Contents
- Year 10 Big Trip
- Year 10 Mini Trips
- Year 9 Bike Ride - Mansfield to Alice Miller
- Year 9/10 PE Elective Bendigo Line Train……ing!
- Year 11 Camp
- Engineers without Borders
- RMIT Rocket Workshop
- The NGV Ian Potter Centre and the Lume
- MALTed Mill Art Exhibition
- Year 7/8 Volleyball
- Athletics Report
- Lucas Taylor and Top Screen
- Year 12 Celebration
- VCE Results 2023
- End of Year Race
- Goodbye
- Community Notices
Year 10 Big Trip
Paris
"My highlight in Paris took place the day we visited the Tour De Eiffel, but instead of being the tower itself, it was the time we were given to wander around near Notre Dame beforehand. It was nice to explore semi-aimlessly with friends. My little troupe ended up visiting a patisserie that Sasha remembered from their last trip to Paris called Odette’s, which had some of the most wonderful little pastries that I’ve seen or had before or since. We also tried to visit the Shakespeare and Co. bookshop but ended up not going in after seeing a sign that said, “No big groups allowed". As a group of five, we got a bit nervous. It wasn’t the most exciting time, it wasn't full of action or adventure, but it was without a doubt, the most blissfully and unequivocally pleasant time I’ve had in our entire stay so far." By Kai Hagan.
"On our second day in Paris, we caught the train into a central area. We had all been warned about how busy it can be and to be cautious of pickpockets. As we all piled into the train, squished up against each other, we all couldn’t help but laugh and joke about the situation. It was the first moment I really felt like I was in Paris; it was definitely a cultural experience. I enjoyed it when we went to the top of the Eiffel Tower. It was a long wait but by the time we caught the lift up it was sunset and you could see the whole of Paris. After a couple of hours, it was dark and started to light up. It was so beautiful standing there and seeing it sparkle. It’s definitely going to be a highlight of the trip for me. On our second last day in Paris, a group of us went to get hot chocolate at a very fancy café called Angelina. It was very thick and was probably just chocolate and cream, but it was good and a nice way to finish off Paris." By Kate Turnbull.
Bike Ride in the Loire Valley
The past week has been filled with action, with over 365 kilometres of bike riding through the Loire Valley, taking us to the west coast of France.
Day 1 (Tours) - We started this week's journey in Tours, arriving by the regional train from Paris. Once we arrived, we walked with our packs to our accommodation for the next two nights, which had an amazing games room with all you could possibly want. After we settled in, we took a walk around the town and came across a beautiful chapel with amazing details throughout the structure. To finish off what was a pretty chill day, we ended it with a banging horror movie.
Day 2 - To start off day 2, Marty and Glenda set us up with yet another scavenger hunt around Tours that lasted three hours. One of the hardest questions, which everyone struggled with, was to find a gift for Marty and Glenda for under 2 euros. Once we had finished up Phoenix, Arlo, Harrison, and Liv were declared the winners with the most questions completed. After having a couple of hours of downtime, Deb and Hayden (our travel support) arrived with a van full of our bikes for the week. Finally, to end what was another chill day, we played some mafia and went to bed.
Day 3 (bike riding 1) - We started the day early, leaving Tours on bikes that were appropriate for our height. Unfortunately, Liv was too short and couldn’t reach the pedals, so she couldn’t join us for the first leg. Instead, she went off to hire a kids' bike (perfect for her height). We met with the support van and Liv for morning tea, where Hayden and Deb provided us with delicious food. After being well fed, we hit the road again and rode along the river until we arrived at lunch. Once we ate again, we rode along a road through the beautiful French countryside. This is when half of our group ended up getting split up, so we waited around while Marty tried to find them for an hour until we worked out they had taken a different route. After arriving at the accommodation, we had a relaxing rest of the afternoon because we had just ridden 52 kilometres and our legs needed time to adjust.
Day 4 (Bike riding 2) - Upon the next day of our journey, we took off from Rigny Usse and we continued our ride through Loire Valley (one of the largest wine regions in the world.) We gained quite a bit of momentum from the day before resulting in a pretty easy riding day. Near the end of the day, Liv and Marty started beefing, so Liv savagely pulled out a sign from the side of the road and hit Marty over the head with it. This gave us all a bit of a laugh. After getting to the house in Le Thoureil, where we were staying for the night, we got out the soccer ball and played a game. (Milo’s team lost btw). A while later we played some card games to finish off the second day of riding.
Day 5 (Bike riding 3) - Day 3 of bike riding was pretty easy seeing that for most of the day it was along Loire River, so it was relatively flat except for the end of the day where we all powered through getting over a huge hill. By the end of it, we were rewarded with a long downhill. The day had tired most of us out, so once we arrived in our new accommodation in the town of Saint Aubin De Luigne, we played pick-up sticks and relaxed.
Day 6 (Bike riding 4) - On this day we were allowed to sleep in a little longer compared to the other days because we only had to ride 35 kilometres across the whole day. Instead of having two breaks, we only had one for morning tea. Hence, we got to our destination quickly. Since the ride was quite easy we still had a bunch of energy, so we played a few games outside. Because Hayden and Deb were kind enough to cook us all of our dinners, some students decided to make everyone burgers for dinner that night. We ended the night with Mafia, as per usual.
