FA_16.12.24_SM0842_RSC 2024 BOOK

RINGWOOD 2024

PRINCIPAL’S Report

Time may be free, but it holds immense value. While you can’t possess it, you can certainly utilise it. You can’t retain it, but you can invest it. (Harvey Mackay).

As we look back, it’s clear that 2024 has been a remarkably productive year at Ringwood Secondary College. We’ve welcomed many new students and staff to our community, each contributing positively and enthusiastically.

This year, we celebrated our 70th anniversary with a wonderfully successful Open Day in March. It was a perfect occasion, bringing together many alumni to reminisce, admire our new facilities and reconnect.

Our Learning Focus has remained dedicated to fostering growth, with the needs of our learners at the heart of our planning. The college’s four-year review highlighted numerous achievements and set key goals and strategies for our direction over the next four years. Our staff have continued to collaborate and engage in professional learning teams, enhancing their teaching practices and ensuring our curriculum remains current and engaging.

Our students have consistently demonstrated their energy, commitment and involvement in extracurricular activities. The Student Representative Council (SRC) organised numerous events this year and we proudly launched our Interact Club, supported by the Rotary Club of Maroondah. Students have actively participated in various initiatives, including the Duke of Edinburgh Program, music ensembles, sports teams, arts exhibitions, productions, work experience, open nights, academic competitions, camps and excursions.

Once again, our students’ achievements in the performing arts and sports have been impressive. ‘School of Rock’ became a national sensation with sold-out performances and our music gala featured alumni performing alongside current students, celebrating exceptional talent. In sports, our college continues to excel, with representatives at local, regional, state and international competitions.

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the 2024 student cohort for your commitment to Respect, Resilience and Achievement. You should be proud of all

you’ve attempted, refined and accomplished this year—I’m certainly proud of you! To the Year 12 class of 2024, I wish you every success. Your unity, camaraderie and genuine care for one another have been a highlight of my year. Good luck to you all!

A big thank you to our amazing staff for your unwavering dedication to creating the best possible learning environment for our students. Your efforts have yielded positive outcomes, and your work is deeply appreciated by both parents and students in our community.

I also want to express my gratitude to our College Council parent representatives and all the parents in our community. Your support and commitment to education significantly impact our students’ outcomes. Raising a child truly requires a community and I’m honoured to partner with you.

Wishing everyone a safe and restful holiday!

Rosina Fotia PRINCIPAL

ASSISTANT Principals

2024

Expanding the learning cycle

This year our Strategic Review saw the college reflect on its past achievements and set goals for its future endeavours. In all, we are meeting the high standards that we set ourselves and our community expects of us and as a learning community, we continue to grow and learn with data that keeps us at the forefront of effective practice.

In the Middle School, the Year 9 InterGREAT program and the Year 10 Certificate guide students in developing the necessary skills to learn most successfully. Combined with teacher professional development that saw teachers as learners in the workplace, updating their knowledge and skills on current teaching principles and strategies, the foundational skills for lifelong learning have been implemented.

Being explicit with students about what and why they are learning, and how they are seated and grouped in particular ways, invites their interest and understanding and helps build rapport. In fact, the emphasis on the rapport between students and teachers will continue to be a priority in the coming years as this has been shown to make students feel safe and more willing to come to school and engage in the learning process.

Post covid lockdowns, we know that emotional and social learning is equally as important as academic learning. That is why our BOUNCE program continues to evolve to meet the needs of students.

I have had many experiences in my BOUNCE classes this year where I have reflected with students on how useful the information we were studying was and how engaged the students were in learning about things that are relevant to their emotional, social and physical health.

Equally proactive strategies from our Wellbeing team to create a welcoming, inclusive, active environment helps students feel valued and

connected to their peers and the school. The lunchtime clubs run by the Wellbeing team are always well frequented and enjoyed by the students. Other services such as the Breakfast Club offers a nourishing start to the day and a friendly face to talk to in the morning.

The college hosted a large number of Pre -service teachers this year from a variety of tertiary institutions including: Monash University, RMIT, Deakin University, Swinburne University, Victoria University, University of Melbourne, Latrobe University, Melbourne Graduate School of Education.

We have had pre-service teachers who have been on 5-day observational rounds to interns spending the whole term at the college. We are fortunate indeed to provide feedback against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers to support their growth and as preparation for a career in teaching.

The mentoring from the staff at Ringwood Secondary College has been excellent. Here is a comment that exemplifies the feedback we receive from the tertiary institutions: ‘The College stands out as an exemplary situation for the interns and they have all given very positive feedback to us regarding the professional manner in which they have been included as part of the college scene’

My gratitude is expressed to teachers, staff, and students for their hard work, dedication, and resilience throughout the year. Equally, the partnerships with parents and the wider community have been a joy to foster and grow.

There is a lot more to know as each cohort of students arrives at the college ready and open to learning. It is up to us to create the fertile learning environment for which Ringwood Secondary College is known to cultivate and to continue next year and beyond.

Eleni Stathatos ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

As I cast my mind back across 2024, I am astounded at the number of activities and experiences supporting rich learning both inside and outside the classroom to support our students to be well-rounded citizens.

Our classrooms are where we can see the school values pragmatically built through daily practice. When teachers urge students to push further into a task, add more detail to an answer, review the previous work to fix mistakes, they are helping students build their respect for themselves, practice resilience and achieve new personal bests. I am very proud of students’ willingness to strive for more from themselves and open themselves to new opportunities.

Other activities are fuelled by students. Chasey, volleyball practice against the gym wall, handball with curious rules, uno and card games under the hub and, football of all codes, on the oval and courts: RSC students are very active!

Lunchtime physical exercise, laughter and connection are practical ways to create strong mental health. In both realms of the classroom and yard we are able to see students honing their abilities to become more confident and resilient people.

For staff, the focus this year was again on differentiation: to help all students engage with work and extend their learning growth. This work was extended on Curriculum Day where Jenn Collier and Jim Norman lead staff to reflect and review the use of learning intentions, and in using backward design to improve the sequence of learning. Staff have been working in small teams building their teaching practice and in faculty teams on the new Victorian Curriculum.

This curriculum work has just started and will continue throughout 2025. The new curriculum again reaffirms the central importance of the three cross curriculum priorities of:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures; Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia; and, sustainability.

With these central foci across the curriculum, our students will be well placed to understand their world in the 21st century.

Parent Connect has continued change to meet the needs of our community and this year there have been sessions on: managing teen anxiety; understanding RSCs assessment and reporting approach; supporting effective home study; and, staying safe on line. Most of these sessions have been run by our staff.

Much thanks go to Eleni Stathatos, Emily Collett, Jason Kilby, Jenn Collier and Jim Norman. The final session on cyber-safety was delivered by volunteer group ThinkUKnow who strive to make the on-line world better understood. We look forward to continuing this work families to connect the circle of support and learning around our students.

In closing, I would like to thank all the families who have reached out throughout the year. Our conversations always leave me reflecting on what we can do better and appreciating the rich work we do in building connected communities.

The name of the college’s Senior School building ‘Yanna Mudjirr’ is Wurundjeri for the term ‘Stepping Stones’. This emphasises to our students the significance of their final years of secondary school. The last two years of secondary education is where students really begin to reach out into the wider community and their studies are about stepping into the next phase of their lives.

Congratulations to our graduating Year 12 students: The Class of 2024. On behalf of the college, I wish them every success as they move to the next stage of their lives, whether that be further study, the workforce, a mixture of both, or taking some time to pursue interests before committing to the next stage.

Our Year 11 students are now experienced in their VCE or VCE Vocational Major (VM) studies and the vast majority have committed to finishing their secondary school studies in 2025 at RSC. We wish those who have decided to pursue apprenticeships, traineeships, full-time employment or other courses of study in 2025 all the very best as they move onto their individual future paths.

Thank you to our dedicated Senior Sub-school team and classroom teachers for making this another positive and successful year for our senior school students.

The college’s pathways programs continue to develop to maximise student opportunities.

Some highlights in 2024 were:

• the Year 10 Course Interviews Day held on Monday 22 July. The students attended with their parents/carers to consider study options and subjects for Year 11 in 2025. It was great to see so many parents/carers taking up the opportunity to be part of this important process.

• The college review of the VCE VM program to ensure we continue and develop to meet best practice principles. The course structure will change in 2025 to ensure students continue to get the best experience and training possible for post-school options.

• Increased interest and enrolments in School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs). A SBAT is an employment-based learning pathway that combines completion of secondary school with part-time paid employment and training.

The college’s international student program continues to grow and offer successful education outcomes for participants. In Term 4, the college had 48 international students from a broad range of countries: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Iran, India, Cambodia, Thailand, Peru and South Korea.

The college continues to be a first-choice school for international students due to the college’s success and reputation for providing high level support, high-quality education and post-school outcomes.

Ringwood Secondary College prides itself on being an inclusive learning community that caters for the development of the whole person, allowing students to reach their full potential. Our aim is for every child to experience growth and success.

To support this vision in 2024, the college consolidated the introduction of the college’s core values of respect, achievement and resilience.

Approximately 7000 Compass Green Posts were awarded to students in 2024 recognising their demonstration of the college values.

I wish the RSC community a safe and happy break over the summer school holiday period.

Agatha Fedrizzi ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Tony Stirling ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

ALUMNI & Heritage

Footsteps • Pathways

In the 1954 ‘Yakkity Hi’ School magazine, the following message was inscribed: ‘Now that the school has reached maturity and been officially ‘opened’, we feel that the time is appropriate for a change in our magazine title. ‘Yakkity Hi’ is an aboriginal term for ‘chatter’, and we chose it as appropriate, following the happy thought that inspired our House names. A sense of what we owe to the real ‘Old Australians’ is awakening at the present time in many people who have never before given a thought to their responsibilities in this matter, and we hope that this title will serve to remind Ringwood High School students that they can help to make up for the neglect and indifference of past generations.’ And so, this year we reflect, ‘plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose’ which translates to ‘The more things change the more they stay the same’.

Amidst much change over the past 70 years, we still hold fast to the school values of Culture and Service – reflected by both Heritage & Alumni traditional pursuits and student focussed initiatives. Despite a rapidly changing world, our underlying principles remain steadfast and determine our actions.

• Journeys • Milestones • Memories

Tribute to Barry Ring

Sadly, Barry Ring has needed to forgo the mantle of the Heritage & Alumni group. For many years he spearheaded projects, fostered cohesion midst the students of the 50s and ignited tribute to RHS/RSC. Energetic and dedicated, he was an inspiration and will be missed. Our gratitude is immense.

College Halls – 70th Celebration inductees

Heritage Hall: Howard Tankey and Judith Byrne, Science Hall: Bridgette Semple, Arts Hall: Allistair Paton and Sarah Bailey

Heritage Scholarship

Up to 10 scholarships are now awarded yearly, assisting more students to complete Years 11 and 12. Interviews see students receive recognition for their academic pursuits and wider school contributions. Congratulations to current awardees: Kartia Walls, Arielle Humphreys and Neena Bali.

Connecting with Community

At the 70th Celebration over 300 attended, with an extensive display of memorabilia, commemorative book and tour of the new Science building delighting all.

Future Directions

Fifteen people met on 15th October in the college Library to review the directions of the Heritage Group. After a thorough overview of achievements, event and priorities, debate flowed to elicit ideas regarding wider involvement, defining a vision statement, establishing a strategy to promote a college-wide database and ensure ongoing celebration of past student interaction with the current cohort.

BOUNCE

Another great year has passed in the Bounce Program as we continue to promote and support the development of positive mental and physical wellbeing for our students. The program provides a fantastic opportunity for students to work collaboratively with their peers, to connect and develop healthy relationships in a fun, hands-on way.

In 2024, we continued to learn about important life skills including managing our emotions, empathising with others, nurturing friendships and being present in the moment. We learnt about ways to manage our mental health and strategies for seeking support. This program also offers senior students real-life skills such as learning about their voting rights and responsibilities, buying a car, planning a holiday, credit cards and so much more.

Some highlights across the year levels include:

• Year 7s explored Character Strengths, Emotional Literacy, Cybersafety, Friendology and Health.

• Year 8s focused on growth mindset, learning to juggle as an example. They also learnt about emotional literacy, help seeking and empathy.

• Year 9s explored gratitude, empathy and emotional literacy, as well as neuroplasticity.

• Year 10s looked at PERMAH and building individual strategies for developing good mental health practices, as well as relationships and gratitude through a film making project.

• Year 11s focused on careers, study skills, stress management and life hacks.

• Year 12s had the great opportunity to work closely with their mentor teacher to develop study and stress management skills, and to prepare for whatever the future holds!

Across the college, students listened to and participated in workshops and presentations from a wide variety of individuals and organisations including: Tomorrow Man/Tomorrow Woman, Elevate, Sonia Karras, Pat Cronin Foundation, RACV, EACH, Victoria Police, Brainstorm Productions, Red Frogs, LIVINWell, and a variety of tertiary organisations to name a few! At a whole school level, for National Sorry Day (26th May) and Reconciliation Week (27th May – 3rd June) this year, all Ringwood Secondary College students contributed to the creation of a Sea of Hands in their Bounce class. The Sea of Hands is a symbol of solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and planting a Sea of Hands is an act of recognition which the students proudly contributed to with messages of solidarity, recognition or commitment to reconciliation.

B O UNCE

Thank you to all the Bounce teachers who have worked so closely with our students to develop strong mental health and wellbeing strategies which will support them now and into the future.

CHAPLAINCY

CHAPLAINCY

Ringwood Secondary College has two part-time Chaplains who provide pastoral care services and strategies that support the wellbeing of the broader school community. They are part of the wellbeing team and provide care and support as needed. In addition to this, they organise volunteer activities within the college community, run programs such as lunchtime clubs, coordinate parent/carer workshops, and offer support with excursions and incursions.

BREAKFAST CLUB

One of the activities run by the Chaplains with the valued and reliable assistance of Eshita Saini.

“Breakfast Club has been a huge success this year with our new changes to the menu! The cheese toasties and hot chocolates have been a huge hit amongst the students at Ringwood Secondary, along with occasional apples and yoghurt pouches. It is an absolute delight to see students enjoying breakfast together while forming new friendships between different year levels. I have really loved helping at breakfast club as it is such a positive and welcoming environment where I have met so many new people. Some highlights include ‘trick shotting’ milk cartons into the bin and singing along to music on the speakers! Overall, breakfast club has been an amazing experience and I hope that next year we can bring more ideas to the table and have the classroom full of students as usual!!”

Eshita Saini, Year 9

FOOD FOR THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY

Ringwood Secondary College is most grateful to Food Bank, Eat Up and the Ringwood Church of Christ who each provide food for our students and families as requested. This is coordinated by the Chaplains, who also coordinate the distribution of Christmas Hampers so generously supplied by Philip Webb Real Estate.

With the support of the Chaplains and Mrs Margellis, the VCE-Vocational Major students are also very involved with the Heal Clinic, run by New Community Church at Federation Estate. The guests at the clinic are always excited and appreciative of the student visits. The students also work closely with the Chaplaincy team in the upkeep of the wellbeing garden.

RAISE

The RAISE mentoring program was once again a huge success, with 15 students graduating from the 20-week mentoring program.

TRANSITION

The Chaplains are also involved in the Transition of the incoming Year 7 students. Part of this is facilitating a Lego club in Term 1.

STAFF CHANGES

This year we farewelled Adam Bryant and welcomed Grant Vandervalk. Adam commenced in a voluntary role at the college helping out with breakfast club and lunchtime ‘HYPE’ activities where, after a number of years of voluntary service, he was employed as our college

Chaplain. On June 5th 2024 Adam served his final food and drinks at  the Ringwood Secondary College’s breakfast club.

Adam has provided connection, support, advice and advocacy for many of our staff, students and families over many years.  Adam gave of his time to coach sports groups, encourage sports teams, drive the bus to sport, attend camps and was instrumental in running several successful WILD programs over the past few years with positive outcomes for our students.  Adam has been a fierce advocate in the broader community campaigning for a basketball stadium here at Ringwood Secondary College and we hope one day he can return and see this dream become a reality.  We are still fortunate to have contact with Adam as he has taken up the role of Manager CCCVaT School Support Services and he will still visit occasionally to support our current chaplains Jen Farmilo and Grant Vandervalk as part of his new role supporting Chaplains in Victorian schools.

WELCOME GRANT VANDERVALK

Ringwood Secondary College is very pleased to welcome Grant Vandervalk as Chaplain. Grant commenced his role 2 days per week at the start of term 4, 2024 and has already supported a number of students and assisted with breakfast cub. Grant joins the college with a wealth of knowledge and experience having lived and worked in Vanuatu. We look forward to Grant providing care and support to our students and families.

INTERNATIONAL Student Program

Ringwood Secondary College’s International Student Program continues to flourish in 2024, fostering a vibrant, diverse and inclusive environment for students from a wide range of countries, including China, Vietnam, Iran, India, Cambodia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Peru and Thailand. The rich blend of cultures within our school not only enhances the learning experience but also encourages students to embrace global perspectives and develop an appreciation for cultural diversity.

This year, we have organised several events that celebrate the cultural richness of our program. Every term, we held a birthday celebration, creating a sense of belonging for international students. These gatherings brought together students from various cultural backgrounds to connect and strengthen their bonds within our school community.

Additionally, we continue to support the academic growth of our international students through the weekly Homework Club, held every Tuesday at lunchtime. One of the highlights of the year was our Chinese New Year celebration, where every international student contributed a traditional dish from their culture. This event became a showcase of culinary diversity, allowing students to share and appreciate the rich cultural heritage that

each student brings to our school. It was a true celebration of unity in diversity, where students could bond over food, stories and traditions.

