TESTING TIMES
UNI PAYS TRIBUTE TO CARO AND APC
Senior teacher Caro Flood and Albert Park College were honoured with a special award at Melbourne University last week.
Caro and APC received the Partner Secondary School Excellence Award from the university’s Faculty of Education.
The award recognises outstanding commitment and collaboration in the delivery of professional experience and learning activities.
Caro co-ordinates the placement of the university’s student teachers
at APC and, under her guidance, the college has become the biggest provider of preservice teacher placements in Victoria.
In accepting the award, Caro (above)paid tribute to her colleagues who mentored student teachers throughout the year.
“Our staff continuously volunteer to supervise pre-service teachers, providing energy, encouragement and enormous professionalism,” Caro said. “It couldn’t happen without their support.”
“We are proud to play such an important role in nurturing and helping to shape the next generation of educators.”
Principal Steve Cook said he was delighted that Caro and the school had been recognised.
“Supporting emerging teachers is one of the most meaningful and important ways we can strengthen the future of our schools,” he said.
“We know that with great teachers comes great educational outcomes for our students.”
DON'T MISS OUR SENIOR YEARS EXPO
Students in Years 9 and aboveand their parents - cannot afford to miss the Senior Years Expo, which will take place on Thursday, July 24 at the Liberal Arts campus in Pickles St.
The Expo is an opportunity for students and parents to meet senior years teachers, ask questions and gain insights about the curriculum in Years 11 and 12.
There will also be a number of tertiary institutions available to talk to VCE & IB students about career pathways. A number of tertiary institutions will also give short presentations about their offerings.
What: Senior Years Expo
Where: Liberal Arts campus (Pickles St)
When: Thursday, July 24 (first week of Term 3)
Time: 1:15pm - 4:30pm • IMPORTANT DATES
WEDNESDAY 2 JULY
Semester 1 reports available
Inspire Group 2 departs for Europe
THURSDAY 3 JULY
Da Vinci Exhibition
5pm - 6.30pm 40 Bay St campus
FRIDAY 4 JULY
Last day of Term 3 Students dismissed at 12.14pm
MONDAY 21 JULY
Professional Development Day No formal classes
TUESDAY 22 JULY
First day of Term 3 for students
Year 10 into Year 11 Information evening 5.30pm - 6.30pm, Drama Space Danks St campus
ALPACCA Social Get Toegther (For parents after Year 10 information evening) 6.30pm
Cricketers Arms Hotel 69 Cruikshank St, Port Melbourne
THURSDAY 24 JULY
Senior Years Expo 1.15pm - 4.30pm Pickles St campus
FRIDAY 25 JULY
Secondhand uniform sale 8.30am - 9.30am Danks St campus courtyard
MONDAY 28 JULY – FRIDAY 1 AUGUST
Senior Snow Camp
SATURDAY 2 AUGUST
Year 6 into 7 SEAL testing Gymnasium, Danks St campus
COVER: STUDENTS SIT THE GENERAL ACHIEVEMENT TEST IN THE DANKS ST GYMNASIUM.
WELCOME TO EXAM TIME. INTENSE, STRESSFUL, BUT DEFINITELY REWARDING
It’s hard to describe exam time at APC.
If you’re a student, you would no doubt describe it as intense. Or challenging. Definitely stressful. And maybe even frightening.
But I would add one key word. Rewarding!
Recently more than 750 students in Years 10 to 12 sat for their end of semester exams. Not long after that, almost 500 Year 11 and 12 students sat the General Achievement Test, a statewide exam to measure each student’s progress against set standards.
Our end of semester exams are gruelling. Everything our Years 1012 students have learned over the past six months was put to the test under real VCE exam conditions.
That meant putting students in alphabetical rows, in full school uniform, watched over by attentive staff to ensure total focus on the tasks at hand.
Despite the silence, you could almost hear the hum of knowledge being transmitted from brain to pen and onto paper.
Doing well in exams takes serious practice. Preparing for an exam, marshalling your thoughts, and delivering accurate information under intense time pressure is a skill.
It’s why we make sure students learn this process from their first day in Year 10, and continue to refine their exam skills right through to VCE – the ultimate test.
Yes, it’s hard, but exam pressure forces your intellect to grow, and it develops the skills that students need to succeed at VCE, and in their careers.
I wish I was exposed to this style of learning when I was at high school.
I got to Year 12 without any formal exam practice at all. It was truly frightening that the very first exams we did were at the end of Year 12 – in the exams that counted the most!
