Exeat Update
The College’s Exeat program is nearly finished for the current year. After the recent Year 6 Exeat program, the Year 5 students will soon make their way to Sovereign Hill, while the Year 8’s will be the final group to participate in Exeat later in the year, in the Grampians.
Exeat is a crucial part of a student’s educational journey at the College, as it provides opportunities for growth beyond the traditional classroom setting. The programs are founded on the College’s values, and they challenge students to develop in various ways.
The Year 6 Exeat program successfully accomplished this goal, with students engaging in a range of activities. We extend our gratitude to the leaders and educators whose unwavering support is integral to the success of these programs.
Pictured below: Year 6 Exeat adventures
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The opportunities for students in the Middle School to connect through experiences have continued to grow as the year goes on. It is so pleasing to see students from across the College embrace the amazing opportunities that are presented to them each and every day, whether that be through engaging learning experiences in the classroom or through activities that are connected to the curriculum.
This term we have seen our Year 8 students engage with activities through the Live4Life community initiatives where they have not only learnt about strategies to improve their mental health, but supplemented this learning with activities in the local area. Groups engaged in excursions that involved bushwalking, golf clinics, lawn bowls, swimming and fitness in an effort to connect their understanding about mental wellbeing with their own physical wellbeing.
Our Year 7 students were lucky enough to share a day with Monga and Fitina who shared their experiences of living in the Congo and Tanzania before journeying to Shepparton in their childhood. Their experiences highlighted the real-life experiences of those who have faced challenges in Africa around conflict and lack of water, forming a connection with the students’ Encounter studies.
In Year 6, our young people ventured to Rawson Village in Gippsland to undertake their Exeat experience. The early reports from their time away include the excitement of the zipline, the climbing wall and mountain biking around the local area.
In speaking with some Year 5 students this week, one highlight in recent times has been a focus on friendships in their Thrive sessions. The students mentioned that they have been interested to learn about how to better foster relationships with their peers and how to tackle some of the challenges that often arise in social situations.
Bunjil Trophy
Our Middle School House competitions continue as students strive to win the inaugural presentation of the Bunjil Trophy. Throughout the term students have competed in netball, soccer, T-ball, volleyball, music and drama, earning points for their Houses and sharing in some truly enjoyable experiences. It was also fantastic to see the enthusiasm and connection that flourished at House Cross Country, with students from across the College cheering each other on as they navigated the landscape of Woodend Campus.
Mr Rob Jenkins Head of Middle School
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“Alone we are strong, together we are stronger.”
The second term has already been busy, with the Senior school students developing a solid understanding of expectations, tasks and requirements. As a school, I have discussed my focus on respect with the students, for themselves, those around them and our College environment.
The Students in Year 11 have prepared for and attended the College ball, which is the one opportunity in the life of students at the College; they can celebrate with extended family attending. The students presented themselves beautifully last Friday evening, and I know they made their parents proud. The Year 12 students also celebrated their formal, with the experience of stepping outside the busy demands of school and focusing on spending time with friends and their cohort, making memories within their final year of schooling. I thank the Year 11 and 12 students and their families for their flexibility and support around these events. In addition, students in Years 9 and 10 have attended incursions and planning for the Year 9 City week, and Year 10 work experience is well underway. These events provide valuable lessons, learning experiences and memories for the senior school students during their time at the College.
Student voice and initiatives are also well underway, with the students and leaders within the Senior school working on various projects and focus groups, including inclusion and wellbeing planning, mental health focus and supports such as the weekly walking group, push-up challenges or antibullying campaigns and sporting competitions also.
Within the next few weeks, Senior school students will also begin planning for their Semester 2 subjects, and students in Years 9 to 11 may choose to change subjects should they no longer wish to complete their previously selected subjects. Detailed information will be provided to students about their subjects, and I encourage parents and guardians to have positive conversations about the student’s academic planning, progress and goals. I look forward to the remainder of the term.
Stockdale trophy
The introduction of the Stockdale trophy has been fantastic in bringing together the College houses and students across the Senior School. Student leaders have worked with their Houses to each develop and lead an activity or task they can complete during. These House events have included high student participation, with students working collectively with broader cohorts demonstrating their active support, participation, enthusiasm of each other and encouragement shown at these events, keenly noticed.
