

Tania Grace

Assistant Principal Mission

Senior Years Report

By the end of next week, we will be halfway through term two. Given that class instruction for the Year 12 curriculum is generally completed by September, the months of May and June traditionally mark a changeover point between Units 3 and 4. Now is a common time for assessments, not only for Unit 3 students but all students across years 10 - 12.

With the conclusion of Units or topics, new content will naturally begin. Students who embrace risk-taking welcome new content with anticipation, seeing it as an opportunity to grow and expand themselves. Risk-taking in learning is not about getting everything right, but about having the courage to attempt things even if you might make mistakes. In fact, mistakes can be a powerful learning tool when used to deepen understanding, analyse, and problem-solve and build towards critical thinking.

When mistakes are a stressor, maybe because they are a source of embarrassment or that there is belief that they show a lack of intelligence, then learning is hampered. Sir Ken Robinson (author and international advisor on education) explains that if you are not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with something original.

In June, all Unit 3/4 students will have the General Achievement Test (GAT). Further communications to families will be sent in the coming weeks. Yesterday students completed a practice writing prompt for Section A. For many students this was their first experience with the specific writing task. The practice papers will be marked and feedback returned to the students to develop their writing structure. It has been explained to the students that assessors are looking to reward the presence of structure and communication of their ideas rather than penalise. Willing to take risks in their writing to show their ideas is paramount.

Rachel Crawley 

Head Senior Years

Middle Years Report

The 海角大神 Resource Centre (The ARC) is a wonderful resource that is there to be utilised outside of mainstream class times. For those that work best in the morning, it is open before school, opening up at 8 am and is a great place to go to do some focussed homework or organise a student鈥檚 day in a quiet supervised environment. It is also open after school until 4:30 pm (4 pm on a Friday) for those that might like to get an hour鈥檚 homework in before heading home. 

If you need to cram before a test or finalise some work during the day, it is also open during recess and lunch.

There are various reasons that spring to mind about the advantages of using the ARC outside of normal school hours.

It is great habit forming. Understandably, expectations around homework escalate as they make their way up the different year levels at 海角大神. Setting good routines is a really solid platform to build from as they go up through the school. Most students tend to know what homework they have got, setting aside a specific time to get it done can be one of the challenges. Treating 50 minutes in the ARC after school like a Period 8, could be a great routine to start doing. (They could pretend they are in Taiwan, China, Myanmar, Bangladesh or Chile where each school day is on average 2-3 hours longer than in Australia!)

The ARC is so well-resourced in so many ways. It has amazing digital, physical, and human resources all in the one place! (No doubt your house does too), but in the ARC we have great researchers on hand (no doubt your house does too!) who are more than willing to assist the students if they require guidance and can really help them access all the resources required for whatever assignment or class work they may have. (No doubt your house does too)

It鈥檚 also distraction-free. (No doubt your house is too) However, we hope to provide a place where students can be immersed in a focused session with other like-minded students and, depending on their year level, get a good proportion, if not all, of their homework done before heading home.

Phil Box

Head Middle Years

On May 3rd, the junior and senior music students set off for a cold and jazz-filled weekend at Generations in Jazz in Mount Gambier. After many many months of hard work, dedication and developing meaningful connections with one another, we would firstly like to congratulate both the choirs and bands who performed fantastic performances at Generations in Jazz, and offer a special congratulations to the Senior Stage Band for being the Division 3 2024 winners.

We thought long and hard about what this win actually meant for 海角大神 College. Not only was the win a wonderful show of the effort and dedication our Senior Stage Band has displayed, but it demonstrates the strong community built within our music groups, bands, choirs and staff, which is what really made Generations in Jazz so meaningful this year. This in turn led us to look at our school as a whole, and reflect on the great importance that lies within the 海角大神 community. The opportunities it gives us, what we can take from it, and how in 6 months, a couple of years or even 5 more years of high school, every 海角大神 student will leave this school knowing that they will forever hold a place in a community that has never faltered to give us every opportunity available. So looking to the future about how we can continue to make change and be a part of that great big community, we encourage every student and staff member of our 海角大神 community to join in. To come to places like Generations in Jazz, go on our Year 11 Kakadu camp. Because by contributing your part to this community, you will always take away experiences you just can鈥檛 get elsewhere.

We are so incredibly proud of the work every student at 海角大神 does already and we wish to see every student shine a light on this. By giving rise to yourself, by doing more, by saying yes; you are ultimately benefiting the 海角大神 community and yourself far more than you may have ever thought.