“I’m really proud to be part of Ringwood Secondary College’s welcoming and inclusive International Student Program. Even though I’ve only been here for a bit over a year, the friendly vibe made it easy to settle in. I’ve made some amazing friends, adjusted to the academic and cultural changes and feel genuinely at home here. Being elected as a House Captain has been a highlight, giving me the chance to get involved in the school community and grow my leadership skills. Starting Year 11 and VCE definitely had its challenges, but thanks to the support of my teachers, the staff and especially Ms Shirley Luong, our International Student Program Coordinator, I’ve managed to keep up and push through. The friendships and experiences I’ve had here have made my time at Ringwood unforgettable, and I’m so grateful to be in such a supportive and diverse environment.”

Andia Amini, Year 11 International Student from Iran, Frazer House Captain

“It has been an honour to study at Ringwood Secondary College. I feel welcomed and supported by all teachers and staff at school. As an international student, I’d say my experience is more

challenging than my peers. However, I’m fortunate to receive support and help from teachers to continue practising and improving, especially the language, English. Besides, I’ve made new friends who can make me laugh all day and feel connected in several countries around the world. Being in Australia, away from my family, this experience allows me to recognise my strengths and weaknesses. I sincerely appreciate all the priceless things that Ringwood staff have done so far to assist me to overcome obstacles and accomplish my goals.”

Harry Phan, Year 11 International Student from Vietnam

IMPROVEMENTS at RSC

Updates 2024

As we look back on the past 12 months, it is very exciting to see the progress the college is making in developing the college facilities. We hope you enjoy reading about some of our major projects.

Summary of major updates 2024

RT Auto Toilet/Recreation room development

The Automotive building has grown substantially over recent years and not having toilets was creating significant issues. We constructed a modern toilet block including a fully disabled bathroom and four unisex toilets. In addition, a beautiful kitchen was installed to create a student recreation space.

STEM Centre

It was highly rewarding finishing off the STEM Centre early this year, including our landscaping, locker bays in the 500s and quadrangle and the Town Square. Teachers and students are thrilled with the building!

Staff building – air conditioning

Staff have always found the staffroom evaporative cooling very inadequate and rooms 114/115 had no cooling at all. We have recently installed 9 large air conditioners throughout the building! What a difference this should make to the performance of staff!

Canteen improvements

The old windows in the canteen were well and truly past their use by date. We are currently installing new sliding windows and next year will install roller doors and stainless-steel benches.

Town Square

The Town Square development, completed with the STEM Centre, has proved a real hit with the school community. Two full size basketball courts, gardens, planting and fencing has made for a highly functional area.

Garden developments: Indigenous Garden and Wellbeing

Our Indigenous Garden has really taken shape this year. We’ve installed additional seating, improved signage and created an entrance pathway. At the

Rosewarne entrance we have installed plasma cut screens (thanks RT staff) and created a quiet, private space for students and staff.

Minor projects:

Several smaller but important projects were completed throughout the year.

These include the 500s retaining wall, PAC sleeper wall, hall improvements, fiber runs to the hall and PAC, Year 10 roller doors, Junior School North entrance repairs, sewer to 500s, building of costume room and kerbing repairs.

David Godfrey / Chris Salisbury FACILITIES MANAGERS

STUDENT Leadership

FINAL ASSEMBLY

Good morning teachers, students, and all families and loved ones joining us today. It’s hard to believe we have almost reached the end of the school year, and for the Year 12s, the end of our high school journey.

We’ve been through so much together, from our first days of high school in Year 7, like so many of you where everything seemed so new and uncertain to now where we stand confident and ready to take on whatever comes next in or lives.

This year has been filled with challenges, but also with moments of joy and accomplishment. Thank you to each of you for your spirit, dedication and friendship. Together, we’ve made this final year one to remember and we are so proud of every single person.

To our teachers and staff members, we thank you for not only guiding us academically, but for supporting and encouraging us to be the best version of ourselves and making us better people.

From your hard work, commitment and selfless mindsets to your support through the tougher times in the last 6 years, you have all had an instrumental impact in shaping who we are today and for that we will be immensely grateful.

To the rest of the students at Ringwood Secondary College that will continue once we are gone, we encourage you to enjoy every moment of high school; work hard, but also create memories you will remember for years to come.

Seize every opportunity given to you, as school is about more than just tests and schoolwork, but about the connections you have made along the way. Let the school values, respect, achievement, and resilience guide you in the things you do. We encourage you to take that step out of your comfort zone and strive to become the person YOU want to be and make decisions that YOU will be proud of.

As Year 12s, we now face a big step in our lives, whether its further studies at university or overseas, joining the workforce or new adventures, we carry everything we’ve learned here at Ringwood; the values of respect, resilience and achievement along with many other vital character strengths that have been built.

All these skills and values will be taken with us and applied into the life we create for ourselves in the coming years. So, for the last time, we would like to thank the Year 12s and congratulate them on this amazing year but we would also like to thank everyone here for the honour to serve such an incredible school as your head prefects and we wish you all luck with your journeys. Thankyou.

Hannah Day and Neena Bali, 2024 Head Prefects

YOUTH IN PHILANTHROPY - LORD MAYORS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

This year Cassie, Tiana and I were given the opportunity to join Youth in Philanthropy run by the Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation, where we got to choose an issue that we would like to help and distribute 10,000 dollars across three charities. After reading through all the charities’ purposes and aims, we decided that the charities that stood out to us the most were the Sacred Heart Mission, Habitat for Humanity and the Royal District Nursing Service.

After we learnt about each charity, we had a meeting every month and more frequently down to the deadline to discuss how much money we should give each charity and why we should give that amount. We were lucky enough to have a meeting with a member of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, Suzanne, who really put into perspective how important the work we are doing to help these charities is and checked up on how we were going with making our decision and she offered her insight and own experience to help us in finalising our decision.

All schools participating in Youth in Philanthropy in Melbourne were invited to an event in the State Library where all the students could share their experience and strategies in choosing how to distribute the money. After the event we came out as different people with a new vison on different ways each of us can help the disadvantaged and the creative charities that contribute to fighting the issue.

Miranda, Cassie, Tiana

STUDENT Leadership

BAKE SALE

The Philanthropy team held a Bake Sale this year which saw incredible contribution of baked goods from our school community and some great involvement from the Year 12 prefect team on the day. We were raising money for Melbourne-based charity, Alex Makes Meals, which is a not-for-profit that takes unwanted produce from local shops and turns it into meals for disadvantaged youth and the homeless. We managed to raise $910.40 from the Bake Sale which is a fantastic result and one that will help those struggling in our local community immensely.

Imogen Prince, Philanthropy Prefect

INTERACT

The Interact Club of Ringwood Secondary College was introduced in the school at the start of 2024, with guidance from our Principal Ms Fotia. We have worked alongside Maroondah Rotary throughout the year in our fortnightly meetings, and the fundraising projects for local charities that we felt were valuable to support.

For one of our projects we worked with a Ringwood group 4tk, a local charity that donates non-perishable items to underprivileged families in the community. We organised buckets around the school with posters, and QR

codes to scan to read more information. We packed up the items and transported them down to 4tk base next to Ringwood station. We had a complementary lunch with them and talked to members from the local community about our Interact club.   Jessica Harmsworth and Caitlyn Gordon

WELLBEING

YEAR 11 WELLBEING CAPTAIN’S REPORT 2024

Being granted the position of Year 11 Wellbeing Captain for 2024 has truly been an amazing opportunity. Throughout this year, I have been able to build my knowledge on leadership, as well as develop relationships with other captains and staff members within the wellbeing team; something I have genuinely loved doing. Our fortnightly meetings were essential for discussing plans and developments within the school, allowing us to effectively communicate ideas and enhance our leadership skills. Furthermore, planning and participating in events such as R U OK Day and working on proposals for the Bounce programs were activities that allowed us to add student voice to our school and build on our effective communication skills.

One of the biggest projects we took on this year was organising the surplus of uniforms that came from the generous donations from parents and members of our school. We tackled this by setting up a free uniform stall, which I found to be a really great experience that allowed us to effectively organise the second-hand uniforms wellbeing offer. Additionally,

conducting school tours as a leader with the other wellbeing captains is something that I also found really fulfilling, where it allowed me to communicate with parents and students outside of my general cohort.

Being a Wellbeing Captain throughout this year has given me the opportunity to support myself, take initiative in working with others, and gain insight into how much wellbeing truly contributes to our school community, where I look forward to another year of working with such an amazing wellbeing team!

Angelita Sargeant, Year 11

BEADING CLUB

Beading Club is a new club that has started up! Come join us on lunchtime Fridays during Term 4 in the LCO (library classroom) for beading bracelets or necklaces and lots of fun and friendly chats. All beading materials are provided for you. You are welcome to bring along lunch and friends. Beading club is the perfect opportunity to be creative and crafty and make something unique! All are welcome to join!

Caitlin Gilder, Tiana Cohen, Mattea Wilson, and Olivia Davies

CROCHET AND KNITTING CLUB

Crochet and Knitting Club is a club that is entirely student run and where everyone is welcome to join in and have fun talking and getting creative. It is run every lunchtime on Wednesday and students can bring their crocheting hooks and knitting needles. We also have some spare crochet hooks that people can use. This is also a great opportunity to talk to other year levels and get creative. If you don’t know how to knit or crochet this is a great way to learn as everyone will be happy to help anyone who asks. Crocheting is also a good way to reduce stress and anxiety and just over all boost up your mood. Sometimes it is a bit challenging, but we will encourage you to keep on going. We hope to see you on Wednesday at lunch time.

Harriet Pich, Year 7

I CAN 2024

The I CAN network ran another successful mentoring program at Ringwood Secondary College in Term 2 of this year. A group of Year 7-9 students met for eight weeks in the library with two mentors from the I CAN network. As part of the program there

were warm up activities, talks to the groups and party games. The sessions covered different themes including personal strengths, self-advocacy, public speaking and stress management. Mentor feedback: “We can’t express how happy we have been at this school and working with these young people, we have had so much fun over the last 8 sessions and we wish them all the best for the ventures ahead.”

WELLBEING TEAM 2024 UPDATES SHARLENE HETHERINGTON

It is with great sadness for our college, but with genuine excitement for our amazing colleague that we take this opportunity to inform you that Sharlene Hetherington (Student Wellbeing Coordinator 2004-2024) resigned from her role after 20 years of exceptional service to Ringwood Secondary. Sharlene commenced working at RSC on secondment from ROK Inc for a short period of time before joining RSC as a permanent staff member.  Sharlene has been instrumental in advocating for our most vulnerable students and always prioritising their needs and understanding the complex challenges they face on a day-to-day basis.  Sharlene has always been a strong

advocate for our students and staff always willing to be a listening ear and offer words of advice about any challenges people are facing.

Sharlene has moved onto a new role at a secondary college in another region of Melbourne so this is the end of her time in the Eastern Region. Thank you, Sharlene, for your endless innovation, guidance, support, professionalism, leadership and encouragement you have provided to our team over many years.  You are greatly missed by staff, students and families.

LAUREN JORDAN

The wellbeing team were excited at the start of Term 3 2024, to welcome on board Lauren Jordan, a qualified Social Worker with her Masters in Social Work. Lauren has experience working with young people in both community and school settings, as well as skills in case management, client advocacy, and counselling. Lauren is passionate about supporting adolescents, particularly with issues related to anxiety, stress, confidence, and self-esteem.

Karen Hallam, Student Wellbeing Coordinator

STANDOUT

This year StandOut members have participated in the organisation of events, weekly group meetings and assisting in the remodelling of the Standout Club. Students helped organise a stall with face painting and spiders for sale in celebration of IDAHOBIT Day (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia) with all proceeds going towards Minus 18, a charity for queer youth. Another important day StandOut members recognised was Wear it Purple day, where staff and students showed their support and raised awareness for LGBTQIA+ youth mental health by wearing purple and purple accessories. We were lucky to have a visit from Kater Worth, a member of Maroondah City Council, who came to talk to StandOut members about local resources and clubs for queer youth. Thank you to all the student and staff leaders involved in StandOut this year. Overall, it has been an amazing year for StandOut and we look forward to 2025!

Mietta Shallcross, Year 8

YEAR Seven

Our Year 7s started 2024 with great excitement and nervousness. Everyone was curious if they were ready to take on the demands of secondary school and the answer was YES!!! Didn’t they just dive right in and absorb themselves with all that Ringwood Secondary College had to offer. Right from the start, where they worked out how to open their locks, read a timetable and move from room to room successfully. Some of the events they have been involved in are:

• Start up orientation program

• Mental health carnival

• Swimming carnival

• Waratah Bay Beach camp

• Cybersafety information session

• Brainstorming production – ‘Wired’

• Student leadership day

• Drama production performance

• Geography field trip

• Whole School production

• Junior School production-The Lion King Jr

• Lunchtime clubs

• Breakfast club

• Volleyball/D & D club

• Open Night

• School tours

• Small schools program

• Speaking at parent and staff information nights

• Athletics carnival

• Academic award recipients and helpers at Awards afternoon

• Celebration Day – Lilydale Lake

• Interschool sports events

• Instrumental music events

“Hi I’m Raha, a Year 7 student leader and a fellow Year 7 student. This year the Year 7s had a blast at camp. They had all sorts of water activities such as surfing, swimming pool fun and much, much more. We also enjoyed a flying fox, soared through the sky and felt the wind through our hair. We made damper by a fire and did other spine-chilling activities such as rock climbing and even a group obstacle course. We played basketball on trampolines and enjoyed our last evening with a formal dinner, a dazzling sunset and by the time it went dark, we were sitting by a camp fire roasting marshmallows.

One of the highlights this year was the swimming carnival, students dressed up, did activities and we even had karaoke. This year has been one of the best - we forged new friendships and became closer with old ones too, but it was also challenging transitioning to a new school. No matter what, it was it was a new chapter in our lives, it’s like turning a page in a book and every line gets more exciting than the last until we reach the end of our story. This year we’re almost at the end and we hope to end the year with a smile on our faces and begin the next chapter. Sure we may have all had trouble settling in, but in the end we all found where we belong.”

Raha

“This year in Year 7, there were many new and amazing things for me to experience. At the start of the year, we went on a camp which was really fun

and everyone got to try new things. After camp everyone bonded together because we all got to socialise and know each other at camp. I have met many amazing friends this year and have learnt heaps of things. We had a whole school production that performed very well (it was ‘The School of Rock’). So far, my time at RSC has been exceptional and I believe it will only improve from here!”

Josh

YEAR Eight

Our Year 8s started 2024 with great excitement, getting involved in all that Ringwood Secondary had to offer. Most of the year was spent taking on new challenges and enjoying the final year of Junior School. Some of the activities undertaken included:

• Swimming carnival

• Cybersafety information session

• Student leadership day

• Whole school production

• Junior school production

• Lunchtime clubs

• Leading school tours

• Open night

• Speaking at parent information nights

• School tour leaders

• Athletics carnival

• Cross country

• Receiving and helping run the academic awards ceremony

• Helping with 2025 orientation day

• Interschool sports events

• Instrumental music events

• Celebration Day – Funfields

MY YEAR 8

by Joel Murdoch Year 8 level Captain

“Year 8 is a very exciting year where I feel you can really enjoy school, because you are no longer the young kids but also not having exams and homework like Year 9. This year was started off with the school swim carnival which is always really fun with many activities. It does not feel like a school day at all!

I also won swimmer of the age group at the school carnival and Division and made it to Regionals and medalled, but sadly didn’t make it through to State. Also, in Term 1 we have our school sports competition. I chose to do baseball and we made it all the way to Regionals! (To be fair, there were no other schools in our division, so we didn’t exactly play - but no one needs to know that!!!) For myself, as a leader I got to help with tours for students wishing to come to Ringwood and show them an idea of what our school is about.

In early Term 2 we have our school cross country, which was optional this year. I decided to do it and made it all the way to Regional. After that we had inter school sport, this time I chose to do AFL and we were so close to making it to regionals, but sadly came second in our group. Soon after we have our school athletics carnival which is always a lot of fun. In Term 2 we also had Ringwood’s 70th anniversary celebration where past students came back to walk around the school and reminisce. In Term 3 I took part in the Blue Edge program run by Victoria Police, set up to help reach out to kids in need and connect them with positive influences by workouts, activities and my personal favouritebreakfast! And now coming up we have our regional baseball comp and end of year celebrations. Thanks for reading.”

Joel Murdoch, 8L

“The Year 8s of 2024 had a remarkably successful year filled with a range opportunities offered by our supportive teachers. Students of Year 8 commenced past subjects of Humanities, Science, French, Maths, English, LOTE or EAL, Music and Physical Education, as well as new classes of Health, Food Studies and Digital Technology. They also took part in dissecting a proportion of the heart as well as executing their own experiments. New Maths formulas were introduced as students extended their thinking and reasoning abilities.

We studied the Yarra River at different scenic points using equipment such as PH sticks. Apart from academic classes, students also participated in sporting events such as Athletics and Inter-School sports. Events in ‘The Arts’ like ‘Generations in Jazz’ and production were enjoyed by the cohort. Besides these annual events, students also took part in our school’s 70th anniversary. Some classes also had the opportunity to attend the‘Le Cambriolage: ‘The Heist” which was an immersive escape room with French clues, as well as writing exchange letters to French schools. Overall, the year was eventful and outstanding. We look forward to the surprises next year will bring us!

Shang Tong Lu, 8I

JUNIOR School Production 2023

YEAR Nine

A Year Of Growth And Achievement For Year 9 Students

Year 9 has been a dynamic and impactful year for students at our school, marked by a variety of activities that have encouraged personal growth, teamwork and community engagement. From sports to music, academic development and unique excursions, students have embraced these experiences with enthusiasm and maturity, making it a truly memorable year. Here’s a look at the highlights from an incredible Year 9 journey.

Consistent Success in Interschool Sports

Students have shown remarkable dedication and skill in representing our school across numerous interschool sports competitions. Through hard work, teamwork and commitment, they have consistently achieved outstanding results in various sports. Their strong performances have not only brought pride to the school but also helped build a sense of unity and shared accomplishment within the cohort. This, along with coaching of our junior teams, have really shown dedication to success and growth.

