APC Newsletter November 2023

NOVEMBER 2023

DENNIS SPEARHEADS NATIONAL TEACHER CAMPAIGN

01

THE LEWIS MILLER ARTWORK THAT WILL BE AUCTIONED AT THE GALA OPENING.

APC COMMUNITY

IMPORTANT DATES FRIDAY 10 NOVEMBER - FRIDAY 17 NOVEMBER

Year 10 exams

ARCHIBALD COUP FOR ART SHOW

MONDAY 13 NOVEMBER - FRIDAY 24 NOVEMBER

Year 11 to 12 orientation THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER

In a massive coup for the upcoming Albert Park Art Show, renowned artist and Archibald prize winner Lewis Miller has donated a work for auction.

As well as winning the Archibald Prize, Miller’s stellar career includes winning the Rick Amor Self Portrait Prize and the Hugh Ramsay Portrait Prize.

His work is represented in private and public collections in Australia and overseas, including the National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Gallery of Victoria, Australian War Memorial, National Portrait Gallery Canberra.

Miller’s artwork (above) will be auctioned at the art show’s gala opening on Friday, 24 November.

The gala opening, which runs from 7-10pm, is a ticketed event. Be the first to experience the excitement of the exhibition, listen to live music, and immerse yourself in this annual celebration of creativity.

Please note, the gala is an 18+ event.

Students are encouraged to visit the art show over the weekend. Student prizes will be announced at 2pm on Saturday, 25 November.

The three-day art show boasts the works of local, interstate and emerging artists.

Year 12 Presentation Evening 6.30pm The Timber Yard, Port Melbourne MONDAY 20 NOVEMBER - FRIDAY 24 NOVEMBER

Year 10 to 11 orientation FRIDAY 24 NOVEMBER

Year 11 final day Year 10 last day of classes FRIDAY NOVEMBER 24

APC Art Show gala opening 7pm 120 Bay St campus SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER - SUNDAY 26 NOVEMBER

APC Art Show is open to the public

For tickets or more details, visit www. albertparkcollegeartshow.com.au

MONDAY 27 NOVEMBER - FRIDAY 1 DECEMBER

Year 10 Work Experience

COVER: DENNIS WANG WITH A YEAR 8 CLASS LAST WEEK PICTURE: SIMON JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY

02

PRINCIPAL'S SAY

SCHOOL PULSES WITH THE SPIRIT OF PLACE

YEAR 12s REDESIGNED THEIR UNIFORMS FOR THE SPECIAL BREAKFAST

Recently we sent our year-12s off on Swotvac to prepare for the exams. But as I write this, dozens of them are back upstairs again in our library studying hard together.

What produces this sort of attachment to our college? Friends and access to their teachers most obviously. But I think there’s another explanation. We have succeeded in creating a place that’s welcoming and enjoyable to be around.

To get young people learning, you have to engage them, by making school a vibrant and interesting place. Fun, even.

The last fortnight alone shows this.

On their last day, Tuesday, the year-12 students came, many in fancy dress, to celebrate with their teachers, including an all-in dodgeball challenge against the teachers and staff.

students swamped our library at lunchtime for a jewelry making activity.

And it includes parents, who last week also came along to hold a breakfast to say thank you to the staff for teaching their children so well. Our parent-staff book club is another example.

This was followed by the farewell breakfast on Wednesday, with our traditional ‘deconstruct your uniform’ dress code.

On Friday, the Danks St courtyard was turned into a rock venue for our Battle of the Bands, where students came along to watch their friends in action on stage. The college has been filled with the sounds of rehearsals for weeks.

These sorts of events have been going on all term, with student versus staff competitions in debating, cooking, and other fields. Recently, the younger

Add to these impromptu events our musical, Litfest, music concert, art show (coming up again soon) and Love Boat Gala Night and you have a place of incredible vibrancy.

This is what makes our college such a special and popular place. And I’m certain that this engaging atmosphere will contribute strongly to the outstanding academic results our VCE and IB students will achieve over the next few weeks of exams.