海角大神 College is different, because we are more than just a college, we are a community. We continue to encourage you to be a part of the 海角大神 College community as we all grow together.

Illuminare Et Ardere.

Bella Schneiders & Lucas Mandaliti 

College Vice Captains

Vinnies Winter Appeal

As the winter season approaches, we have a wonderful opportunity to extend our compassion and support to those facing challenges in our local community.

Our Term 2 charity fundraiser will be working to support the Vinnies Winter Appeal, an initiative by the St Vincent de Paul Society dedicated to addressing the urgent needs of those experiencing homelessness or financial hardship by offering warm clothing, blankets, hot meals, and shelter. With your help, we can make a significant difference in the lives of those who need it most.

Here are three ways you can participate to support the Vinnies Winter Appeal:

Donate 鈥�2 Cans鈥�:

We are encouraging each member of our school community to donate at least two items of non-perishable goods such as canned goods, pasta, rice, toiletries, and other essential items. These donations will help provide not only nourishment but also hygiene essentials to individuals and families facing food and personal care insecurity.

10c Recycling Collections:

Let's turn trash into treasure! We will be collecting empty bottles and cans with a 10-cent refund label, and all proceeds raised will go towards the Vinnies Winter Appeal. Large yellow bins for collecting bottles and drink cans will be conveniently located in the Middle Years Building, Senior Years Building, and Forum. Alternatively, you can choose to drop off your recycling at , collect the refund, and then donate it to our Winter Appeal. Donations can be dropped off at the Catholic Life Office.


The Winter Sleepout:

To raise awareness about homelessness and the challenges faced by those sleeping rough during the winter months, we will be organising a winter sleepout on Friday, the 14th. Students are invited to spend a night outdoors (either at school or at home), experiencing firsthand the cold and discomfort that many individuals endure every night. This event will not only raise funds but also foster empathy and understanding within our school community. An expression of interest form is linked on SIMON; please fill that out to receive further information on how you can take part in this event.

Remember, no contribution is too small when it comes to making a difference. By coming together as a school community, we can show compassion and solidarity with those who are less fortunate than us.

Let's make this Term 2 charity fundraiser a resounding success and spread warmth and kindness throughout our community. Together, we can make a difference!

Martha Mugamu

Social Justice & Outreach Coordinator

Environment & Sustainability News

Saving energy in our homes during winter can help reduce electricity bills and minimise environmental impact. In Victoria, heating uses the most energy in the home. Hot water accounts for around 15% of the average Victorian households energy costs.

Here are some useful tips:

•  Sealing up gaps or draught proofing and cracks, will minimise heat loss from
  your home and reduce your heating bills.
• Insulation is the most important way to reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in
  summer. Depending on your home, insulation can be quick to retro fit without major
  renovations.
• Heating your home, make use of your temperature settings. In living areas, set your
  thermostat between 18掳C and 20掳C. Every degree higher can increase your heating
  costs by around 15%.
• Dress according to the weather conditions outside. If it鈥檚 cold, wear a jumper indoors
• Install a low-flow shower head. Take shorter showers.
  
• Wash clothes with cold water where possible and avoid using the drier, instead use
  the sun and wind by hanging clothing outside or under a carport or pergola. If you do
  lots of clothes drying, consider replacing your existing dryer with a heat pump dryer.
  
• No one at home? Consider turning off any appliance not in use including your modem
  for wifi.

Environment & Sustainability Coordinator 

Karyn Myers

Family Mass Invitation

海角大神 College warmly invites students and their families to celebrate mass together, with an emphasis on giving thanks to our Mums or those that are Mother figures in our lives.

The Mass is student-led and will be celebrated by our Year 11 EDGE class & Year 10 Religion Music. 

We encourage you to come along to support these students and to enjoy some time for quiet reflection.

Please indicate on the google form below if you will be able to attend.

When: Tuesday May 14
Time: 7.30 pm
Location: Mary MacKillop Chapel.

For planning purposes, please

Let鈥檚 go on exchange!

I am fortunate to be able to travel with 12 eager students of French and Hospitality to France at the end of the year. We will spend 2 weeks in home stay and going to either culinary school or high school, and then travel through the northwest of France, finishing up in Paris. 

Travelling to a foreign country on exchange is an amazing experience, and to go on such an adventure whilst in secondary school is so beneficial. Above all, it provides the individual with the opportunity to expand what they know of the world, not only in terms of language, but also culturally.

It goes without saying that greater language acquisition occurs whilst fully immersed in the cultural environment as opposed to being in a classroom in Australia. Language learning becomes something practical and immediately useful in an environment full of native speakers. Living with a host family provides the opportunity to be exposed to new customs first hand whilst having the chance to understand others and make oneself understood. Such insights include discovering new cuisine, typical family life and traditions as well as a different education system. 