Regional and State Representation in Swimming, Cross Country, and Athletics

Beyond team sports, several Year 9 students have excelled individually in swimming, cross country and athletics. Representing the school at both regional and state levels, these students have demonstrated remarkable athletic ability and resilience, standing out as role models for their peers. Their achievements in these demanding sports reflect not only personal dedication but also the school’s supportive environment for athletic development.

Leadership in School Tours and Open Night

Year 9 students played an important role in welcoming prospective students and their families by volunteering for school tours and Open Night. They led groups around the campus, answered questions and showcased what makes our school special. This involvement allowed them to demonstrate their maturity, school pride and leadership skills, helping to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for future students.

Blue Edge Program

A number of Year 9 students participated in the Blue Edge Program this year, which focuses on building resilience, fitness and self-confidence. Through a series of physically challenging activities, leadership exercises and teamwork tasks, students gained valuable skills that extend beyond the classroom. This program has been instrumental in boosting students’ confidence and teaching them the value of hard work, commitment and perseverance.

Thriving in Music and Band Events

Year 9 students also made their mark in the performing arts, with large numbers representing the school in music and band events. Their involvement in concerts, performances and competitions reflects their dedication to honing their musical talents and their enthusiasm for representing the school. These events have also provided students with the opportunity to develop their confidence, stage presence, and teamwork skills.

Morrisby Testing and Career Interviews

In a show of maturity and forward-thinking, students approached the Morrisby Testing and career interviews with a high level of engagement. These assessments and one-on-one interviews gave students valuable insights into their strengths, interests and potential career paths. The experience encouraged students to think about their future aspirations and laid the groundwork for informed decision-making as they move into the later years of their schooling.

LIVIN Presentation

The LIVIN Presentation offered a valuable conversation about mental health, tackling the stigma around discussing emotions and mental wellness. It encouraged students to reach out, support one another and take care of mental wellbeing. This session helped open the door to honest conversations, creating a more supportive, empathetic environment where everyone felt comfortable talking about their feelings.

InterGREAT

Excursions: High Ropes, Escape Rooms, Rock Climbing, and more

The InterGREAT program provided students with thrilling experiences that encouraged teamwork, problem-solving and personal growth. From the excitement of escape rooms to the physical challenge of high ropes and rock climbing, each activity helped students step outside their comfort zones. These excursions have been instrumental in building resilience, confidence and collaboration among students, fostering personal growth in an enjoyable and adventurous way.

City Experience

Year 9 culminated with the highly anticipated City Experience, an excursion that allowed students to explore and engage with the broader community. This experience encouraged independence, navigational skills and a greater understanding of urban life, offering a fresh perspective on the world beyond the school environment. City Experience was not only educational but also provided an opportunity for students to bond and create lasting memories.

Year 9 has been a year of growth, exploration and achievement, with students fully embracing the wide range of activities offered. From excelling in sports and music to showing leadership, maturity and an eagerness to engage with new challenges, Year 9 students have displayed remarkable resilience and enthusiasm. As they prepare for the next stage of their schooling journey, these experiences have laid a strong foundation for their future success, both academically and personally.

YEAR Ten

A Year of Milestones and Memories:

Year 10s Journey

What an incredible year filled with new experiences, challenges and memories that have shaped our Year 10s in different ways. From unforgettable excursions and career insights to the first taste of exams, each event has added to their journey, helping with growth and to prepare for the next step.

Formal at Karalyka

The Formal at Karalyka was a night to remember! Dressed in their finest attire, students enjoyed an evening of music, dancing and laughter. This was a celebration not only of friendship but also of the year, strengthening the bonds within the year level. For many, it was a night to enjoy, make memories and have fun with classmates outside of the usual school environment.

Work Experience

Work Experience week was a powerful opportunity to step outside the classroom and into the real world of work. Whether shadowing professionals in fields of interest or trying something completely new, this experience gave a glimpse into life beyond school. It was a valuable way to learn about different careers and start envisioning what the future might look like—whether that be further studies, an apprenticeship, or a job.

Central Australia Trip

The Central Australia Trip was truly an unforgettable adventure! Exploring iconic sites like Uluru and learning about the rich culture and history of Indigenous communities provided a fresh perspective about Australia. This trip wasn’t just about sightseeing; it was a chance to understand and appreciate different cultural stories, build resilience and strengthen friendships through shared experiences in a unique environment.

Careers counselling sessions

The Careers counselling sessions were a chance to explore options for the future. These sessions helped students think about their strengths, interests and goals while guiding pathways for further studies and career opportunities. From subject choices to discussions about future pathways, these sessions helped take a big step toward the future, making informed decisions that will shape the next phase of schooling.

METEC and RYDA Driver Education Days

Learning to drive is a big milestone, and the METEC and RYDA Driver Education Days gave students a safe, supportive space to build important skills. These sessions focused on safe driving practices, helping develop road awareness and responsibility. From understanding the risks of distracted driving to practicing skills behind the wheel, these experiences were invaluable in preparing individuals for the road with confidence and caution.

School Tours & Open Night

During the School Tours and Open Night, students had the opportunity to represent the school and share what makes it special with prospective students and their families. Our leaders played a part in welcoming future students, showcasing the school’s spirit, and reflecting on the journey they’ve been through. These events also helped build leadership skills, instilling a sense of pride and belonging in the school community.

Wellbeing Day with Tomorrow Man/ Woman

Wellbeing Day, led by Tomorrow Man/ Woman, was a day of introspection and self-discovery. Through engaging discussions and activities, students explored ideas about identity, emotional wellbeing and the importance of supportive relationships. The program encouraged students to break down gender stereotypes, celebrate individuality and foster empathy within the year level. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of looking out for themselves and others.

Red Frogs Presentation

The Red Frogs Presentation was an eye-opener into navigating social pressures and maintaining balance in life. From learning about the importance of looking out for friends to making responsible choices, the session offered useful tools for managing social challenges. It emphasised making good choices in high-stakes situations, helping build resilience and being there for those around you.

Exams for the First Time

For some, this year marked the first time completing exams at both mid and end of year; a milestone in academic life. Though it came with its challenges, this experience tested not only student knowledge but also their ability to manage time, prioritise and stay focused under pressure. These skills are essential and will serve them well in the years to come, laying a foundation for future studies.

Each of these experiences has shaped each individual in a unique way, helping each person grow into more resilient, self-aware and compassionate individuals. Whether through travel, career insights, or challenging assessments, this year has been a journey of discovery and development. Congratulations on a successful Year 10! Here’s to the exciting journey that lies ahead.

DUKE of Edinburgh

Teamwork, Trust, Leadership, Initiative!

The 40 students involved in the 2024 Duke of Edinburgh program have gone on two hikes this year, gained a Level 2 First Aid Certificate and successfully completed their Bronze Award.

In Term 2, we embarked on our practice journey – a four-day hike to Mount Buffalo that included amazing opportunities such as caving, rock climbing and abseiling. We learnt how to set up and take down a tent quickly, how to survive in an alpine environment and, most importantly, how to have fun as part of a team.

In Term 3 we got our first aid qualifications. To get these, we had to complete numerous online modules and then an in-person workshop with

our school nurse, who tested us on our abilities to respond quickly and rationally to emergency situations. Among other things, we learnt how to use an Epipen, how to help someone suffering an asthma attack, how to treat major bleeding and how to respond to different animal bites.

Throughout this year, we have also been completing our online record book, run by Duke of Edinburgh. This consisted of a voluntary service, a skill and a physical activity. We had to log one hour a week for at least 3 months.

One of these components was our major and lasted over the course of 6 months. This was done outside of school in our own time as part of our commitment towards receiving our Bronze Duke of Ed award.

In Term 4, we concluded our Duke of Ed program with our qualifying journey to Mount Baw Baw. This involved a 3-day hike, along with 2 days of white-water rafting. We carried our equipment in hiking backpacks and cooked our meals on trangias.

Although this was an extremely physically and mentally challenging experience, Duke of Ed ultimately developed us all as people, and prepared us for the challenges we’ll face in the future.

Zoe Dean, Dove Allen, Eshita Saini and Tahlia Humphries

INTER Great

The Year 9 InterGREAT program offers students the chance to engage with new opportunities, face challenges and explore important issues through a variety of projects, guest speakers and collaborative activities. This year, students participated in a number of exciting experiences designed to foster social, emotional and academic growth.

For the first time, students enjoyed three excursions, spread across Terms 2 and 3. These outings included adventurous activities like high ropes courses, trampolining, rock climbing, escape rooms and laser tag. Students were thrilled to challenge themselves both mentally and physically while strengthening their connections with peers.

In Semester One, students embarked on their Personal Project, which encouraged them to explore their character strengths, passions and interests through a creative outlet. This project was a highlight for many, pushing students to their limits while sparking learning and self-discovery. At the conclusion of the semester, students proudly showcased their projects at an afternoon expo for the Ringwood community and their families.

Term 3 had a strong career focus. Students completed their Morrisby profiling, built resumes and practised interview skills, in preparation for future opportunities. As part of their career exploration, they interviewed professionals in fields of interest and created mini films to demonstrate their learnings.

In Term 4, students prepared for their much-anticipated City Experience Week. They honed essential skills like navigating Google Maps and using the Public Transport Victoria journey planner. These skills were put to use as students worked in groups to design a city experience in a global city of their choice. The project was well-received, with many students expressing a desire to take their own trip one day in the future.

The InterGREAT program has once again provided an enriching experience for our Year 9 cohort, helping them grow socially, mentally and academically as they continue to prepare for future opportunities.

YEAR Eleven

What an incredible year it’s been with the Year 11 group of 2024! It’s been a rewarding experience coordinating the cohort, supporting them as they navigated the challenges of their VCE subjects, built lasting friendships, honed their organisation skills and prepared for the year ahead.

Whether it was learning to balance study with social time, getting more organised in managing workloads, or gearing up for exams, this year has been a significant step in their academic journey.

Mrs Gardiner and Ms Lamb

Here are some reflections from a student perspective, highlighting the memorable moments and key learnings from this year:

“The connections between senior school students and teachers have never been more meaningful. These genuine bonds not only make our school experience more enjoyable, but also provide essential support as we navigate the challenges of our first year of VCE. As we transition into adulthood, the mature relationships we’ve built will be cherished and valued for years to come. We cannot thank them enough!”

Kartia Walls and Jess Harmsworth

“Getting ready for Year 12 has been an emotional roller coaster, with the introduction of SACs and Learning Outcomes. From new challenges to unforgettable moments, it’s safe to say that Year 11 has kept us on our toes.

Having access to the senior school building has been a great space to use for both studying and hanging out with friends. It’s been a place where we’ve pulled off those last-minute assignments, shared laughs and even supported each other through tough times. Goodbye 2024 and hello to the last year of our high school lives!”

Andia Amini

“The Year 11 Elevate sessions transformed our understandings of effective time management and study. Elevate’s study skills seminars are designed to achieve behavioural changes amongst students, which is a challenge however Elevate gets students to use the skills from its seminars, using an integrated process that works. The Year 11 cohort participated in three sessions throughout the year: Time management, Ace your Exams and Memory mnemonics; all of which were engaging and memorable.”

Caitlin Gordon

“This year in Year 11 leadership, we focused on connection, acknowledging the disconnect we often feel as a cohort and attempting to combat it. As a leadership group we all got to know each other well, as we worked through the ongoing leadership responsibilities. We are excited to continue to work as a team in the coming year.”

Lani Quick-Buccella

“Year 11 transition week marked the beginning of our final years of high school and provided us a valuable glimpse into the life of a VCE student. This experience not only prepared us for the challenges ahead but also lessened the anxiety associated with becoming ‘senior school students.’ Throughout the week, we had the opportunity to familiarize ourselves with our chosen subjects and classes, as well as also foster new relationships and gain insights into our future academic paths. Year 11 Transition can sound daunting, but this week helps ease your worries by providing a lower-stress introduction to new subjects and classmates. This week allows students to get a feel for the increased workload and senior facilities, all while building relationships that will support them through the year. Despite any initial nerves, the experience fuels excitement for the journey ahead, offering a glimpse into the independence and opportunities Year 11 will bring.”

Sarah Moses

and Angelita Sargeant

“Participating in the Magic Moments Youth Leadership and Business Summit has helped me grow in so many ways. I saw firsthand how this camp aided a shift in people’s perspective on both leadership and life in a positive way. Not only did we learn so many skills, but we also forged new friendship with likeminded people.”

James Bluck

FORMAL

The Year 11 Formal was a highlight, marking a moment of celebration and unity among classmates. It was not just a night of dancing and fun; it represented the friendships and bonds we’ve built over the years. Dressing up and enjoying the evening together was a beautiful way to acknowledge our hard work and the transition we are making toward the next phase of our education.

“The Year 11 Formal was a highlight for many this year. It was super fun dressing up and enjoying the night together. It was so nice for the whole cohort to come together, and the formal committee did a wonderful job running the night. The night was truly a night to remember, and a celebration of all the achievements our cohort have made over 2024.”

Ella Hulbert

YEAR Twelve

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! This incredible cohort has navigated their final year of school with collaboration, enthusiasm, humour and unwavering determination.

They have exemplified our school values of respect, resilience, and achievement in every aspect of their journey—whether in the classroom, on the sports field, or through participation in productions, music programs, swimming and athletics carnivals and fun events like staff v student games, lip-sync battles and dress-up days.

The sense of community, resilience and positivity this group has demonstrated will undoubtedly serve them well in the future. Everyone who has had the privilege of working alongside them feels fortunate to have witnessed their growth.

This year has presented its challenges, but it has also been filled with joy and camaraderie. The Senior School team wishes the Class of 2024 the very best as they face new challenges, overcome hurdles, embrace opportunities and pursue their dreams in the years to come.

When asked for their thoughts on the year and their time at Ringwood Secondary College as a whole, students offered the following reflections:

On an overall school related highlight:

• My highlight is doing the School of Rock production as it allowed me to talk to so many new people, have fun and interact with my friends

• 100% attendance for VCE

• Playing the Last Post for Anzac Day

On what they will miss the most about school:

• Hanging out with friends and teachers. It’s going to be far harder to keep consistent contact with them, but I really hope I can continue into later life

• The structure and routine of school along with the enjoyment of completing the year as a cohort.

• Pepsi trips to the canteen every study period with my besties!!!!

On what they are most looking forward to, having finished school:

• Being able to travel, see the world, and meet new people.

• Having more freedom within my days and expanding my work opportunities

• Continuing on with life and seeing what my life throws at me, also keeping contact with all the wonderful friends made at school

On advice they can offer to next year’s Year 12 cohort:

• Make sure you have fun and also prioritise your studies. Find a balance between being an academic weapon and a social butterfly

• Little bits of work progressively over the year to work up to examsconsistency!

• Year 12 is messy, so learn to thrive in uncertainty rather than fear it, and also make time for yourself, and the things you enjoy

YEAR 12 Students v Staff Games

YEAR 12 Students v Staff Games

CLASS of 2024 - Year 12

CLASS of 2024 - Year 12

CLASS of 2024 - Year 12

CLASS of 2024 - Year 12

CLASS of 2024 - Year 12

CLASS of 2024 - Year 12

CLASS of 2024 - Year 12

YEAR 12 Celebrities Day

CAREERS

In 2024 the Careers Team continued its commitment to support students to undertake career exploration, to broaden their career thinking, and to be empowered to pursue their preferred pathway.

Year 9 Students once again had the opportunity to undertake Morrisby profiling which through a range of assessments and questionnaires offered them insight into their strengths and abilities, preferences, motivations and personality.

Students were provided a comprehensive personalised report which was unpacked one-on-one with support of a Morrisby certified careers counsellor.

Year 10 students all met with a careers counsellor in Term 2 in preparation for their senior school course and subject selection decisions. This was then followed up with our highly successful Year 10 Course Counselling Day.

This event was an invaluable opportunity to assist students and parents to better understand opportunities available in senior school and to help them make decisions on the VCE program best

aligned to their strengths, interests and possible future career pathways. Our highly successful Year 10 Work experience program was held in the final week of Term 2 with over 230 students securing opportunities to be immersed in the world of work.

It is not always easy to find a great placement but congratulations to the students who started their search early and persisted as they were rewarded with some fabulous experiences.

We are proud to congratulate Year 10 students Ozana Ting, Miranda Wainwright and Keith Yu who were offered a place in the prestigious Monash Scholars Program. The program offers the selected high achieving students exclusive access to a range of activities and support provided by Monash University during their VCE years.

Year 12 students were delivered a presentation by Deakin University in late Term 2. The presentation helped students to better understand future study options and pathways as well as providing some valuable insight into university life.

Students asked some great questions and for many it was a timely opportunity to help refocus on their goals and for some a boost to their motivation.

In Term 3, AGA presented interested Year 12 students with a wealth of information on apprenticeship/ traineeship pathway options including employer expectations, pay and conditions, as well as employment strategies.

We are proud to report that many students pursuing this pathway have already been successful in securing apprenticeship offers.

Starting in Term 3 all Year 12 students had the opportunity to meet with a careers counsellor for support with their next step, irrespective of their future plans. For those intending on further study this included support with tertiary applications.

The Careers Team congratulate the Class of 2024 and wish them all the best with whatever their future holds.

VCE Vocational Major

This year we fully embedded the VCE Vocational Major into the Year 12 program. The course is now fully immersed under the VCE suite of options within the school, allowing students to select their most relevant pathway.

The new program has enabled students to participate in a wide variety of community projects including working with the Bedford Community Garden, Bunnings, The HEAL Communitywhere they assist the elderly clients with learning the functions of various technology devices, as well as The Base 4 Kids - whose aim is to empower Victorian youth to become independent and live healthy lives where they are able to contribute to community. Our students have fundraised to support the various programs and to help provide essential items that contribute to the overall wellbeing of at-risk youth.

