Clockwise from top left
Monash Scholars Katherine Chalmers, Jessica Manuelpillai and Jeanette Kok; Forest Hill Endeavour
Award winner Lauren Caspersz, with Neil Angus
MP, State Member for Forest Hill, and Principal Ian
Watkins; Ian Watkins welcomes Martin Dixon MP,
State Minister for Education, to the school; Mr Paul
Negri delights the Presentation Night audience; Mr
Chris Pantlin; Mrs Helen Bell.
What a wonderful year 2013 has been for Highvale
Secondary College. Our Year 12 students put in
another outstanding VCE performance with 30%
students receiving an ATAR score of over 80 and over
8% receiving study scores in excess of 40. Our dux of
the school, Shweta Bapat, received a score of 99.60
which is truly an amazing result.
College Captains and Vice-captains fulfil major
responsibilities for the school. I would like to
take this opportunity to thank the 2013 College
Captains Matt Joyce and Shweta Bapat, Vice-captains
Darren Lai and Lauren Caspersz, and International
Captains Sambath Luon and June Li for all of their
work in representing the school. They have been
a very successful and cohesive team. We all have
appreciated their work in looking after the interests
of all students throughout the year.
This year we continued the Head Start Program for
students in Years 10 and 11. Over the Head Start
week, students were able to meet their teachers for
next year and begin their VCE studies in earnest.
We were very impressed by the dedication and
enthusiasm of our students and look forward to their
continued success throughout 2014.
Monash University continues its fine tradition of
supporting local schools, and we were very privileged
for Katherine Chalmers, Jeanette Kok and Jessica
Manuelpillai to be selected for the Monash Scholars
program. Our links with the University of Melbourne
have been strengthened with Naomi Martyszus
being selected to participate in the 2014 Kwong Lee
Dow Young Scholars program. I would also like to
acknowledge and thank Mr Neil Angus Member for
Forest Hill, who supported the school through the
presentation of the Forest Hill Endeavour Award
to Lauren Caspersz. Our partnership with Deakin
University has continued with workshop sessions to
support their trainee teachers, assistance by our staff
in providing evaluation of their education programs,
and of course the use of their auditorium for our
annual presentation evening.
2
The Internationalisation of Education is a focus area
for the Victorian Government and I am very pleased to
report of our successes in this field. Our international
program continues to thrive with strong interest
for placements from overseas students during a
climate of reduced market share for international
enrolments in Victorian schools. The 2013 China tour
was a wonderful and rewarding experience for our
students. Planning for the 2015 China Tour will begin
early next year and I know that there will once again
be strong interest. Our reputation for providing a
high quality program for overseas students has been
well recognised by the international division of the
Department of Education. I would like to take this
opportunity to thank our international coordinator,
Mrs Kate Grennan, for all of her outstanding service to
our overseas students and to Mr Chris Pantlin for his
work in developing our German exchange program.
Over 2014 we look forward to hosting Chinese students
from our sister school in Dong Fang. Our German
exchange will take place over December and hopefully
this time next year we will be able to report officially
on our work to establish a sister school to support our
studies of French.
This year the School Council has set policies and
practices and overseen the start of a significant
school maintenance project for the school. The School
Council has also considered the long term future
development for Highvale and has elected to begin the
exciting process of developing a school master plan.
This process will occur early in 2014 and will identify
the unique Highvale Secondary College educational
rationale and see the design of new school facilities
to support this. Community consultations will occur
in earnest over term one. The School Council looks
forward to considering contributions from parents,
students, teachers and our community partners.
In addition, council continues to look to opportunities
to develop its buildings and grounds using our available
resources. This year development of a performing arts
space was a matter of high importance. Stage one, the
development of a digital recording classroom has
now been completed. Stage two, the establishment
of the theatrette will begin early in term one next
year. The school also developed a new uniform shop
next to the canteen. We continued our development
of information communication technologies with the
implementation of the COMPASS system. I can now
report that we have finalised details for changes in
the computer infrastructure to enable the school
to offer a Bring Your Own Device program. We
anticipate this development being ready for term
two, 2014.
I would once again like to thank our Parents,
Teachers, Students & Friends Association which
raised significant funds for use within the school
and supported Highvale by organising the 2013
Debutante Ball and our Year 12 Graduation Evening.
Both of these evenings were highly successful and
enjoyed by all. Mrs Noella
Divitcos, as president of the
PTSFA, has once again done
a marvellous job on behalf of
the school.
It would be remiss of me if I
did not take this opportunity
to recognise staff who
have made a significant
contribution to the school.
As you may be aware, Mrs
Helen Bell, our wonderful
receptionist, has decided
to retire after some fifteen
years at Highvale Secondary
College. On behalf of everyone
here I would like to thank
her most sincerely for her
friendly, warm approach to the front of the school
and her care and attention to each family of the
school. I would like to again wish her the very best
for her retirement.
Mr Paul Negri, head of mathematics at Highvale, has
also decided to retire at the end of 2013. Mr Negri has
led a very vibrant and highly successful learning area
in his thirty-two years at Highvale. On behalf of the
school we congratulate him for his wonderful service
and wish him all the best. We look forward to an
official retirement function for him early next year.
Mr Chris Pantlin will also be leaving us at the end
of 2013 to take on a leading teacher role at another
Government school. Mr Pantlin has undertaken
many areas of responsibility, including year level
coordination, and this promotion is very well
deserved. We wish him every success.
To our students, well done on another fine, successful
year! On behalf of the school I would also like to
thank all the teachers for making 2013 another
successful and memorable year. In particular, I would
like to thank my assistant principals, Mrs Heather
Carr and Mr Greg Morrow. Their encouragement and
support were very much appreciated.
3
2013 has been a very successful year in the life of the
College. Documented in the Better Education VCE
Public School Ranking webpage is Highvale’s outstanding achievement. Our school was ranked 28th
out of the 235 schools listed. The wide range of VCE
subjects we offer enabled our 2012 Year 12 students
to show how well the school has played a part in the
education of young people. 74% of the Year 12 students achieved the results to gain university entrance
in courses ranging from design to engineering, teaching, bioscience, science, accounting and economics,
to mention just a few. Other students have gained
apprenticeships in the building and food industries
and full-time employment. The curriculum and enhancement programs at Highvale have assisted our
students to achieve very high results.
COMPASS, the school’s communication portal for
students, parents and staff, was introduced in 2013.
This has proven to be very successful in allowing for
up-to-date communication for our school community.
Parents have been able to check their child’s attendance, approve absences, access school reports, keep
up-to-date with classroom learning tasks and email
staff. Students have benefited from COMPASS as they
can access their timetable, assessment tasks and
news items at school, at home and on their mobile
phone.
Curriculum changes have been implemented successfully due to the rewriting of courses to match the
Australian Curriculum. Many staff have attended professional development conferences, workshops and
information sessions to keep abreast of educational
trends and changes. The staff at Highvale are committed to helping the students achieve their potential
and many have been successful in their selection by
4
VCAA to be examination assessors. Their expertise
has certainly enhanced the teaching in Visual Communication & Design, Media, Physics and English as
an Additional Language.
The Student Representative Council has been active
this year. The students have had input into the maintenance audit conducted by DEECD and the College,
the introduction and review of COMPASS, and they
have raised money through free dress days for the
Monash Youth Information and Discount Card.
Opportunities for the students, community and
parents to be involved in the College have included
debating, music concerts, parent information sessions on VTAC and courses, the College’s Open Night,
VCE Careers Night and the Deakin University preservice teacher program. It has been wonderful to
see the number of tertiary education representatives
and members of the College community who have
attended these sessions.
The College has furthered its commitment to global
education through the German Student Exchange
program. Highvale, in partnership with Croydon
Maroondah College (now Melba College), hosted
German students from Ulm, Germany in July for three
weeks. As of this writing, our students are in Germany on the return visit experiencing the start of a cold
winter. Students from the College visited China this
year and experienced homestay in Hangzhou.
As the academic year is coming to a close, I want to
congratulate all the students on their achievements
and the teachers on their commitment to Highvale
Secondary College and its students.
As I am writing this we are moving
into the end-of-year cycle. Year 11
exams have just started. The Arts
Show is a week away and there is
a lot of planning going on. Course
counselling is just starting its final
phase, which involves individual
student interviews. Quite a large
team of staff will spend the next
three and a half weeks finalising
the Years 8, 9 and 10 curriculum
schedules for our students. Peer
support training for approximately
sixty current Year 10 students
takes place soon, just before the
Headstart program. The December
Program is being finalised for our
Years 7, 8 and 9 students, during
the second week of which there are
camps for the Years 8 and 9 students, plus Orientation Day and a
parent information evening for our
2014 Year 7 student cohort. The
final major event is Presentation
Night during the last school week
of the year. As you can see, even
when it seems like things should be
winding down, during the last half
of Term 4, Highvale has a very full
schedule.
Looking back on the year to a
number of significant events, we
started the year with the arrival of a
very large portable which has been
developed into an excellent music
teaching space. It now fits well
into the space along the side of our
community centre, with landscaping and seating around the outside.
Our Swimming Carnival proved to
be a popular day, full of colour and
competition, as was the Athletics
Carnival. Open Night once again
attracted large numbers of prospective parents and students, resulting
in a high intake at Year 7 next year.
Our school tour to China left during the second week of the Term
1 holidays, visiting the main cities
and attractions as well as giving our students a brief homestay with families from our sister
school, Dong Fang Private Middle
School in Hangzhou. In mid-2014
we will start the planning for the
2015 China school tour. Very soon
another school group is heading off
to Germany, due to arrive back just
before the end of the school year.
I encourage all families to download our fortnightly newsletter for
an overview of our calendar events.
There are not many days when
there isn’t an excursion, sport,
camp, music or other school activity
involving various student groups
taking place. We certainly provide a
very full program.
5
It certainly does not seem like twelve months ago
that I sat down to write the 2012 report. 2013 has
seen the Junior School numbers continue to swell,
with eight groups of Year 7s joining us.
With Mr Adrian Schmid as Year 7 Coordinator, Mr
Philipp Baumgartner at the helm for Year 8 and Mr
Chris Pantlin leading the Year 9 cohort, the Junior
School students have worked hard and enjoyed
a successful year. In addition to their educational
studies, students have been provided with many
opportunities to interact with others and extend
their skills.
Year 7s experienced the transition program from
primary to secondary
schooling. Making new friends,
assuming greater responsibility
and tasting a wide range of
subjects enabled them to learn
more about themselves and
broaden their outlook on life.
For Year 7, Camp Rumbug was
the highlight of the year, with
students really getting involved
in the team-building activities
offered at the beautiful
South Gippsland campsite.
Throughout the year Mrs
Leavey, our Student Wellbeing
Coordinator, organised the Bullying Awareness
presentation, Boy Girl talk, the Peer Support Program
and a host of other activities.
Firmly entrenched as part of the Highvale community
now, the Year 8s also participated in a variety of
extra-curricular activities such as the St John’s First
Aid Course, R U OK Day, TEAR Life Auction, and the
awesome Multi-Media Motivational Presentation.