Steven Cook Foundation Principal

03

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Gala Opening: Friday 24 November 7-10 pm Join us for the Gala Opening Event of our 2023 APC Art Show. Be the first to experience the excitement of the exhibition, listen to live music, and immerse yourself in this annual celebration of creativity.

LIVE AUCTION We are extremely excited to announce our Live Auction item for this year’s Gala Night is a work generously donated by renowned artist, Lewis Miller. This is a unique opportunity to win a work by one of Australia’s foremost artists and support Albert Park College in the process. You must be at the Gala Night to bid. Book now to attend: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1137193 or via the Art Show website >

Can you help? Volunteer Sign Up The annual APC Art Show is only a few weeks away.

Please support this super fun event by signing up to help out either in the week preceding (organising the dropped-off artwork, setting up the exhibition space, or supplying baked goods for the cake stall) or during the Friday night Gala Event or weekend (RSAs, coffee baristas, sales assistants, raffle and cake-stall sellers) and perhaps most importantly some tall strong people to help take down the exhibition walls on Sunday night, as well as, helpers post event for artwork collection Sunday night and Monday.

Please, please take a look at the sign-up sheet and volunteer. We can’t make this event a success without the help of our terrific APC parents. We know everyone is busy but 2 hours of your time would make such a difference and support the wonderful creativity of our students and larger community.

SIGN UP NOW via https://shorturl.at/atBDG Carolyn Menzies Art Show Volunteer Co-ordinator Our 2023 Art Show is proudly supported by:

www.albertparkcollegeartshow.com.au

04

STAFF AND STUDENTS

DENNIS SPEARHEADS NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO ATTRACT TEACHERS

A joint Australian, state and territory government initiative.

She thanked me for helping her finally enjoy maths.

Mr Wang, Year 10 Teacher, VIC

Who will you inspire?

BeThatTeacher.gov.au Authorised by the Australian Government, Capital Hill, Canberra.

The Federal Government has released a new advertising campaign to encourage people to consider a career in teaching.

Called “Be that teacher”, the campaign demonstrates how individual teachers can make a difference to young people’s lives while building a satisfying career for themselves.

You may have seen it on TV or in the newspapers.

Well, you’ll never guess! The exemplary teacher chosen to represent Victoria is our very own Dennis Wang.

You may have heard of Dennis via our students, who will tell you what a great STEM teacher he is, famous for his ability to get across scientific concepts and for getting away with wearing braces.

In Dennis’ ad, which you can watch here, he tells of how moved he was

after receiving a letter from a student telling how he helped her develop a love of maths. What an endorsement!

Dennis told us that he just loved getting letters like that. Who wouldn’t?

While chuffed to be chosen to represent Victorian teachers, Dennis said that really it could have been just about anyone from APC, as his colleagues all have the drive and sense of compassion needed for a career in teaching.

“We’ve all received letters like that!” he said.

APC teacher was chosen to represent Victoria.

“APC has a great staff culture, demonstrated by our outstanding results in the official teacher satisfaction surveys, which typically top the state," Steve said.

"That’s why we attract so many wonderful classroom professionals like Dennis.”

Dennis, who teaches Chemistry and Maths mostly, is a graduate from the University of Melbourne, where he majored in biology.

Dennis said he clicked immediately with the other teachers featured in the ad campaign, and that it was great meeting Prime Minister “Albo” and Education Minister Jason Clare.

Principal Steven Cook said it was fantastic but not surprising that an

DENNIS ABOVE (FOURTH FROM LEFT) WITH OTHER TEACHERS IN THE CAMPAIGN GET A SELFIE WITH THE PRIME MINISTER AND EDUCATION MINISTER JASON CLARE.

05

STAFF AND STUDENTS

EXPEDITION EXCITEMENT AS STUDENTS EXPLORE OUR FANTASTIC WORLD

BORNEO

FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND

APC’s fantastic camps and expeditions programs were back in full swing last term.

Year 9 students spread themselves far and wide, on expeditions to places as varied as outback Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef, the Grampians, South Australia and Borneo.

Year 10s travelled to Lord Somers camp where they had a great time participating in a variety of water activities and team-building exercises, including surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, raft building, African drumming, as well as barista and pizza making courses.