This year we were granted funding to run the RSC Coffee Shop. Interested students were trained as baristas to operate the café. This social enterprise enabled this group to fundraise for a variety of charities and learn about

running their own business, from the organisational perspective through to customer service and building employability skills that will be relevant in any work pathway they chose.

Overall, it has been a very successful year and will grow and improve with the enthusiastic students who choose this vocational program to enhance their capabilities and access the pathways that are a part of their future options.

VET Vocation Education and Training

The applied VET programs enable students to gain skills and knowledge in a variety of vocational areas. The number of students from years 10 -12 accessing VET has increased. This year has been no exception as students opt in to courses that provide them with practical realistic experiences in industries that focus on student areas of interest.

The development of flexible pathways that lead to further training, apprenticeships and courses in relevant industry areas enables students to earn and gain experience but more importantly they obtain essential and applicable transferable employability skills that will enhance future opportunities.

This year several students were recognized for their hard work and achievements in their VET qualifications.

RINGWOOD Training

A FANTASTIC YEAR

2024 student number have continued to grow. We increased enrolments to just under 700 for the year. VETis enrolments were well over 300 students again this year and continuing to increase with changes to VCE & VCE Vocational Major. The continual growth in Engineering this year has been encouraging. We have had a record number of graduations, with 131 students completing their qualifications so far.

We were able build some toilets and an amenities area in our Automotive building, which opened early Term 4. A big thank you must go to Chris Salisbury and the facilities team for completing the project in a timely manner and under budget.

At the end of Term 1, we moved our IT training area from Senior School Building to the main RT building. This was a massive relocation project, mainly undertaken by RT IT staff and trainers, with the assistance of a couple contractors.

Ringwood Training were runners up at the Weld Australia 2024 Welding Excellence Awards for Training & Education Organisation. This is a great effort considering we compete against much larger Training Organisations. Last year one of our Fabrication trainers, Dushan Slavovic was runner up in the Trainer of the Year Award in Victoria.

One to add to the hiring CV. The Training Facility was hired out for a baby shower! Classrooms or the Open Space are available for hire on request, please contact admin@rt.vic.edu.au. Every year students and employers are surveyed by the Department of Education. These surveys are conducted across all Training Providers across Victoria. Ringwood Training’s ‘Student and Employer Satisfaction’ survey results again this year are well above the state average in most areas.

Ringwood Training staff again have been heavily involved with Educational Committees, Senates, Forums and school careers days. This involvement is voluntary for staff, giving them an opportunity to be involved with shaping the direction of education in their chosen fields. Staff attending careers information sessions can pass on their experience and insight into the trade areas, to prospective students to assist them choose a career direction.

We would also like to thank the Ringwood Secondary College and School Council for all their support over the year. Their commitment to giving students a quality option for VET and post-secondary education in Eastern Melbourne is the reason Ringwood Training continues to grow.

PATHWAYS FROM SCHOOL TO WORK

We deliver VET in Schools and School based Apprenticeships and Traineeships including VCE VET Engineering studies, VCE VET Automotive Studies and VCE VET IT. We also deliver post-school programs including Certificate III Apprenticeships and higher-level IT.

We can train students while they are at school and when they have left school. SBATs (School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship) are an ideal way to combine school, training and work. We help students manage the relationship between the school, the RTO and the employer.

Automotive

• Apprentices - of the 150 Certificate III Automotive apprentices, 50 completed their training. We are now enrolling new apprentices for 2025 many of whom come from our CII VET Automotive students.

• VET in Schools – more than 120 students commenced or continued their two-year VCE VET Certificate II Automotive Studies program; 30 of whom attended the graduation event on the 6/11/24. These students also attended excursions to the Fox museum and Kenworth manufacturing.

• SBATs (School-based Traineeships) – more than 30 students commenced a School based Traineeship in Automotive Servicing Technology. These students successfully managed to combine employment, training (at Ringwood Training) and school (VCE or Vocational Major).

• Employers – Ringwood Training extended their strong links with automotive employers in the eastern part of Melbourne. We now train apprentices for multiple brands including

Ford, Audi, Volvo, Mercedes, Subaru, Holden, Toyota, Nissan, Porsche, Mitsubishi, Mazda, plus many general workshops.

• Victorian Automotive Forum – Ringwood Training staff were actively engaged in the forum for automotive trainers across the state. We have 2 staff members involved with the VAF committee and all of our staff benefited from professional training involving new vehicle technologies especially those around electric vehicles.

• Automotive air-conditioning training course has increased this year with 7 courses being run in 2024.

• The automotive department is now looking towards implementing Electric Vehicle training in 2025 as the industry takes up these new technologies. Staff have already received training in this area and we are looking at sourcing the appropriate vehicles and equipment.

ENGINEERING

Last year’s VETiS program had two of our students asked to display their project at ‘Top Designs’ in the Melbourne Museum, for students and parents from around Victoria to look at for inspiration for this year’s next round of designs. Five of the top 10 students in Engineering came from Ringwood Training; an achievement that we are very proud of. This year was equally as successful a year in Engineering at RT, our largest numbers yet in both VETiS Metals and Apprentices. Some fantastic projects were undertaken and our students continue to impress, with their efforts to achieve high marks for the VCE.

Impressive projects include: a fully fabricated aluminum electric guitar, BMX bike starting ramp with automatic release mechanism, mountain bike forks conversion kit to coil sprung (starting his own business), soccer ball fire pit with drinks storage, a full working mini lathe including guard with limit switch. Around 40 new starters in the apprenticeship, showing that the Bayswater Industrial area is busy and has vacancies for our young people to get jobs.

Short courses as well as Advanced Welding Tickets continue to be sold out, showing the strong demand for welders locally is growing. To match the increase in student numbers we have been training new staff in our workshop to assist us in keeping up our delivery quality. In September RT successfully hosted two Worldskills events, where students get to compete against each other for the opportunity to represent Victoria in a skills challenge, to be hosted in Brisbane in 2025. Sheetmetal & VETiS Metals in Engineering were the two competitions we hosted with two representatives from Sheetmetal & one high school student from our VETiS program given the opportunity to compete again next year.

Information Technology

Ringwood Training continues to provide opportunities for students, including the following highlights in 2024:

• Courses offered in VET in Schools as well as post school in Certificate III, IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma.

• Flexible hours for training delivery, post-school students can attend up to 3 days per week to engage in their training programs.

• Employment opportunities during training, in the IT industry, for all enrolled Ringwood Training students through JB Hi Fi Education Solutions

VET in Schools includes delivery of:

1. ICT20120 – Certificate II in Applied Digital Technology

2. UEE20520 – Certificate II in Computer Assembly and Repair

3. ICT30120 – Certificate III in Networking and Cyber Security

4. ICT30120 – Certificate III in Game Design

5. 22519VIC – Certificate IV in Integrated Technologies Post-school includes delivery of:

1. ICT40120 – Certificate IV in Information Technology (Networking or Programming or Game Design)

2. UEE40120 – Certificate IV in Computer Systems

3. 22519VIC – Certificate IV in Integrated Technologies

4. 22603VIC – Certificate IV in Cyber Security

5. ICT50220 – Diploma in Information Technology

6. ICT60220 - Advanced Diploma of Information Technology

7. 22610VIC – Advanced Diploma of Cyber Security

• The design and implementation of a ICT30118 Certificate III in Information, Digital Media and Technology, with a focus on Networking and Cybersecurity for VET in Schools students.

• Free VCE final examination revision to students from any school studying VCE Software Development.

• Free workshops, IT taster and information sessions to all prospective students and schools through individual or school tour arrangements.

• a summer course over October to December for students exiting school in the current year with an interest in IT, networking and cybersecurity, hardware, 3D printing, operating systems and data centres

All enquiries for IT training can be directed to the IT Pathways Manager Kevork Krozian on 0419 356 034.

MUSIC

Instrumental Music Director’s Report

In our 70th year, we’ve celebrated many achievements:

• Generations in Jazz: all four stage bands and senior choir performed at Mt. Gambier, with Junior Stage Band placing fourth in Division 4 and Mark Andreev selected for the division’s Super Band on clarinet

• Concert successes: all concerts were sold out, especially our Gala for the college’s 70th anniversary

• Youth Concert: our strings performed at Hamer Hall under conductor Jack Lam, with Amelia Harper delivering a moving solo performance

• Victorian Schools Music Festival:

• Junior Choir – Platinum (Outstanding Ensemble)

• Senior, Intermediate, Junior and Training Stage Bands – Gold

• Symphonic Band – Silver

• Senior Strings – Silver

• Intermediate Strings, Symphony Orchestra, Intermediate Concert Band and Junior Concert Band –Bronze

Gala Highlights: Alumni returned to perform in our finale, We’re All in This Together, arranged by students and featuring soloists Ambrielle Glagovs and Ella Baum. Alumni also performed in our senior ensembles.

Farewells and Awards: We honoured our graduating Year 12 musicians and presented awards for excellence, including:

• Instrumental Awards:

Piano

Joshua Kim, Strings

Sam McPherson, Voice

Naomi McIver, Woodwind

Amelia Harper, Brass Casper Lee Ercole, Percussion

Thomas Dower/Jess Johnston

• Performing Arts Award:

Cameron Bailey

• Award of Honour: Amelia Harper

• New Awards:

Rosemary Kenna Chamber, Music Award

Thomas Dower and Jess Johnston; Composer/Arranger Award, Sasha Durkin

Band Tour: Our final event was a successful tour in Northeast Victoria, with performances for enthusiastic audiences, including 850 students at Wodonga Primary School.

Congratulations to all students and staff for making this milestone year a great success!

Janine

Pero,

Director of Instrumental Music

Music Prefects Report

Over the past year, Gabby and I have been honoured to assume the role of Music Prefects for 2024. This year, we have had the pleasure of hosting and attending all of the school music concerts, including the Jazz Night, the Junior Concert, the Senior Concert and the Gala performance. Needless to say, with the effort students and conductors put into their performances, each of these concerts was an amazing success.

We also had the amazing opportunity to organise and run the very first Chamber Music Festival, occurring over three school lunchtimes during August. This was a particularly difficult task, as not only did every group that chose to play have to organise their own ensemble members, practice sessions and repertoire, but they were also in the large part entirely student run. In light of this, the number of groups that chose to get involved (22 in total!) was quite astounding. Hopefully it will only expand and get greater from here! So, from Gabby and I, we would like to thank the Ringwood Music Program for what an awesome year it’s been, and wish the upcoming 2025 Music Prefects, Sasha and Jess, the best of luck for next year.

Amelia Harper and Gabrielle Perrin, Music Prefects

Symphony Orchestra

The journey of Ringwood Secondary College’s symphony orchestra was an unforgettable one. The growth shown by the orchestra was palpable, both technically (in terms of instrumental performance), but also emotionally, as shown by the maturity of the pieces of music performed by the ensemble throughout the year. Our centrepiece of the year was the finale from Gustav Mahler’s third symphony, which was performed at VSMF (Victorian Schools Music Festival) as well as the college’s Music Gala, with very positive reception.

Other than VSMF and the Gala, SO performed at the school’s annual Autumn/Winter concert, during which they played Tchaikovsky’s ‘Capriccio Italien’; a piece inspired by the composers escape from the cold Russian winter with a warm holiday to Italy. The variety of pieces that were performed by Symphony Orchestra this year, alongside the experiences that we associate this music with, have been truly indispensable and we look forward to another great year of classical music in 2025!

Thomas Dower

Senior Stage Band

The RSC Senior Stage band had a wonderful year full of competitions and performances! We started off the year at RSC Jazz night where we performed our GIJ pieces Hi-Hat Man, Reflection in light, and Magical Thinking, a piece composed and arranged by our bassist, Sasha Durkin. In May, the SSB travelled to Generations in Jazz where we held our own against many large schools and had the opportunity to see some amazing performances. Later in the year, we performed at the RSC Senior Autumn concert and competed in VSMF, playing the new charts: Our Man Dan, Nearness of You, and a re-imagined Magical Thinking. We got Gold! At Gala, SSB ended off the year strong with Our Man Dan again. Congratulations to all of SSB and Ms Pero for an incredible year and for all of the memories!

Jess Johnston and Caspar Lee-Ercole

Intermediate Stage Band

This year in Intermediate Stage Band we filled the PAC with groovy music and good vibes on a Thursday afternoon. In Term 2 we ventured to South Australia for the nation-wide ‘Generations in Jazz’ festival. This was a great experience for the whole band and taught us a lot about performing together and playing techniques. Throughout the year we worked as a tight knit team to hone our

skills and better our performance skills, resulting in us achieving Gold at the Victorian Schools Music Festival. We finished our year performing Earth, Wind and Fire’s September, in September, at our 70th anniversary Gala Concert.

Will Whitby and Seth Lucktaylor-Bennett

Junior Stage Band

Getting to be a part of Junior Stage Band was one of the best experiences and was an absolute highlight of the year. It brought so much excitement, fun and so many experiences to everybody involved, learning and growing as instrumental players as well as people. The 2024 season was a really successful year in achievements with help from our incredibly talented conductor and teacher, Mr Sorensen. Our first performance of the year was jazz night in late April where the band had so much fun playing ‘After the Rain’, ‘Timeless Stomp’ and ‘Put It In the Esky’, in preparation for our upcoming competition at Generations in Jazz, where junior stage band did incredibly well placing 4th out of many in our division and even had one of our band members Mark Andreev on clarinet having the outstanding achievement of making it into GIJ’s superband!

After that, JSB continued to work hard and rehearse as a group for our next performance at the Junior Winter Concert, where we played ‘After the Rain’ and our new Latin piece ‘Pass the Hot Sauce’, we then continued to practice every Wednesday learning more and more and working on dynamics articulation and timing in preparation for VSMF to take place in August. JSB did incredibly well at VSMF achieving a Gold Shield, playing ‘The Thumb’, ‘Soft and Easy’ and ‘Pass the Hot Sauce’. We also had a very strong end to the music year, playing the bands favourite piece, ‘Pass the Hot Sauce’ at gala. This band was the highlight of the year and I know no one in the band will forget the connections we made and how many fun memories we made.

Sarah Pankhurst, 9E

Training Stage Band

Training Stage is the first of the jazz bands here at RSC. It is valuable opportunity for personal and musical growth; it allowed us to immerse ourselves in a whole new world of musical education. During our time in Training Stage, we gained important musical abilities such as learning different swing charts such as ‘Birdland’ and ‘Louie Loui’. This allowed

us to dive deeper into the world of music and develop a love for Jazz. Training stage helped us become better at our instrument, as well as the opportunity to participate in once in a lifetime events such as GIJ in Mt Gambier, VSMF (Victorian Schools Music Festival) and many other performances, concerts and competitions. Overall Training Stage was a great experience for us, it taught us so many lifelong skills, such as working in a team and helping one another, but most importantly it was extremely fun.

Marli Ridley

Junior Concert Band

Junior Concert Band was such an incredible experience. We got to play new and challenging pieces from a variety of styles, such as Guiro Hero and Cantabile at many events, such as VSMF and the end of year Gala. Rehearsals were fun and helped us all to become better musicians. We created so many amazing memories and it set us up for further bands. Thanks, Mr Trounson, for making JCB the best!

Isaac Taylor

Intermediate Concert Band

Being part of Intermediate Concert band in 2024 was an absolute highlight of the year! Through the different events we performed at, and all the rehearsals, it is really easy to see the improvement of the whole band! Everyone had so much to provide and all had so much fun and growth being a part of this wonderful band. Having Mr Sorensen as our conductor was such a fantastic opportunity, as he is so talented and has taught us so many music and life skills! We all had so much fun getting to know everyone while learning new things in every rehearsal, but also enjoying every moment.

Our first performance was at the Senior Autumn Concert, where we performed two songs ‘Knights of the Royal Realm’ and ‘Escape from Thunder Mountain’ and it was a really successful night for all of us. We then went on to perform at VSMF (the Victorian Schools Music Festival), a widely known music festival in Victoria. There we played two new songs, ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and ‘Zipline,’ both of which were challenging music pieces, but with the help of our conductor and amazing commitment from the band members, we pulled it off and got placed with a bronze ranking. With much love for these two music arrangements, we ended up playing them at the annual Gala Concert in September. We had an absolute blast

MUSIC

playing together for the last time and will never forget the memories we made in this band.

Niene Oppermann & Molly Stone, 9E

Symphonic Band

This year our Symphonic Band truly excelled, achieving a fantastic silver award at VSMF.  Our performances of ‘Into the Joy of Spring’ by James Swearingen, ‘Lake Craigie’ by Ralph Hultgren and ‘Mars’ by Gustav Holst showcased our growth and dedication as musicians. A heartfelt congratulations to our Year 12s for their leadership and unwavering commitment, as well as to the entire band for the countless hours of hard work and practice. Together with our new conductor Mr Lee, Symphonic Band performed admirably at school as well, the Autumn and Winter concert and the ANZAC Day school assembly.

Jacque Marshall and Anthony Whitehead

Training Strings

Under the guidance of Ms Kennedy and Mr Lam, our Training Strings this year has managed to make an impressive progress, both technically and musically. The difficulties of learning a stringed instrument have taught many students the importance of being independent learners, as well as the benefits of planning ahead for their practice routes.

The ensemble has worked very hard with their weekly lessons as well as rehearsals. They have rehearsed challenging repertoire and put together an impressive performance for our special 70th Anniversary Gala concert this year.

Ms Kennedy

Intermediate Strings

The Intermediate Strings Orchestra has endured a fast-paced progress this year. Many of its members have barely been learning their instruments for a year and yet they faced a very tight concerting schedule and competition challenge, where they often must compete against much more experienced ensembles. Despite the steep learning curve, this group of young musicians has created a strong bond among themselves and they made successful concert performances and competition appearances again and again this year.

School Music Festival, the Senior Strings were rewarded a silver medal for their performance.