The Tasmania Trip was very popular and, with
more than 70 students opting to attend, two groups
left for Tassie in early December, one by boat and
the other by plane. Students absorbed the history,
scenery and sights of the Apple Isle throughout the
week, returning to Melbourne via the other form of
transport.
For the year 9s, almost halfway through their
secondary schooling, preparation for their senior
6
years was high on the agenda. Extra-curricular
events for this group included the Eastern Drug and
Alcohol Awareness presentation, Mental Health Week
and Harmony Day. A visit to the nation’s capital,
Canberra, was conducted in December. This trip, by
bus, included a visit to Parliament House, Questacon,
the National War Memorial, and many other
unforgettable highlights.
All Junior School students completed a series of
career preparation tasks as part of their Focus
Group activities. Personal attributes, strategies for
improvement, goal-setting and the investigation of
future courses were covered during these sessions.
This information will assist Mrs
Batrouney in creating pathways
for students for future study
and employment.
In the inter-house Swimming
and Athletics Carnivals,
the Junior School was
well represented, with
some students moving on
to zone and state finals.
Congratulations to all
participants who represented
our school with pride and good
will in both summer and winter
inter-school sports. We had
some wins and some losses, and everyone had a good
time on the day.
Community events this year included the Adidas
School Fun Run, where students from Years 7 and
8 raised in excess of $1900, the Woolies Earn and
Learn Program (with over 7000 stickers collected),
volunteers for the Red Cross Doorknock and
Salvation Army Homeless Appeal (highlighted by
the ‘What About Tonight’ band performance at
lunchtime) and the fabulous Junior School Concert in
October.
In conclusion: a big thankyou to our fantastic
coordinators and teachers who work hard to bring
out the best in every student by providing them and
their parents with the encouragement and support
required. To the Year 9 students, we wish you every
success as you enter the Senior School.
Starting Year 7 is a challenging
and memorable experience
for all involved. It is a year of
considerable change for the
students, but it is also a time
when lifelong friends first meet
as students start up to six years
of high school working closely
together. Wearing oversized
College blazers, having trouble
with combination locks, getting
lost, forgetting timetables and
coping with extra homework
were all common issues the Year
7s had to deal with. Within two
weeks it was as if these students
had never been to another school
as they effortlessly made the
transition into Highvale life.
Prior to heading off to Camp
Rumbug, an information night
and parent barbeque was held
at the College. This gave the
teachers, parents and students a
chance to get to know each other
better and have any questions
answered regarding Highvale
life. On the 27th of February, four
coaches arrived at the College to
transport the Year 7s to Camp
Rumbug. After a wet start at
Wilson’s Promontory, students
rotated through a challenging
array of adventure activities
including abseiling, a giant swing,
ropes courses and canoeing.
Crystal Luong celebrated her
birthday on the second day of
camp and had 170 people to
party with during our disco
and movie night. I know all of
the students enjoyed getting to
know the staff who attended the
camp, and without our excellent
teachers the camp would not
have been possible.
As part of the transition to life
at a secondary college, Year 7
students were allocated groups
assigned to a trained Year 11
Peer Support leader. The role
of the peer support leader was
to conduct weekly supervised
activity sessions. During this time
students were able to interact
with other students in a friendly
and supported environment.
This also provided them with the
opportunity to meet and interact
with a student from the senior
school. Students participated
in a range of activities which
reinforced their self-confidence
and team spirit.
Sport and music always feature
heavily on the Highvale program
for the year, and Year 7 students
acquitted themselves very well in
these pursuits. The boys’ baseball
and cricket teams, boys’ and
girls’ table tennis teams and the
girls’ badminton team all made it
through the region finals. Ernie
Tham was our star swimmer
and made it through to the state
finals. Kael Rushton was our
athletics champion and Ash Hall
dominated the golf competition,
making it through to the state
championships. We had many
fantastic musicians, some who
began playing instruments for
the first time. The students
developed so well that they
could perform in front of parents
and peers at the annual Junior
Concert.
During Term 2 notable Australian
athletes and dancers arrived at
Highvale as part of our ‘Coach
Approach’ sessions during focus
group, and guided the students
through taekwondo and hip hop
dancing classes. The students
of 7.6 were crowned the indoor
soccer champions during our
Term 3 lunchtime competition.
By December, final Year 7
classes were completed and the
December program of games, zoo
excursions and other activities
commenced. It was also pleasing
to see so many volunteers help
out with the Grade 6 orientation
day in December, giving up a day
off school to proudly show off
their school to next year’s crop of
new students.
It has been a pleasure working
with this group of students, their
families and teachers to deliver
a successful Year 7 program in
2013. I look forward to watching
them progress through the rest
of their high school years.
7
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9
It was my pleasure to work with the Year 8 cohort of 2013 as their
coordinator. The students eased into the school year smoothly and very
quickly established themselves as a cooperative and keen group of students.
Throughout this year, Year 8 students enjoyed success in sports. The
boys’ squash team made it to the state finals, the boys’ table tennis team
made it to the regional finals and we had a number of Year 8 students
representing the school in district athletics. I would like to mention one
young man in particular: Dylan Knight, who represented the school at
the state athletics finals in triple jump and also the Victorian All Schools
Athletics competition. Congratulations to everyone involved in these
competitions.
Visiting speakers gave some fantastic presentations, as mentioned in the
Junior School Report.
At the end of the year 76 students, alongside myself, Mrs Thorpe, Mrs
Dimou, Miss Taylor, Miss Vujovic, Mr Korlos, Mr West and Mr Zvirbulis,
made their way to Tasmania for a four day tour of the Apple Isle. The
group was split in two due to the large number of participants. Both
groups enjoyed the ghost tour at Port Arthur, a disco cruise on the Derwent River, the Cadbury Chocolate Factory and many other memorable
adventures. Everyone involved had a fantastic time and it was a fitting
end to a successful and busy year. I would like to take the opportunity to
extend my gratitude to all students and colleagues involved in the camp.
The Tasmania trip would not have been the success it was if not for their
enthusiasm and dedication.
This year has been a special one and I would like to thank the Year 8 cohort of 2013 for being an outstanding group of young people, who leave
me with warm memories of the time we spent together. I wish them all
the best as they progress into Year 9. I am certain they will continue to
be the same energetic, understanding and empathetic group of students I
met at the start of this year.
10
11
2013 has been a busy year for the Year 9 students. Academically, students
have been challenged with exams in all subjects in both Semesters 1 and
2, as well as an increasing workload as they build towards entry to the
Senior School and, for some, beginning a first VCE subject in 2014.
There have been many opportunities for students to bond with their
peers and enjoy extra-curricular activities, such as the Swimming and
Athletics carnivals, inter-school sports competitions, music performances and excursions. There was even the chance to enjoy some pizza during
focus group, to do some skiing or snowboarding as part of the Mount
Buller ski day, take part in the Melbourne Game city experience and, of
course, to travel to Canberra in December to participate in our yearly
camp.
A big thank you to all of the Year 9 teachers for the work they have put
in to help our students this year. I would also like to thank the parents of
our Year 9s for all of the support they have given their children in 2013.
I have been extremely fortunate to be able to work with a wonderful
group of students this year. I sincerely wish them all the best for 2014
and beyond.
12
13
2013 has been a very busy and
successful year for the senior
students at Highvale Secondary
College. I have indeed been very
fortunate to have been a part of it
all as Head of Senior School. There
were many highlights and I have
had the privilege of attending many
extra-curricular activities such as the
Year 10 Study Skills Conference at
Phillip Island, the VCE Formal, Year
11 Debutante Ball and the Year 12
Graduation Dinner. The Focus Group
sessions every Wednesday during
14
Period 4 continued to be an integral
part of the Senior School program
and students participated in many
varied educational and wellbeing
activities. They were also fortunate
to have several guest speakers
from external organisations share
with them strategies for success in
their academic and personal lives.
Senior students have continued to
work diligently and conscientiously
to achieve academic excellence as
well as embrace all other aspects
of the Highvale community. I look
forward to working with the Senior
School students next year and hope
I can positively guide them towards
reaching their full potential. I would
particularly like to wish the Year
12 students all the very best as
they embark on new and exciting
challenges and hope they take with
them very fond memories of Highvale
Secondary College.
2013 has been a big year for the
Year 10 cohort. It began with
the transition from the Junior to
Senior School and with that a new
set of expectations and goals for
the year ahead. For many, Year
10 was their first exposure to the
processes involved with beginning
and completing the VCE. This
came with a change in focus that
involved linking their schooling to
future education, possible careers
paths and a life beyond the walls of
Highvale Secondary College.
This year also marked a change in
scenery with the group packing up
and relocating their lockers, four
square court and social lives from
the south-east corner of the school
to the north-west corner, a move
that symbolically mirrored the
scale of the changes that lay ahead
as part of the Senior School. I can
happily say that the cohort embraced
this transition and Term 1 went off
without a hitch.
The first major event of the year
was the camp at Philip Island at
the start of Term 2. The purpose of
the camp was team building and
the development of leadership
qualities by getting the students
to participate in activities well
outside their comfort zones. These
activities included the giant swing,
high ropes and surfing to name a
few. There was exemplary team
work displayed during the laser
tag activity and the natural leaders
of the group stood up during
the team rescue activity, helping
engineer their group’s successful
escape from a croc-infested
swamp whilst managing to carry
an injured (headless mannequin)
team member on a stretcher the
whole way. It wasn’t all hard work;
the night at the penguins gave the
group an opportunity to relax, bond
and further develop their sense of
community. Camp also involved the
first of many study-focused sessions
with the Elevate group. The session
was very well received by all and
capped off a highly successful camp,
where the Year 10s impressed us and
themselves with their courage and
determination and represented the
school in an exemplary manner.
Term 3 began with the inaugural
Year 10 conference to kick start our
focus on planning for the future.
Students also spent a considerable
amount of time during Focus Group
sessions on Wednesdays planning
for their future. Mrs Batrouney ran
a variety of VCE workshops related
to appropriate course selection
for Years 11 and 12 by exploring
possible university and TAFE
qualifications and future career
paths. An information night and
tutorial sessions were also run to
get all the parents involved in the
process, not to mention individual
course interviews for each student.
Many thanks go to Mrs Batrouney
for all the effort she has put in to
the support of our Year 10 students
and parents during this sometimes
complicated transition.
Another focus for Year 10 this
year was road safety, the purpose
of which was to complement the
application for a Learner’s Permit
and to enlighten the students to the
issues involved in being a young
driver. Sessions included the Keys
Please program and the accessible
yet confronting session presented by
John Mahers who lost his daughter in
a traffic accident.
2013 has been a very successful and
productive year for the cohort and
2014 promises to be even bigger.
Many of the group will begin to
explore their leadership potential in
their role as mentors as part of the
Peer Support program. An equally
large group will be heading out on
the Central Australia tour, a once in
a lifetime experience. The majority
will be heading into VCE, the next
big challenge for the group, and I
wish them all the best. Lastly I would
like to highlight and congratulate
the students who are moving on
from Highvale to explore alternative
pathways. This is an exceptionally
difficult decision, leaving their
friends and comfort zone to head
out into the greater community, and
I wish them every success moving
forward.