Day 7 (Bike riding 5) - We were all quite nervous about the day ahead because it was 85 km and by far the longest day of all of them. So we set off really early to get a head start on the day. We rode 30 km to morning tea where we had a whole group penalty shootout. Hayden and Marty won. Once we took off again, it started to get pretty hot for the rest of the day, making it difficult. After a long but fun 85 km, some of the group wanted to do the extra 15 km to make the total travel distance 100 km. Once they had powered through the 15 km, we celebrated their achievements by devouring some delicious food Hayden and Deb prepared for us and we finished the day.
Day 8 (Bike riding 6) - This was by far the most hectic day in terms of weather. It started out with high winds travelling at 55 km an hour and heavy rain. But, we pushed ourselves to get through and we succeeded in making it to morning tea. Since the winds were travelling so fast, we were told by a local it would be unsafe to continue. However, we stepped out of our comfort zones and persevered, making it home with Liv only blowing over in the wind into a ditch no less than three times. The next house was on an island named Bouin just on the edge of Brittany. Although we were drenched from the rain, we had to keep the accommodation very tidy because the owner was super strict. After we settled in, part of the group wanted to go for a swim and headed to the beach. The other half of the group played cards while they were gone.
Day 9 (last day) - We were relieved, but also quite sad, since it was the last day of riding. We left hoping it would be better weather than the day before. For most of it, we were right, until it started heavily raining and the wind picked up 7 km before the destination. Although it was tough, it was the shortest day of 28 km. We arrived at a huge feast prepared by Hayden and we celebrated by tucking into a few bottles of champers (note from Sarita: it was sparkling apple juice). Later we played a whole group game of Mafia and enjoyed the last night we had with Hayden and Deb. In conclusion, the whole trip was an absolute blast. We can’t hype up enough how amazingly helpful Hayden and Deb have been for the past week. They are genuinely some of the nicest people you will ever meet. Although the trip was tiring, we all pushed through and persevered. We thrived together as a group in challenging times and had each other's back, making us very close. By Milo Waterhouse and Dante Cox.
Argentat
Argentat was such a delightful place to visit and it was filled with cute bakeries and beautiful architecture. We had two free days in Argentat. I got to explore the Opshops, where I found some good clothes. I also explored around the river. Rook, Ruby, Sasha, Cal, Kai, Charlie and I all had a picnic by the river for lunch on the first free day and on the second free day we sat in a park, played Uno and ate lunch. In between the two free days we went canoeing with a guy named Arjen down the Dordogne River, which was very beautiful but tough at the same time. On Friday after the free days, we went on a waterfall walk with Arjen, which was at the same waterfall Cal and I went to with our homestay. But we got a new experience because we got to walk in the rivers and go down a natural slide and jump off a rock into the water. The chateau that we stayed in whilst in Argentat was so beautiful and there was a table tennis table and a chessboard which kept many of us entertained. Argentat was a great place to stay and I will miss it whilst I’m walking the Camino. By Scarlett Dam.
Camino
This week we have been getting up to some fun hiking accompanied by amazing views, good chats, cute animals, and fellow travellers. To start our journey, we took three separate trains that eventually landed us in Saint Jean de Pied, the starting town of the Camino de Santiago. Thankfully, we were given a rest day in that town that included acquiring our Camino booklets, which allowed us to document our journey through stamps. We also received a shell to tie onto our bags, as it is a Camino tradition for pilgrims.
Our first day of hiking the Camino de Santiago began with us cheating a little bit by getting driven for the first 9km. We had lunch on the French and Spanish border. After our successful day of hiking, we arrived at a monastery where we attended a mass. Near the end of the ceremony a few students went to receive the offering of Christ, some students were turned away while Liv almost got hand fed by a priest. On day two of hiking, we were awoken by church music at six am, which was not greatly appreciated. Along the way, there were beautiful hills that were straight out of the sound of music, giving Glenda the perfect opportunity to re-enact Maria’s “The Hills Are Alive” scene.
At the hostel that night, we were rewarded with a mouth watering traditional Spanish dinner. The third day of hiking was a short distance of 11km. At our lunch break for the day, we were in great need of a good stretch, so Milo stepped up to the task of leading us in a yoga class that none of us will ever forget. This involved the inventive move known as Milo’s chimney sweep. After the day of hiking, to lighten the groups' spirits, Marty and Glenda treated us to some hot chocolate. As well as that, we were also treated to a Venezuelan dinner made by the one and only Marty Frank Sharples.
The next day of hiking brought in the disappointment of no lunch, because of the lack of open supermarkets along the journey. However, all was made up later in the day by a couple of bags of popcorn and chips. As our walk proceeded, we came face to face with college life in Spain. More specifically, we walked through the pre-gaming of a Spanish college party that stretched out for nearly a km in the city of Pamplona. We were extremely grateful to hear that the following day included nothing but rest, exploring and a tad bit of sickness for some. The next night we slept in pods and we acquired some amazing churos. The next day came with an abundance of cute animals along the hike. The first of many was a hole in a door that perfectly fitted a Dalmatian’s head, which looked similar to the game of whack-a-mole. The next animal was a tiny baby snake which we stopped to admire. The last encounter with animals that day was seeing hundreds and hundreds of sheep being herded on a highway. Finally, the last day of hiking was upon us. Before long we arrived at our last destination of Los Arcos, where we got our last stamps for our books. To celebrate the end of our hiking era we went out for dinner. A lovely end to an even lovelier week/ hike. Overall, our group has been through so much together and we are thriving more than ever! By Clementine Coone and Pepper Eisner.
