Ringwood Secondary College Year Book 2025

RINGWOOD 2025

PRINCIPAL’S Report

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” —

Nelson Mandela

As we reflect on the year that was, 2025 stands out as a time of remarkable growth and achievement at Ringwood Secondary College. Our diverse community has flourished with the arrival of new students and staff, each bringing their own energy, enthusiasm and commitment to excellence.

Our teaching staff have embraced the year’s professional learning focus on differentiation with dedication and collaboration. Working in teams, they’ve developed strategies to engage students at their individual levels, ensuring that every learner is challenged and supported. Through Professional Learning Teams, educators have honed their skills in delivering dynamic lessons aligned with our Teaching and Learning model. This shared commitment to differentiated instruction has been evident across classrooms and professional development sessions alike.

Our students have continued to impress with their passion and involvement in a wide array of extracurricular activities.

The Student Representative Council (SRC), guided by our impressive senior leaders, coordinated a range of events. Additionally, students participated in the Duke of Edinburgh Program, music ensembles, sports teams, arts exhibitions, theatrical productions, work experience, open nights, academic competitions, camps and excursions.

The performing arts and sports programs have once again shone brightly. Our production of Little Shop of Horrors and man-eating plant captivated audiences, and the music gala once again highlighted the extensive musical talents of our students. On the sporting front, our students represented the college with pride at local, regional, state, and international levels.

To the 2025 student cohort-thank you for your unwavering commitment to our values of Respect, Resilience and Achievement. You’ve grown, persevered, and accomplished so much. To our Year 12 graduates, I wish you every success in the journey ahead. Your unity and care for one another have been truly inspiring.

To our dedicated staff - your tireless efforts in creating a nurturing and challenging learning environment have made a lasting impact. Your work is deeply valued by students, families and the wider community.

And to our College Council parent representatives and all families - thank you for your loyal support. Your partnership in education continues to shape the future of our students in meaningful ways.

Wishing everyone a safe, joyful and restorative holiday season!

Rosina Fotia

PRINCIPAL

ASSISTANT Principals

As the school year ends, I would like to reflect on the remarkable achievements of our school community in 2025. It has been a year of connection, leadership and learning and a year where our strength in working in teams has paid dividends.

The Wellbeing team at Ringwood Secondary College remains committed to supporting students thrive in the school environment. Their services during the day and the clubs and activities they provide during lunchtime continue to ensure that every student has the opportunity to be listened to, to be socially connected, to be engaged in inclusive activities and find their passions and people in the school environment. I am incredibly proud of the work that the Wellbeing team does in providing a nurturing environment which supports our values of Resect, Resilience and Achievement. Many students in the graduating class of 2025 would have had some level of contact with members of the Wellbeing team and I know that students are grateful for their presence during their formative years.

The portfolio of Student Leadership has gone from strength to strength at the college. As I’m writing this article for the yearbook, we have just announced the Head, Deputy Head and Prefects for 2026 to the great excitement of the year level. We have great faith in student ability to represent the college by elevating student voice and be model citizens for the community. The students will be working as a student leadership team, led by Mr Declan Trounson, to make the experience of schooling for their peers the best it can be. This year’s prefects and school leaders have shown themselves to be exemplary in their portfolios. Our student leaders have organised year level and whole school activities to bring positive change and a great community spirit. I am excited about the transformative power of teamwork in the student leadership area.

The Senior School team is composed of dedicated co-ordinators who thrive in

working with Year 11 and 12 students. Whether the students are pursuing VCE or VCE Vocational Major, the team strives to strengthen student experiences by providing them with the most optimal learning environment. The year level assemblies, the Bounce lessons, the incursions and excursions, engagement with hands on learning, workplace experiences and community projects have all contributed to the knowledge, skills and growth of our VCE students. The team is so proud during Valedictory evening to call out each student’s name and present them with a certificate and to also acknowledge outstanding end of year results in subjects.

A small team of three staff upholds the International Programme at the college. The popularity of Ringwood Secondary College as a school of choice for the international community continues to extend into the future and the team of staff who support students to embrace school life in Australia is to be commended. It is not by chance that students acclimatise and integrate quickly into the school year but by the efforts of the staff members who ensure that the transition into their new school is as seamless as possible. The Music Association is a team of dedicated parents and staff whose love of music brings them together to plan events, undertake fundraisers to secure funding for instruments and listen to their children play music. A Ringwood Secondary College assembly has always had the presence of music to create a mood, to show off excellence and to celebrate special occasions. The Music Association builds connections between our college and families, contributing to a warm and inviting school culture.

While I play my role in each of the above teams, perhaps the most profound teams I am involved in are the leadership teams at our college. From the Leading Teachers, Learning Specialists, Sub school managers and the Executive team, I work with colleagues who have a clear vision, direction and structure and who make informed decisions that align with student needs and the college values. A strong leadership team inspires commitment from all and confidence to advocate for the best education our students can get and deserve during their time with us. It is a privilege to be a team member of this college in 2025.

Eleni Stathatos ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

O wad some Pow’r the

To see oursels as ithers see us!

In his famous quote, Robert Burns urges us to see ourselves as others see us; a task that helps us absorb feedback and builds our empathy. Whilst this can be challenging, as I reflect and think about how Ringwood Secondary could view itself, I am heartened by all that we have achieved this year.

Reviewing our curriculum has taken us into developmental rubrics, which are a mechanism to support consistent grading, support comparable experiences across classes and create a common language of learning.

We are early in this work, but so far our students have articulated much of the power of this review tool; it helps create a checklist for improvement, enables students to take charge of their learning and ultimately, reduces confusion.

This tool will continue to be used to help us stimulate stronger student learning engagement, facilitate differentiation and ultimately propel learning growth.