15
16
The Year 11s this year have
been busy both in and out of the
classroom. Smarter than most
of the Year 12s were my Health
Girls, Angela, Bita, Lauren, Kate,
Bri, Aditi, Rachel and Adele
K. Tossing disks and pushing
uniform regulations were both
sports for Cambie, David, Sam,
Yianni, Varun, Justin, Paco, Scott,
Toby, Andrew G., Jackson, Daniel, Hayden, Mitch, Nathan W.
and Kiera’s boy Ben. Soccer was
more popular than homework
with Michael, Henry, noisy David,
Inhwan, Raymond, Richard, Ket,
Navin, Mohit and Eric, and Dan
loves basketball. Cute couples
included Tabatha and Logan,
Bec and Liam and Courtney
and Justin. Some tried to make
fashion statements; Josh with his
rat’s tail, Tiana and Maddy with
their nose rings, Nayana with
her black socks and Faith could
even look cool in her full school
uniform.
Jasmine, Shermali and Daniel
starred at the Athletics Carnival
while Maddy S. is a cycling champion. Andrew B., Conchris and
Reno are like three musketeers
and Shaza and Hannan are Mrs
Valentine’s Persian Princesses.
Some Year 11s are very hard to
track down like Frank, Jeremy,
Jack F., Elisa and sometimes,
Anvi. Jay and Glen look like
brothers and, even though they
share a surname, Amanda, Charlotte and Jason are not related.
We have new leaders for next
year in Scott, Sarah, Paul, Aartika,
Jisu, Kevin and Rachael. There
are artists in this year level like
Derren, Roseanne, Katherine,
Ellyn and Adele N. and musicians
like Jennifer. We have the strong
silent types such as David B.,
Asher, Jason I., Jason V., Daniel K.,
Jack L., Jack W., Shane, David W.,
Matt and Luke.
Jackson is a fish and Yelda only
travels in one direction. Nathan
is quirky, Chelsea is glamorous, Emma loves cooking, Angie
loves hair colours, Michael J. is
very smart and Chris has a great
beard. Emily C. and Maddy G. are
the first in their families to reach
Year 12. Millie loves literature,
Sithara really looks like her sister
and Hayley and Michaela remind
me of Snow White and Rose Red.
Sugy, Amal, Tanvi, Meng and Lee
are usually serious while Jaymie,
Jessie, Zoe, Emily, Chloe, Renee,
Katherine, Georgina and Amy see
the funny side of life. Peter and
Nick M. are real gentlemen.
Josh, Nicole and Naomi M. are
all deep thinkers and Annuparma wants to be a businesswoman. Jamieson prefers to be
called Jamie, Chantal is Channy
and Diedre has a name a bit
like mine. Tasha is an outdoors
woman, Chrysten loves Media,
Brooke likes to help, Aishwarya
is on crutches and Shannen
seems to have settled on a hair
colour. I think Danielle could be
Prime Minister. Sophie, Naomi
H., Lauren, Allana and Liam have
the best smiles and Megan has
the curliest hair. Ceinwen has a
Welsh name and Jade’s surname
is a tongue twister. Sonea is good
at chemistry, Victoria is wise, Nik
is always running late and Sean
often looks surprised. Rebecca is
mysterious and Matt is priceless.
Goodbye to Ellie, Gabby, Kevin
and Katrina and good luck to
everybody else next year. You will
blitz Year 12!
17
The year that was 2013 was a most successful and
enjoyable year! We blinked and found ourselves at
the end, facing the dreaded end-of-year examinations. However, with steady determination and
preparation our Year 12 students completed the examinations with, in fact, smiles and confidence! 2013
was certainly fast-paced, constructive, eventful and
most of all rewarding for all involved.
A number of guest speakers provided avenues and
tips for students to maintain motivation and to stay
‘on track’. Our day-long Year 12 conference had our
Year 12 students ‘pumped’ as Darren Pereira and
his DJ provided valuable advice regarding study and
time management skills. Bob Hillman, VCE English
assessor, was insightful as he presented his seminars
regarding VCE English and how to succeed. Elpa
Theodorakis supported our Year 12 students with
motivational speeches and advice on success with the
GAT, and of course the most insightful Sonja Karras
painted a very graphic understanding of partying and
how to stay safe!
The year also included many activities that saw the
18
cohort develop strong friendships, a sense of camaraderie, compassion and respect for each other. The
more memorable of these activities included our
Highvale Swimming and Athletics Carnivals, the Year
12 Formal, Pyjama Day, fundraising for the RSPCA,
the annual Year 11 and 12 football match (which, of
course, the Year 12 team won!) and our annual pancake breakfast that entertained all Year 12 students
and teachers with an award-winning Year 12 ‘movie’
and hilarious awards. Looking back on the year, one
cannot help but smile given all the wonderful memories!
All the days of 2013 led to the finale: our Year 12
Graduation dinner, which was held at the Caulfield
Racecourse on Saturday 26th October. It was a special and emotional night for the College community
as we all reminisced on the past six years, focused
on the highlights and fond memories of the Class
of 2013, and presented awards for excellence, hard
work and community service.
But the year would not have been such a success if
it were not for the support of the Senior Sub-School
team – Mrs Helen Gogos, Mrs Deirdre Craig and Mr
Jason Galle – and all Year 12 subject teachers and
Focus Group teachers. Thank you to all.
The positivity and genuine nature of the Year 12
cohort have made the position of Year 12 Coordinator a most gratifying and rewarding one. I would like
to congratulate all graduates of 2013 and wish, to
each, a most exciting and happy life and all the best in
whatever education and career options they undertake in the future.
19
YEAR 12 SUBJECT AWARDS
Accounting
Shweta Bapat
Biology
Giang To
Further Mathematics
Shweta Bapat
Ferdous Abbasszadeh
Jacqueline Tang
Alice Roe
Chemistry
Darren Low
Mathematical Methods Mandy Chai
Dylan Fitzmaurice
Business Management
Madison Nichols
Billy Simpson
Economics
Darren Low
English
Jordan Grimston
Lauren Caspersz
Shweta Bapat
April Stok
Madaline Curtin
English (EAL)
Victor Teoh
Lulu Li
Food and Technology
Alice Roe
Geography
Sarah Blakemore
MAJOR PRIZES
The Junior Years Award
The Literacy Award
Food Technology
Thompson Award
Kwong Lee Dow
Young Scholars Program
The Monash Scholars
Program
The Australian Defence
Force Leadership &
Teamwork Award
22
Kylie Cohen
Nicholas Bariesheff
Emma Thomson
Sam Knight
Nicholas Bariesheff
Katherine Chalmers
Jeanette Kok
Jessica Manuelpillai
Nicholas Bariesheff
Jay Williams-Virgona
MEMORIAL AWARDS
Wolfgang Kleinert
Technology Award
Jessica McLeod Visual and
Performing Arts Award
Kerry White Memorial Award
Mt Waverley Rotary Club
Judith Denton Award
Spencer Shadbolt
Emily Chalmers
Emily Crockett
Lauren Caspersz
YEAR 12 MAJOR AWARDS
Mt Waverley Rotary
Matthew Joyce
Darren Lai
VCE Achiever Award
Sarah Blakemore
Caltex All-Rounder Award
Shweta Bapat
YEAR LEVEL AWARDS
Health And Human
Development
Sarah Blakemore
Michelle Edwards
Australian History
Samaantha Froelich
Literature
Sarah Wing-Tang
LOTE: German
Darren Lai
Legal Studies
Billy Simpson
Specialist Mathematics Shweta Bapat
Music Performance Junying Li
Media
Melissa Yeap
Outstanding Academic
Performance
Outstanding Service to the
College
YEAR 7
Archana Jeyapalan
Jessica Vuong
Zac Tran
Carly Hewett
Sarah Duncan
Bryan Hung
YEAR 7
Carly Hewett
Sarah Duncan
Joshua Trippett
Catrin Embury
Dermott Chiang
Elizabeth Barratt
Ashleigh Hollins
Olivia Coutts
YEAR 8
Harrison Breeuwsma
Jessica Lam
Sophie Huang
Amanda Low
YEAR 9
Rebecca Rasmussen
Outdoor and
Anushka Agarwal
Environmental Studies
Sarah How
Dylan Timtschenko
Hazel Low
Charlotte Roe
Product Design
Toby Pamment
and Technology Samuel Wardenaar
YEAR 10
Briony How
Reema Chakravarty
Phoebe Cleyne
Physics
Katherine Chalmers
Jacqueline Tang
Jeanette Kok
Janine Kwok
Psychology Hui Li
Tiah Egan
Jessica Manuelpillai
Briony How
Samantha Ngo
Aimi Shahrum
Studio Arts Jessica Kourouniotis
Briony How
YEAR 11
Visual Communication
Rachael Anderson
Design
Sarah Broome
Danielle Cochrane
Scott Ebrington
Tanvi Gokhale
Music Awards
Christopher Hill
Sharelle Chan
Michael Jones
Catherine Hill
Richard Lee
Lily Paton
Jason Liu
Giang To
Naomi Martyszus
Crystal Yap
Amelia Reeves
Melissa Yeap
Sonea Surash Kumar
Junying Li
Marc Zorin
YEAR 8
Alisha Manuelpillai
Vikashnee Hill
Jessica Lam
Stephen Samarniotis
YEAR 9
Emily Palmer
Tina Anagnostou
Elysia Gomez
Cale Bourke
Hao Gen Chiew
Denham London
YEAR 10
Nicholas Bariesheff
Rema Chakravarty
Sam Knight
Hui Li
Rachel Yap
James Yardis
Jessica Manuelpillai
YEAR 11
Angela Ajamyan
Rachael Anderson
Paul Divitcos
Brooke Junginger
Bieta Kamyab
Nicholas Meres
23
SUBJECT AWARDS - Most Outstanding
SUBJECT AWARDS - Most Improved
ACCELERATED VCE AWARDS
UNITS 1 & 2
Mathematical Methods
General Mathematics
Geography
Accounting
Legal Studies SPORT AWARDS
Elva Yao
Mitchell Cass
Reema Chakravarty
Nicholas Bariesheff
Jonathan Maclarn
Jeanette Kok
UNITS 3 & 4
Mathematical Methods
Richard Lee
Legal StudiesSuganyaa Vishnuraj
HistoryTanvi Gokhale
Music Performance
Jennifer McCluskey
Further Mathematics
Glen Ly
Food Technology
Emma Thomson
GeographyDanielle Foster
Business Management
Anuparma Agarwal
Design & Technology
Angella Herbig
Health & Human
Development
Angela Ajamyan
24
Year 7
Nicholas Smith
Sarah Duncan
Year 8
Dylan Knight
Jessica Squires
Year 9
Joshua Anderson
Jayne Blakemore
Year 10
Hui Li
Year 11
Daniel Gibcus
Richard Lee
25
Physical
Education
2013 has been another busy year for the Physical
Education learning area with students involved in
both a variety of internal activities and excursions. We
have continued our relationship with the Melbourne
Taekwondo Centre in Glen Waverley with students in
the Individual Sports elective completing a four-week
program to develop their skills and challenge themselves
through their involvement. Students in the Recreation and
Leisure program have been able to participate in learning
opportunities not available at the College through their
excursions, with successful outings to the rockclimbing
centre and ice-skating rink.