Madrid
Over our five days in Madrid, we visited both the Reina Sofia and Prado museums as a group, and three separate educational projects at the Naval, Archaeological and Decorative Arts museum. Each group presented their findings to the teachers and were given an A+.
The nightlife in Madrid was electric! People everywhere, all the time. We were lucky to see two incredible football games - Real Madrid Women vs Real Sociedad, featuring Matilda’s star Hayley Raso, and Atletico de Madrid vs Villareal in front of nearly 60,000 singing fans at the Metropolitan stadium. It was captivating and one of the greatest experiences of the trip. On Sunday morning we went to the famous Flea Market on El Rastro, a chaotic and bustling street market. We finished our trip with a brilliant flamenco dance show and a dinner of 70 empanadas in the local park. By Henry Bourke, Spencer Gray and Harrison Anderson.
Year 10 Mini Trips
Over the course of Term 4 I found myself coordinating the group of Year 10s that had not gone on the Big Trip. We were a small group. We decided that it might be fun and worthwhile to get out of school when we could to embark on some small adventures.
On our first trip, we accompanied James' VET Music Class into the city to visit the PBS FM studios. En route, we touched base at the Music Swap Shop in Carlton and marvelled (some drooled) at the various instruments on display. We got to PBS FM's new studio in Collingwood and were taken on a tour of the incredible, and member-funded, facilities. While we were there Malt Hop Shop was broadcasting. Peter Merret (aka Mr Doo-Wop) was all too happy for us to come into the studio while he was on air and watch the process. He talked us through his 30 or so years on air and explained how he mainly took the tracks from his show from his collection of old 78 records! His show finished and Jumpin' The Blues came on hosted by Tom Sianidis. We were lucky enough for him to be starting the show with a live performance from Melbourne's own Matriarch of the Blues, Tracey Miller supported by the Jumpin' the Blues All-Stars. They slayed.
As we were about to leave, another broadcaster (Jordan Oakley), who I taught many moons ago came into the studios, and so we conducted a quick little Q&A about how he got into community radio and his involvement in the Melbourne Music Scene in various bands, etc. The bus ride home was DJ'd by the collective requests of the students...good tunes selected by all.
The following week we jumped on the train and went into the city to visit the LUME: Connections exhibit. If you haven't been, let us recommend it heartily. It was a beautiful, immersive experience for the senses. A space to reflect on our relationship with this land and the first peoples of it. Visiting the exhibition in the week or so after the failed referendum was particularly poignant for us all.
Chelsea had this to say:
"I enjoyed the trip to Lume the most, because it was in a small group and there was plenty of time to take things in when we were there. It was really interesting to learn about the meanings behind the Aboriginal artworks that were there, and I loved hearing the music by first nations artists."
After we left Lume, we wandered down South Bank to Fed Square where we went into the Ian Potter Centre for a photographic exhibition curated from the existing collection. Photos were arranged in ways that showed connections and contrasts and were designed to provoke visceral reactions in the viewer. For many of the students, this was their first time in the Ian Potter space, and we commented on the fact that it's such a great way to spend a bit of time if you have it, in the city. World class, free exhibitions, open to the public all year around.
Our final trip was to Footscray. We called it a cultural tour of Footscray for what it's worth. Our day started with a visit to the Footscray market where we stocked up on a few lunch items. Some fresh ciabatta, smoked ham, avocado, cheese, tomato, and cucumber. I also bought jicama, a starchy root vegetable I encountered while living in Mexico 20 or so years ago. It's popular in Southeast Asia and is called a water yam there. We squeezed some lime on slices and crunched away happily before constructing and consuming our rolls, which we topped with some greens from the community gardens at Footscray Community Arts Centre....which was our next destination. There was a small interactive exhibition, which we wandered around for a while before taking to the banks of the Maribyrnong and strolling upstream to the enormous Heavenly Queen Buddhist Temple. We couldn't go in because of construction works, but it was an impressive structure to look at anyway. Along the banks of the river, under an overpass, we came across a rock climbing/bouldering wall. We spent some time here challenging each other to tackle various routes up the wall. Jules was the undisputed champion of this. It was a warm day and we decided that ice creams were in order, so we ventured into Footscray proper and found ourselves a place with a beautiful variety of mainly fruit flavoured ice creams. These were gratefully and happily consumed. It wouldn't be a trip to Footscray without a visit to Savers, so we went there for a spot of op-shopping. Some bargains were found. Some partly aimless meandering of the streets of Footscray followed, checking out the sights, sounds, and smells before it was time to head home again.
I'd like to thank Chelsea, Mia, Jules, Tom and Aubrey for the enthusiastic way they approached these mini-trips and the fun chats we had along the way. By John Collins.