Even now, I shudder when I remember how unprepared we were. But what’s the point of developing a culture of excellence, within a high-demand and challenging learning environment here at APC, if our students can’t reveal their creativity and innovation under the pressure of an exam?
What’s the saying? You need pressure to make diamonds!
I would like to congratulate all our students on how they responded so positively to the workload of the past few weeks. It bodes well for their next exams, whatever year they are in.
But successful learning and good exam marks is very much a wholeof-school partnership. So well done to our teaching and support staff, who did wonderful work to make every exam run so smoothly.
And a special thank you to all our incredible parents who bear the brunt of stressed students in exam mode.
By ensuring their kids are well fed, get appropriate sleep and have a safe environment to study and revise, parents will always make an important difference to the outcome.
To all our students and their families, have a great break. You deserve it. See you in Term 3.
Steven Cook Foundation Principal
STAFF AND STUDENTS
MUSICIANS STAGE A SHOWSTOPPER
How amazing are our talented student musicians!
The APC Annual Music Concert was held last week and was a massive success.
The concert was a showcase of styles and musical genres, and it held the large crowd on both nights at Memo Hall in St Kilda spellbound.
Almost 150 students took part, and they were ably supported by our incredible music staff.
Instrumental Music Coordinator
Alex Hansen described the concert as a celebration of the “boundless potential and remarkable growth of our talented students”.
The crowd agreed, giving each of the two shows rousing ovations as the curtain came down.
Alex also acknowledged the dedication of APC’s talented music teachers as well as APC’s music captains Saskia Chatfield and Will Lawrence, along with Performing Arts Captain Ivy Glenfield, who contributed so much to the success of the event.
Marshall White Port Phillip is the principal sponsor of APC’s major performing arts events, which includes the APC Musical. We are grateful to directors Oliver Bruce and Ben Manolitsas for their continuing support.
STAFF AND STUDENTS
YEAR 12 s DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY
It was the social event of the year as the Class of 2025 came together for their school formal.
Almost 250 Year 12 students attended the event, which was held at the Lakeside Pavilion at Albert Park Lake.
Everyone glammed up and looked a million dollars.
Following the food and speeches came the dancing. Lots of dancing!
More importantly, lots of forever memories were made.
ARTS WEEK 2025
STAFF AND STUDENTS
A WEEK WHERE ART RULED
We know the college is full of creativity, and APC’s Arts Week proved just how creative our students are.
More than 250 students took part in the week-long event, which gave everyone the opportunity to try their hand at a huge array of art styles - from drawing landscapes and creating collages, to trying their hand at delicate watercolours and fabric dyeing.
They threw down clay on potters’ wheels, tried their skills at marble printing, and also took part in excursions to The Lume.
Curiosity and creative thinking flourished as students delved into the science behind art, experimenting with cyanotype UV reactions, colourful chemical flames, and painting with acids and alkalis to produce mesmerising visual effects.
With a blend of artistry and care, students crafted stunning floral arrangements, ready to take home and infuse their spaces with natural beauty.
In a vibrant, hands-on session, students were also given the opportunity to collaborate with
Studio Hall artists to explore textile printing, 3D collage, comic drawing, storytelling, and photography skills.
And not to be outdone, APC staff were invited to enter their own creations at the APC Staff Art Show.
Students especially loved seeing their teachers’ artwork on display.
A special thanks to Create Visual CAT Leader Michelle Luckman and the entire CREATE team for putting together such an inspiring week of art activities.
GET SET FOR THE FLIGHT OF YOUR LIFE
Albert Park College presents 'STUCK!' The Musical.
It's Christmas Eve, and a plane full of eager passengers are ready to take off from Manhattan to Melbourne, but a missing pilot is holding everyone up from getting home for the holidays.
Flight Attendant Jenny is trying her best to manage the chaos until her ex-boyfriend and adored pilot Kyle shows up to save the day and win her back…
'Stuck!' takes audiences and passengers on a long, long, looooooong-haul adventure with dancing flight attendants, unforgettable songs and highflying moments. This is one flight you won't want to miss!
Written and performed by students at Albert Park College, 'STUCK!' is packed tighter than the overhead compartments with passengers and crew ready to share their stories.
The two-night show jets off on Thursday, July 31 at the National Theatre before coming into land on Friday, August 1.
Pack your bags and get your tickets ready because this chaotic Christmas flight is taking off!
Marshall White Port Phillip is the principal sponsor of APC’s major performing arts events, which includes the APC Musical. We are grateful to directors Oliver Bruce and Ben Manolitsas for their continuing support.