To celebrate Health and Physical education week in early
September, students in Years 7 and 8 participated in the
Adidas School Fun Run. Students and teachers ran and
walked three kilometres around the local area, with the
Year 11 PE class cheering them on. Students raised $1936
which will go towards future projects in the PE and Sport
area, with the top fundraiser Emma Crutchley (Year 7)
raising $250 on her own – an outstanding effort.
2014 will see some exciting changes in both the PE and
Health areas with the introduction of a new compulsory
Health and Physical Education unit in Years 7-10, allowing
all students the opportunity to participate in a variety of
specialised activities and further develop their skills.
Year 7 students are required to complete a research
project into the history of sport, including the biography
of a famous athlete. The following report by Jacob Sadler
(Year 7) provided information regarding a famous athlete
in the Sadler family…
In all his
J a m e s S a d l e rrand Father. James has been known by himsanfoyotnabamlleste. am
(after his
of
ly
y Great, Great G
d Katie by the rest
lle
ca
en
ev
was born on 28 Ju
James Sadler is m
as
es
w
m
he
Ja
)
d
e.
an
ad
m
Jim
he
as
own
ith 135
ery decision
records he was kn
ars (1908-1917) w
r permission for ev
ye
fo
d
10
r
ke
fo
as
s
ed
ay
st
w
la
al
ll are rivals.
football career
mother who he
who were and sti
on
ngwood. James’s
lli
rlt
Co
Ca
r
t
fo
ns
ai
ed
ag
ay
which is
rs
pl
ie
1886 and
in the back pocket
es won the prem
m
off
Ja
d
10
te
ar
19
st
In
e
s.
H
.
al
d the
games and 5 go
put in the wing an
finals but lost them
t
d
go
an
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gr
r
an
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er
ot
ay
o
pl
t
d tw
r being a grea
James also entere
best playen got noticed fo
th
t
bu
e
nc
ned as one of the
fe
de
tio
en
of
e
m
t
lin
go
st
d
la
e
an
until
th
d’s better players
he really shone in
oo
ns
w
tio
ng
si
lli
po
Co
e
of
os
e
Th
centre.
when
k! He was on
of his injuries and
nearly every wee
e
nd
us
ou
ca
gr
be
e
th
off
e
on
s
tim
t
er
d
m. This really upse
reer where he ha
hi
ca
t
s
ou
hi
ab
of
s
en
ar
ott
ye
rg
st
the la
e they’d fo
aking a
llingwood acted lik
llingwood were m
Co
ll
te
d
ul
co
ho
he came back Co
ue w
even though
friend Dan Minog
r Richmond, but
fo
d
oo
him and his close
w
ng
lli
Co
ing
ed Dan to quit
in he kept on hang
e
m
ga
a
t
ge
mistake. This caus
to
g
lin
his time
e that was strugg
he retired. During
re
he
James was the on
w
)
31
d
ge
ven a
ood till 1917 (a
es. He even got gi
hi
op
tr
d
an
on with Collingw
es
at
fic
got a very
ts of medals, certi
Dick Lee. He also
om
fr
)
he had earned lo
er
ld
ho
ll
faba
ped as a foot
e now at my Grand
ar
s
m
ite
e
giant trophy (sha
es
th
hip with
e records. Most of
ered life members
off
rare book of all th
so
al
as
w
he
at have their
n he retired
nt generations th
re
ffe
di
in
ther ’s place. Whe
l
al
le
ndfae are also 4 peop
hed (my Great Gra
is
pl
m
co
ac
he
Collingwood. Ther
t
wha
ed after him and
middle name nam
yself).
m
d
her, my dad an
ther, my grandfat
ear 7)
By Jacob Sadler (Y
26
Health
Year 9 and 10 students undertaking the
subject ‘Child Development’ spent an
afternoon with the preps at Highvale
Primary School. Their task was to
create an activity to promote cognitive
or physical development in young
children. The games created were
entertaining and varied and included
memory games and activities which
developed fine motor skills. Fun was
had by all!
27
Sporting
champions
District Swimming
The Highvale swimming team competed against Glen
Waverley, Mount Waverley, Vermont and Ashwood Secondary
schools at district swimming on March 7th. Congratulations
to the following place-getters in their respective age groups:
Shannon O’Connell: 2nd in 200m free, 3rd in 50m fly
Sarah Duncan: 2nd in 50m breast
Ernie Tham: 2nd in 50m breast, back and free, 1st in 50m fly
Elijah O’Connell: 2nd in 50m breast, 3rd in 50m free
Brooke Junginger: 3rd in 50m breast
Jackson Cook: 1st in 50m fly, free, back and 100m back
Chloe Pearson: 3rd in 50m back
Kade Gerrard: 2nd in 50m back
Alex Rodger: 3rd in 50m back
Ryan Schacher: 1st in U21 diving
Elijah O’Connell, Edwin Li, Kade Gerrard and Ernie Tham: 3rd
in 4x50m medley relay
A special congratulations to Jackson Cook, Ernie Tham, Ryan
Schacher and the boys’ relay team who progressed to Region
Finals.
Baseball Region Finalists
The Year 7 team and Year 9/10 team both made the
region finals. Special thanks to the Year 9 coaches
Briana Brehaut and Nicholas Mason for giving up
their time and effort to coach the team at lunchtimes
and after school in the months leading up to the
finals.
Golf Region Finalist
Congratulations to Ashley Hall (Year 7) who was the
runner up in the Eastern Metropolitan Region Junior
Golf Finals. She also competed at state level.
28
State Squash
Year 7 & 8 Girls Division
State Runners Up: Shannon
O’Connell, Jessica Squires
and Meg Anderson
State Table Tennis
Henry Chan, Michael Chan,
Richard Lee and Yianni Papadimitriou came third in
the state in the senior boys
division.
District Cross Country
Kieran Barrett: 1st, Under 13 boys
Sarah Duncan: 4th, Under 13 girls
Patrick Nelson: 5th, Under 14 boys
Josh Anderson: 10th, Under 15 boys
Cross-country Region Finalist
Congratulations to Kieran Barrett (Year 7)
who placed 8th in the Eastern Metropolitan
Region Cross-country Finals.
Region Athletics
Dylan Knight, Daniel Gibcus,
Maeghan D’Argaville, Patrick
Nelson and Georgios Avgerinos
represented the school at Region
level. Dylan received 1st place,
while Daniel and Maeghan
were 2nd in their events.
Congratulations to all!
District Athletics
Sarah Duncan: 1st in 1500m, 2nd in 800m
Liana Rhodes: 1st in 800m, 1st in 400m
Patrick Nelson: 2nd in 800m
Georgios Avgerinos: 1st in Javelin
Dylan Knight: 1st in 100m, 200m and triple jump
Sam Knight: 1st in shot put
Daniel Cini: 1st in 1500m
Maeghan D’Argaville: 1st in high jump
Daniel Gibcus: 1st in hurdles, 2nd in 800m
Dylan Knight and Daniel Gibcus were awarded age
group champions.
29
The 2013 Highvale Swimming Carnival was held at Monash Aquatic and
Recreation Centre on the 13th of February. Well done to all students who
competed and supported their house.
It was a fantastic day, enjoyed by all,
and the third year in a row Dampiera
has won. The points tally for the day
was:
1st: Dampiera (828 points)
2nd: Acacia (481 points)
3rd: Melaleuca (338 points)
4th: Grevillea (317 points)
School swimming champions
Junior Boys: Kade Gerrard
Junior Girls: Shannon O’Connell
Senior Boys: Jackson Cook
Senior Girls: Brooke Junginger
The Athletics Carnival was
held at the Bill Sewart
Athletics Track on the 25th
of July. Congratulations to all
who competed. The points
tally for the day was:
1st: Acacia (1474 points)
2nd: Dampiera (1448 points)
3rd: Melaleuca (964 points)
4th: Grevillea (880 points)
School athletics champions
Junior Girls: Nicola Junginger
Junior Boys: Kael Rushton
Senior Girls: Jasmine Xiong
Senior Boys: Daniel Gibcus
Age group champions
Under 13 boys: Ernie Tham
Under 13 girls: Sarah Duncan
Under 14 boys: Kade Gerrard
Under 14 girls: Shannon O’Connell
Under 15 boys: Ben Edwards
Under 16 boys: Mitchell Cass
Under 16 girls: Brooke Junginger
Under 17 boys: Jackson Cook
Under 17 girls: Ellyn Hunt
Under 21 boys: Scott McInerney
Under 21 girls: Crystal Yap
30
31
Outdoor
Education
32
It has been another busy and exciting year
for Outdoor Education at Highvale Secondary
College with the continuation of VCE Outdoor
and Environmental Studies at Year 11 and Year
12. The two groups have travelled to many
distant locations within Victoria: developing
their camping skills with bushwalks at the
Brisbane Ranges; hiking the tall forests of the
Otways on land and over 50m-high platforms;
cross-country skiing and snow camping in
negative temperatures at Mt Stirling; downhill
skiing and snowboarding at Mt Hotham in
chalet accommodation; flat-water canoeing
on the mighty Murray River; surfing in Apollo
Bay and Torquay; and snorkelling amongst
sleepy Port Jackson sharks at Blanket Bay. A
huge thankyou to all staff members, especially
Mrs Cook, Mr Sloane and Ms Parker, as well
as casual staff who assisted on our trips and
made these experiences possible for all the
students.
The classes were exceptional with their
preparation and willingness to try new
activities in foreign environments and they
have developed a strong understanding about
the environments that exist around Victoria as
well as the skills required to safely participate
in outdoor activities. Students have met plenty
of obstacles along the way and handled them
with excellent behaviour and diligence.
To all our graduating Year 12 Outdoor
Ed students, good luck with your future
endeavours and congratulations to all our
students on a successful year. We look forward
to a busy and exciting 2014.
ADVANCE
This year, in the College’s Advance Program,
twenty-one students took part in a subject building
leadership skills, independence and community
engagement incorporating both practical activities
and classroom-based learning. The students were
also given the opportunity to complete the Duke of
Edinburgh, an internationally
recognised achievement
of physical recreation and
community engagement. The
students who have completed this
program have not only helped
their local communities but seen a
great deal of personal growth and
enjoyment from their actions.
The class began the semester by
completing their Level 1 Basic
First Aid through Life Saving
Victoria, providing them with the
necessary skills, including CPR
and injury treatment, for their
adventurous journeys and life in
the community.