Year 9 Bike Ride - Mansfield to Alice Miller
The first day of our journey begins in three places and ends in one. A small and experienced group of cyclists begins in Mansfield, at the beginning of the Great Victorian Rail Trail. They will cycle almost 60 km on the first day, largely independent of adult support. A second group begins in Bonnie Doon, beside Lake Eildon. And a third group begins in Merton, where they face a formidable climb over the highest point of the trail - the 397m Merton Gap. Our shared trail leads to Yarck, where we spend the first night at the local recreation reserve.
On Tuesday, we ride from Yarck to Yea in two groups. One group takes the scenic route which includes a side trip along the old railway branch line between Cathkin and Alexandra. It is mostly uphill on the way there, which means it is mostly downhill on the way back. There are panoramic views towards the nearby Cathedral Range. In Alexandra, we demolish twelve donuts, nine lamingtons, five pieces of mud cake, three pieces of chocolate hedgehog, one Boston bun, and a large packet of corn chips in a matter of minutes. Being Tuesday, it brings back fond memories of cake day at Candlebark for some.
At Molesworth, both groups cross the Goulburn River before tackling a steady climb to the Cheviot Tunnel. Built from locally made bricks in 1889, the 201m long tunnel is an engineering masterpiece. It also leads to Pauline, who is waiting patiently with much appreciated lunch supplies. We wait for a brief rain shower to pass, before commencing a delightful descent to the Yea River, and soon after, the township itself. We camp on lush green grass at the local caravan park, and a few particularly brave cyclists break the ice to swim in the pool.
Throughout the week, teaching staff and volunteers come and go. Every single person who joins us has something valuable to share. James, Samone and Madeline ride for two days each. Amy and Elwood ride for three days, sharing their snacks and smiles. Jen, Sophie and Bill all find time to join us for a day of riding. Ted and Silk set up lunch for us, and help with a vehicle shuttle. Bob arrives at each campsite early, and often has hot water ready for cups of tea. Mark and John P cheerfully lead riders into ferocious head winds, and up the steepest climbs. Paul and John M are anywhere we need them to be - riding, driving, cooking, etc. Pauline and Adrian work from dawn to dusk, and later, for five consecutive days. We are so fortunate to have each of these remarkable people involved with the ride.
Buoyed by this outstanding support, we push on from Yea to Trawool on Wednesday. One group pushes even further, to our intended campsite at Horseshoe Lagoon. Unfortunately for us, they arrive to find the access gate locked and the campsite closed. Meanwhile, storm clouds are building and the darkening sky looks ominous. We phone a friend in Tallarook, who kindly makes the necessary arrangements for us to camp beside the local footy ground. Both groups ride on to Tallarook, where the temperature feels cold enough for snow to be falling. We enjoy warm drinks, soccer on the footy field, and sushi bowls for dinner.
On Thursday morning, we hit the road - literally. Having reached the end of the rail trail, we now follow back roads towards the granite boulder country north of Lancefield. One group takes a particularly scenic route through a farm paddock. They find a small Ringtail Possum along the way. We seek shelter from the wind and enjoy lunch at the Glenaroua CFA station.Conditions are incredibly difficult for cycling - the headwinds and swirling gusts are unrelenting throughout the afternoon. Adding to these difficulties, an epic climb awaits.
The climb leads through spectacular granite boulder country to the main Lancefield - Pyalong Road. Coming from the other direction, it would be a wonderful, sweeping descent with extraordinary views. Instead, the one group who climbs it has to work hard for every metre they gain. A final few kilometres leads to a school property at Nulla Vale, where no time is wasted putting up tents, feasting on snacks (including a special delivery of hot chips), and exploring our surrounds. Dinner is an absolute treat, courtesy of Marisa at Candlebark.
Having endured some of the worst conditions for cycling on Thursday, we are greeted with the best possible conditions on Friday. On days like these, it is hard to imagine wanting to be anywhere other than on the seat of a bike, travelling slowly (or in some case, very swiftly), through picturesque landscapes. For many of us, these landscapes are now remarkably close to our own backyards, which further heightens their significance. We begin to recognise familiar landmarks - the Camels Hump, Hanging Rock, Mount Macedon.
Two groups ride around the mountain, while a third travels straight over the top. As we begin the slow and steady climb up Blackwood Road, there is a strong sense among the group that absolutely nothing can stop us now. Which is true, not only for this final stretch of riding, but also for any other cycling adventures we might attempt in the future. Momentum carries us through the front gates of Alice Miller, where our journey comes to a satisfying end.
A huge thanks to everyone who was involved with this latest Alice Miller adventure - the students, the staff, and the amazing volunteers. It was a pleasure to share this journey with you all, and may you enjoy many more adventures on bikes in the future! By Sam Ford, Outdoor Education Coordinator.
Year 9/10 PE Elective Bendigo Line Train……ing!
This term, we had a diminished Year 9/10 PE elective class with the Year 10’s gallivanting around Europe. Keeping this in mind, we thought we would have a challenging adventure of our own….particularly having developed a strong fitness base from the Year 9 bike camp completed just the week before, the Bendigo Line Train….ing run seemed like the perfect thing to do.