NEW ZEALAND

Year 8s went to New Caledonia as part of APC’s annual French immersion study tour while senior students went to Europe on an adventure that took in England, France, Belgium and Germany.

ABSORBING LANGUAGE AND CULTURE IN NEW CALEDONIA A group of 26 Francophiles from Year 8 headed off to New Caledonia for the final week of Term 3 to immerse themselves in French culture and also to learn about the indigenous CONTINUED NEXT PAGE

LORD SOMERS

06

SACRE COEUR, PARIS

cultures in the tropical paradise of New Caledonia.

In addition to their morning French classes at l’Institut Voltaire, students were able to put their French into action when ordering coconuts at the market, when speaking with staff at supermarkets and cultural centres and, of course, when chatting with their homestay families.

nights, they all came back to school each morning with exciting tales of new foods, new conversations and new experiences.

Special thanks to the five accompanying parents who also immersed themselves in French, with their own lessons and outings during the week.

Though many were nervous before heading off with their families for three NEW CALEDONIA

OUTBACK QUEENSLAND

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

07

STAFF AND STUDENTS

FINAL BREAKFAST FILLED WITH LAUGHTER AND MEMORIES It was a morning marked by heartfelt speeches and good food as our year 12s, their parents and their teachers came together for a final time before the start of exams.

There were plenty of laughs, and more than a little poignancy, as stories of the past six years were recounted at The Park restaurant overlooking Albert Park Lake.

As was tradition, students redesigned their uniforms with plenty of creativity and pizzazz, and classmates signed each other’s shirts and blazers with messages and decorations.

It was a fantastic morning, and parents and staff were filled with pride as they saluted the Class of 2023.

08

STAFF AND STUDENTS

DYNAMIC LEADERSHIP TEAM READY FOR 2024 APC would like to congratulate the 2024 leadership group, which was elected by the student body recently.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: AGNES McCALLUM, STERLING BAIRD, PHOENIX LACHAL AND AIDAN SINCLAIR

Sterling Baird and Agnes McCallum were elected college captains, and Aidan Sinclair and Phoenix Lachal were named college vice captains.

It was a typical APC student election campaign - fought with passion, good humour and creativity by all the candidates. Well done to everyone involved.

Almost 600 students cast their vote.

ATHS TEAM POWERS HOME IN STATE TITLES EWAN WITH TELSTRA REPRESENTATIVE JENNY AND PRINCIPAL STEVE COOK

A group of APC athletes competed in the Victorian Athletics Championships recently with some great results.

Congratulations to: •

GIANT LEAP FORWARD FOR EWAN Ewan Hanratty of 7D has taken the first step on his long journey to a career as a pilot or aeronautical engineer (he hasn’t quite made up his mind yet).

Representing his class, Ewan has won a special prize of a Microbits pack

(extremely useful for coding classes) for participating in the Telstra Foundation science Moonhack competition, which encourages students to develop a love of coding.

•

Telstra representative Jenny came along to present Ewan with the award for his photograph “A small step . . .” which shows Neil Armstong putting that first foot on the moon.

•

We thank Ewan’s mum, Pauline, a Telstra employee, for entering APC in the competition.

•

•

•

Oscar Woodhouse, 4th in the Boys 12-13 years 800m run and 4th in the Boys 12-13 years 1500m run.

Bridgette Williams, 3rd in the Girls 14 years 800m and 3rd in the Girls 14 years 1500m run.

Honour Tobin, 1st in the Girls 15 years 400m run and 1st in the Girls 15 years 800m run.

Adele Roche, 2nd in the Girls 14 years 400m run and 7th in the Girls 14 years long jump.

Millie Andrich, 5th in the Girls 14 years 1500m run.

Ruby Donaldson, 10th in the Girls 15 years 1500m run.

09

APC ALUMNI

SETTING HER SIGHTS ON A CAREER IN MEDICINE

SET FOROUGHI HAS IMPORTANT FAMILY REASONS TO WANT TO WORK IN THE MEDICAL FIELD

I COMPLETED VCE IN 2019. I didn’t really

know what I wanted to do at uni so I decided to do a variety of units in year 12, from history and drama, to biology and French.