This quickly moved on to
preparation for two Adventurous
Journeys which included
sessions on tent and Trangia
use, navigation and compass
skills, practice walks at the
1000 Steps and group activities. This year, the
Advance Bushwalk gave students the opportunity
to improve on their bushwalking and camping skills
and experience different environments around
Victoria. They began with a two-day walk in the
Yarra Ranges near Warburton. This walk was based
around introducing students to carrying their
lives on their backs and surviving without modern
technology, during which students dealt with
different adversities including thunderstorms, rain,
cold temperatures and ideal weather
for leeches. This camp served as a
precursor to the return to Wilson’s
Promontory for a three-day hike.
Unfortunately, due to inclement
weather, the camp was revised to a
base camp in Tidal River with day
walks. This camp still managed to
challenge students and staff with
heavy rain and winds combined with
several curious wombats who found
their way into students’ tents only
to be wrestled out by staff members.
Students still managed to find some
time for bushwalking on Squeaky
Beach and in the mangroves of the
northern half of the Prom. Sadly the
camp was called off due to flooding
in the region and we were forced to
return home after two adventurefilled days. A huge thankyou to Ms
Silverii, Mrs Cook and casual staff for
their contribution to this program
and making it possible with their assistance both
at school and whilst on camps. We have had a very
fulfilling year and look forward to providing these
opportunities again in 2014.
33
English and
Literacy
2013 has been yet another busy year in many facets
for English at Highvale Secondary College. Along
with many success stories in a range of competitions,
there was also a lot of talk about and planning for
the new National AusVELS English Curriculum to be
implemented next year.
There were again many literacy activities, competitions and author visits during Literacy Week at
Highvale. Traditionally teachers and authors have
run Literacy Week workshops and competitions.
However, this year for the first time, there were
literacy activities and competitions also organised
and run by students themselves. This also led to the
increased participation of students in the activities.
This year’s Literacy Week theme was ‘Read Across
the Universe’. On the Wednesday at lunchtime,
students and staff came in costumes for that longtime favourite activity of the week, the Fashion
Parade. The panel of judges, which consisted of
English teachers, decided the winners of this year’s
34
best-dressed students and staff for the theme. Both
students and staff were awarded with many special
prizes. Mr Cherry won the best-dressed teacher
award with his Dr Manhattan costume.
Mr Scully again happily ran the daily Literacy quiz
as well as Spelling Bee competitions together with
myself and Mr Cherry, who ran the 3-minute short
story competitions again, giving away prizes which
included book vouchers, books, badges and film and
theatre tickets. In addition, as part of the Reading
Hour initiative, all Years 7-10 students had to ‘DROP
EVERYTHING and READ’ for ten minutes at the start
of each morning. Students who brought along their
favourite books and regularly read each morning
were then nominated and awarded with prizes and
certificates.
This year we had more competitive representation
in English than the previous years in inter-school
English competitions. As the success of our Debating
teams continued with teams making it to the state
finals, there were also the successes of individual students competing in a range of English competitions.
Sam Knight (Year 10) performed better than most of
the students from local private schools to advance to
the semi-finals of Rotary’s 4-Way Speaking Competition while Jessica Manuelpillai (Year 10) and Adelle
Nafiz (Year 11) both advanced to regional finals of
the Plain English Speaking Competition organised by
the VCAA.
Congratulations to all the students for participating
and showing enormous bravery, skill and knowledge
to achieve such a high level of success. I would like
to encourage all other students to take part in these
competitions next year, as they not only help develop
and build confidence in English but also offer invaluable experience while travelling to external venues
and representing Highvale with pride.
Following a two-year planning and trialling period,
this year we had team curriculum planning days
where teams of teachers spent a day planning for
the new AusVELS English curriculum documents to
be implemented within the new Highvale English
structure in 2014. This new structure will see all the
Literature units included in the mainstream core
English classes for Years 9 and 10, in addition to new
English elective units. Hence, students in Years 9 and
10 will be able to have more English time than in
previous years.
Furthermore, the new English elective units are
designed to lay the groundwork and have precise
pathways that lead into the VCE English outcomes.
They provide students with more opportunities to
prepare and develop advanced English skills before
they make their choices for VCE English and beyond.
With these new changes, the integrated structure
reinforced by new English Elective Units and the introduction of VCE English Language, there is so much
to be excited about for English at Highvale in 2014.
35
g
n
i
t
i
r
W
e
v
i
Creat
o
u
D
c
i
m
a
n
y
D
e
h
T
ear 7)
By Adam Wong (Y
the small town
in the shadows of
s
de
hi
e
ag
an
ph
or
n. Vindictive,
fortunate childre
ne, the Clearwater
ur
un
t
bo
os
el
m
M
’s
of
ia
t
or
ar
ct
lk when he
Vi
In the he
only decided to ta
k housed some of
ho
ac
w
sh
k,
d
ic
le
tr
fil
Pa
er
d
ov
an
e
sb
ere forced
Caspers. Th
d leaders. They w
rwater and her hu
an
ea
rs
Cl
a
ne
rk
ow
Za
e
t
ag
en
ol
sands
phan
ignorant and vi
ement, when thou
, they were the or
tir
ds
re
ki
e
rly
th
ea
r
of
ei
e
th
on
tment of Serhalfway through
barked an order to
the unjust Depar
e industry when
of
th
e
us
to
in
ca
t
be
en
es
m
m
rn
ho
by the gove
rt of their own
y rise.
n from the comfo
ke
ta
e
r room
er
w
nts asking for a pa
ds
ki
re
pa
of
g
tin
rio
were sitting in ou
,
to
ds
ol
ity
or
ar
th
ye
n
au
r
te
ei
We were filled
r and I, innocent
vices, to prove th
our new phones.
t my twin brothe
on
gh
ni
ys
e
ke
th
e
r
th
be
ng
si
ed steps
em
pres
I still rem
r scream, and rush
actually secretly
he
t
ot
bu
m
y
ep
m
le
d
as
ar
be
he
I
as four.
en
pretending to
plosion when I w
excitement. But th
ex
d
e
in
an
t
m
a
en
tm
om
fr
en
g
nt
le
small
with elation, co
d, with his crook
d knocking over a
da
ar
y
m
rw
fo
as
w
w
at
fle
Th
or
.
airs
s, when the do
to us. I still
stagger up the st
beneath our quilt
eaty, rushed over
om
sw
fr
d
s
an
ve
d
el
re
rs
d,
ou
da
We revealed
hood toys. My
our favourite child
ld
he
d as fast
at
th
t
ne
bi
ca
ay as you can, an
aw
r
fa
.
as
ds
n
or
ru
w
t
to
ac
you. I want you
en in the black
remember his ex
its are coming for
ve a talk to the m
su
ha
k
e
w
ac
bl
ce
e
on
th
u
in
yo
“The men
come back for
mother and I will
to
as you can. Your
refully grabbing on
ca
,
w
do
in
w
r
ou
n
r jackets into
descended dow
suits.”
nd. We stuffed ou
al backpacks and
ou
tic
gr
en
e
id
th
r
d
ou
he
d
uc
be
to
dI
us, my brother
We grab
so my brother an
hts were chasing
or
lig
e
g
in
ut
in
er
m
pe
a
o
er
tw
on
the men in
the tree. Aft
wn the street. So
’t run any faster;
do
dn
d
ul
te
co
rin
e
w
sp
t
d
Bu
an
ed it
uld.
our backpacks,
ingshot, and load
as we possibly co
sl
st
y
fa
m
t
as
ou
n
d
ra
e
lle
w
pu
I
as
last attempt,
metre behind
gripped my hand
us. In a desperate
ctly at the man a
re
ht
di
ug
it
ca
d
ed
m
ha
ai
its
d
su
was my brothot, an
the black
back, but where
I had only one sh
.
ok
et
lo
ck
re
po
da
y
’t
m
dn
om
di
banging
.I
with a rock fr
ud to the ground
, in the man’s car,
th
as
w
dy
bo
he
a
e
er
en
Th
th
.
,
er.
face
me. I heard a yelp
y mother and fath
scaded down my
m
ca
s
ve
ar
ha
t
te
n’
as
ld
,
er
ou
st
w
I
d fa
up; I knew
nds in the air,
er? I ran faster an
could. I had to give
ver. I lifted my ha
re
he
fo
as
ep
ud
ke
lo
to
as
ed
w
unwaverneed
on the windo
brother. He had an
ved one I knew I
y
lo
m
st
te
la
si
e
th
po
as
op
w
d
r
r be
mpe
My twin brothe
my life would neve
r, where I was du
h,
ca
rt
e
fo
th
t
to
en
in
e
om
m
m
d
is
ie
me that from th
and the men carr
was apparent to
It
e.
m
on
ed
at
ing gaze fix
about the
the same.
had a nightmare
I’d
e,
tim
h
dt
re
e Clearwater
ce. For the hund
14, and living in th
uring down my fa
am
po
I
t
w
ea
no
t
sw
Bu
ith
k.
w
ac
I wake up
ary men in bl
parents to the sc
and quietlook after.
moment I lost my
y, ragged clothes
rt
to console and to
di
r
y
he
m
ot
on
br
t
y
pu
m
I
ve
finally
s so
orphanage. I ha
him violently. He
and Patrick’s shoe
e
a
ak
rk
sh
Za
I
t
g
in
bu
,
ax
w
ep
t
le
ar
e’s still sound as
I know I have to st
clothes.
Jackson’s room. H
r,
he
ot
br
y
ng on his workman
m
tti
to
pu
school. I
ly
te
ia
ed
ly sneak in
m
of bed im
start work before
t
to
ou
e
av
ps
le
m
d
ju
d
an
an
ile
ries or
sm
springs to life,
e it today, no inju
,” sighs Jackson. I
ak
at
m
th
I
.
e
rs
lik
ai
st
up
n
e
m
de
en, creaky woo
a penalty of a
“Eva, stop waking
ge down the brok
er the door, with
ya
sw
vo
an
s
to
ou
n
er
de
ng
id
da
rb
fo
d grab Zarka’s
make my
the shoe rack, an
doorbell ring. It is
to
e
th
go
I
ar
s.
he
I
ay
yw
en
th
an
eamy
od
worries. But
e the door? My dr
we have much fo
id
at
ts
th
t
ou
no
be
,
d
od
ul
fo
co
, thinking who
scarce amount of
or.
fully polishing them
re
ca
d
an
stomping to the do
ly
s
ow
ep
sl
st
meal for two
ot
fo
y
shoes,
av
he
Zarka’s
you won’t have a
by
or
d
k
te
or
w
up
rr
to
te
ck
in
e
ba
thoughts ar
g peasant. Get
Eva, you disgustin
e
m
an outat
ok
lo
’t
on
“D
catch what the m
to
rd
.
ha
ns
ng
ar
yi
w
tr
y
rs
nl
oes, with my ea
weeks,” Zarka ster
my eyes on the sh
s
cu
fo
d
an
ad
he
I nod my
36
side the door is saying.