True to their title, Senior Strings, their emotional maturity as well as their instrumental techniques, held this small group of elite Ringwood musicians together through these challenging waves that Mr Lam relentlessly threw at them. We sincerely hope that some of them, if not all, will be able to use their experience gained from years of early mornings rehearsal, late night concerts, tours and competitions, not to mention the pure miracle of surviving their conductor’s repeated lame jokes, to further their love of music and let their hard-earned skills serve them through their highs and lows in life.

It was an amazing night at the Gala concert, performing on stage with many students from the past joining us to celebrate our school’s 70th Anniversary.

Mr Jack Lam

Training Band

When we first started playing an instrument, earlier this year, we had no clue what we were doing! So, in music class we got to practise different types of instruments and see which ones we were good at. Finally, we got to choose what to play! Each week our wonderful music teachers showed us the techniques of how to play our instruments. In Training Band students who are starting an instrument for the first time get shown how their instruments work when put with others.

Our absolutely astonishing conductor Mx Frederiksen never failed to make us laugh, show us new skills and help us work together at the same time! They helped us keep in time and have fun while we were learning to play our instruments. I think everyone in Training Band can agree that it was truly an amazing experience and we all learned so much from it!

Maya Lawrence and Tahlia McMahon

Senior Choir 2024

Mr Jack Lam

Senior Strings

Another long and hard year has gone by for the Senior String Ensemble and the early mornings and hard work have paid off. Earlier this year at the Victorian

This year has been a very exciting one for the Senior Choir, starting as it always does with a Masterclass. This is a very important step in the choir’s routine, as it helps get everyone reacquainted and ready just prior to the school year.

Our debut was at the first major concert of the year – the RSC annual Jazz Night, where a range of ensembles perform various jazz pieces learned in the first

third or so of the year, including ours. We performed ‘Ode to a Freeloader’ and ‘Virtual Insanity’. This was also the first year where the night was held at Box Hill city hall, which was an interesting performance space.

Mr Jaques would also run extra day camps throughout the year where we received intense workshopping, support, and people come in to help improve our singing. A big thank you must go to Bob Sedergreen, who has been invaluable and allowed us to perform as best we could at the multiple performances. Additionally, later in the year we had the opportunity to perform at the Senior Autumn Concert, with the same repertoire. The concert was very good and well received. It’s always nice to play on our home stage at the college.

Another very exciting venture was our performance at GIJ - the biggest jazz festival this side of the Southern Hemisphere. While there weren’t any awards won by our choristers, it was a very valuable and joy-filled experience for many of those who went, and everyone gave it their best. It was also interesting and enjoyable to listen to the other school choirs perform.

Throughout the year there have been many highlights for senior choir, ending on a high note (haha) with the Gala Concert at the end of the music year. The choir performed with their final piece of the year, ‘For Good’ from the Wicked musical. It was a pleasure to see their efforts culminating in a fantastic final performance, and to work with everyone as the Senior Choir of 2024.

Oskar Mitchell and Kaela Van Peelan

Junior Choir

The Junior Choir has had an exceptional year, performing songs across genres like pop, jazz, and classical, all with dedication. Performing the Australian and New Zealand anthems at the ANZAC Day dawn service, the choir connected meaningfully with the community. At the Victorian Schools Music Festival, they achieved a Platinum rating, the highest award, marking a historic first for the ensemble. Some Junior Choir members also joined the Senior Choir for Generations in Jazz and Jazz Night, gaining valuable mentorship from professionals such as Bob Sedergreen. The entire choir shone in performances at the Winter Showcase, assemblies, and Junior School Awards ceremony. The choir extends thanks to their conductor, Mr. Jaques, for his support in making this year an unforgettable one.

PERFORMING Arts

SPORT

ATHLETICS

Ringwood Carnival Colour, costumes, house spirit and high level of participation was on the menu once again at Proclamation Park for all our of athletes across the day. The 100m sprint was once again the draw card event, with many races being run with runners trying to be next Gout Gout! The traditional track and field events were supplemented by the very intense egg and spoon race and sack race on the back straight for our novelty events on the day. It may come as a surprise for everyone reading, but Frazer won another Athletics event, with Mabo a very very close 20 points behind!

Congratulations to the 2024 Age Group Champions

13 Yr: Mia Stasiak and Felix Robinson

14 Yr: Belle Whitaker and Marcus Ko

15 Yr: Emily Conroy, Rebekah Lim-Spong and Stephen Zatling

16 Yr: Jemma Whitaker, Ashlee Methven and Charlie Draper, Joshua Philpott

17 Yr: Natalie Barr and Jay Chuenchooprai, Aaron Willett

20 Yr: Ebony Cassidy and Ropro Htoo

Division Athletics

99 Ringwood Secondary School students represented the school this year at Proclamation Park, where we were once again crowned Division Champions. A fantastic effort from everyone involved. On the day, we broke 5 records. Teetut broke the 15-16M MC records for Shot Put, Long Jump and 100m, Jemma Whitaker through peer pressure broke the 16F Javelin record and Year 12 Frazer Parker broke the 20M 100m record running a sub 11 second race, very fast!

Congratulations to those who were Division age group champions: Mia Stasiak 13G, Stephen Zatling 15B, Teetut Ferguson 16B, Ebony Cassidy 20G and Frazer Parker 20B.

Region Athletics

With Knox Athletics track under repair, we ventured out to the slightly smaller Doncaster Athletics track for Region Championships this year. The atmosphere was electric, with Ringwood students competing in events throughout the whole day – it was so hard to watch them all! Under warm, sunny blue skies, we came away from the day finishing 5th in the region, a great effort. Congratulations to all our athletes for their attitude towards all of their events!

On the day:

Our gold medal winners were: Frazer Parker, Teetut Ferguson, Jemma Whitaker, Belle Whitaker, Natalie Barr, Henry Woods and Rebekah Lim-Spong.

Our silver medal winners were: Natalie Barr, Henry Woods, Ansh Rana, Emily Stewart, Frazer Parker, Rebekah Lim-Spong and Ropro Htoo.

Our bronze medal winners were: Teetut Ferguson, Belle Whitaker, Marcus Ko, Imogen Waite, Ropro Htoo, Mia Kuribayashi, Mila Trofimiuk, Ellie Boucher and Frazer Parker.

State Athletics

We had 7 students qualify to State Athletics at the sunny Lakeside Stadium, with 6 students competing on the day. It was a highly competitive day, with many impressive athletes from across the State, with some of them even breaking ex-Olympian records! Our students performed so well, and we are very proud of them!

Our results from the day are as followed:

Henry Woods: 3rd in Shot Put

Jemma Whitaker: 3rd in Javelin

Nat Barr: 5th in 3km & 6th in 1500m

Teetut Ferguson: 4th in 100m and Shot Put

Rebekah Lim-Spong: 7th in 400m and 5th in 1500m

Belle Whitaker: 5th in Javelin

Congratulations to all our students once again. Reaching State level competition is a phenomenal achievement

We sadly say farewell to our U20 students who have represented us so well across their time here at Ringwood. A special mention to Frazer Parker, Ebony Cassidy, Ropro Htoo and Jacob Henry.

CROSS COUNTRY

Ringwood Carnival Roadworks along Railway Avenue for the train crossing removal was a foil in our usual route for Cross Country, we needed to modify. Cross Country across all levels was an optional sign up, with those only running with the intention of making our Division team. Running a shortened modified lap, students ran their hearts out in impressive competition. Like every good RSC Cross Country, it was finished off with a smile and our traditional ice cold Zooper Dooper!

Congratulations to the 2024 Age Group Champions

13 Yr: Lenka Woods and Matt Reyes

14 Yr: Sammi Tsantis and Rishi Arun

15 Yr: Rebekah Lim-Spong and Finn Cassidy

16 Yr: Scarlett Wilson and Jay Canning

20 Yr: Natalie Barr and Justin Piang

Division Cross Country

Ringwood was once again the dominant force at HE Parker Reserve, winning the division cross country again for the 32nd time in a row! The weather blessed up with beautiful sunshine and a hint of a breeze – ideal conditions for our 77 representatives to run in. A highlight on the day was our strong U15 Girls Team, with all 10 students taking the top 10 placing in the race- a clean sweep!

Gold medal winners on the day included: Lenka Woods 13G, Sammi Tsantis 14G, Rebekah Lim-Spong 15G, Finn Cassidy 15B, Scarlett Wilson 16G, Jay Canning 16B and Natalie Barr 20G.

Region Cross Country

59 students descended on Yarra Glen Racecourse to represent the school at Region cross country this year. Unlike other years, we had dry conditions which was greatly appreciated by all runners as they competed on both the 3km and 5km tracks. One thing that never changes at Yarra Glen is the hill on the backside of the course and the hurt that it can cause! Congratulations to all our runners who took part in their races. You all ran so well

Notable finishing places on the day were: Rebekah Lim-Spong came 1st in the 15G race and Nat Barr came 3rd in the 20G race, both amazing achievements! Both our 15G and 20G teams were crowned region champion, a fantastic effort. This means as a school, we had the top 4 highest finishes in the race and those 4 from the age group represent the school at State Cross Country

More results included: Lenka Woods 12th in 13G, Lucy Doyle 5th in 15G, and Ellie Boucher 12th in 20G

State Cross Country

It was back to Yarra Glen Racecourse to compete at the State Championship for 2023. Unlike Region, the track was a heavy 10, with not even the horses wanting to run in the conditions. Everywhere on the course was mud, with competitors running right up against the fence line to try and find even one blade of grass to run on. It was tough and trying conditions, even for Cross Country standard!

We had 9 representatives at State Cross Country this year, the most we have had in a while. These students were Nat Barr, Ellie Boucher, Ciara Willey, Harper Wild, Rebekah Lim-Spong, Lucy Doyle, Mae Boucher, Linh Pham and Lenka Woods.

A special mention to Rebekah who finished 6th and Nat Barr who finished 9th in their races. To finish top 15 in the state is a phenomenal achievement. Our U15 Girls team also finished 3rd overall, a very successful result!

We say farewell and thank you to our under 20 athletes this year who have always produced strong results. Special mention to Ellie Boucher, Ciara Willey and Hannah Day.

SPORT

SWIMMING

Ringwood Carnival

2024 started our sporting year in the best way possible, with a record attendance full of house colours and spirit. Starting the day with our fashion parade gave students the chance to flaunt on the runway before getting in the water, ‘Dane’s Dancefloor’ had students singing and dancing the day away on the grass area and the waterslide had everyone wanting more. However, it was the ever-popular Water Polo which got our house spirit really ticking over, finishing the day with the first instalment of the Staff v Year 12 rivalry for 2024. After some dubious calls, the students came out on top. A higher level of participation in our traditional pool events with students getting ticked off with their swim competencies for camp saw our results between the houses tighten. However, it was once again Frazer house taking home the chocolates and backing up their win from last year

Congratulations to the 2024 Age Group Champions

13 Yr: Rosie Jelo and Eugene Lim

14 Yr: Jasmine Turner, Emi Matsuzaki and Byron Geng

15 Yr: Lucy Doyle and Joel Murdoch

16 Yr: Leia Gobillard and Josh Philpott

17 Yr: Emily Doyle and Bryan Wong

20 Yr: Olivia Murray and Finn Hughes

The results from the day created a very strong Division team to compete in March.

Division Swimming

For as long as it says on the shield (starting in 1997), we once again won the Maroondah Division competition. Our margin this year? Double second place + 120 points, a phenomenal effort from our swimmers. We had many successful individual and team relay performances throughout the day. We had 8 of the 12 possible age group champions and broke a whopping 8 division records along the way! Lucy Doyle broke 5 of them herself, setting a new record in each individual event she swam in, Byron Geng broke 2 records, one from 1984 and his own from last year and Bryan Wong breaking one again. A very successful day had by all of our swimmers!

Region Swimming

38 students represented Ringwood this year at region, where we were once again very successful. For the third year in a row, we finished 3rd in the region where we had many great individual and team performances in the pool. Congratulations to all our students who represented us.

On the day:

Our gold medal winners were: Lucy Doyle, Byron Geng,

Our silver medal winners were: Bryan Wong, Emily Doyle, Jayden Kapoor, Lucy Doyle,

Our bronze medal winners were: Emily Doyle, Joel Murdoch, Bryan Wong, Byron Geng, Under 14 Boys Freestyle relay.

State Swimming

This year we had two familiar faces compete at State Swimming, both Lucy Doyle and Byron Geng again! Lucy Doyle was coming in form but a little fatigued, coming off a successful Nationals campaign on the Gold Coast where she swam every day for 9 days straight!

Lucy came first in the 12-15 Girls 200m Freestyle and 12-15 Girls 100m Freestyle and came second in the 15 Girls 50m Butterfly and 12-15 Girls 200m IM. Four events in the day, and finishing in the top 2 in all of them is a phenomenal achievement. Byron Geng competed in the 14 Boys 50m Breastroke, defending his title again from a year ago. Not only did he win back-to-back, but he also broke the record for the event by half a second, a great result.

An amazing achievement for both these young athletes and we look forward to hopefully more state championships in the future.

We farewell our class of 2024 with great appreciation and admiration, as they were fantastic contributors to the swimming team in their time here. A special mention to Bardia Bahrami, Finn Hughes and Elijah Spong for their contributions.

TEAM SPORTS

Ringwood dominated the Maroondah division sport days winning flag after flag. The junior school cabinet is now full of 2024 pennants and the wall of senior school is decorated with even more Division flags. Our students across these days handled themselves with respect and pride, showing what lantern spirit truly is.

We had numerous region events across the year, with students from all year levels representing Ringwood. We had a team represent us at region for every sport which shows how widely talented our students are. We were highly competitive in all our region

events, usually winning 2 games out of the 3 for the day. Unfortunately, having Rowville on our side means having to beat an academy school in most team sports which is highly difficult. Our students know that pushing academy schools and being highly competitive against them shows how strong we truly are.

Our team sports highlights were our Year 8 Boys who won the Hearld Sun Shield AFL 9’s competition. We won all 3 of our pool games before a narrow 5 point victory over Haileybury College in the semifinal to progress through to the final. In the final, we beat Patterson River Secondary College to be crowned champions of the competition.

Other special moments in Sport this included Liam Keogh and Indy Springett representing Victoria Metro in the Under 16 National Basketball Championship, where Liam won gold and Indy won silver. Year 12 student Morris Khenglawt won the Golden Glove Boxing Championship in Queensland. Finally, fellow Year 12 student Aimon Dowling represented U18 Australia Baseball team where he toured in the USA playing teams across there.

Congratulations to everyone on another amazing year at Ringwood Sport. Go lanterns!!

1st - FRAZER

Frazer house is named in honour of the distinguished scientist Ian Frazer, renowned for his significant contributions to medical science; carrying his name within our house group inspires us to strive for greatness in all our endeavours.

As proud house prefects for Frazer, we are thrilled to reflect on our incredible achievements. Winning the house cup was a testament to the hard work and dedication of every member of our house. The house spirit this year was off the charts and it was so much fun seeing everyone come together and cheer each other on. All the hard work paid off, and we came out on top. Our success at the swimming carnival and athletics carnival showcased our talent and teamwork, bringing our house spirit to life in a way that was truly inspiring. The energy and enthusiasm displayed during these events were unmatched, and it was well worth the effort.  A huge well done to everyone in Frazer for their commitment and sportsmanship this year. Let’s keep up the good work and continue to radiate our positive energy.

Neena Bali and Isaac Yau

2nd - FREEMAN

Freeman House, proudly named after the inspiring Cathy Freeman, has had an incredible year, finishing second overall, just behind Frazer. As Freeman prefects, we, Jai Littlepage and Desy Kutasara, couldn’t be prouder of the dedication, spirit and teamwork everyone in Freeman showed this year. From the athletics carnival to various other events, our house consistently rose to the challenge, often securing second place and demonstrating a powerful and unwavering house spirit. These achievements are a true reflection of the hard work and resilience that define Freeman House.

This year, Freeman didn’t just compete; we supported each other, cheered each other on, and embodied the values of unity and pride. Every student contributed to making our house strong, from the Year 7s, showing up with fresh enthusiasm to the seniors stepping up as leaders. Our journey as a house was not just about winning but also about growing together and building friendships that will last far beyond these events.

As we look ahead, let’s remember that it’s this unity and dedication that makes us stand out. We may have finished second, but the passion and energy of Freeman are undeniable. Let’s take the momentum of this year into next year, aiming even higher and showing everyone the true strength of Freeman. With the continued dedication of our amazing students, we’re confident Freeman House can reach even greater heights!

Jai Littlepage

3rd - MABO

We are so proud of Mabo House this year! We had a wonderful turnout for House Events throughout the entire year, ranging from epic costumes at the Swimming and Athletics Carnivals, to representing the school at Interschool Sports and Cross Country.

A highlight of our year was our narrow second place finish in the athletics carnival, where we came 30 points within winning our first house title. We hope that next year we can go one step further and become the House Champions at RSC! Thank you all for an amazing year! GO MABO!!!

Nem and Ollie

4th - JACKMAN

Throughout this year we have been amazed by all the enthusiasm and support at house events such as the annual swimming and athletics carnivals. Although coming in 4th overall, the engagement and attitude to never give up has been prominent throughout the entirety of the year and we want to thank our Jackman house members for contributing this year and wish them the best in future years.

We did get our win at the house dodgeball competition, managing to get all the MVP places and this allowed us to make the house cup a tight competition. It has been wonderful to see our year level grow and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for each and every one of our year 12 team.

Charlotte Wilson and Matt Rennison

COMMERCE

The Year 12 cohort were lucky enough to head to the Formula One Grand Prix in Albert Park.

We had the pleasure of walking around, looking at different aspects of Business Management such as how Corporate Social Responsibility, Quality Management and Materials Management are used, in order to set up and prepare for the Grand Prix.

We took time looking at aspects of the seating which makes it easy to set up and take down whilst also looking at different technological strategies to improve convenience and satisfaction of customers.