The events completed thus far have included the hotly contended paper plane competition, using recycled paper to design and participate in, or the recent Art Wars, where houses ‘battled’ with other houses to complete selected art themes and projects for an ultimate Art winner. Other upcoming events include talent shows, digital games, sporting activities and Just Dance-offs, to name a few competing to take the first Senior school Stockdale trophy. The wide variety of events led by student leaders promote positive relationships and demonstrate our students’ vast skills and abilities.
Ms Lisa Fritz Head of Senior School
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Orienteering - The Victoria Cup
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The World Health Organisation (WHO), defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Further, WHO defines wellbeing as “a state in which an individual can realise their own potential, cope with normal daily stresses, work productively, and contribute to their community.” Therefore, being well, is not just about good health, it is the ability to function well in all aspects of our lives.
Making choices surrounding one’s wellbeing involves SKILLS that are developed through KNOWLEDGE and SELF-AWARNESS, along with COMMUNITY SUPPORT. Valuing the essential worth and potential for growth in all individuals, the treatment of all individuals with respect and dignity, diversity, inclusion, and equity in the pursuit of social justice, communication that is open, honest and direct and the powerful role of education in all our work will create a purposeful, safe setting to support our students understanding of themselves, their role within the school community, and the beginnings of their journey to be agents of change and active contributors in life beyond the College.
At Braemar College, a young person’s journey is one of self-discovery, unearthing who they are or wish to become, their passions and purpose for learning and life. A focus, in all learning spaces, on the development of the capabilities necessary to thrive, contribute and respond positively to challenges in an environment that allows them to achieve their full potential is at the heart of this journey. The ability to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviours effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations is a key competency in any one person’s life. This includes the capacities to delay gratification, manage stress, and feel motivation and agency to accomplish personal and collective goals.
Learning to manage oneself, being able to be responsible and play an active role in advancing one’s own wellbeing, by understanding and integrating all the dimensions of wellbeing into their lives: physical, social, emotional, spiritual, environmental, intellectual, occupational, and financial, sets one up to achieve their full potential.
A Well-Being Wheel, like this one from the University of New Hampshire, offers a holistic way of considering wellbeing and is a excellent tool to check in with oneself. It allows greater understanding of what is going well and what may be challenging in the moment.
We can think of wellbeing as a wheel with separate spokes and each spoke is critical for the wheel to keep turning. This perspective allows us to see how these “spokes” are interconnected and contribute to the quality of life we live. Learning to build the habit of a regular check in with the well-being wheel into our routines and adjust when necessary, will allow us to thrive while continuing to discover the best version of ourselves.
Mrs Emma Grant Dean of Wellbeing and Culture
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
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- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Braemar College will once again be participating in the world-renowned ICAS competition this year. ICAS is an opt-in, online academic competition that is designed to assess students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in a range of areas.
This year, we are offering participation in the English, Mathematics and Science tests for students in Years 5 – 10.
Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.
How to participate in ICAS
If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please:
1. read about ICAS subjects and prices here
2. read the terms and conditions here
3. go to Parent Portal to purchase tests here
4. enter our school’s access code – SQQ714
5. enter your child’s details, select the tests you would like to purchase, then proceed to payment.
After payment is made via the Parent Payment System, you will receive an order confirmation email, please keep this for your records.
The final date to sign up is Monday July 31, and the tests will take place in mid to late August.
We are proud to offer ICAS and look forward to some fantastic results later in the year. Please do not hesitate to contact me at e.ryan@braemar.vic.edu.au if you have any questions or require assistance.
Ms Emily Ryan Dean of Learning and Teaching
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With the recent Coronation we were reminded of how essential music is to creating a sense of occasion, and how it is used in life’s big moments. If you happened to watch the Coronation, can you imagine what it might have been like if there had been no musical performances? This event reminded us about how music expresses ideas and emotions in a way words cannot, and accommodates and celebrates diversity. Music unites and creates interactions between the generations and between differing cultures. At Braemar College, music is present at all our occasions of gathering, and student performances are central to creating a sense of occasion.
Students learning music at the school helped celebrate the Parents and Friends’ Mothers’ Day afternoon tea with performances throughout the afternoon. This beautifully presented and catered afternoon was enhanced by the performances of Ari Scheltema (piano), Matthew McKay (piano), Cameron Shumack-Smith (piano), Edie Bruce (guitar), Chloe, Joe and Amelia Evans (Corn on the Cob Band), and the Middle School String Ensemble with Julia Sykes, Eloise Carden, Lauren Ho and Lucy Sykes. Well done to all who were involved in this beautiful afternoon celebrating Mothers, and to our fabulous musicians!