When visiting another country on exchange, one is also living and learning to think independently, adjusting and adapting to a different lifestyle all whilst grasping the finer points of the foreign language. This builds confidence and resilience, for one picks up how to behave in a society that is unfamiliar and outside their comfort zone. This could include purchasing tickets, shopping for souvenirs and food, through to understanding signs and finding where tourist attractions are located. All situations require a willingness to confront social challenges with problem-solving skills. 

And one must embrace the opportunity of making new connections, whether it be with the host family or with new friends at school. Each affiliation is a real chance to make lifelong links and become a global citizen. 

We are so fortunate to be embarking on such a wonderful trip for the first time in five years and look forward to rekindling our sister school relationships and hope that our students will embrace the opportunity.

 Nathalie Walshe

Languages - Learning Area Leader

On Thursday morning Dakota, Pip and Amanda attended the Girls in Physics breakfast event, organised by the Victorian Physics Teachers鈥� Network at the William Angliss Institute in the CBD. The girls had the opportunity to speak to women that work in the field of Physics. They also had the opportunity to listen to the keynote speaker, Dr. Susan Coppersmith.

Here is some feedback from the girls;

Who was the presenter? In what field does she work?

The presenter was Dr. Susan Coppersmith and she works as a theorist physicist. Her research and current project is to investigate the possibilities of quantum computers.

What did you learn about in terms of your possible career in physics?

We learned about a variety of different people鈥檚 journeys and the pathways they took to get there. This helped us find new connections and networking opportunities to help decide or get into the profession you want. We learned that studying Physics at university opens many doors in many different fields.

What was the main idea of the quantum physics talk?

That there is an ever growing body of knowledge in Physics, and that one area of development is in quantum computing. Understanding how quantum computers could work would provide many possibilities in data handling and processing, which could help many areas of society.

Final thoughts

The overall experience was incredible, as you got to meet others with similar interests to you. We got to meet Dr. Susan Coppersmith who talked about her research on creating a quantum computer, massively exceeding classical computation and her experience with quantum physics and classical physics with the ever growing body of knowledge.

David Mulholland
Teacher

Our Year 12 VM cohort enjoyed a sunny Autumn day during our excursion to URBN Surf in Tullamarine. URBN Surf provides a distinctive hands-on experience that supplements our classroom education. Its wave pool location offers a refreshing change from the academic setting, encouraging physical activity and enhancing student well-being. Our students' perseverance, resilience, and risk management skills were put to the test as they tackled the waves' challenges. Overall, a group surfing session at URBN Surf offers not just a fun and engaging experience but also fosters physical, cognitive, and environmental learning outcomes. Students had a great time learning a new skill and celebrating their peers' successes (and many wipe outs!)

Michael O'Halloran

VCE VM Coordinator

On May 9th, 2024, students from 海角大神 College embarked on a journey of workplace advocacy and empowerment. The destination? The Victorian Trades Hall and the Young Workers Centre.

The day kicked off with a brisk walk from 海角大神 College to Ringwood Station, where students navigated the metro train network, bound for Parliament Station. From there, a short stroll led them to the iconic Victorian Trades Hall, where they were warmly welcomed by their guide, James.

James proved to be an invaluable source of knowledge, leading the group on a captivating tour. From the landmark 888 workplace ruling to the heroic tales of female union activists advocating for equal pay, each corner of the Trades Hall resonated with memorable stories.

One particularly gripping anecdote recounted an infamous shootout between police and audacious gangsters attempting to pilfer union fees from the Hall's secure vault. Such tales highlighted the pivotal role of unions in safeguarding workers' rights throughout history.

Following the tour, students engaged in an enlightening seminar hosted by the Young Workers Centre. Here, they delved into workplace rights and responsibilities, gaining insights into combating illegal practices like bullying, harassment, and discrimination. They discovered the invaluable support offered by the Centre, providing free and confidential legal advice to those involved in disputes with their employers.

A striking example cited during the seminar was the collective action taken by employees at MECCA, who banded together to challenge demanding Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) imposed by management. Their success demonstrated the impact of solidarity in effecting meaningful change within the workplace.

As the day drew to a close, students again braved the bustling metro network during peak hours, a fitting conclusion to a day rich in experiential learning. By immersing students in real-world contexts and empowering them with knowledge and skills, VCE-VM at 海角大神 College continues to nurture informed students prepared to navigate the complexities of the modern workplace.