We were given the opportunity to walk around the innovation hub as well as look at any stalls within the facility, before watching some of the V8s which was followed by an electric car display and a Quality assurance check of the track.

Later in the day we moved into the centre area of the track where we could look at how small businesses could all operate in the vicinity of the main racing event.

All up it was a great insight into many different aspects of our study and was a great way to put into perspective what these practices actually account towards.

MARKET DAY

Recently, across two days, the Year 11 Business Management and Year 12 VM VET Business classes hosted their market days.

The students were responsible for planning, marketing and running a stall of their choice, selling goods to the school community.

Students and staff across the college had an opportunity to support the stalls during lunchtime, with the proceeds donated to 4TK (For the Kids), a charity which ‘delivers a pre-employment program which enables youth to gain the skills they need to achieve employment’. The markets days were a roaring success, with many stalls selling out!

Congratulations to the Year 11 and 12 students for your hard work and dedication.

DOLLARS AND SENSE

Ms Raff’s Year 10 Dollars and Sense class have been playing the Essi Money challenge. This is a national competition which combines the ESSI Money Plus game, which we played in classes with a financial literacy quiz.

The online financial literacy game explores the concepts of Earning, Saving, Spending and Investing (ESSI) – in a safe, fun and challenging way. ESSI Money is an online virtual reality game featuring interactive real-life scenarios which foster critical thinking and problem-solving.

Congratulations to all students for your hard work in improving financial literacy! Special recognition goes to Dhana for achieving first place in Victoria for 16–18-year-olds and ninth in Australia – an outstanding accomplishment! Well done also to Suhani for ranking ninth in Victoria.

A big thank you to Suncorp and Financial Basics for supporting this initiative and congratulations to Dhana for winning the $250 prize. Keep up the great work, everyone!

Jacob Henry Year 12

DANCE

It has been a huge year in VCE and VET Dance, we started the year by attending the ‘Top Class’ dance performances from 2023. ‘Top Class’ includes some of the top scoring VCE and VET Dance performances from their performance exams and is an excellent way for us to see the expectations for our performance exam.

April saw the VET Dance students join with Fairhills SC for our ‘Industry Day’, completing workshops with Jason Teasdale (Jazz), Quinn James (Contemporary) and past RSC student Cameron Shook. They spoke to our VET students about taking on every opportunity and how best to make your entrance into the industry.

All the best to our dance students who have completed VCE and VET studies this year.

DRAMA

Ringwood’s drama students have had an exceptional year, showcasing their creativity, commitment and passion for the arts across all year levels.

The VCE students began with an inspiring excursion to the VCE Season of Excellence ‘Top Class’ performances. This experience helped shape their own performance work throughout the year, culminating in solo performances developed from a prescribed stimulus. Their final solo presentations to VCAA assessors featured a range of compelling characters, highlighting their talent and commitment. Best of luck to all our VCE graduates!

Year 10 students stepped up this year, building their ensemble skills and taking on solo performances for the first time showing impressive growth along the way. Year 9s dived into the world of production, experimenting with lighting, sound and props, while also creating performances based on a stimulus.

Our Year 7s had a blast focusing on storytelling and wrapped up the year with a fun and energetic Commedia dell’arte competition, where their creativity and teamwork truly shone.

Congratulations to all students for their hard work and impressive achievements this year!

DESIGN & Technology

Year 7 Product Design

Year 7 Tech Materials students have been introduced to wood, fibres and innovative technologies. They have investigated the properties of these materials and looked at sustainability and ethical considerations. After learning about safe work practices the students used the design process to investigate, generate ideas, collaborate with class members and produce a designed solution.

Year 9 Product Design

2024 provided a fascinating experience in Year 9 Product Design. Students worked on their folios with in-depth analysis of the folding stool practical project. Students studied a variety of ethically sourced materials with sustainable fasteners, adhesives and finishes. They also studied an array of different materials and densities for the construction and the reason for certain choices from an engineering viewpoint.

Year 10 Product Design

Year 10 students were encouraged to identify a storage dilemma of their own to solve, through the creation of a dedicated design solution. The project provided flexibility in sourcing materials, so students were able to construct their solution from a plethora of varied items – from tables, to drawers and even circular shelves. Students also studied the design process in detail, which was presented in their folios.

Digital Technology

This past year has been filled with exciting developments. Our Year 8 students explored their creativity by designing and developing impressive websites from the ground up using HTML and CSS. They also gained foundational coding skills through engaging exercises with Python Turtle.

In July, several of our Year 9 students participated in the National Computer Science School (NCSS) Challenge on Grok Academy. This five-week competition tested their computational thinking skills through a series of progressively challenging coding problems, bringing together students from across Australia. Special congratulations to Andrew Knowles, who achieved an outstanding score of 409 out of 410 points in the Beginners Python strand and to Arran Mcauld, Bisman Bhullar and David Reyes; each of whom earned a Merit award in the Intermediate Python strand.

For the first time, a group of Ringwood Secondary students participated in the annual Victorian Coding Challenge. Mark Andreev, Amir Arbai, Isaac Downie, Joshua Kim, Claren Lim, Arran Mcauld, Shlok Patel and Luke Swincer tackled a series of online challenges leading up to the face-to-face competition on October 25 at the Community Hub at the Docklands.

Our students faced off against over 20 teams from both private and public schools across Victoria, showcasing their problem-solving skills in three demanding rounds. Despite competing against more experienced teams, they made an impressive debut, finishing tied for the lead after the first round by being one of only two teams to solve all 15 Rapid Relay challenges. Although inexperience and time management posed challenges in the second round, preventing them from a podium finish, they excelled in the final round, developing the most effective code for winning 500 simulated head-to-head rounds of Prisoner’s Dilemma.

In late May, our Year 10, 11 and 12 Information Technology students had the exciting opportunity to attend the annual BIG Day In – Melbourne, held this year at the beautiful Capitol Theatre at

RMIT. At this event, students explored a variety of career opportunities in computing, gaining valuable insights from industry leaders, including representatives from Adobe, WiseTech Global, the Australian Signals Directorate, Westpac Group, Canstar and Deloitte Digital.

As we reflect on this year, it is clear that our students have embraced the challenges and opportunities within the Digital Technology domain. Their achievements highlight their dedication and hard work, paving the way for future success in the ever-evolving field of technology. We look forward to seeing how their skills and experiences will shape their journeys ahead!

Textiles

Year 10 Textiles student have built on the knowledge and refined skills gained in Year 9. They have investigated current fashion trends and written a report about a fashion designer of their choice. They have compiled a folio of their work samples and production tasks. Students purchased a commercial pattern and constructed a garment following a design brief.

Year 9 Textiles provided the opportunity for students to build on prior knowledge and learn new skills. Students have researched current fashion trends, designed a range of boxer shorts and learned how to use an overlocker. Students have compiled their work samples and relevant information to create a folio. They have learned garment construction techniques and produced a pair of satin boxer shorts.

ENGLISH as an Additional Language

At Ringwood Secondary College, our EAL students thrive in a dynamic and nurturing learning environment, continuously developing their English skills in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.

With the dedicated support of our passionate teachers - Jess Duffy (Years 7, 9, 10), Pam Kazakis (Year 8), and Lucy Moore (Years 10, 11, as well as our invaluable multicultural education aides – Fanwen Zhang, Helen Hui, Bill Win, and Grace Par, our students are empowered to succeed both within the classroom and beyond.

This year, we have placed a strong emphasis on nurturing our EAL students’ creative writing skills, particularly in the VCE EAL space. By shifting our focus toward creative expression, we have encouraged our Years 7-10 EAL students to explore a wide variety of text types, collaborate meaningfully with their peers and hone their critical and creative thinking. Through these experiences, they have been able to experiment with their own unique voices as emerging writers.

Our students truly thrive when given the opportunity to share their stories, reflect on their journeys, and explore their evolving identities. It is this storytelling, deeply personal and reflective, that allows them to grow not only as writers but as individuals.

As we conclude this year, I invite you to explore some of our students’ reflections on their journeys as EAL students. Included is an inspiring piece from one of our Year 12 students, who shares his personal growth, evolving sense of identity and experiences of finding a voice in an ever-changing world. Enjoy,

play games like Blooket or Kahoot if we finished early.

“The EAL classroom is a small, quiet class although sometimes we’re quite loud (or most it the time). As a class we get along very well and the classmates are very kind and helpful and they make the class fun.

EAL is very helpful to me as English being not my first language I do sometimes struggle with words and understanding; if I were in mainstream, I know I would be struggling. I really love being in EAL class as it lots of fun and after we finished our topics if there a movie, we usually watch the movie, also we usually have a class party at the end of the year which is loads of FUN!!”

Vung

Gualnam, 9D

“EAL is a subject, this is a part of English way to learning this is for second language for some international students. In EAL we are reading books, watching movies, play games and do some task and work.

And in EAL we all speak English. Our EAL classroom classmates all very kind and helpful and we can learn English easily. EAL helped me to learn many friends and see many different people. And EAL teacher is very cheerful.

Owen Wang,

9E

YEAR 12 EAL – UNIT 3 – FRAMEWORK OF IDEAS: PERSONAL JOURNEYS. THINGYAN (WATER FESTIVAL)

The water festival in Myanmar, locally known as Thingyan is one of the most significant and widely celebrated festival in Myanmar. It is significant because it symbolises the cleansing of the spirit and washing away previous year’s misfortune and welcome the New Year with a fresh start.

AAHCATEHCATEA MWHAR MWHAR BHAW (FRAGMENTED

LIFE)

Originally, I was born in Myanmar where I lived until 7 years of age. Then, because of poverty and the lack of opportunities, Mum and Dad decided to follow the common trend amongst the population during that period which was to move out to Malaysia and earn a living. Which by the way, is still an on-going trend but currently is extremely difficult because of the military coup.

This decision led to a pivotal change in my life because it felt like the hardship of the circumstances has robbed me of my identity as a Little Authentic Myanmar Boy.

Then, after immersing myself in the Malaysian culture for 9 plus years, a new door of opportunity opened where our application for permanent residency in Australia got accepted…. Finally, GOD answered my prayers after 9 years! Talk about taking his sweet time.

As good as the opportunity was, it came at a cost of leaving my Malaysian identity, only this time it was a tad harder as I had friends, bros and family members and places that were hard to just ‘leave’ and forget about. Malaysian identity ROBBED!

But after immersing myself in Australia’s rich history and diverse culture for over a year, it has immensely expanded my worldview and deepened my understanding of not only the environment but also my own identity. The transition to Aussie life has been such a blessing in ways I never could have imagined nor dreamt of.

ACCEPTANCE

EAL is English as an Additional Language, for those who lived in Australia less than 7 years and for those with English as not being their first language.

In EAL classes we sometimes do silent reading for the first 10 minutes and after that our teacher goes through the learning intention and success criteria and what we’re going to be doing for that lesson. And if we have time, we do sometimes brain breaks or

It marks the Burmese New Year and the beginning of the traditional lunar calendar; the festival takes place mid-April and lasts for 3-5 days depending on the geographic locations.

The festival is deeply rooted in Buddhist tradition and is celebrated with enthusiasm across the country, during Thingyan, streets across Myanmar come alive with colourful parades, music, dancing and water throwing festivities. People of all ages take to the streets armed with buckets, water guns and hoses dousing each other with water as a form of blessing and purification.

Unable to celebrate Thingyan is a fact that I have accepted as I mature through the experience of transitioning between different countries. Although I’m disheartened by it, I am content at the same time, because I believe ‘there is no light without dark’, and that you don’t get to go through life only doing things that you feel like doing and that experiences of hardship and sacrifices are necessary in order to appreciate life’s beauty and benefits.

Isaac Mung Sian Tul Za Sut, 12E

Jessica Hilet

EAL CO-ORDINATOR AND VCE EAL 11 & 12 TEACHER

ENGLISH

English classrooms at Ringwood Secondary College are transformative spaces. Whether it is a room in the 500s, soundtracked by a hustle and bustle of a game on the tennis courts, or the veritable sauna that is Senior School’s 108 (if you know, you know), our staff and students often find themselves moving across space and time within a single period - transporting themselves to Ancient Greece, a ranch in California or even a magic land far, far away.

From persuasive oral presentations to writing folios, we are proud of the insight, creativity and resilience our students show day after day, and their commitment to making learning nclusive and enjoyable.

And now, the year that was …

YEAR 7

There’s always something magical about the first few days of February, where the newest arrivals to our school community fiddle with combination locks, learn the politics of the canteen line and begin navigating their shiny, new laptops with aplomb.

From the get-go, our Year 7s delved right into what makes our subject area special - using the written and spoken word as a mechanism to express ourselves, and tell our own, unique stories. Assigned the tall order of writing an autobiography of their life to date, students built their capacity to write descriptively and showcase their distinct ‘voice’.

Other highlights from the year included

fortnightly Reading Ladders sessions, sprawled out on the library couches, contentious mini debates on hot topics like ‘whether the food at the canteen should be free’ (chaired by our Debating Coordinator, Mr Ward), and utilising the fan favourite, Shrek, as a model for their own fractured fairy tales.

YEAR 8

Fresh off the summer holidays, our Year 8s began 2024 with the beloved creative writing unit, and let their imaginations run wild. From experimentation with narrative structures, to clever characterisation, students transported their teachers to new and inventive worlds.

They then flexed their creative muscles with a focus on slam poetry, exploring the complexities of the human condition under the trusty guidance of Ms Lawson and Ms Hilet. Finished pieces covered everything from grappling with difficult choices to the joys of friendship.

Finally, they developed their text response skills with the film Whale Rider, and novel, A Bridge to Wiseman’s Cove, with Ms Kazakis’ classes waiting with bated breath to see how unlikely hero, Carl Matt, would save the rusty barge.

YEAR 9

For our Year 9s, the past ten months have centred, largely, on the art of persuasion - a handy skill for teenagers as they strengthen their sense of self, test the rules, and try to seek permission to spend a Friday after school at Eastland. First, it was all about understanding

how the media attempts to influence us, with students presenting an analysis of advertisements from Woolworths, Cadbury and QANTAS (to name a few). Then, they had the opportunity to apply these skills to their own writing, with many of Miss Rowe’s students writing her immensely persuasive pieces on why they should be allowed to bring a snack to class.

Building upon their skills from the junior years, students analysed key characters and themes from the ever-popular Mean Girls, and there were few dry eyes in the house as Mr Wall read the final chapter of the classic novella, Of Mice and Men.

Shakespeare rounded out the year, with our classes becoming experts on all things sonnets and iambic pentameter and producing poems on everything from their favourite season to the family pet.

Year 10

Our Year 10s landed back on Bedford Road for the first day of Term One but were quickly whisked away to 1950s America - more specifically, a New York City courthouse on a hot summer’s day, as they assumed the role of jurors in Twelve Angry Men. Using discussions on justice and prejudice as a springboard, they engaged in thoughtful reflections on how some of these issues continue to be experienced in society today.

Equally enjoyable was the Framework of Ideas, ‘Place and Displacement’. Exploring just what it means to belong (or experience a lack thereof), students

dabbled in narrative vignettes and feature articles, producing rich and original texts.

Meanwhile, Mr Gee’s Creative Writing class was aflutter with discussion of genre, setting, and how to make heroes and villains come to life. Through the creation of a folio, and vibrant periods spent workshopping with peers, his lucky students have built their confidence in wielding the power of words.

It’s a busy, frantic period for this bunch, with their first taste of exams, work placements and many other milestones to keep them busy. But amongst it all, they’ve read, pondered, taken the time to truly listen to one another, and ensured that they are confident and prepared for their final years of schooling.

VCE

Entering the Senior School, we have the privilege of seeing the grit and determination of our students on full display. These admirable qualities are evident in the four walls of the classroom, and spill out into the Study Centre, as they diligently chip away at practice essays and build quote banks in their spare periods.

Whether they’ve chosen the pathway of English, Literature, or English Language, these two years strike an equilibrium between of rigour, challenge, and a healthy dose of fun - like dramatic readings of Oedipus the King led by Ms Collier, Mr Burkitt’s (not so) Friday Funnies, and Miss Lee’s uncanny ability to teach the nuances of language through TikTok trends.

After all, it’s much more than a slow march towards the final utterance of ‘pens down’. It goes beyond writing analytical commentaries and creative responses. It’s all about engaging with and dissecting the world around youand these young people undoubtedly have the skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm to go out and change it.

YEAR 8 SLAM POEMS

Society is like a blank canvas, Free to change by the decision of people, You can make a difference, so don’t get caught in all the madness, Together we can overcome all issues in our way, that are now blocking us acting as a steep hill.

The current issues that we face, Varied and different but all problematic in our lives,

We can all help to resolve the things of everyone’s concern, no matter what age, gender, or race,

So don’t turn your back on anyone, it would be like impaling them with knives.

An issue could be defined as an important topic, It could be political or social, Or something to do with health or economic,

If you try to help solve an issue, you will prove yourself quite instrumental,

I think that hesitation we take when breaking free,

Is causing us to change who we are, from peaceful to ruined,

We used to be happy as if we were at a deep, blue sea,

So, I ask you in one humble plea,

To think about what is important to you, For me.

Sam Watson-Karpinsky, 8I

Change

That’s the word

The return to my hometown is like plunging in icy cold water

It’s a shock, foreign and surreal It echoes its former self, through the bold wind and the sparse, lone birdsongs

Obscurity

That’s what was felt

The site of the local park sharply hooks on my glance

It’s original lush, bushy, peaceful atmosphere mocked through a comedic, modern attempt of a contemporary park

Word reached me it was hit by a devastating storm

Poignance then pondered me like a brewing striking storm

Sadness

That’s what was felt

The sound of children playing danced my ears

The old memories of school recess brings me near tears

New buildings

New management

New teachers alike

Tickled, teased with my feelings

An odd confusion fluttered around like delicate butterflies

Nostalgia

That’s what was felt

YEAR 9 CREATIVE RESPONSES TO OF MICE AND MEN

The afternoon sun burned hot and true on the lone figure shuffling across the dirt track. A single coin, not enough for a bus fare, flashed across their fingers. A threadbare coat hung loosely over their hunched shoulders, and the flapping of boot soles was the only sound for miles. The figure, Charlie, kept his eyes downcast, away from the glare of the sun. Leaves skittered across the road, disturbing small lizards with dull skin and glassy eyes. After leaving Derby’s, he had found a job flyer flapping on the side of the post office cork board. A minute later he’d set off towards the ranch. His restless muttering now carried to nearby birds, who ruffled their feathers and hopped into the safety of their nests.