PARENTS SHIMMER AND SHINE
More than 160 aliens, astronauts and assorted space dwellers descended on Bells Hotel recently for the annual APC gala.
The Intergalactic affair was a shimmering hit, as parents danced, shimmered and moonwalked the night away to some great parent bands.
APC parent and media personality
Kate Langbroek had the unenviable task of choosing the Best Dressed, while Marshall White directors Oliver Bruce and Ben Manolitsas pushed the parents to dig deep and snap up major live auction items.
As well as being a load of fun, the event raised more than $10,000 for the school.
A massive thank you to the hardworking ALPACCA committee, led by co-presidents Ruth Allen and Anna Vermooten, and our incredible sponsors who donated products and services for the night.
Click here to see more fabulous photos from the big night.
A WINTER WARMER
Albert Park College's annual LitFest will take place on August 22-23.
The Danks St campus library will again play host to a midwinter celebration of the written word, with a range of exciting interviewees coming to discuss their work with the school community.
This year’s line-up features Tony Birch (Dark as Last Night, Women & Children, The White Girl), Marija Peričić (Foreign Country, The Lost Pages), singer-songwriter
Ella Thompson (Ripple on the Wing, Domino), and poet Connor Weightman (Five Hundred Swimming Pools).
Liberal Arts captains Amalia Mueller and Kiara Gibson will also launch the annual APC Anthology, showcasing exemplary writing from students across the college.
As ever, LitFest will be accompanied by Albert Park Rotary Club’s book fair. Thousands of pre-loved books - including bestsellers and classics, and a
huge range of genres - will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting the college and the community.
LitFest tickets and workshop signups will be available from July 21.
Marshall White Port Phillip is the principal sponsor of APC’s major performing arts events, which includes LitFest. We are grateful to directors Oliver Bruce and Ben Manolitsas for their continuing support.
AUTHOR DENNIS GLOVER AT LAST YEAR’S LITFEST
PET SHOW LIFTS SPIRITS
BEST DRESSED
Louie (submitted by Luka Tembeleski)
When the days are cold and the weather is bleak, what better way to put a smile on the dial of everyone at school than with a pet competition?
That was the thinking of the Library team, who invited the college to enter photos of their pet in APC’s Virtual Pet Show recently.
There were a range of categories to choose from, such as Cutest Pet, Best Dressed, Animals That
ANIMALS THAT THINK THEY'RE HUMAN Lilypad Padpad Padman (submitted by Jackson Dahlenburg)
CUTEST PET AND PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD
Bailey (submitted by Amelie Kaye)
Think They’re Human, and Most Useless Guard Pet.
Dozens of proud pet owners took up the challenge and it was left to the Library team to whittle down contenders in each category before a shortlist was put to students in a live vote.
Well done to the winning owners and their pets, who now have APC bragging rights – at least until the next Pet Show!
SENIOR CITIZENS AWARD
Howie (submitted by Felicity Stewart)
MOST USELESS GUARD PET
Crustle the hermit crab (submitted by Eddie Spalding)
YEAR 7s LEARN ABOUT LIVING OFF THE LAND
Students in 7E and 7F visited CERES Environmental Park recently.
The students participated in CERES’ sustainable living program where they learn about things such as growing their own food, propagating seeds, companion planting and bush food.
CYBER GURUS ALMOST CRACK THE CODE
A team of five APC students finished 10th in the Australian School Cyber Security Challenge recently.
Their challenge involved breaking through a virtual server protected by layers of increasingly complex defences.
More than 50 teams from schools across the country took part, and were given four weeks to see how deep into the server they were able to go.
With the clock ticking, the team - Year 8 student Gilbert Albanis, Year 9s Joy Chea, Max Ilett and Ethan Dearing, and Year 12 student Vihaan Dowwray - met regularly to crack the codes thrown at them.
They didn’t make it all the way before time ran out, but they came oh so close.
Steve Jobs would have been proud!
OUR STUDENT VOICE COMMENDED IN NATIONAL COMPETITION
Albert Park College has received a Highly Commended award in a national competition celebrating schools with a strong student voice.
The competition is run by the Australia Council for Student Voice, the national peak body to promote and empower students to advocate for themselves.
School captain Sophia Amin (above), who led the submission, described the award as “a phenomenal feat
by our 2025 student leadership cohort!”
APC entered the Student Voice Impact Award, and its submission focused on the college’s Sustainability Sub-Committee, an arm of the school council that brings together students, staff and the wider community together to discuss projects on how to advance environmental goals.