Kane Henden

Teacher

Picture this: students exploring the outdoors, hunting for twigs, feathers, and leaves. What are they up to? They're not on a nature hike; they're on a mission to make paint brushes!

Using what they find, these creative minds fashion their very own paint brushes. Twigs become handles, while grasses and feathers transform into bristles. Each brush is unique, with its own story to tell.

As they dip their homemade brushes into pots of coloured inks, students unlock a world of creativity. From fine lines to bold strokes, they're painting their imaginations onto paper.

But this isn't just about art, it's a lesson in sustainability too. By using natural materials, students learn to appreciate the beauty of the world around them while reducing waste.

Making paint brushes from found treasures isn't just a fun activity, it's a way for students to connect with nature and express themselves creatively.

Kathy Thompson

Teacher

 
Check out what's happening in the year 9 social Arts class! 

They've teamed up to paint our new compost bins with some seriously cool designs. It's not just about composting, it's about letting those artistic vibes flow and getting everyone hyped about being eco-conscious.

Getting the students to paint these bins isn't just a fun activity. It's a hands-on lesson in taking care of our planet. When they're busy turning plain old bins into colourful masterpieces, they're also owning up to their role in keeping our environment clean and green.

And let's talk about these painted bins, they are more than just places to toss your banana peels. They are like little flags waving for sustainability, showing off our school's commitment to doing our part. We hope to place them where everyone can see, and they'll spark a composting revolution that'll have everyone jumping on board to cut down on waste.

Year 9 Social arts is spreading the word about saving our planet. With a brush in hand and a whole lot of heart, our students are painting a future that's brighter and greener for all of us.

Kathy Thompson
Teacher

Today in VET Sport and Rec we learnt about CPR. It was good to know that I can do it to help a friend or family member as a way to potentially save their life - Hannah.
 
We practiced bandaging bleeds and punctures. This would be scary in real life, but having given it a shot I know how to help someone else - Shevan.

Damo was great! He was a fun presenter and had great stories to tell us that made things real for us - Drew.

This was a really valuable day. I have something to put on my resume to help with jobs, but I also learnt some really practical skills that I wouldn't learn in a different subject - Cooper.

Since the beginning of the year, members of the stage bands and the vocal ensembles have been preparing meticulously for the prestigious 鈥淕enerations in Jazz鈥� Festival in Mount Gambier, a National competition which we are privileged to attend. This year we had the highest level of participation for a very long time, with 5 amazing performances coming from the Large Vocal Ensemble, the Small Vocal Ensemble as well as the Senior Stage Band, the Intermediate Stage Band and the Small Jazz Combo.

All ensembles performed wonderfully and we are all so proud of our performances. But most of all it was great to get rewarded for our effort as the Senior Stage Band took out first place for a second consecutive year, moving from division 4 last year into division 3, we had little expectation about how we would perform in terms of competitiveness but to win against 23 other schools was just a perfect reflection of the effort we all put in. It was great for the junior students to see all the senior ensembles to inspire them to further pursue music and see the future opportunities that await them in the senior school.

The festival also featured amazing concerts from the incredible Hot Potato Band on Friday evening, followed by the Iconic Kate Ceberano and Budjerah on the Saturday night. As well as mind blowing performances from international composer Migiwa Miyagima.

海角大神 also got to experience music workshops from professional Jazz musicians and attend important discussions on how we as senior music students can grow the culture of our school's music department.

Overall it was such a great experience for the college to immerse themselves in Jazz music and grow closer as a music department. We are so grateful for all of the music teachers involved, they have been so supportive with our music development and allowing us to have the best possible experience on this trip.

Music Captains

Cody Boland, Lachlan Bruni, Sarai Nunez  

After a long training campaign conducted before school the year 8 girls finally ventured into their first state level volleyball tournament 鈥� Volleyball Victoria schools Cup. The day was long as it always is when playing Vic Schools. The team left at 7.15am and returned to school at 5.30pm. Even though it is a long day, it is the best because it allows the girls to play lots of volleyball continuously. The expectation was to do well and to improve their overall volleyball game. 

However, they went beyond that. They eventually won a bronze medal after winning 5 games out of 6. They displayed remarkable improvement throughout Vic Schools. It was a wonderful spectacle for all to see including all the parents who attended and embraced 海角大神 volleyball throughout the day. I really appreciated all their support. 

The skill level went to another level after all the early morning training often starting at 7.15am. Throughout the day the girls only experienced only one below par set which caused them to miss out on playing for the gold medal. However, after that they lifted and played so well in the bronze medal match which they eventually won. 