He is offering subscripti
ons to the local newspa
waves her arm, creating
per. Zarka glances inside
a whip for an arm. I ga
, then
sp in pure fear and surp
and cackles, slamming
rise. She swings it at th
the door behind her.
e
man
I quickly turn my head
to the shoes, trying ha
rd
not to move, shake or
me and without warning
quiver. Then she walks
whips me in the back of
past
the head. I yelp and co
burning sensation beco
llapse into the ground
ming too much. She th
, the
en goes up the stairs lau
on her way to her room
ghing, whipping all the
.
do
ors
I know I can’t stand an
ymore of this inequali
ty and lack of respect.
son to meet me in my
So today during lunch
room. Careful not to ta
I tell Jacklk to loud, we discuss ou
with our best friend Ke
r plan to escape the or
vin another poor orph
phanage
an. We think of where
notice and when to go
would be best to escape
. We have our plan in fu
without
ll swing that night, and
the same ones we had
begin quietly packing
in our attempt to esca
ou
r bags,
pe the men in the black
After afternoon chores
suits.
, Jackson and I wash th
e
dis
he
I empty mine checking
s before going to our ro
all the contents I need
om to retrieve our bags
are there. Jackson also
.
door is locked and care
does the same. I make
fully put in my only jac
su
re
the
ket that insulates heat
water bottle, my phot
and keeps me cool. I pu
o of our parents, a knife
t in a
and my sixty sharp rock
brother has the same
s for my trusty slingsh
things except he uses
ot. My
a retractable sword, wh
bony, brown-haired Ke
ich he slips into his be
vin slips into my room
lt.
Skinny,
and I tell him to stay be
to run himself.
hind us, and if we don’t
make it
No, at midnight, I creak
open the door. It reveals
th
e
down stairs or we have
pathway to the stairs:
the only two exits are
the option to plummet
out a broken window.
stairs carrying Kevin. I
Jackson first tiptoes do
swiftly and quite reckles
wn the
sly dart down. We take
which leads to the back
the door near the kitch
yard where we plan to
en,
climb the fence and ru
hour run.
n to the train station, a
tw
oJackson pushes the do
or and it reveals a dry,
brown ground, with litt
and beckons me and Ke
le specks of grass. He go
vin. I step outside when
es out
the fresh air blows all
a strangling noise behin
through my face. Then
d me, and Jackson point
I hear
s
be
hind me. I sprint to him
behind me. Zarka is th
ere holding Kevin’s ne
, before I decide to loo
ck
k
with her whip arm.
“Come back children.
Life outside here can be
very hard; we don’t wa
a completely fake tone
nt you getting hurt,” sh
. I laugh and walk furth
e says in
er away.
“Go away, Zarka, and let
go of Kevin, you mons
te
r. When I’m out of here
can’t wait to see you ro
, you’re going to Prison,
t.”
and I
I smirk. Then Jackson he
ads straight at Zarka, sli
cing her whip arm with
pain, and then laughs.
the sword. She scream
Her whole arm is grow
s in
ing back bigger and str
fence. I crawl up and up
onger. I start sprinting
with Jackson just below
to
th
e
me. She whips the botto
violently shake. In eight
m of the fence making
metres of sharp wire,
it
I will have freedom an
up and we climb side by
d I can smell it. Jackson
side. We reach the top
ca
tch
es
an
d
then I balance myself
my slingshot and shoo
on a small ledge. I pull
t it directly into Zarka’s
ou
he
t
art. She falls to the grou
is nowhere to be seen
nd clutching her chest.
when Jackson spots him
Kevin
in the garden lying down
Jackson and I jump off
.
, landing on the path be
low us. I shake now. I re
years I have been outsi
alise this is the first tim
de the orphanage’s wa
e in four
lls. I must hurry though
dred metres in front of
; Jackson is already four
me. I sprint behind him
hun, quickly catching up.
TWO HOURS LATER…
We manage to slip into
a train, heading to New
South Wales. We are su
have one cent so we so
pposed to pay, but we
mehow have to get th
don’t
ro
ugh. Once we’re on, we
the exit. The seats were
settle in the seats close
velvety and plush, engu
st to
lfing me in heaps of co
I am awoken with a th
tton. I begin to drift off
ud, people are scream
.
ing
all
th
build open the doors of
rough the train. A man
and woman of a stock
our private cabin. They
y
laugh and the woman
I tighten the grip on my
says, “Here they are!”
slingshot and Jackson
takes out his sword. Th
“It ’s impossible how co
e couple rip off their ba
uld they have made it
laclavas.
here so quickly.”
Zarka and Patrick are in
front of me, with their
wh
ips as arms. I watch th
the biggest breath of air
em as they stare at us
, as I see death shadow
. I take
ing me. Zarka takes a ste
ing any chances of esca
p forward completely
ping this time. I hold my
blockslingshot poised to shoo
of air, and two second
t Zarka when I hear a wi
s later Zarka and Patrick
sp
ar
e
de
silhouette disappears
ad on the floor, lying in
and I realise Death has
a pool of blood. A dark
given me a reprieve.
37
Creative Writing
The Adventures of L axus
By Grace Zhang (Year 7)
It all started on a Friday night. Everyone tho
ught it was a great night, but not Chloe.
She was being chased by a crazy villain that
wanted her phone number. She sprinted
through the dark, fog gy forest, trying to see
the rough, muddy ground in front of her.
The sun had already set and Chloe could hard
ly see one metre in front of her. Faster
and faster she ran, through the scary forest.
She saw a big, dark shadow out in front
of her. Closer and closer she got to the dark
, mysterious shadow. Then before she
could react to the shadow, she tripped over
it. She twisted her ankle and couldn’t run
anymore.
“Help,” screamed Chloe. “Someone please
help me! Please!”
Chloe lay there, listening to the rustle of the
autumn leaves while the crazy villain ran
over them.
“Help, please help me,” Chloe screamed aga
in, hoping someone could hear her.
Suddenly a flash of light and a big boomin
g sound shocked Chloe. Then there was
silence, no rustling of the leaves, no deep bre
aths and no one calling Chloe’s name.
Who was this mysterious person that had,
well, saved her life?
“Would you like a hand there miss?” a man
said to her.
Chloe stared up to see what the kind hero
looked like, but because the sun had already
set she couldn’t see anything.
“Who are you,” Chloe asked, “and do you
have a torch or something?”
The hero returned the questions with a calm
and deep voice.
“My name is Laxus and I do not have a torc
h, but if you need some light I can help
you with light.”
Chloe heard a flickering sound and sudden
ly she could see almost everything surrounding her. She turned to see this Laxus
she had just met and was surprised to see a
young man in his twenties with blond hair
and a lighting-shaped scar on his eye.
“Thank you. Thank you very much, Laxus.
But how did you find me?”
“My mother lives on the other side of this
forest, and I would usually have a jog
through to get fit. Today when I started I hea
rd your screams for help. Then I just followed them,” explained Laxus.
“Well, thank you again and could you please
help me to get to the closest hospital?”
“Sure, no problem, and by the way would you
like to have coffee one time? Like a date
kind of thing?”
“Sure. But I do need to tell you I’m a very
complicated woman and you need to practise your skills for asking out a lady.”
“Well, hopefully I wouldn’t have to with you
.”
“Hmmmm. I like you already!”
“Great! Now let’s get you to a hospital.”
Chloe jumped onto Laxus’ back and they flew
into the moonlight towards the hospital
as a couple.
THE END
38
Debating is a skill for life. Debating at school teaches
students
• to speak confidently in public,
• to think on their feet,
• the value of teamwork,
• leadership skills,
• the use of logic, and
• to expand their horizons and consider the wider world.
Debating at school can also provide students with
memorable moments that they will carry with them
beyond their school years.
This year students have had a stimulating and very
enjoyable time together preparing for the Debating
Association of Victoria’s inter-school competition held
in the evenings at Wesley College. We fielded a C-Grade
(Year 10) team consisting of Jessica Manuelpillai, Georgia
Antoniou, Reema Chakravarty, Alexandra Bignell, Sam
Knight and Nick Bariesheff. In addition, Sarah Broome, a
Year 11 student who has had much success debating for
Highvale in the past three years, acted as mentor for the
team and gave much moral support and encouragement,
attending all the debates along with Miss Costello.
These students were all debating for the very first
time in a formal external debating competition, so it is
particularly pleasing that they had a VERY successful year,
winning four out of the five debates against a range of
government and non-government schools, with Highvale
students named Best Speaker on two occasions!
We look forward to a very exciting year next year as these
students build upon their skills in the B-Grade (Year 11)
competition. We also hope to field another team as we
continue a very successful Highvale tradition!
Debating
39
International
Students
The International Student Program has continued to
prosper this year with a total of fifty students who have
chosen Highvale Secondary College as their preferred
school to study at away from home. The College community offers wonderful support to these students who
leave their families, friends and comforts. It is not an
easy journey, but one they face with strength, determination and always with a positive attitude.
As Henry Miller wrote, “One’s destination is never a
place, but a new way of seeing things.” I hope our international students can enjoy the journey.
These responses give you some insight into the expectations, challenges and experiences that the International
Students face every day...
I am happiest when…
…there are new International
Students who join us at Highvale and we have morning tea
together – Charlotte
…I get my work back and
teachers say I did well – Meng
...I felt I was a part of the
school – Elva
Have you been
anywhere else in
Australia?
Sydney, Canberra – Liana
40
This page
(top to bottom)
International students enjoy the VCE Formal; International students and local students enjoy a game of cards
Opposite
International Co-Captain June Li addresses a
whole-school assembly
Gold Coast, Sydney – Meng
Canberra, Philip Island – Peggy
What did you know about
Australia before you arrived?
There can be four seasons
in one day – Meng
Christmas is in summer –
Charlotte
What do you like
about Melbourne?
Food! Even though
I’ve had delicious food
in China, I love the
Italian and Japanese
food here – Kevin
The Great Ocean Road
– Jason
What is different about Highvale compared to your school
in your home country?
More private study required, less school time and you
get to learn what you are interested in – Meng
Students have to change classes every period – Tammy
What surprised you when you first came to Australia?
Living in a suburb without convenient public transport – Elva
The variety of spiders – Charlotte
Single-storey homes – Jason
The people are very enthusiastic and happy – Sammy
The sky. It’s so blue –
David
Friendly people –
Vanessa
41
Languages Other
Than English
Welcome to the LOTE Report for 2013, a lucky year
for all of the students who studied German or French
at Highvale.
In March the best crêpes in the
universe came to Highvale and
were consumed in the hundreds.
The intermediate and senior
French classes visited the
National Gallery of Victoria to see
the Monet’s Garden exhibition.
A visit to the Breizoz restaurant
rounded off their excursion.
The German classes indulged
in German foods and learnt
about the history and culture of
Germany through workshops
and activities. A contingent of
students from the German Senior
High School Albert Einstein
Gymnasium, located near
Frankfurt, arrived in July and
were accommodated by Highvale
German students. Apart from
spending time in classes here at
Highvale the visiting students
participated in many excursions
and short journeys. In exchange,
five Senior Highvale students
ventured to Germany in November to participate
in a return visit. Thanks goes to Herr Pantlin who
has been instrumental in setting up the exchange.
Students and staff wish him well in his new role. His
42
efforts and enthusiasm have been much appreciated.