As the sky darkened, Charlie found a small clearing to stay in for the night. A short dinner consisting of tinned spam settled his stomach enough for him to fall promptly asleep.

Tali Humphreys, 9I

Slim sat on the edge of his bunk, exhausted from the day’s labour. He looked over to the card game taking place in the centre of the room, watching distractedly. The sun’s final rays glimpsed through the window, casting a warm glow over the room, and signalling the end of another day. Quiet murmurs mingled with the shuffling sound of cards rubbing against each other. Slim leaned back, resting his head on his pillow, deep in thought. The wooden latch raised, and the door opened as Carlson came in. He tossed his gear down onto the wooden floor, hitting it with a thud. He sat down on his bunk across from Slim and faced him as he unbuckled his boots and slid them under his bed. “Evenin’ Slim, you lookin’ as tired as I feelin’,” said Carlson. Slim shifted his gaze to meet Carlson’s weary eyes. “Yeah, it’s been a long day ain’it,” Slim replied.

Nathan Spits, 8K

Carlson gave Slim a resigned look and began to walk over to join the others in their card game when he accidentally knocked over a box that was sticking out from under Slim’s bed. The box’s lid flew open, and the contents spilled across the floor. Carlson turned back and bent down to pick it up as Slim sprung up from his bunk and crouched over the spilled contents. “Don’t worry Carlson, I got it.” said Slim. “Sorry, Slim, truly was an accident,” Carlson replied as he stood up and walked over to join the others.

ENGLISH

Slim picked up the box and placed it on his bunk. The box had been filled with old photographs, magazines, letters, and other keepsakes. As Slim refilled the box, he came across an envelope. It was yellowed with age, its edges frayed as though it had been handled often. Slim’s face dropped as he turned it over and saw the return address:

“University of California, Berkeley.” It was an acceptance letter. From the university of his dreams. His hands trembled as he opened the envelope and revealed a letter he hadn’t seen in years. His mind turned to the day he received the letter. The proud smile on his father’s face. He was going to be the first in his family to attend university. To make something of himself beyond the farm. No one in his line had even graduated high school let alone university. Slim was going to be the first

Zoe Dean, 9I

YEAR 10

A small, mousy shoebox was open amongst the littered apartment. Amongst the crinkled baby pink tissue paper, a small, mousy journal was set. It was embellished with a small rose, smooth and untextured against the tough leather. It was a refuge for this poor daughter’s soul. It was to be kept unsighted, hidden under her bed set in haze. It wanted to scream in protest, but stayed mute, intangible.

Underneath her window, which was set also with a bare oak wood, was another garden bed. But unlike those set along the front lawn, these were crying in imperfect exile. Weeping, a wild set of deep blood red roses adorned and snaked their way up. They peaked slightly above the windowsill.

The cool and stinging breeze snuggled its way up her nose and around her eyes. The wild rose was like velvet against her fingertips, a small snap sounded as the petal was plucked. The melancholy sound of Elvis Presley’s ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ whispered into the evening air, past the daughter’s shoulder.

Charlotte Pich, 10H

Hiding was all she had ever known. From the moment she was born she had hidden away.

Never had she rode a bike before, but watching now as the boy pushed against the pedals that made the wheels turn, taking a small step after him as the handlebars wobbled under his nervous

touch, stopping once the laugh left his mouth and the small look he passed back to her – she paused in her step.

Never had she rode a bike before, yet her son had picked it up from what she had learnt from videos and watching others, his smile reaching his eyes as he called out to her, an innocent, ‘look, mama, look!’

Never had she rode a bike before, but watching her son she was filled with a warm feeling in her heart, her smile tugging at her lips for the first time after hiding away for so long. From the moment she gave birth to him she had hid away, afraid of what her friends at school would say, but now as she watched her son – that pure smile on his face, and her own pulling to her lips –she finally let herself show what she felt, not for herself, but for the son she held so dearly to her heart.

Kara Bettiol, 10A

YEAR 11 AND 12 WRITING FRAGMENTS

If Henry’s life were a race, it felt like he always had a pebble in his shoe. An itch he couldn’t scratch, a thirst that wouldn’t quench.

His satiated stomach yawned with hunger and his dollar-filled pockets gaped with emptiness, as the $10,000 watch on his wrist glinted mockingly, taunting him.

Was he not grateful for all the opportunities? Would he rather be back where he was ten years ago, penniless and miserable? Or worse, like that old Mr Boyd who seemed to be daydreaming his life away? A cynical laugh slipped involuntarily past his lips. Shaking his head, Henry rose to his feet, shoes tapping smartly on the timber floor. Making his way over to the marble topped kitchenette, Henry retrieved a mug from the overhead cabinets. Soon, the hiss of a machine and the smell of fresh coffee drowned out the cacophony inside his head.

Jessica Kim, 11D

The first day of adulthood they call this; and yet, this morning I walk down the stairs and accept the bitter aroma of coffee beans without begging for the sweetness of a hot chocolate.

I smile to the neighbours’ children as we exchange glances, they look up at me just as I did the oaks. The oaks which no longer criticise my every move.

They don’t blame me for my lack of understanding as a child. They don’t hate me for the choices I made when I knew no better.

My blue shoe box sits at the bottom of the recycling bin. It’s not mine anymore. I don’t have to hold onto the weight it bears any longer. The torment of broken relationships no longer haunts me because I know the garbage truck comes today.

The swing set sits forgivingly on the hard rubbish, longing to be played with just once more. I run my hand over its chipped paint, no longer experiencing a desire to play on it for hours on end. I hope that someone finds the same joy I did in the rusted metal.

The converse are shoved under my pile of heels. I’ll keep this one faded part of my childhood. A portal to my long-gone innocence, perhaps one day I’ll travel back through. I accept the ache of growing up, I really do. But God, I long for my childhood back like nothing else. Anonymous, Year 12

Vibrations ripple through the sheets, as the player picks up the cold device lying beside them. The iPhone light refracts from the empty cup stack that has been marinating along with the homework pile, not having once left the desk since arriving home from school on Friday. Their realisation palpably sinks in, that school will begin in five hours. The screen is set off by another notification from CommBank, informing that $49.95 has been taken out of their account. A smile sweeps over the players’ face as they drag their coupled Sims to the Sim-world, unlocking the new world of Henford-on-Bagley, part of the latest pack purchase, Cottage Living.

Their newly wedded Sims begin the expansion of their tiny home, adding decorations to the nursery. Looking over to their phone that lays beside them, they gasp at the time, sending them to snap back into reality. With their hand hovering over the trackpad, where the cursor is poised to the corner of the screen, they pause the digital worldabandoning the arena they could control and turning to face the one that awaits them. Shutting the laptop lid, the sudden silence fills the air, and they are faced with the impending doom of real life; life itself.

Sarah Johnson, 12C

REFLECTIONS FROM THE CLASS OF 2024

“Throughout my time at RSC, English has been one of the most engaging and enjoyable subjects and I have felt that I have truly developed as both a learner and as a person through these classes. Reflecting on the course, it is truly inspirational the degree of passion that all the English teachers at RSC possess. Regardless of the time, my teachers never failed to provide extensive feedback and be genuinely attentive to my needs as a learner and for that I am grateful. I also cherished the comforting environment within English classes in which peers and I could discuss and share ideas and ultimately develop together as a cohort. Today I sat my English exam feeling confident and prepared, as much as I could be, and for that, I would like to thank our RSC English Program.

Daniel Paton, 12E

“From the start of Year 7 to the end of Year 12, English has always been one of my favourite subjects. Throughout the years, I’ve always loved delving into fictional worlds created and explored within the texts and films. Some of my favourites were: Of Mice and Men in Year 9, Rear Window in Year 11 and Oedipus the King this year! Although my love for writing essays isn’t as big, I’m grateful to have written them when looking back now; it’s a useful skill to be able to analyse why authors and directors do certain things to express deeper contentions. RSC has provided me with memorable experiences in English, especially since I’ve always landed on amazing teachers who make the subject so much more fun!”

Nem

Gualnam, 12C

“Being here since Year 7, my understanding and overall enjoyment of this subject has changed quite a lot. Some days I felt like Shakespeare and some days I couldn’t even spell language right! Although it’s been a lot of up and downs, VCE English has stood out quite a lot for me as a subject. All my teachers gave me a lot more confidence in my writing, vocabulary and expression. It went from a subject that felt very subjective and felt impossible to formulate properly, to something that required a lot of depth and effort. In Year 12 especially, English has stood out a lot compared to every subject I’ve done, as I really enjoyed it. The two books of Oedipus and The Memory Police are without a doubt the most enjoyable reads since Year 7, and I felt like I was learning a lot in terms of writing more intricate and detailed stories and essays. Overall, English at RSC has been a very positive learning experience.”

Benjamin Fambawl,

12B

FOOD Studies

YEAR 8

Students embarked on an exciting culinary journey, exploring the fundamentals of cooking, nutrition, and food sustainability. Throughout the year, students engaged in the Muffin Design Brief project and practical activities, where they learnt essential techniques and skills, from knife skills to baking. The curriculum emphasised healthy eating and nutrition, encouraging students to make informed choices about their diets. They also explored food safety practices, ensuring they understand the importance of hygiene in the kitchen.

YEAR 9

Students continued their cooking journey which combined culinary skills with creativity and cultural exploration. Throughout the year, they developed their skills in the preparation of both sweet and savoury products. Students completed the Pizza Design Brief Project, where they applied the design process to develop their own pizza. Additionally, students engaged in the Cultural Project, where they discovered various food cultures and the significance of meals in different communities, enhancing their appreciation for diversity in cuisine. Students have gained confidence in their cooking abilities and a deeper understanding of how food connects us all.

YEAR 10 BAKERY DELIGHTS

Students immersed themselves in the sweet and savoury world of baking. This course focuses on mastering a variety of baked goods, from artisanal breads to delectable pastries and desserts. Students applied the design process in their Pull Apart Bread and Cupcake Design Projects, challenging their creativity and giving them the opportunity to produce their own signature products. Throughout the year, students also learnt about the science of

baking, gaining insight into how various ingredients interact to create the perfect texture and taste. Emphasis was placed on understanding ingredients, their functions, and the importance of precise measurements.

YEAR 10 RESTAURANT DELIGHTS

Students explored the vibrant world of culinary arts. The students focused on preparing classic and contemporary dishes, mastering cooking techniques, and appreciating the significance of food in society. Students learned essential skills, such as meal planning, ingredient selection, food portioning and presentation to design a two-course meal. They researched and selected recipes that showcased their culinary skills, emphasising the importance of flavour combinations and presentation. This assessment not only tested their cooking abilities but also required them to justify their choices. Additionally, students explored the importance of nutrition and food safety, while considering dietary restrictions and key issues that impact our food systems including plastic and single use packaging and food waste.

VCE UNIT 1 AND 2 FOOD STUDIES

In 2024, the VCE Food Studies program for Units 1 and 2 offered students a comprehensive exploration of food from various perspectives, including cultural, nutritional and environmental aspects. This curriculum aimed to deepen students’ understanding of the role of food in society while developing their practical cooking skills. In Unit 1, students examined the origins of food, exploring how various factors, such as geography, culture, and history, shape the foods we eat today. Students learned about cultural significance, food production and nutritional awareness. In Unit 2, the focus shifted to the relationship between food, health and wellbeing. Students engaged with

concepts including dietary guidelines, food safety and practical sessions which allowed students to apply their knowledge by preparing healthy meals, focusing on balanced nutrition and practical skills. A recurring theme in both units was the impact of food choices on the environment and ethical considerations in food production. Students discussed issues such as food waste, sustainable sourcing, and the importance of reducing their ecological footprint through mindful consumption.

VCE UNIT 3 AND 4 FOOD STUDIES

Units 3 & 4 provided an in-depth examination of food systems, culinary practices, and the socio-cultural factors that influence food choices. Unit 3 focused on the role of food in society and the various influences that shape food practices. Students learned about cultural and social influences, food systems and nutritional practices, which included the significance of nutrition in health and wellbeing, including the impact of processed foods and dietary trends. In Unit 4, the emphasis was on food innovation, sustainability, and ethical practices within the food industry. Students engaged with topics such as the role of innovation in food production and preparation, examining emerging trends such as plant-based diets, food technology, and culinary creativity, the importance of sustainable practices in food production, ethical considerations in food production and consumption. Students participated in practical cooking tasks that challenged them to apply their knowledge creatively. A significant component of Unit 4 involved a research project where students investigated a specific topic related to food studies. This project required them to conduct research, analyse data, and present their findings, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

HEALTH & Physical Education

HEALTH

This year, students in Years 8 to 12 engaged with a diverse range of health education topics, designed to inform, inspire and empower them to make positive, informed choices.

In the VCE Health and Human Development course, students explored the impact of global health initiatives and social movements like Black Lives Matter, learning how social action drives change and helps achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. They also examined emerging health technologies and the ethical issues surrounding them.

Mental health was a key focus across all year levels. Students learned to recognize signs of stress and anxiety, discussed strategies for managing

mental wellbeing and participated in activities that fostered open dialogue and a supportive environment. These initiatives helped students feel comfortable seeking help and supporting one another.

Respectful relationships and sex education were also central to the curriculum, with a focus on consent, healthy relationships and sexual health. Lessons were delivered with sensitivity and students actively engaged in creating their own Sex Ed board games, making learning both informative and fun.

Education on drugs, alcohol and road safety was another major theme. Students developed their own Road Safety campaigns and participated in the METEC driving excursion, where they gained practical driving experience

with trained instructors and expert presentations on road safety. One of the standout activities in this unit involved using beer goggles to simulate the effects of alcohol on coordination and judgment, providing a powerful, hands-on learning experience.

Throughout the year, teachers created a safe and engaging space for students to learn, discuss and explore these important topics. By fostering an environment of support and open dialogue, students are better equipped to take charge of their health and wellbeing, confidently facing the challenges of the future.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

A YEAR OF FUN, MOVEMENT, AND GROWTH!

As the year ends, it’s a great time to reflect on the exciting opportunities we’ve had in Physical Education. This year, we focused not just on sports skills, but on building confidence, teamwork and leadership through a variety of activities.

One standout program was the SEPEP Netball and Speedball units where students took the reins to plan and run their own competitions. From coaching and umpiring to playing, this experience helped develop leadership, communication, and decision-making skills—valuable tools both on and off the field.

Students also had the chance to explore a range of other sports, including Touch Football, Athletics, Cricket, Softball, and Dance. Each activity offered a new challenge and allowed everyone to discover different ways to stay active, have fun, and build teamwork. Whether it was the fast-paced action of Touch Football or the creativity of Dance, there was something for everyone.

Our Yr 10 Active students explored recreational activities such as golf, surfing, rock climbing and ice skating. The aim was always to encourage participation, promote physical activity, and help students grow personally. We hope you all reflect on how far you’ve come, whether in fitness, new skills, or stronger friendships.

To our Year 12 students, we wish you the best of luck as you prepare for your exams. You’ve put in the hard work, and we’re confident you’ll do great.

Stay active, stay healthy and we look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Ms Boutsikakis Head of Health and PE

HUMANITIES

2024 has been a fantastic year in the Humanities faculty. Our students have enthusiastically embraced new ideas, skills, and experiences. Students across years 7-9 have studied the full breadth of subjects that make up the Humanities: History, Geography, Economics, Business, Law, Civics and Citizenship, and Work Futures. Thanks to all the staff and students for their participation and contribution to the new program.

A highlight of Year 9 Civics and Citizenship was the mock trials that were run across each class. Students were divided into prosecution and defence teams, judge, jury and court assistants, and ran their own ‘legal trial’. This experiential learning was very successful and students loved the opportunity to argue their points.

Hands-on field work was a highlight across all year levels of Geography classes. Year 7 students studied liveability and compared Ringwood to Fitzroy. Year 8 students applied their classroom learning to the field by visiting the Yarra River to identify riverine landscape features, collecting data, and sketching the river across three sites. Year 9 students visited Melbourne Zoo and took part in Zoo Educator workshops as part of their unit on tourism. Year 10 Geography students explored, identified and measured

wellbeing at Ringwood Lake. Students used their findings to evaluate and suggest how wellbeing might be improved at each site they investigated, and across the lake as a community recreational space.

History students have focused on skill development across VCE, as well as artefact creation in junior levels. Some highlights for Year 7 History included developing key History skills and their knowledge of Australia’s First Nations culture, Ancient Greek and Chinese history and culture. Year 8 students studied a new unit on Medieval Europe which was very successful. Year 9 students have learned about the experiences of men and women during World War One and used primary sources from the National Archives of Australia to create a digital history of an individual person’s war experience. Having the opportunity to utilise real-life service dossiers and repatriation records was a highlight.

Year 8 experience of collecting data on the field trip to the Yarra River

On the 13th of March 2024, the Year 8 form groups visited Fisherman’s Bend, Dights Falls and Wombat Bend as part of the Yarra River for our Year 8 Geography field trip.

We collected data on the amount of rubbish, people, cars, and what kind of activities these communities did and how they treated the area. This was a significant opportunity for us to learn the importance and history behind the river and its environment. It was also refreshing to take in the eye-catching greenery.