The challenge was to complete a run at every train station beginning at Bendigo and finishing at Macedon. Each station involved a different distance…..with the additional challenge of 30+ degrees temperature shocking our systems!
The crew ran from Bendigo Train Station to Kangaroo Flat train station (6.5kms) along the Bendigo Creek Trail that cuts through the town. Following our first effort, we headed South on the train to Castlemaine station to loop around the very welcome shaded Botanic Gardens – roughly 3.5kms. Afterwards the amazing Bettina had a very well earned lunch prepared for us which went down a treat! What didn’t go down a treat was trying to run at the next stop – the Malmsbury train station loop which provided spectacular views of bridges and viaduct – oh the stitches we had to endure for the 2km journey. Not to be deterred by our sore stomachs, and dosed up on some iced sports drinks, we jumped on the train to Kyneton Train Station to run our 4km return track along the nicely shaded Campaspe river. With fatigue really making its mark, but also seeing the end was close, we prepared Campaspe river. With fatigue really making its mark, but also seeing the end was close, we prepared ourselves for the final two runs. Getting out of the air conditioned carriages was tough during the hottest part of the day and Woodend was no exception. Perhaps this can explain some of the misdirection from the set paths…..or not……the main thing is that we covered our 3.5kms along Five Mile Creek, glad to see the back of the run, but happy to be cooled down by some icy-poles waiting for us! Finally we very gingerly made our way off the train from Woodend to the platform in Macedon. It was our last 4.5km, but knowing the area, knew the hills were going to make it a challenge. We were determined to finish – and what a nice feeling it was to run into the gates at Alice Miller together….runners in arms!!!
Huge thank you to Bettina for all her assistance, cheering, support and expert timing with running treats! Jordan Hinrichsen from Year 12 who came as our student leader – what magnificent patience and perseverance he has! Lastly, a massive pat on the back to the crew for completing the runs. It is a very tough thing to run a series of distances in the heat with the stop/starting. The muscles ache and everything in your body tells you to stop; however, they all did an incredible job.
Students who completed the incredible 23km broken journey are: Red Brazil, Bailey Stokes, Eva Hurst, Sacha Kennedy, Essie Faust, Darcy Paterson, Liam Wallace, Will Astuto, Ethan Ferguson, Matias Edmonds, Li Sugimoto and Felix McAdie. By John Philip, Sports Coordinator.
Year 11 Camp
Blue skies, pristine beaches, great op shops and a table-tennis table. The Year 11 Camp had it all! Our 2024 Year 12s stepped up in all respects - cooking, cleaning, organising activities, starting the filming of a documentary, capsizing sea kayaks, eating seaweed and running the inaugural Alice Miller table-tennis one day tournament.
MALTed Mill Art Exhibition
MALTed Mill was a true celebration of the students’ works in Media, Arts, Literature and Theatre Arts.
After working so hard throughout the year to produce quality work, the exhibition meant for an incredibly rewarding experience. The students and the whole school community were able to enjoy the works presented in an exhibition setting and celebrate the artistic endeavours on the opening night.
The mood was set by the spectacular Shinji Sugimoto playing three pieces on the piano. Soon, Justine Wallace - our guest speaker was introduced and she spoke with incredible insight on almost every artist and artwork. Her comments and observations were personal and knowledgeable which reflected her own highly versatile and accomplished art practice.
The night was deeply rewarding to all the exhibiting students and fascinating to guests. From the extremely detailed woodcuts, jarring and creative Motion Media skits, pop sculptures to a deeply varied exploration and representation of themes and ideas such as gender roles, women’s rights and climate change - everything evoked strong interest and stimulating conversations.
With food and nibbles, this spectacular night was the amalgamation of the whole Alice Miller community, a classically Alice night - from Sally and Vee organising the catering, to Michael constructing walls and flats.
Sarita congratulated everyone on the eclectic excellence of the MALTed Mill and we all hope that this first edition has set the precedent for bigger and better exhibitions in future. By Lucas Taylor.
Engineers without Borders
Alice Miller entered two teams of year 9/10 students into the Engineers without Borders competition held at Melbourne University this year. Scarlett, Cosi, Wei, Anika and Angus alongside Jonty, Eva, Essie, Sev and Ethan created presentations to address engineering challenges on Yirrganydji Country in Queensland. The two groups worked outstandingly well as a team and demonstrated excellent creative and critical thinking skills.
Congratulations to the 'Yarning Mat' team who placed 2nd in their group.
RMIT Rocket Workshop
The NGV Ian Potter Centre and the Lume
Earlier this term, the Unit 2 Literature class went on an excursion to the NGV Ian Potter Centre and the Lume exhibit, Connections. The purpose was to compare 18th and 19th Century European colonial depictions of the Australian landscape and First Nations peoples, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists' own representations of landscape, to gain a greater insight into the culture, historical experiences and perspectives of indigenous Australians.
Year 7/8 Volleyball
The junior competitions throughout the year have been very hotly contested, no matter what the sport or who has been involved. Volleyball was no exception! A number of students having never played in a competition before were bravely throwing themselves in the deep end against some tough and experienced competition.