“We highlighted the ‘walk and wheel program’, which extended a single ride-to-school day into an entire month of activities in order to embed long-term, sustainable and healthy habits into our junior students,” Sophia said.
You can read the submission and watch the video on the ACSV website
If you want to get involved in APC’s sustainability subcommittee, email sustainability@ albertparkcollege.vic.edu.au
TEAMS ARGUE THEIR WAY TO THE TOP
GABRIELLE SCULLY AND BAILEY SANJANA HAVE SWEPT ALL BEFORE THEM IN D GRADE
The 2025 Senior Debating Competition has come to a close, and APC wrapped up the season on a high note with impressive wins from both our D Grade and B Grade teams.
In D Grade, the team of Arian Sadri, Bailey Sanjana and Gabrielle Scully, argued the negative side of the topic “That We Should Make the Australian Census Optional.”
MATHS CHAMPS TAKE ON THE WORLD
The next generation of APC maths whizzes are proving to be among the best in Australia.
Some of our Year 7 and Year 8 maths students have competed in several online maths challenges against students from across the country and received a number of awards.
By clearly explaining the importance of mandatory participation in ensuring accurate data and the social benefits that flow from it, the team secured a narrow but well-deserved onepoint victory.
A special congratulations to Gabrielle Scully, who was named Best Speaker with an impressive 77 points.
Year 7 student Troy Ganguly (right) achieved an APC first by getting 100 per cent in one competition to receive an Excellence award, while fellow Year 7 student Elliot Goodman received a High Distinction and two Distinctions for his performances.
Year 8 students David Goh (two Distinctions), Lennox James (High Distinction and Distinction) and Jordan Woolf-Singh (High Distinction and Distinction) also did extremely well. The competitions were run by the Australian Maths Trust.
The students are part of the APC Maths Academy, which meets before school twice a week to have some maths fun.
Our D grade team got off to a ripping start to the season with back to back wins, followed by two narrow losses. This third win was a great way to end the season. In B Grade, the team took part in a secret topic round, with just one hour to prepare without access to the internet or any electronic devices—no small feat!
The topic was “That We Should Change the Australian National Anthem Every 50 Years.”
Finlay Grapes, Olivia Watson and Kanha Pala delivered a thoughtful case, arguing that Australian values and natural landscapes do not change on a fixed schedule and that forced change undermines unity and national identity.
Their arguments prevailed, earning them a win, and Finlay Grapes was named Best Speaker. Our junior debating program for Years 7 and 8 kicks off in August. Stay tuned for updates and results!
The academy was created to “inspire kids and extend their maths understanding in a fun environment”, said academy leader and senior maths teacher Andy Robinson.
“There are no text books,” Andy said. “It’s all about fun, experiencing the joy of maths and problem solving.”
LUCIE'S PERFECT POETRY SCORE
We are thrilled to announce that Year 7 student Lucie Kitzis (above) has been nominated as a finalist in the prestigious statewide French poetry competition, le Concours Berthe Mouchette, after receiving a perfect score on her presentation.
Congratulations to everyone at APC who participated.
In the bilingual and non-bilingual categories, APC students did extremely well at each year level.
Finally, congratulations to all students in year 7-10 French classes who worked hard this term to memorise and recite French poetry, which has built their knowledge of culture, pronunciation and, very importantly, their capacity to memorise information.
Félicitations.
QUELLES DÉLICES!
To celebrate French National Day which takes place during the holidays (14 July), the LOTE leaders have organised a Crêpes Délices to come to APC on Tuesday 29 July and Thursday 31 July so students can practise their French and order a $7 crêpe.
All students studying French will be allocated a time during classes to enjoy a crêpe while other students will be able to order during recess and lunchtime.
Bon appétit!
A CLASS ACT
As part of the APC library program, our librarians recently organised an excursion for our Year 7 English classes to the Albert Park Library.
The library’s youth programs coordinator, Betty Buhagiar, took the students through an induction session to show them the great
STAFF AND STUDENTS
resources available, as well as the youth programs they run. The students also took part in a game of library bingo!
We encourage all students to sign up for a library card and take advantage of the extensive resources our local libraries have on offer.
OUR MUSOS CAPTIVATE THE CROWDS
If you were lucky enough to get to the Annual Port Melbourne Music Crawl, you would have bumped into plenty of APC staff and students.
Teacher Emilee South and her band were there, electrifying the crowds, while student Leif Weingott’s passionate vocals charmed everyone.
It was a huge success, and thank you to the APC community who attended and supported their friends. MANSPLAINERS IN
Mansplainers were also there. Pumping out their captivating indie rock were students James Keating and Lucy Ellenberger, along with APC alumni Matilda Lester and Libby Homer.