This term our new instrumental music tutors have joined the Braemar music team, and lessons are now underway. I would like you to meet…
Maddison Carter, drum kit and tuned percussion
Maddison is a percussionist, drummer, and composer. He has performed nationally and internationally with the likes of Nat Bartsch, Eugene Ball, Andrea Keller and Tamara Murphy, and works across the art music spectrum from free jazz to minimalism, as well as in folk, West African and pop genres. He has written commissions for the Victorian Youth Symphony Orchestra and Beautiful Fragments project, and has taught percussion and drum kit throughout Victoria for many years.
Edwina Cordingley, ’cello
Edwina was a full scholarship holder for three years at the Australian National Academy of Music, where she studied under Howard Penny. After a brief interlude trekking around South America for six months, Edwina moved to the United Kingdom to further her studies and perform. She studied Baroque cello in Edinburgh with David Watkin before moving down to London when she was awarded an apprenticeship with Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Edwina went on to tour Europe with Sir John in his ensembles, The English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique, and to perform and tour Europe as Principal Cello for The Gabrieli Consort and Players. Back in Australia Edwina plays with many wonderful ensembles and musicians both baroque and modern, and loves teaching the next generation of players.
Jacob McGuffie, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and double bass
Jacob McGuffie is a Macedon Ranges based guitarist and music teacher. He studied improvisation at the Victorian College of the Arts and tours and records regularly in the Jazz, Folk, Pop and Country genres. Recordings that Jacob has played on have been nominated and shortlisted for ARIA, AIR, Victorian Independent Country and Golden Guitar awards and are heard regularly on radio stations such as JJJ, ABC National, PBS, RRR, 4ZZZ, FBi and Stereo 974.
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Charlotte Ryssenbeek, violin and viola
Charlotte studied in Brisbane with Elizabeth Morgan, and then attended the Aspen Music Festival as a student of Dorothy DeLay. She also obtained a Masters in violin performance with Bill Hennessy at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. During that time and until now, Charlotte has performed with the Queensland, Melbourne and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, and has had an extensive freelance career. She has taught privately, and in many private schools in Melbourne, and tutored at the Riverina Summer School for Strings. She currently performs with Orchestra Victoria.
Tiffany Speight, voice
Helpmann Award winner Tiffany Speight’s performance career has been extensive across multiple art forms with her main body of work in the opera/classical/music theatre genres and across Australasia and Europe. As Program Director (2019-2022) for Opera Scholars Australia, a youth-based vocal development program, her main focus was on vocal/ mental health, strong technique, and facilitating performance opportunities appropriate to the student’s development.
A reminder to support the restaurant nights and lunches, and to put these dates in your diary. These provide another important opportunity for music students to practise their performance skills in the very beautiful and intimate surrounds of Jackson Hall and for the College community to unite and mix. Bookings are necessary and they do sell out!
The Woodend Winter Arts Festival (WWAF) is just around the corner on the King’s Birthday long weekend 9-12 June. Events kick off here at Braemar with two school incursions: Japanese Drummers performing for the Middle School, and former Chief Scientist Alan Finkel addressing Years 11 and 12.
WWAF’s Fireworks display this year will be to synchronised music and with more free entertainment. Saturday night includes an outdoor art projection display of local artist Mary Larnach Jones’s artwork on the significant heritage buildings of High St Woodend, and there will be a marathon of choirs from across Victoria. All for free for our local community to embrace and celebrate the arts.
Braemar College is hosting an old favourite – bringing the remarkable Scotch College Orchestra back to the school with national treasure Max Gillies as narrator, to perform Peter and the Wolf at Heyward Hall on Monday 12 June. Bus transportation will be provided by Organs buses. Again this event is part of WWAF’s school education program, which has been running with the Festival since its inception in 2004.
Oh and if you like Handel’s Zadok the Priest — performed in every Coronation since 1727 and the music to which the Australian Danish Princess Mary walked up the aisle — you can hear it performed live here in Woodend as part of the Woodend Winter Arts Festival — Music for the King. See details at https://woodendwinterartsfestival.org.au/
Yours, with good vibrations,
Dr Jacky Ogeil Director of Music
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Ours Students entertained the guests at the recent Parent & Friends’ High Tea
Mr Russell Deer Principal
Ms Grace Vandenham
Mr Sam Allen
Ms Belinda Taylor
Mr Josiah Garisto
Ms Grace Vandenham Library Technician
Lulu Harding absent from group photo