The boys, led by captain, Harrison Gaul, showed some early promise with a resounding win against Heathcote Secondary College. Hyugo Sato and Eli Spencer were chasing down everything and Finbar O’Brien displayed his most impressive reflexes and lightening quick reaction time to save the ball on many occasions forcing the opponents to play another ball – perhaps channelling tennis great Lleyton Hewitt’s tennis strategy! One never can be sure. Although the boys came up short on the scoreboard for the rest of the day in games against Gisborne Secondary, Melton Secondary and Sunbury College, in years to come they will no doubt keep some teams very honest!
The girls were off to an absolute cracking start with a dominant display all over the court against Bacchus Marsh Grammar. Other games against Gisborne Secondary, Melton Secondary and Sunbury College went down to the wire with momentum playing a big part of each match. Marta Veracini-Shamier was very much the leader by example. Her serving skills and diving to save the ball were incredible. Isla Holcomb was brilliant all day and never gave up whilst Belle McGregor’s serving was proving very difficult for the opposite to play.
Thank you so much to Donna Prince for all her positive and enthusiastic support as well as all the team members for a great day out. Not only were the students performing at a high level physically, but their manners and sportspersonship made all of us at Alice Miller proud. By John Philip, Sports Coordinator.
Athletics Report
Another busy and successful season of athletics is over and some things never change. The usual crazy Springtime weather making itself known – whether by a tough back-straight wind at the Division Level competition, that would make the penguins of Antarctica dig their heels in and lean a bit further into the gale-force (ok, I may be exaggerating here, but it was nasty) as well as a cancellation and rescheduling due to 50mm of rain predicted (and fell!) at the Northern Melbourne suburbs track. Aside from this, we witnessed some wonderful performances. Henry Bourke ran some of the most efficient and intelligent 800m and 1500m races seen by a student in a long time, comfortably taking 1st place in both events in speedy fashion. Unfortunately Henry was unable to travel to the next level at Regionals due to the Big Trip. Other standout performers included Essie Faust who came second in the 1500m and won the Division 14 year old High Jump. She then recorded an equal PB with a jump of 1.40m finishing an amazing 3rd place at Regionals. Eli Spencer pushed through a nasty cold at the Division level to win the 14 year old 1500m. He went on to finish a very creditable 6th place at Regionals in an exceptionally strong field. Aidan Ford had a wonderful season placing 2nd at Division in the Open 3000m as well as the 17 year old 1500m. Going on to Regionals, Aidan found a new gear and came 3rd in the Open 3000m and went two better in the 1500m to take out the event. Although Aidan was already going to the State Championships in the 1500m, due to the winner of the 3000m pulling out, Aidan competed in the 3000m at State as well. In typically ordinary conditions (the usual Melbourne 4 seasons!), Aidan came an incredible 7th in the 3000m and 5th in the 1500m – an outstanding result. By John Philip, Sports Coordinator.
Lucas Taylor and Top Screen
Lucas Taylor has achieved amazing results in VCE Media this year. His SAT project (Don't Burn the Toast) is a wildly original and very funny short film that combines live action video, 3D computer graphics and animation. Lucas planned this film out meticulously, and diligently made the plan a reality over several months. In order to make this film he learned how to model 3D objects in Blender and also constructed a camera rig from an old motorbike helmet and a tripod-head to enable his first person shots to be as realistic as possible. Unsurprisingly, Lucas achieved very high grades for his VCE Media work this year, and his film has been selected for screening as part of Top Screen. This is all the more impressive considering that Lucas is in year 11. By Dave Vertigan, Media and Motion Media.
Year 12 School Celebration
Charlotte Fowler
Dagny Eikli
Ruby Wiggins
Jett Sanders-Henshall
Milly Pitt
Jemima Hutchison
Charlie Wilson
Taj Warren
Jeta Chan
Zara Trikojus
Charlie Wilson
Jadzia Chapman-Lowe, Lauren Bourke, Sophie Pattle, Charlie Buckler, Charlie Wilson, Thomas Pattle and Max Whiteman.
Milly Pitt and Esther Houghton
Jadzia Chapman-Lowe
Year 12 celebration speech by Karyn Lehner
"We come together today to celebrate this group of young people, who have successfully completed their VCE. It’s my job, every year, to stand up here and celebrate the graduating class, to pay tribute to their time with us at Candlebark and Alice MIller, from the point of view of the person who guides them through their last year of school and out into the world. It’s my job to comfort, cajole, motivate, moderate, mediate and guide. As I said to this class so many times this year, 'You're really making me work for that paycheck today’. This is not because they are difficult, but because they embody, as a group, an exuberance and excess that knows no bounds. They see life as a constant source of opportunity, like an amusement park full of rides, and they have a free pass for all of them.
This class is probably the most ambitious group of young people I have ever worked with. They’re broken all sorts of records this year. There were so many early university offers this year that I lost count. Normally I announce every single one of these at morning meetings, but as the numbers crept up towards 40, 50, 60 offers and beyond, I stopped being able to keep track. They wrote more practice essays in the lead up to the English exam than any group I have ever taught before, I lost count somewhere at 200 mark. I spent a lot of time looking at international opportunities for this group: trying to work out how to get into vet school in London, converting school reports to GPAs for US College sport scholarships, trying to work out exactly what an application essay looks like for a film school in New York, calculating credits point for current university extension study and explaining how this transfers across universities. I have written more endorsement and reference letters for unique opportunities than any other year. At one point I was helping a student complete an application for ANU and I said, ‘Gosh, I’ve never ticked all the boxes, do you ever sleep?’