YEAR 12 WAS STRESSFUL BUT A BLAST. As we all entered adulthood, that came heaps of fun and freedom but also massive responsibilities. I took a gap year to work and save money and started uni a year after.

BY THIS POINT I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO STUDY SCIENCE. I see myself in 10 years working in the medical field, either as a doctor or as a researcher, most likely in the field of cancer treatment. It’s a disease that I’ve lost dear family to.

I STAY IN TOUCH WITH APC , and did

alumni tutoring for a couple years but had to stop because on Tuesday

evenings I now play with an orchestra at uni.

I’m more than halfway through my degree and my days are getting more and more busy with uni, work, extracurricular activities and social life.

For me that was always playing the violin and reaching out to friends and family. You can study and be a lot more successful when your mind is in the right place. Good luck everyone and remember to have fun.

IF MR JACKSON STILL TEACHES BIOLOGY,

MY ADVICE TO ANYONE STUDYING VCE IS,

if you can do anything to help offload the stress of final year in a constructive manner, do it!

It’s really easy to fall into pits of hopelessness and apathy in year 12 but that’s when you have to stop and take care of yourself.

please thank him for putting up with my non-stop talking and tell him that I can write lab reports really well now!

Set studies at Monash University in Clayton.

JOIN OUR ALUMNI

10

STAFF AND STUDENTS

STUDENTS SLEEP ROUGH TO MAKE A POINT

A group of almost 20 students slept out at the Danks St campus earlier this month to raise money and awareness around the issue of youth homelessness.

School captains Alex Dahlberg and Molly Dalziel led the way, which included students from years 7-9.

REMINDER ABOUT SCHOOL SUPERVISION TIMES It’s important for parents to note that APC’s grounds are attended by school staff from 8.50am until 3.20pm.

Outside of these hours, school staff will not be available to supervise students and the supervision and/

The event was also supported by APC students who donated a gold coin as part of an out-of-uniform day to promote the event.

overnight, and to Sam and Bernard from Renatta (the APC canteen), who donated welcome breakfast items to the weary participants.

Thanks to staff Fiona Wright, Ryan Zhang and Joseph Hindi who volunteered to support the students

or the collection of students is the responsibility of parents.

Parents are requested to ensure that students do not attend school outside of these supervised times unless they are attending a pre-arranged supervised activity (i.e. sports practice).

Students who wish to attend school outside of these hours will be able to attend the library at the Danks Street campus or the Reading Room at the Liberal Arts Campus, which are open between 8.50am and 4.30pm.

Students must sign in and out of the Front Reception at the relevant campus when accessing these spaces outside of scheduled classes.

Our school’s Yard Duty and Supervision Policy can be viewed by contacting Reception and requesting a copy.

This policy includes our student supervision arrangements across the school day, including before and after school.

11

APC COMMUNITY

TESTING TIMES FOR ATHLETICS DRAWS NEAR The summer triathlon season is almost upon us and our APC Triathlon Academy athletes are looking forward to the test!

Dates for the 2XU Triathlon Series events in Elwood, Brighton, St Kilda and Sandringham have been locked in with six events between November and March.

Academy athletes will have the chance to race several times over different distances. Races range from 150m swim / 7km bike / 1.2km run, through to 300m swim / 13km bike / 3km run.

Academy athletes have been training regularly and growing their skills, strength and fitness over the year,

and will now get more specific as they approach their races.

As we come to the end of 2023, we will be opening up applications for new APC Triathlon Academy athletes to join in Term 1 next year. We are

looking for APC students who own a bike, can confidently swim 25m without stopping, and run a minimum of 2km.

Feel free to get in touch with Coach Sam if you are interested or have any questions at sam@ momentumendurancecoaching.com.au

TEACHERS FEEL DODGEBALL FURY What better to do on the last, ever day of school for the class of 2023 than destroy your teachers in a game of dodgeball?

This event is fast becoming a tradition, with its own history, including selfinflicted injuries by less-than-fit senior teachers.