One of the main requirements when entering Vic Schools is that every team that enters including 海角大神 must have at least one level 1 qualified referee. This is conducted online. I am pleased that both Sharelle Origenes and Sienna Stevenson passed their level 1 tests and became qualified referees. 

Team Captain Emily Bruton led with pride and example. All players were wonderful in so many ways including their focused improvement as volleyballers as well as displaying outstanding behaviour and respect for everyone during the day. They were sensational in so many ways and so proud of them. Thank you so much to Gap PE sports assistant Lexie Quinn who was quite simply wonderful as my assistant throughout Vic Schools with her willingness to coach the team when presented together with deciding on court positions. And her engagement with the girls was quite infectious and wonderful to see. Yeah to everyone who supported 海角大神 volleyball and in particular the year 8 girls. It was the best day had by all. 

Have a groovy day, long live Glastonbury!

Dennis Sartory
Volleyball Coach

Over the last few months, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity of a lifetime to go overseas and compete at two international competitions for my Irish Dancing. I would like to thank my family for supporting me and providing me with this opportunity. I flew over to Ireland late in Jan to train and compete at the All Ireland Championships, which is the second biggest competition of the year. I placed an amazing 17th out of 150 competitors, which was a great result given a minor slip up in one of my rounds. There was no time to celebrate though as I was straight back to training and working hard for the World Championships in April. Training 6 days a week, at the studio, my home and in the gym. These countless hours of hard work and dedication all lead to this one competition.

The week long World Championship competition was held in Glasgow, Scotland, where the top 1% of Irish dancers were to compete. To be fortunate enough to make this category of dancers is an amazing achievement, but it is something I have focused on for most of my life. I competed over two days of intense competition, where you certainly experience the physical and mental challenges elite sport throws at you. The nerves, excitement, pressure and self doubt all run through your head, but you have to get them out of your head to succeed. After qualifying to the 5th and final round, the results are awarded. After placing 19th the previous year, I had my eyes set on a top 20 finish again, but unfortunately I wasn't able to achieve that. I placed 35th in the World, which was still a huge achievement, but not what I was hoping for.

After all of the hard work, dedication, countless hours of training in the summer heat, for you not to achieve the goal you set out to achieve, naturally I was disappointed. But in times of disappointment and struggle, there are two ways you can go about it. You can dwell on it, be mad about it and potentially give up because you lose motivation and it all becomes too hard. Or you can cop it under the chin, move on and use this disappointment as the driving force for you to work harder and come back even stronger next time. Success isn't linear and everyone is going to have their bad days. That鈥檚 why it is important to use the people around you like family and friends as support because disappointments are a part of life and these difficult experiences help us learn and grow from our mistakes.

If you ever find yourself in a disappointing situation, whether that be a bad exam or SAC/test result, have a bad game of footy or don鈥檛 perform as well as you would have hoped for, remember to put things back into perspective. Use that disappointment as hunger to keep working even harder, because hard work does pay off and when it does, that success will be even sweeter.

Maeve Wilkinson

Year 11 

Last Monday 3 海角大神 students represented the EISM in swimming in the Victorian Schools Association Championships ( VSAC) at MSAC, This is a competition between the different school sporting associations in Victoria.

Our swimmers were Tharwin Prarom ( Yr 10), Grace Rider ( Yr10) and Zoe Fabre( Yr9)

In the overall competition between the schools association, EISM finished an excellent 3rd overall behind APS schools and AGSV schools.

Tharwin did very well in all his events - 2nd 200m Medley Relay, 3rd 200m Free Relay, 4th 50m Freestyle & 4th 100m Freestyle. He won the backstroke event with a superb time of 29.18. This broke the 海角大神 record of 29.23 which was set in 2016.

Grace did very well in her events - 2nd 50m Breaststroke, 3rd 50m Butterfly, 3rd 50m Backstroke & 4th 50m Freestyle.

Emma swum in the 4 x 50m freestyle relay team which finished 7th.

Congratulations to these 3 students on representing 海角大神 very well in this competition.

Bernie Brummell
Sports Coordinator

Click on the link below to book your tickets! 

We are thrilled to share some exciting news and photos on the SAM project as it draws closer to completion. 

The project, currently 71% complete, is due to be completed on time by Mid June.

Following the installation of the steel columns, roof structure and netting, there is plenty of action taking place over the next six weeks including:

• Installation of Sports equipment (basketball rings, dividers)
• Fencing
• installation of synthetic turfs; and
• Planting and landscaping
  

Stayed tuned for future updates and enjoy the photos.