For the first time, poetry competitions were run
for both languages in 2013. The Alliance Française
came to Highvale and tested
the French students for the
Berthe Mouchette French Poetry
Competition. Six students made
it to the finals and they are to be
congratulated on their efforts
and commended for representing
Highvale.
The German Poetry Competition
resulted in a large group of wellversed students representing
Highvale at the finals held at the
Oakleigh East Primary School.
All acquitted themselves well
and performed admirably in the
company of native speakers and
students of German heritage.
In August, all Year 9 and 10
French and German students sat
the ACER Language competitions
and saw the highest number of
distinctions so far achieved, a
credit to teachers and students
alike.
With the close of another year, it
was pleasing to see more students had appreciated
the importance of learning a second language.
Thanks go to all of the LOTE staff for their hard work.
Danke! Merci!
43
44
45
Performing Arts
The Performing Arts area has seen some significant
development in 2013. The new portable on the
eastern side of the gymnasium has been fitted
out with twenty-six piano keyboard-computer
workstations which will be used by all music classes
for composition, theory, keyboard and aural training
lessons. The second room of the portable is a music
activities area for a variety of practical classes. The
Dance room is in the process of further development
which will enable it to be used by both Drama and
46
Dance classes. The move of the Music and Drama
rooms will allow for the development of the theatre/
auditorium which will be constructed in the current
music and drama space.
While the work has progressed in room
development, our performing arts students have
been busy developing their special talents. Dance
students directed by Mrs Mann, participated in a
regular dance troupe at lunchtimes and developed
their group and solo performance skills. Media
students created some exceptional pieces of work
which were displayed at the annual Arts Show. The
display featured a range of highly inventive media
work including short films and digital photography
under the guidance of Mr Clark and Mr Hurley.
One Saturday in August, twenty-six Highvale students
took part in the first Highvale Media Bootcamp.
Three groups worked on the day: one group made a
film, one took photos and the other designed posters
and invitations for the Arts Show. Each group worked
with a professional from their chosen field and their
work was displayed in the Arts Show.
Sarah Ramsden (Year 12, 2012) was fortunate to
have her photography selected to appear in the
TopShots exhibition at the Monash Gallery of Art. The
exhibition showcases photographic work by students
across the state, and Sarah’s work received the
People’s Choice Award. A remarkable achievement!
Orchestra was introduced for the first time this
year as a timetabled music subject and forty-eight
This page (L-R)
Sarah Ramsden with her photographs on display
at the Monash Gallery of Art; Sarah receives her
award from Gallery Director Shaune Lakin and
Education Officer Stephanie Richter.
Opposite (L-R)
At the Media Bootcamp, print design students
work with graphic designer Jen Clark; digital
video students work with filmmaker Rodd
Rathjen; photography students work with
fashion photographer Elli Ioannou.
47
students participated in Highvale’s first Junior
Orchestra in Semester One. The Orchestra made
some fantastic progress in just a short time and were
rewarded with a trip to see ‘King Kong’ at the Regent
Theatre. Our musicians left the Regent theatre
amazed at this unique performance which involved
a fantastic live band, singers, dancers, acrobats and
one enormous puppet.
The VCE music class performed at recitals and
lunchtime presentations where they displayed
their musical talents while preparing for their
final examinations. These students also attended a
special workshop conducted by the world renowned
clarinettist, Ruth Bonetti, who ran a master class
focusing on the nuances of performance. We
look forward to using the new facilities in 2014
which will allow for more accessible and frequent
performances.
The instrumental music program has grown
significantly in 2013, with nearly 150 students
learning strings, woodwind, brass, percussion
instruments and voice. The addition of the inaugural
Junior Orchestra has offered students an opportunity
to participate in a significant ensemble which
involved all families of instruments taught at the
College. Performances of the Senior Stage Band and
Senior String groups included visits to the Highvale
Retirement Village and Highvale Primary School.
48
The Junior Concert Band also hosted a workshop day
for the musicians of our primary school neighbours.
Students from both schools worked on a number of
pieces with different conductors and presented them
in the afternoon.
The string program was enhanced this year with
the addition of a lower strings specialist, Miss Lia
Boulton, who was able to give specialist instruction
in cello and double bass to our students. The more
senior string players were also able to improve their
skills with a visit to a string workshop organised by
the North Eastern Region Coordinators. In addition,
members of the Senior Stage Band were given
the opportunity to enrich their talents with a full
day musician’s clinic which included other senior
musicians from across the region.
In February, Year 7 students were treated to a skilled
presentation of woodwind and brass instruments
which was then followed by a series of instrumental
workshops conducted by our Instrumental music
staff. The workshops provided students with an opportunity to explore and play different instruments
taught at the college, to enable them to make more
informed decisions concerning a suitable choice of
instrument to learn.
Once again, we had a large group of students successfully complete Australian Music Board practical
examinations. Congratulations to those students who
were prepared to apply themselves and undertake
some additional work to achieve success in these
internationally recognised exams. Year 12 students
June Li, Marc Zorin, Catherine Hill, Sharelle Chan,
Giang To, Crystal Yap and Melissa Yeap received the
‘Contribution to Instrumental Music’ award at the
Year 12 Graduation Dinner for their long term commitment to the instrumental music program. They
have been part of a group of talented and dedicated
musicians who have been actively involved in the
music program since enrolling at the College. Such
involvement has included participation in concert
bands, regional concerts, choir, small ensembles and
school production performances. We wish them the
very best in their future pursuits.
Major concerts this year included the Spring Concert
and Junior Concert where all ensembles, both large
and small, had an opportunity to showcase some
exceptional talent.
I would like to thank our instrumental music staff for
their work with these talented students and for their
commitment as directors of the various ensembles.
In addition, a special thankyou to Mrs Moad, who
assists in three ensembles, and Mr Mitchell for his
lighting and audio expertise at every concert. Thanks
also to all the staff and parents who supported the
Instrumental Music students this year.
49
Visual Arts
Featured paintings
This page by Phoebe Cleyne (Year 10)
Opposite page by Matthew Thompson (Year 10)
50
It has been another exciting year for the Visual Arts
department with the introduction of printmaking, in
its varied forms, and soapstone sculpture. Students
are now creating lino prints, etchings, collographs,
monoprints and more recently we have had some
custom-made screenprints made for our department,
an artform the students have fully embraced.
Our annual Arts Show was once again overwhelming with several hundred people attending to see an
impressive display of 2D and 3D artworks, a wide range
of student works from textiles, multimaterials, media,
jewellery and food technology. Our textiles department
also put on a fashion parade with students modelling
some of their wonderful creations and our Food Technology students prepared and served some delicious
food with delight and maturity. Toby Trinh (Year 9) was
a highlight oF the evening, impressing everyone with his
magic tricks.
The Arts Show was officially opened by Ingrid Wood, an
educator from the National Gallery of Victoria, and we
had two representatives from Rotary’s Mount Waverley
division presenting a very generous voucher to Daniella
Timtschenko for Outstanding Dedication and Achievement in Art. Other students who received awards for
their work were Ann-Li Guo, Maya Grkow, Maggie Eyers,
Chelsea Williams-Lumley, Phoebe Cleyne, Ily Lay and
Rebecca Martyn. Congratulations to all for their outstanding work and commitment. The People’s Choice
Award went to Leilani Smith-Williams. Congratulations
also goes to Giang To (Year 12) who won the Gold Medal
in Young At Art’s Young Australian Artist of the Year
Award.
We also welcomed Miss Louisa Thurecht to the art department, who brought with her some wonderful skills
which she has been implementing in her teaching of art,
jewellery and metalwork. We look forward to what lies
ahead as more new and innovative methods, materials and techniques are introduced to further extend
students and our Visual Arts department.
51
1
3
2
5
4
1
Featured artists / Opposite: 1. Daniella Timtschenko (Year 10) 2. Melissa Yeap (Year 12) 3. Rebecca Martyn (Year 10) 4. Evan Klink
(Year 8) 5. Mitchell Stenning (Year 8) 6. Maggie Eyers (Year 8) 7. Dan Anagnostou (Year 7) 8. Jack Fang, Angie Herbig, Adelle Nafiz
(Year 11) / This page: 1. Briony How (Year 12) 2. Jessica Kourouniotis (Year 10) 3. Assorted works in soapstone 4. Josh Rigby (Year 7)
6
52
3
7
8
2
4
53
Technology
The Technology area has continued to see some
exciting student works being produced in the multimaterials, food and textile areas. Students have
enjoyed working with silver and a variety of metals, producing a range of different jewellery pieces.
Hopefully you will have viewed some of these when
they were on display at the Arts Show in November.
Multi-materials students have produced a vast range
of chairs and different furniture pieces which I am
sure will already be getting some wonderful use
since they arrived home.
The Curtis Stone challenge to ‘Feed your family
for $20’ has proven a popular activity in the food
technology area which has also involved the purchasing of the required food. Creative cake decorating
and the preparation, cooking and sampling of foods
cooked from countries all around the world has
certainly helped maintain the popularity of the food
area within the curriculum.
The textiles topics ‘Pinafores for Africa’ and the ‘Recycled Community Quilt’ have proven to be popular
decorative tasks that middle school students have
54
participated in. Also popular in 2013 has been the
‘Onesie’ which has proved to be the most popular garment to be produced this year, followed closely by the
‘Hoodie’.
Participation in the Arts Show allowed students to
showcase some of the pieces they made this year.
Hopefully you were able to come along and enjoy it!
ICT
Information Technology classes at Highvale consist of
the Year 7 Introductory Information Processing, Year
8 Advanced Information Processing, Year 8, 9 and 10
Game Maker, Multimedia, Computer Programming,
Advanced Computer Programming and Advanced
Game Maker.
Students above Year 7 are given a major project to
complete, consisting of producing a computer game,
programming program or website depending on the
class taken. Each semester students produce excellent
games, websites and programs demonstrating advanced skills in the selected software. Two examples
are shown opposite.
55
Science
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Jacqueline
56
Science! Arguably the most exciting subject there is,
and 2013 has been no exception. This year, Highvale’s newest additions demonstrated their great curiosity and enthusiasm as they learned how to think
and work like scientists, while also building on their
knowledge of the world around them. In addition,
our senior students impressed us all with their hard
work and dedication as they completed their VCE.
We trust that the many skills they developed over the
years at Highvale will serve them well in the future.
2013 was a busy year for both teachers and students,
as the implementation of the Australian National
Curriculum saw a revamp of many of our Science
courses and the introduction of two new units: Earth
Science and Genetics & Evolution. A big thankyou
goes out to the staff and students involved in creating and shaping these excellent additions to the Science curriculum.
This year, the theme for National Science Week was
‘A Century of Australian Science’, so in recognition of
this special occasion, students had a week of quick
quizzes covering many aspects of science, from
astronomy to zoology. Fun was had by all, which
may have had a little something to do with the great
prizes on offer!
The annual Year 12 Physics excursion to Luna Park
was another great success for Mrs Bogos’ class.
Students were given the chance to experience the
effects of motion on a variety of thrilling rides, which
proved invaluable to their VCE studies. Opposite is
a selection of students’ first-hand accounts of the
exciting day.