The students, some dressed as superheroes and dinosaurs, once again gave no quarter to their outnumbered foes.

But the exchange was extremely friendly, and we are glad to report that this year no teachers ended up under the surgeon’s scalpel.

12

STAFF AND STUDENTS

STUDENTS PREPARE FOR THEIR PARIS VOYAGE The French Department at APC is thrilled that our exchanges are up and running in full force.

On 4 December, a dozen of our year-10 and year-11 French students will head off on a bon voyage to Paris and our sister school, Lycée Sainte Marie du Port, where they will live with host families and go to school for six weeks.

Quelle experience!

If your child is studying year-10 or year-11 French next year, then they are eligible to go on the 2024 exchange.

Express interest here.

Please note that, ideally, students going to France host a student from our sister school for approximately six weeks in July-August 2024 to ensure that this is truly an exchange.

BON COURAGE AUX EXAMENS In November, many of our French Immersion Program students will sit an exam from the French Ministry of Education, le DELF B2, to test their bilingualism. We wish them well.

VICTORIAN SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES French is the foreign language for all year-7 and year-8 students at APC, with a large number of students continuing

French through to VCE and the IB, where a language is compulsory.

We also encourage students to maintain family languages and to pursue additional language studies.

Parents and students are encouraged to look at the Victorian School of Languages website to explore the options.

Parents must complete enrolments for face-to-face classes, but APC needs to complete the enrolment application for distance learning.

Enrolments are now open and this year the VSL was fully booked

by December, so please fill in this

HANNAH LAWRENCE AND MATILDA LESTER (SECOND AND THIRD FROM LEFT), WHO HOSTED LYANA AND EMMA (HEAD OF THE TABLE) EARLIER THIS YEAR WILL BE ON EXCHANGE THIS SUMMER WITH THEIR ‘FRENCHIES’.

expression of interest promptly to avoid disappointment.

DON’T MISS NEW CALEDONIA DEADLINE Year-7 families, this is a reminder to fill in an Expression of Interest for your child (and you!) to join the 2024 New Caledonia French Immersion Study Tour.

If your child is currently in Year 8 and missed out on this opportunity, they still have the option of undertaking their Year 9 Da Vinci Expedition in New Caledonia. Please express interest here.

INFORMATION SESSIONS

HOLLY BUYS A COCONUT IN NOUMEA

On Friday, 17 November we will run parent and student information sessions for both the Paris and New Caledonia trips at the Danks St campus.

Sessions are: New Caledonia from 5.30pm-6pm.

France from 6.15pm-6.45pm.

13

STAFF AND STUDENTS

YEAR 10s SERVE UP A FINE DINING EXPERIENCE

The

ALBERT RESTAURANT MENU STARTER Organic Pumpkin soup with Garlic croutons and pepitas

MAIN Classic Kangaroo with chimmichurri sauce, Scallop potatoes and rocket pear parmesan salad

DESSERT Caramel and Apple upside cake with french vaniLLa icecreaM

Nicole Kelly Year 10 Food Studies class recently prepared a fine dining meal based around the themes of sustainability, seasonality and food waste.

Six lucky staff members who volunteered to be restaurant guests

were incredibly impressed with the quality and deliciousness of the food.

high-end restaurant that was nowhere near as good!” Very high praise.

As one staff member said after finishing their three-course meal, “I’ve paid lots of money for a meal at a

The Year 10s all worked together as a team to produce a meal of high quality.

Well done!

14

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

15

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Beach Warrior is a massparticipation obstacle event held on beaches across Australia, owned and operated by Surf Life Saving Australia and delivered by your local surf club.

With a range of challengingyet-fun obstacles set over grass, sand and surf, the uniquely Australian obstacle course is perfect for some family fun in the sun.

Beach Warrior South Melbourne will be set against the backdrop South and Port Melbourne beaches on the 25 November 2023, this is the most unique and exciting obstacle event Melbourne has ever seen.

KIDS (5-11) waves from 10.00am, 12+ and ADULT waves from 12 noon.`

16

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT MARTIKA.SHAKOORA@PORTPHILLIP.VIC.GOV.AU

17