Recount by Akshara & Sayane, 8D

Year 9 experience of collecting data on the field trip to Melbourne Zoo

To collect all of our data throughout the day, we were given a booklet with tables to fill out. Our group decided to allocate different roles to each person so as to collect our data quickly and effectively. We were required to draw and label the exhibit to have an idea of what it looked like and capture the key features of each exhibit. Beneath our illustrations, we had to answer some questions about the environment of the exhibit, and there were some questions about the exhibit and how it accommodated to tourists. The most important data had to do with visitors and how they interacted with each exhibit we visited. We were required to observe 4 people and record the number of times they interacted with the exhibit, as well as how many times the exhibit interacted with them. As this was the most important data we collected, we decided to have 2 people collecting this data, as we were a group of 5.

Matilda Holt Gonzalez, 9H

LANGUAGES

FRENCH

We have had another successful year of language learning at Ringwood! We were so fortunate to welcome back Océane as our French Language Assistant this year. Océane, who worked with us in 2022, has once again been an invaluable support person in our French classrooms, allowing students to use their speaking and listening skills in real-time and authentic interactions.

Océane has also been a further pillar of support for our Year 12 students in their exam preparation and provided insightful knowledge about French culture and lifestyles. Our staff and students are so grateful to Océane for her time and expertise – ‘un grand merci’ to Océane for 2024!

Junior students participated in a fun and suspenseful ‘Heist’ incursion, where they worked together to solve clues in French, testing their language skills while enjoying an immersive mystery experience.

A highlight from a 7G student: ‘We did a mini-Olympics at the end of Term 3 like they were doing in France. We played a bunch of games and all the results were tallied and there were medal winners (except the medals were chocolates). We played solo or in pairs and had to use French to win points. It was very fun!’

Year 10 students enjoyed a Crêpe-Making Day, where they followed instructions in French (after studying the imperative mood and food-related vocabulary) to prepare delicious crêpes. Smothered in Nutella and strawberries, this messy but fulfilling (and belly-filling) afternoon was a great mid-year celebration.

For those wanting extra practice, French Club was a staple for the middle terms of the year. Meeting weekly, the club provided a casual space for students to play language games, explore French culture and socialise with friends who shared an interest in the language.

Our VCE students enjoyed an excursion to see the film ‘Divertimento’, broadening their understanding of language use in the arts. Snacks were an obvious essential item on this trip and students got to share a trip to our beautiful inner city with Océane. To support their interest in films and the arts, our VCE students also engaged with ‘ciné club’, where French films were shown over 2-3 lunchtimes and discussed as a group. This allowed students to explore the vast world of French cinema and enhance their language skills.

INDONESIAN

As a new student at Ringwood secondary College, everything was new. Including Indonesian. English is my second language and so it was hard to understand. But the incredible staff at Ringwood teaching Indonesian helped me and I’m proud to say that Indonesian is my 3rd language.

Zaam Tonsing ,7H

I have had an excellent teacher for the whole year and I have learnt a lot. At the start of the year I didn’t even knew the basic greetings of Indonesian but my teacher taught me with patience, now I can count till 100, and also have a conversation in Indonesian.

Van Ceu Ling, 7H

This year Indonesian has been one of my favourite subjects. We have learnt a lot including things like greetings, animals, family, and even birthdays! And it has all been very fun due to Pak Wenger. (Pak means Mr in Indonesian) considering we didn’t know any of the language at the start of the year, I think everyone has come a long way.

Josh Franklin, 7H

This year, learning Indonesian has been an incredibly rewarding experience. We’ve expanded our vocabulary, mastered new numbers, and even learned essential greetings. Throughout this journey, Pak Wenger has been a constant source of support and encouragement. His dedication to our success has truly made a difference, and with his guidance, we’ve been able to achieve outstanding results. Thanks to his unwavering commitment, we’ve not only learned the language but also developed a deeper appreciation for it.

Vishnu Teja Singu, 7H

In Indonesian classes, students enjoyed an enriching, hands-on approach to foreign language learning, blending cultural exploration with language development with the purpose of real-world application.

Junior students engaged with studies of history and travel, creating Bali brochures that explored the opportunities of the city, or studying and reporting on the everyday lives of Indonesians to compare our worlds. Students studied language that would allow them to communicate about themselves and their experiences.

Our Senior students have been working diligently in their VSL Indonesian learning, sharing their experiences and practicing their skills in their weekly VSL Support sessions. Here, our dedicated Indonesian language students met with peers and staff to collaborate over their passion and enhance their learning experience.

In year 9 Indonesian this year, we learnt about our ‘Rumah’ (House) and routines throughout Term 1, ‘Pakaian’ (clothing) and ‘Transportasi’ (transport) in Term 2, Di pasar (at the market) in Term 3 and all about Indonesian ‘Makanan’ (food) and ‘Rumah Makan’ (restaurants) in Term 4. Over the whole year we learnt grammar, frequency and comparatives in addition to what we have learnt in previous years. We enjoyed learning about the difference in culture compared to what we are used to here in Australia. ‘Terima kasih!’ (Thank you!)

Jade and Tahlia Year 9

MATHEMATICS

Mathematics across Years 7 - 12 was yet again full of student and teacher engagement in all kinds of activities and learning tasks throughout 2024!

There has been more concentration on conceptual learning and applying mathematical skills to some real-world problem-solving tasks this year.

Year 9s worked on a measurement task which involved designing their dream home, by drawing a scaled floorplan, calculating areas and surface areas of 2D and 3D spaces, volume and capacity of water tanks, and using financial maths to calculate costs of painting, concreting, and flooring. They also had to make decisions on best air conditioning units to install, dependent on the size of their dream home. It was a very involved task, which was both challenging and fun!

9Ext completed their infamous ‘Barbie bungy jump challenge’, which involved modelling that used a linear equation to calculate how many rubber bands would be needed to get Barbie as near to the ground without hitting it from a 5m height.

9ACE worked on a task that combined Maths, Art and Technology, creating a drawing using Desmos on their iPads that sketched linear and quadratic equations. Investigating changing colours and shading in areas created great discussions and collaborative work in the classroom.

Also using Desmos, Year 9s and Year 8 Extension classes investigated the transformations of parabolas in turning-point-form and enjoyed playing the Super Mario challenge to test their understanding.

Some classes worked on some Middle Years Maths Challenges – Yr 7s had an Algebra task where they had to plan to build a wall with bricks, finding different combinations of patterns and finding algebraic rules to model each pattern. Yr 8s worked on making patterns and algebraic rules using a hands-on approach with matchsticks and Minecraft.

The Yr 8 ACE class had to consider building a suitable bridge, using Pythagoras’ Theorem, Trigonometry with restraints built-in about suitable and safe angles and overlap, high and low tides, costs to the builders. After working through many options, students had to also justify their choices and give reasoning for their final bridge plans. It was terrific to see students working so cooperatively and collaboratively!

Three Yr 7 classes have had Maths class battles against each other. All three classes combined and fought it out with Kahoots, Blookets and problem-solving tasks…. 7A were victorious!

2024 also saw the continuation of the Tutor Program – and we are again very thankful for the extra help students received throughout the year.

In August students competed in the Australian Maths Competition. This year might’ve been our biggest cohort ever – with nearly 150 students participating. It was our first year completing the test online and was a great success. Congratulations to all who took part – especially to our highest achiever Daniel Wang of Yr 11, who achieved a High Distinction and was ranked in the top 1% for his year level in Australia. Well done, Daniel!

As always, Term 4 saw our Yr 12 Maths classes heavily engaged in their final lessons for the year, with practice exams, summary-book binding, intense revision classes, study tips and hints all leading up to their final exams. We wish all our Yr 12 Mathletes the very best for 2025 and beyond!

Audrey Mueller

Oliver Pich

Denis Perfilyev

Oscar Robertson Cain

Josh Fidler

Ara Choi

Arran Mcauld

Cara Marks

Nem Gualnam

Sunday Marsden

Mia Mcintosh

Eric Zaitu

James Boyd

Maliki Arbai

Alex Owen Fraser

Lily Pich

Lily Pich

Zara Littlepage

Zara Littlepage

Natalie Barr

Amir Arbai

Ella Hulbert

Brooke Fell Bach Nguyen

Felix Witherspoon

Van Bawi Lian Lung Fa

Amber Stewart

Kyra Hnem Hlaing

Max Lord

Rianna Amin

Hollie McGeachy Kaiya Hodgkin

Vienna Varon

Lila Franklin

Heather Zeinert

Ansh Rana

Matilda Bortis Roi Kang

Hamish Billimoria

SCIENCE

2024 has been an exciting year in Science. Over the course of the year, we have settled into our new STEM centre which was open for business on day 1 of Term 1, following a slightly longer than expected build time.

On the top floor of the STEM building, we have 4 huge, purpose-built labs housing our Physics, Biology and Chemistry programs along with 2 theory classrooms and their associated mini-lab spaces. These classes provide our students and their teachers with fully stocked, light-filled and climate-controlled learning spaces and we are sure that they’ll provide exceptional environments for exploring and understanding for years to come.

The massive task of moving equipment, glassware, chemicals and experiments from our previous science building could not have been achieved without a mountain of work, both physical and mental, by our lab technicians Danielle and Mel and all of the staff who helped to get the job done. A huge thanks to the team for your efforts, comradery and your commitment to being ready to go on day one this year.

In 2024, our Year 9 science students explored the effect of population changes in ecosystems by modelling a mini ‘Great Barrier Reef’, using our large central space in the STEM building. By understanding the techniques used to

sample species population in the field, students gained an insight into the effect of small changes working across food chains and food webs, building into large effects at the ecosystem level. This activity coincided with our annual celebration of Science Week and the theme for this year was “Species Survival - More than just sustainability”. This theme mirrored our ecosystems task by emphasizing the importance of making positive changes to ensure species thrive, not just survive. Science cannot give us all the answers when it comes to solving big problems, but with measurement and predictions, we can better understand the factors and challenges that impact the survival of humans, animals, and plants on Earth.

This year, a random sample of science students and staff were selected to complete the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey for Science. The purpose of the PISA test is to measure how well 15-year-old students from across the world, can apply their knowledge and skills to real-world situations. Creating real-world inspired activities continues to be a focus for the Science faculty and across our 7-10 and VCE Curriculum we have embedded hands-on activities into our learning programs. In Year 10, students solved a forensic scenario in our recreated Workplace Crime scene where students used their understanding of forensic biology and

chemistry to identify the perpetrator of the crime, using a wide range of techniques including fingerprint analysis, blood typing, classification of chemical reactions, hair analysis and the interpretation of handwriting samples. Students were able to bring together all the strands of evidence to correctly identify the staff member responsible!

Keeping on the theme of hands-on learning, in June this year, our lab technicians organised a professional learning activity to upskill lab technicians from government schools in our area (and some further afield) a chance to build capabilities and to practice servicing compound light microscopes. It was a great opportunity to see our facilities being used by a different audience, collaboratively and with great excitement.

In 2025, we look forward to the delivery of a new year 10 Science program which has been developed from the ground up using the new Science version 2 curriculum and we also look forward to welcoming a new generation of students to our subject and helping to open their eyes to the wide world of Science and all the amazing things it has to offer.

Kain Gardner Head Of Science

VISUAL Arts

Celebrating Creativity in Visual Arts Creativity takes courage - Henri Matisse

The Visual Arts team is delighted to present a collection of artworks that showcase the creativity and skill of students from Years 7–12 in Art and Art Creative Practice.

Ringwood Secondary College offers a dynamic Visual Arts program where

students can develop their artistic abilities in a safe, inspiring environment. Our students work across a broad range of materials, techniques and processes honing skills in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and digital methods.

Throughout the year, students participate in various Visual Arts excursions enriching their skills and

finding inspiration for their own creations. Our annual Visual Arts Exhibition was a wonderful opportunity for the college community to come together and appreciate our students’ work. It’s inspiring to see how students explore unique ideas and express their creativity through different art forms.

Dina Mihailidis Head of The Arts

1. Abby Higgins_Yr8Art

2. Anais Chung Po Chuen_Yr12Art

3. Anais Chung Po Chuen_Yr12Art

4. Anais Chung Po Chuen_Yr12Art

5. Anvi Sisode_Yr7Art

6. Bailey Brice_Yr8HArt

7. Cameron Keltie_Yr9Art

8. Charlotte Kingham_Yr7Art 9. Charlotte P_Yr11ACP 10. Chloe Lim_Yr8HArt

Christopher Tibbenham_Yr8HArt 12. Claudia Buykx_Yr7Art

13. Cleazza Lim_Yr12Art

14. Cleazza Lim_Yr12Art

15. Elyse_Ng_Yr7Art

16. Elyse_Ng_Yr7Art

17. Hugh Marsh_Yr8HArt

18. Imogen Denny_Yr8Art

19. Jaime Virgona_Yr12Art

20. Judah Mageean_Yr7Art

21. Kati Livic_Yr11ACP

22. Lian Thawng Mang Pa _Yr8GArt

23. Lily Kennedy_Yr7Art

24. Maxim Perfilyev_Yr7Art

25. Paige Atherton_Yr10Art

26. Serene Yu_Yr7Art

27. Mia Stasiak_Yr7GArt

28. Mietta Shallcross_Yr8GArt

29. Molly Stone_Yr9Art

30. Matisse Spits_Yr7Art

31. Ally Cooper_Yr10Art

32. Charlotte Pich_Yr11ACP

33. Macy Dixon_Yr10Art

34. Sam Infanti_Yr11ACP

35. Maya Garrett_Art

36. Ava Devine_Yr8Art

37. Ava Devine_Yr8Art

38. Cara Marks_Yr9Art

39. Charlotte Pich_Yr11ACP

40. Charlotte Pich_Yr11ACP

41. Cleazza Lim_Yr12Art

42. Arielle Humphreys_Yr12Art

43. CP 11ACP

44. Desy Kutasara_Yr12Art

45. Desy Kutasara_Yr12Art

46. Desy Kutasara_Yr12Art

47. Desy Kutasara_Yr12Art

48. Evan Philpot_Yr8HArt

49. Arielle Humphreys_YrArt

50. Georgia Batty_Yr8Art

51. Gracie Kreymborg_Yr10Art

52. Hannah Maxwell-Wright_Yr12Art

53. Imogen Denny_Y8Art

54. Jaime Virgona_Yr12Art

55. Jaime Virgona_Yr12Art

56. Arielle Humphreys_Art

57. Katey Livic_Yr11ACP

58. Lars Buchholtz-Bailey_Yr10Art

59. Liam Keogh_Yr9Art

60. Lola Washington_Yr7G

61. Marli McNamee_Yr8G

62. Nicholas Park_Yr8Art

63. Arielle Humphreys_Yr12Art

64. Paris Ong_Yr9Art

65. Raha Eslami Amirabadi_Yr7G

66. Rem Rem Duh Tim

67. Rosie Schwind_Yr9Art

68. Sam Infanti_Yr11ACP

69. Sam Infanti_Yr11ACP

70. Sarah Johnson_Yr12Art

71. William_Quan_Yr9Art

72. Sophie Boucher_Yr10Art

73. Tully Lewin_Yr8Art

74. Tully Lewin_Yr8Art

75. Will Johnston_Yr9Art

76. Scarlett Stephens_Yr11ACP

77. Ara Choi_Yr9Art

VISUAL Communication Design

11.

21. William Bryant_Yr12VCD

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7. Imogen Denny_Yr8VCD

8.

12. Casey Cormack-Brown_Yr12VCD

13. Chloe Lim_Yr8HVCD

14. Flynn Pascoe_Yr8VCD

15. Hugh Marsh_Yr8HVCD

16. Macy Dixon_Yr10VCD

17. Owen Hughes_Yr10VCD

18. Shaelee Alexander_Yr8VCD

19. Sophie Boucher_Yr10VCD

20. Sisley Chen_Yr7VCD

22. Elyse_Ng_Yr7VCD

23. Skye_Mcauld_Yr7VCD

24. Yiki Lin_Yr7VCD

1. Amelia Di Leonardo_Yr12VCD

Anais Chung Po Chuen_Yr11VCD

Calista Chung Po Chuen_Yr8VCD

Charlotte Taylor_Yr7VCD

Charlotte Kingham_7_VCD

Dove Allen_Yr9_VCD

Matisse Spits_Yr7VCD

9. Natasha Rojas_Yr9VCD

10. Neha Lijo_Yr8VCD

Alex Wall_Yr8VCD

BACK TO Primary School

YEAR 12 When I Grow Up

YEAR 12 Valedictory

OUTDOOR Environmental Studies

This year marked an exciting milestone as we launched our very first Outdoor Environmental Studies class at Ringwood. Available exclusively to early-entry VCE students, this course set a strong foundation for the hands-on, immersive learning experience we aim to build on in the future. Students put in an exceptional effort, navigating the unique challenges of a brand-new course and coming away with some good results.

Our outdoor experiences were central to the course, beginning with a rewarding 3-day excursion to Gariwerd (the Grampians) in Western Victoria. This trip introduced students to the region’s stunning landscapes and diverse ecosystems and allowed them to engage in a combination of world class rock-climbing, some exceptional bushwalking, as well as learning about the cultural and environmental significance of Gariwerd. We followed this experience in Unit 2 with an arduous but rewarding adventure along the Yarra River. Students navigated the

challenges of the river environment, building resilience and teamwork skills that tied directly into our classroom study.

Alongside these larger excursions, the students took part in numerous local excursions that encouraged them to investigate and appreciate their immediate environment. As a group, they strove to incorporate as much hands-on learning as possible, exploring a variety of local ecosystems and gaining real-world insights into the environmental topics covered in class.

The success of this first year has only increased our excitement for the future of Outdoor and Environmental Studies at Ringwood. We’re proud to announce that we’ll be expanding the program to offer the Year 12 course in 2025, where we look forward to building on this strong foundation ready to dive into an engaging blend of classroom and field-based learning.

2024 Staff

Bedford Road, Ringwood VIC 3134 www.ringwoodsc.vic.edu.au CRICOS 00861K