ROTARY FINDS GOLD IN THEIR LOVE OF BOOKS
A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE ROTARY CLUB OF ALBERT PARK AND APC HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS. ROTARY CLUB MEMBER KEN HALL EXPLAINS
Collecting and selling pre-loved books began more than 23 years ago when the Rotary Club of Albert Park held its first weekend sales at Albert Park Primary School.
It raised more $20,000.
Since then, our book sales have raised more than $850,000 with a great deal of the money donated to those in need in our community.
We help charities
As well as that, thousands of books have been donated to Reading Out Of Poverty, a children’s charity program, and 1, 2, 3 Read 2 Me, a charity which distributes books to younger readers in Australia and overseas.
New children’s books are also donated and we give these to Hope In A Suitcase, which puts together suitcases for children entering foster care.
A large number of text books donated by Albert Park College each year are sent to students in Vanuatu.
Due to the sheer volume of books that we receive, APC is critical to our success because it provides space in the Danks St library so we can sort and distribute books. Thank you to principal Steve Cook for his generosity.
For their support, we give APC a percentage of all sales which it uses to purchase E Books and literacy programs. We also give the college text books and novels that they think useful, and I estimate we have provided more than $250,00 worth of reading material.
The process
We have collection bins at Albert Park Library and Port Melbourne
Library where people drop off their pre-loved books.
These are collected by our volunteers and taken to APC where they are sorted, priced and distributed by the club’s wonderful volunteers.
Books of possible value are checked on the booksites ABE books and Addall.
If a book is valued in excess of $50 we list it on ABE which where it is viewed by potential customers world-wide.
We recently sold a John Olsen book for $750, and a Sheila Hicks book on weaving for $500. Many other titles have sold for between $200 and $400. These online sales alone amounted to just under $25,000, and we
have more than 2000 books listed on ABE book site.
Two years ago ,Albert Park Rotary opened a book shop in Wharf St at Docklands.
The shop has already turned over more than $200,000 in sales and is considered one of the best (if not the best) second-hand preloved book shops in Melbourne with books starting from just $2.
A number of books are also sold through a dealer at Victoria Market and a dealer in Northcote with commissions coming back to us.
A great way to raise money With the right system and volunteers, books can be a valuable source of income for any Rotary Club.
But more so it is an enjoyable way of raising funds. There are very few ways to raise money of this value consistently.
At APC we currently have six volunteers to collect books, sort and grade, check possible value, and then collate and distribute.
We also distribute a large quantity of free books to various outlets such as Melbourne Central ,where there is a free book stand set up for people to take a book home free of charge.
In all my 23 years of involvement I have never found book sorting boring. If anything, the chance of finding a book of real value gives me and the other volunteers a sense of fulfilment and immense satisfaction.
If you have any pre-loved books that you feel you no longer need, they can be left at reception at APC or the collection bins at Port Melbourne and Albert Park libraries.
If a Rotary Club has access to a shop for sales, books handled correctly can be a valuable and enjoyable source of income.
If any club is interested with what we do and would like assistance in starting their own book shop, contact me at ken.hall1942@gmail.com
APC Book Club
Term 3.1 2025
Albert Park College is excited to invite students, their families and our broader community to take part in APC’s Book Club The APC Book Club will run twice a term in the College’s Library at the Danks Street campus Light refreshments will be provided OUR BOOK WILL BE
How to Dodge Flying Sandals by Daniel
Nour
Meet Daniel Egyptian and Australian; loud and painfully awkward; conservative and very confused (especially about other boys) He's never quite pulled off normal, but 'not-normal' is where the best stories are. Now he's made his peace with that and is ready to share his wisdom. Told as a series of snapshots from Daniel's life–from 'How to Be Born' to 'How to Die' and everything in between–this is a sharply funny tale of culture, family and trying, but not always managing, to come of age.
At turns wildly absurd, sharply insightful and disarmingly heartfelt, How to Dodge Flying Sandals and Other Advice for Life is a fresh take on growing up in Australia
6 August 6pm to 7pm
The Avenue Book Store on Dundas Place stocks the novel Please consider purchasing your copy of the novel at The Avenue Albert Park College now has an Avenue Bookstore Frequent Buyer account When purchasing books, cards and/or gift vouchers simply mention you’re part of the Albert Park College community and 10% of your purchase will turn into credit the library can spend Every purchase can accumulate ‘points’ and every $250 spent, the library will receive a $25 voucher.