Finally, a big thankyou goes out to all the hard-working and dedicated staff in the Science department.
Your commitment to providing the best possible
learning environment for our students has ensured
that everyone is challenged to do their best and is
able to achieve success.
57
Mathematics
The Mathematics department staff have
worked very hard this year to provide a quality
mathematical education for the students at
Highvale Secondary College. As a result the
students have completed a very successful
year, especially in terms of overall student
achievement and participation. This is apparent
not only in the results students have achieved
in their mathematical units, but is most evident
in the two external measures of progress,
namely the NAPLAN testing and the Australian
Mathematical Competition (AMC). The results for
these two show that the students at Highvale are
performing significantly better than the average
Victorian secondary college.
The AMC was conducted in early August and
the students who participated collectively
achieved an excellent result. Of the students who
participated the following results were achieved:
Year 7: 2 High Distinctions, 22 Distinctions, 55
Credits
Year 8: 1 Prize, 1 High Distinction, 5 Distinctions,
48 Credits
Year 9: 8 Distinctions, 42 Credits
Year 10: 9 Distinctions, 23 Credits
The Mathematics staff would like to congratulate
all those students who took part in the AMC.
The other independent measure of student
achievement is the NAPLAN test. Highvale
featured strongly with both the Year 7 and Year
9 students achieving results well above the state
average and equal to the best secondary colleges
in Victoria.
I would like to thank all the Maths staff for their
dedication and professionalism that enabled the
maths faculty to have a very successful year.
58
Jamieson Ryan (Year 10)
takes measurements using
an inclinometron.
Market Day
It is the lunch break Highvalians look forward to all
year: Market Day. This annual event was once again
a major success in 2013. With exceptional weather
for the second year in a row, the sun shone down
on the lower courtyard and Market Day created an
exceptional atmosphere around the school, allowing
students to experience the pressures and spoils of
running their own small business.
As an assessment task for Unit 1 in VCE Business
Management, students were to form their own
groups and create a business idea for which they
could sell either a good or a service. They had to
include a business plan, market research, a detailed
outline of the product or service, marketing concepts
including logos and slogans, and financial documentation, then ultimately prepare and distribute their
product on the day.
Market Day offered the community of Highvale a
wide variety of delicious goods. These included pizza,
hot chips, the ever-popular sausage sizzles, a variety
of hamburgers, Dutch pancakes and even a delicious
chocolate fondue with marshmallows!
As a condition of running their own business, each
group was charged a $10 rental fee and a 10% tax on
the net profits made on the day. As in previous years,
both of these payments were enthusiastically donated to the Big Cuppa cancer foundation, raising a total
of $800, a great effort by the students.
Once again, the day would not be the same without
the efforts of two people. A massive thank you must
go to Sheila and Ken for their efforts during the day
and a special thankyou to Mrs Pearce and Ms Edwards for their organisation throughout the entire
process. With big profits and the students gaining a
taste of what it is like to run a small business, Market
Day 2013 was once again an enormous success!
59
Student
Wellbeing
The Student Wellbeing office has been a hive of
activity in 2013. Apart from assisting students and
families with the pressures of life, we have also run
some very exciting and engaging programs and have
been witness to some amazing presentations.
The Year 7s and Year 11s were wonderfully
symbiotic as they worked together in the Peer
Support Program. The Year 11 Peer Support Leaders
were all trained in 2012 and created fantastic lesson
plans that assisted with the Year 7s’ transition into
secondary school life.
Their sessions looked at: how to make friends and
understand how to be a ‘true’ friend; where to go if
you are having difficulties and who can you talk to;
and how to get the most out of being in Year 7, just to
name a few. The Year 11s also played fun games with
them and helped at Year 7 BBQs and on the Year 7
camp.
Ten of our Year 7 and Year 8 students got the chance
to participate in an anti-bullying campaign, Stamp
It Out, in partnership with Highvale Primary School.
They were fortunate enough to create scenarios
then film for three days with a professional filming
company, Youth Works. In December the students
attended a premiere of their work, complete with
popcorn! The footage will be made available for
teachers in other schools to use to discuss bullying
and seek solutions to this issue.
Mental Health Week and R U OK Day were also
heavily promoted this year and the students
undertook activities in their Focus Groups, where
they looked at ways to identify if someone is
okay and what to do if you think they are not. In
promoting mental health, we work to tear down
stigma and to work collaboratively to assist those
who are not coping and who may feel lost or anxious.
Our Junior School students spent some time
looking at being safe online. A representative from
Cybersmart came out and gave all staff, parents
and Year 7 and 8 students a presentation on how
60
to use websites appropriately. It was an eye-opening
presentation and one that really made a huge impact.
It was encouraging to see so many people taking out
their smartphones and making their privacy settings
safer (including the teachers!).
Students also got the chance to see Motivational
Media’s ‘MAD for Life’, an action-packed multimedia
presentation that looked at decision-making and
getting the most out of life, and the Girls and Boys
Talks looking at gender issues, growing up and peer
pressure.
Our Senior School students looked at how to be safe
while out at a party or in a pub or club. The Safe
Partying presentation was informative, relevant and
insightful. Our Year 12s also attended a nutrition
seminar where the presenter spoke on how foods
have a positive (or negative) impact on the body’s
ability to concentrate and function. We also got a
chance to create and sample some ‘natural energy’ in
the form of chocolate and honey balls as opposed to
the dreaded energy drinks. Our Year 10s also attended
John Maher’s Road Safety message, addressing safe
driving practices. His presentation was brilliant and
powerful as he discussed how he and his family coped
with losing his daughter in a driving accident. His
manner was dynamic and emotive and it certainly
made a lasting impact on all.
Student Wellbeing is essential so students are better
prepared for learning when they are healthy, safe and
happy. The focus is on supporting students to take
positive action and responsibility for their physical,
social, emotional, moral and spiritual health and by
providing resources to students and their families.
The Student Wellbeing team provides curriculum
support, professional learning and manages a variety
of programs that empower and enable our young
people to be happy and healthy. The programs we
offer aim to assist all students and our community by
encouraging healthy minds and bodies.
Careers
This year has been a very busy one in the Careers department. One of the most exciting new initiatives is the
introduction of the Careers Curriculum Framework for students from Years 7 to 12. The College has introduced
career research, planning and management as ongoing and embedded into the curriculum. This has occurred in
Focus Group sessions in a series of classes throughout the year. Students in the Junior School have been using
their career workbooks to identify their strengths, talents, abilities, values and interests. The self-exploration
process has been pursued to assist students to plan their future under the guidance of their Focus Group teacher.
Students have completed their Career Action Plans. Here is an example of what students have been asked to
think about in their Career Action Plans at Year 7:
Other career activities and
events that occurred in 2013
included:
• The printing and distribution of regular careers
updates via the Careers
Newsletter;
• The delivery of targeted
and specific information
briefings at the Year 10, 11
and 12 information evenings for parents, about
topics such as the Victorian Tertiary Admissions
Centre;
• Individual interviews for
students in Years Ten and
Twelve;
• The Careers Expo,
which had over fifteen
representatives from
universities, TAFEs and
tertiary colleges and was
attended by nearly 200
students and parents;
• Students getting their
own individual Tax File
Number; and
• A number of students
undertaking work experience.
We look forward to
another exciting year in
2014.
61
The Library
It’s been a year of big changes in the Highvale library.
Our teacher librarian, Mr Teo, has retired after thirty
years at Highvale, during which he oversaw many
changes including the moving of the library from a
classroom in H-Block into the new library building
in the late 1980s. The library book collection was
steadily built up under his guidance. Since his wellearned retirement in June, Mr Teo has already been
indulging his passion for travel with trips to Japan
and South America. We wish him well.
Other staff changes have included Mrs Hockley, our
library technician, moving with her husband to Beijing in China. Mrs Mangan has returned to work at
Highvale and has joined the library team along with
Ms Howard and Mrs Johnson.
We had an exciting time during Literacy Week in
August. Lunchtime activities included a Magic Show,
Great Space Trivia, Spelling competition, guest
authors and a three-minute story writing competition. The students were first given the title ‘I Was Not
Alone’, and had to write a science fiction story in only
three minutes. The standard of the stories attempted
was fantastic, considering the limited time students
had. They were well-written and incredibly creative.
Here is the winning entry by Divyanka Manik (Year
8):
I walked carelessly over the flat surface of Mars. My
oxygen mask was tightly secured on my head. I was
here to find any “signs” of life on this mysterious
planet.
All of a sudden a booming voice spoke from behind me,
“What do you want, trespasser?” it questioned.
At that moment only one thought crossed my mind.
“We are not alone in this Universe.”
62
On dress-up day we had superheroes, aliens and
book characters wandering the school, as many students and members of staff dressed up as characters
based on the theme ‘Reading Across the Universe’.
In September the Premier’s Reading Challenge
resulted in most of the participating students reading more than twenty books each. We’ve run some
library morning teas with a group of our most avid
readers who have helped us to select new books for
the library shelves. The library has some excellent
new books which have proved to be very popular. We
look forward to an exciting 2014. Happy reading!
63
This year’s Highvale Magazine has been a true team
effort. I would like to thank all staff and students who
contributed, and acknowledge in particular the work
of a number of people who want above and beyond
the call of duty:
• Derren Leung (Year 11) for his brilliant cover
design and illustrations.
• Jessica Kourouniotis (Year 10) and Katherine
Chalmers (Year 10) for hand-drawing the vibrant
headings and subheadings.
• Tasha Bourke (Year 11) for her careful and efficient
copy editing.
• James Yardis (Year 10), Emily Crockett (Year 11),
Tabatha Watson (Year 11) and Anvi Malik (Year 11)
for always being reliable when there were photos
that needed to be taken.
Screenprint by Georgia Watson (Year 10)
64
• Tasha Bourke (Year 11), Nathan Quirk (Year 11),
Delinda Bambang (Year 12), Soumya Sanjay (Year
12) and Sambath Luon (Year 12) for photographing
particular events.
• Mrs Mae Batrouney, Mrs Sue Bogos, Mrs Maria
Caserta, Mrs Louise Cook, Mrs Wendy de Wolde,
Mrs Anna Dimou, Mr Yasar Duyal, Mr Brian Hurley,
Mrs Kate Grennan, Mrs Caroline Leavey, Mrs Anne
Linton, Mrs Anne Mangan, Mr Chris Mitchell, Mme
Julie Moore, Mr Chris Pantlin, Ms Helen Pappas, Ms
Rebecca Parker, Mrs Suzi Reid, Mr Hayden Rowley,
Mr Adrian Schmid, Ms Amanda Silverii, Mrs Joanne
Smith and Ms Mary Taylor for generously providing
and/or organising fantastic photos.
Mr Tim Clark
Highvale Secondary College
Capital Avenue, Glen Waverley, 3150
Melbourne, Australia
Telephone: +61 3 9803 5144
Fax: + 61 3 9803 4310
Email: highvalesc@edumail.vic.gov.au
Web: www.highvalesc.vic.edu.au