Sometimes ambitious groups lose their playfulness, their sense of fun, becoming so engrossed in their academic results, that they forget to enjoy life. Not this group. Their level of exuberance is so high that I had to employ a direct ‘shut up’ policy to stop them talking. I know that Glenda was very relieved when they moved their study base from the library to the sunroom, finally restoring the peace. They also express their exuberance through fashion. This is the first year 12 group that I've had who have changed their outfits multiple times throughout the school day, turning a disused fridge, and a cleaning storeroom, into a makeshift wardrobe, and then turning the whole lot into the first ever ‘Alice Miller Op Shop’. They took lunchtime sport to new extremes, becoming so competitive over downball or basketball, that they would need to switch sports for a term or two because it had become too intense. They put on the best (and weirdest) talent show on year 11 camp, willingly took part in the mud run that Donna and I organised as a solution to the oppression of the constant rain, swan diving into puddles of mud despite the cold. They dressed up as the 2000s disco (much to Ellery's horror at some of the outfit choices). They partied for hours in the camp rec room, singing at the top of their lungs.
They also enthusiastically embraced their leadership role, hosting the most elaborate Kris Kringle, organising their easter egg hunt with military precision and taking on extra responsibilities with their clean-up leadership. But these are the obvious things. This year level has also worked quietly to establish the culture they want within their school, leading by example, treating each other and the whole school with kindness, and always thanking teachers as they left classrooms. .
I’ve known this year group since their Candlebark days, when I used to help with the horse program. Then I started teaching them in year 8, hiked with them on the Great Ocean Walk, stayed on lots of production sleepovers for Noises Off, I taught them again for an elective in year 9, English in year 10, I joined them on year 11 camp. When you spend this much time with a group of students, you collect a lot of dirt. I’ve been saving this up for years, playfully threatening them that I have plenty of fodder for grad speeches. Now is the moment…
But I will be kind, because you are a kind year level, who enjoys a bit of teasing, as long as no one gets hurt. I'm going to anonymously dish some dirt.. Feel free to confess your crimes by raising your hand, or leave everyone wondering just who the culprit was…
Two of the students on this stage disrupted one of my classes by crawling under the portable and pounding on the floor directly under where I was standing.
One of these students bought a new outfit on the way to school because she didn’t like what she was wearing.
One of these students had a magical backpack, that was a never ending supply of gadgets and toys, making a new one appear each time I confiscated one.
One of these students complained so much in year 8 English that I had to ban them from complaining…
One of these students spent all their Big Trip money in one go in a supermarket buying snacks.
Some of these students raided the cafe’s ice cream supply on sleepovers, no matter how many other good treats Vee left for them.
Several of these students broke the school phone policy frequently to watch NBA games…
One of these students played stick wars so aggressively that another student in this school has a scar to prove it…
One student was witnessed by me in her early days at Candlebark delegating all her cleanup jobs to other students…
One of these students is the sharp wit behind the Alice Miller Daily…
Another is the kind and supportive temperament behind Alice Miller Affirmations…
Several of these students plan to become vets…
Many of these students want to work in health - as doctors, nurses, occupational therapists…
Some of these students want to help others by becoming psychologists…
Some of these students want to work in environmental science, forestry and sustainability, determined to protect the world we live in…
We have amongst us future lawyers, public policy makers, politicians, economists…
We have those who want to share their love of sport, exercise and outdoor education with the next generation…
And we have our our artists, musicians, filmmakers and writers…
You all have a unique contribution to make to the world, we wish you the very best of luck!
Here at Alice Miller we tend to measure success in VCE by how meaningfully students move towards their adult lives. We think about the ATAR as a kind of necessary currency, only required by those who want to compete for a place at university, just one small measure of a student’s growth, progress, and hard work. Whilst I am about to announce academic awards, which celebrate the obvious and tangible success those students have had in their coursework this year, it is important to acknowledge the success of all students in this year level. I know this cohort have worked ambitiously for their ATARs, but whatever that number is, we will only ever remember your enthusiasm, energy and the way you worked with us, and each other in order to help everyone to achieve their goals.
I will now announce the recipients of the 2023 academic awards. These students will receive their award at the formal graduation ceremony tomorrow night. Each of these students has earned the highest mark in their school-based coursework in these subject areas.
Academic Awards 2023
English - Essie Houghton
Maths - Aaliyah Roadknight
Science - Lauren Bourke
Humanities - Essie Houghton
Languages - Toby Nitschke
Health & Physical Education - Toby Nitschke
Performing Arts - Miranda Smedley
Visual Arts - Patrick Buckler
Please join me in a huge congratulations not only to those students who are receiving awards, but to this entire group of funny, engaging, ambitious, kind and thoughtful young people who have all been such an important part of our school."- Karyn Lehner, Year 12 Coordinator
VCE Results 2023
Congratulations to our outstanding class of 2023, along with their wonderful teachers and families. We are thrilled with the results.
Amongst the highlights:
- Dux, Jeta Chan, with an ATAR of 96.25.
- Dux Proximus, Lauren Bourke, with an ATAR of 96.2.
- 24% of students with ATARs over 90.
- 44% of students with ATARs over 80.
- 82% of students with ATARs over 70.
- Median study score of 34.
These outstanding results also place us, once again, on The Age's Top Rural and Regional Schools list for 2023. We are in some truly excellent company!
What a wonderful way to end the year. Well done to everyone involved.
End of Year Race
Goodbye
John Philip
I'm sure many of you have thought long and hard about your decision to live in the Macedon Ranges during those long, cold, dark, wet, long, cold winter days, and, let's face it, some summer days too. In fact, I once swore when I left university in Bendigo that I would never live inland again. So although none of us are happy about it, I'm sure we all understand and are secretly a little bit jealous to hear that John Philip is heading north at the end of the year. John has been such a huge part of the Alice Miller community that I don't think we will all truly appreciate just how big of a hole he will be leaving until next year. John has single-handedly built up the PE department to what it is today. He has helped Alice Miller hold its own and then some at inter-school sports competitions. He has contributed to the outdoor ed department just as much if not more than me, and I'm an outdoor education teacher!? He has taken four groups of students on the Big Trip and offered them a chance to push themselves and grow during what is a pivotal time for many young people. And he's pretty punny too. So I think I can safely speak for all of us when I say, good luck John, you will be missed.
Pauline Wilson
Pauline Wilson, teacher extraordinaire, tractor trekker, all round good sort. Beloved of students, staff and Myra mains, her ‘special' friend.
Pauline can be found in the lab doing hair raising activities with the Van der Graaf generator or planning a Macedon speedway event with nothing more than balsa wood, sticky tape, glue guns and mouse traps. Other times Pauline's students are seen hunched over microscopes examining animal hair or using Bunsen burners to make coloured flames reminiscent of fireworks.
Sometimes wandering into the lab is not like wandering into a crime scene - it is wandering into a crime scene, secured by police tape, blood everywhere, evidence and a blood splattered body - waiting for a team of crime scene investigators to bust through the police tape and solve the crime.
Pauline's tractor workshops give students interested in hands on mechanics an opportunity to work on disassembling, cleaning and assembling a tractor. It was such a popular event that, much like a Taylor Swift concert, it was sold out!!
Pauline is part of three generations at Alice Miller with Skye and Lil, the second and third generations, a mother and grandmother, teacher, scientist, tractor trekker, sometimes bike rider, bus driver, green thumb and all round happy camper.
At the end of this year, Pauline is making a second attempt at retirement. Our loss is Pauline's gain as she is leaving to enjoy more time for undercover sock knitting and travel, fun and adventures in the caravan with her lovely husband Bob. We will miss her and wish her the very best in the years ahead. By Kate Fagan, Lab Technician.
Samone Hosking
Samone arrived at Alice Miller School in 2022 from Melbourne Girls' College, after her family relocated from Melbourne to Cowbaw.
Samone’s positive impact was immediately felt by students and staff alike as she set out to raise the profile of Science at Alice Miller, particularly Biology and Environmental Science. She made a notably strong impact on our young female/non-binary scientists, and we saw participation from these students surge.
Samone initiated and facilitated the participation of Alice Miller students in the Biomechanics Research and Innovation Challenge (BRInC) which aimed to inspire and raise participation of high school girls in biomedical engineering, through focusing on the exciting field of biomechanics. Samone also provided opportunity for our female students to participate in the RMIT Rocket workshop.
Outside of the science lab, in her role as the Year 11 Coordinator, Samone extended the same degree of commitment and care to students in her Year 11 cohort. Samone offered reliable, constructive and consistent support to all Year 11 students whether addressing their social-emotional needs, offering subject selection and pathway advice, or organising the Year 11 camps to Queenscliff. Many staff have commented that our incoming Year 12 students are the most prepared and focused the school has ever seen; this is in large part due to Samone's expert guidance.
Samone made a big impact on the Alice Miller community in her short time here, as she was always willing to volunteer her time and energy to assist in a wide variety of school activities. However, Samone has always maintained a passionate commitment to state education, and she plans to return and continue her excellent work in that sector. We wish her all the best on her continuing journey.
Mark Johnstone, Head of Campus
Sarah Murphy
For the past couple of years, we have had the pleasure of working with Sarah Murphy. She has been an asset in supporting students' learning, particularly when supporting those with their Numeracy needs. Her ability to explain in explicit and useful ways sometimes difficult to understand concepts is something our community will miss. Sarah's ability to problem solve and use her thinking to assist staff and students is a real strength. Additionally, her ability to teach Science at such a high calibre level, making it accessible and engaging for all students was such a great benefit to us. We will always remember her bravery in donating her hair to make wigs for those who need it, cutting it off in front of the whole school!
Sarah, along with her husband, Steve, and her daughter, Camille, will live in France in 2024 to attend to family matters. Sarah has been a beloved colleague, team player and friend to many at Alice Miller, and we look forward to seeing her when she returns. We wish her, Steve, and Cami (gorgeous girl) all our best on this journey. Good luck, Sarah. By Glenda Earle, Literacy Specialist.