At Middle School, the team has continued to focus on building more resilient students who meet challenges with rigour and courage.

Work experience, after school study catch up, exams, class visits, Morrisby testing, city experience, Tomorrow Man and Woman… all these experiences are designed to help our students step toward their adult selves with greater confidence and pride.

So much work and care is put into the planning of these important events and I thank all the teams of staff who plan and deliver these rich programs.

Parent Connect continued to meet throughout the year and 2025 had a strong focus on building resilience.

There were sessions exploring how to better understand and address anxiety

giftie gie us

and on improving concentration in an age of distraction. I know that I get so much from these events and am always heartened by our shared ambitions and values.

With the government’s rightful focus on addressing the scourge of racism, we can say that at Ringwood Secondary College, we proudly push ourselves to call out such divisive behaviour out and educate our community to confront division and champion connection.

At assemblies and in Bounce lessons across the school, we reflected on the importance of unconditional respect for everyone ultimately builds a flourishing community.

Respect enables everyone to feel safe and valued. It builds an atmosphere of connection, compassion and tolerance. It’s an antidote to hatred that seeks to divide or see others as a threat. Such a community generates connected, hopeful and curious people who know themselves and champion others.

Whilst we are not there yet, we continually strive to be, and, with this aspiration fuelling our actions, we will be better. I for one am confident that Robert Burns would also be impressed by RSC’s acheivements in 2025.

Working closely with the Junior School has been an honour and so rewarding during 2025.

Congratulations to our Year 7 students for successfully making the transition from primary to secondary school and to our Year 8 students for successfully completing their junior school studies and now looking forward to the challenges awaiting them in the Middle School.

A huge thank you to our dedicated Junior Sub-school team for making this year so positive and successful: Ms Mahoney (Head of Junior School), Ms Kazakis and Mr Ward (Year 7 coordinators) and Ms Blaney, Mr Taylor and Mr Smith (Year 8 coordinators).

It was fantastic to see so many of our junior school students take advantage of the opportunities available to them at our great school.

Highlights for me included the Junior School Academic Awards ceremony in August and the year level assemblies where the academic merit awards were distributed recognising the many students who displayed outstanding positive learning behaviours and significant personal academic growth.

I am continually overwhelmed by the commitment and motivation of the teaching staff at the school to promote student wellbeing and the opportunity for students to succeed as learners.

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

The school’s core values support this vision: Respect (consideration of self and others), Resilience (confidence to face challenges and solve problems) and Achievement (commitment to accomplishing our best).

Congratulations to the students who received Compass green posts throughout the year that were awarded by their teachers recognising students for the demonstration of the school’s values.

Thank you also to the parents/carers and families that supported our students throughout the year.

The school recognises the importance of support and engagement at home to improve outcomes for students. Building positive partnerships with families is a priority focus of the school.

I once again this year worked with parents on the school’s Policy and Education Committee. Their work and insights were invaluable as we worked together to provide policy advice and policy documents for School Council and Principal approval.

The team considered and developed a range of policies in 2025, including policies on Asthma procedures and processes, Child Safety and Wellbeing, Administration of Medication, Digital Technology Acceptable Use and Student School Dress Code.

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

Agatha Fedrizzi ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Tony Stirling

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

HERITAGE & Alumni

Retain • Reaffirm • Renew

Heritage Halls of Achievement

Over the decades, the Heritage and Alumni Group has inducted past students who have made significant achievements in their chosen fields of endeavour. This time-honoured event, serves not only to preserve this aspect of school history, but also serves to inspire and motivate the present college community, particularly senior students.

Our 2026 inductee is Thomas King

• Young activist and influencer – campaigning against orangutan habitat destruction in Borneo and Sumatra

• Journalist, public speaker, advocate and filmmaker

• Head Prefect and Victorian Young Australian of the Year, 2015

• Founder - Food Frontiers 2017, an Australian and NZ think tank on alternative proteins

• Myer Innovation Fellowship awardee 2019

• CEO of Food Frontiers - a global driver for food sustainability.

Heritage & Alumni Scholarship

Through the Heritage scholarship programme, we endeavour to reaffirm the efforts of our current students who are overcoming disadvantage of some form. This award reflects the generosity and support of past students to today’s youth in promoting educational endeavour, whilst providing support/ recognition for individual hardship.

We were delighted to hear from Ari, a 2024 recipient who was selected for the 2025 VCE Top Arts, amongst her other achievements.

Over the years she has built on her passion for the Arts and we are delighted with her success. Her closing remarks reflect her appreciation.

“Thank you so much for your support in providing me with this scholarship, it has really meant a lot.”

Heritage & Alumni Website Page

As with many working bodies, the need for renewal is paramount.

Throughout the year, the group has worked with the principal and others, to refresh the look and function of the Heritage and Alumni page on the school website.

We hope that this renewal will also extend to new attendees at our monthly 2026 meetings. Any interest is most welcome.

Retaining, reaffirming and renewing proven practice is a genuine and visible way to demonstrate the college values of Respect Resilience and Achievement.

BOUNCE

Bounce: A year of growth and connection at Ringwood Secondary College.

This year, Ringwood Secondary College embraced the ‘Bounce’ program, a school-wide initiative focused on positive education and pastoral care. The program aimed to support students’ personal growth, build resilience and foster a sense of community. Across all year levels, students participated in a variety of activities and workshops designed to help them develop important life skills and a deeper understanding of themselves and others.

One of the key school-wide events was the Sea of Hands for Sorry Day, where students and staff came together to create a visual display as a gesture of respect and commitment to reconciliation. Another highlight was the Wear It Purple Fashion Parade and Sticky Note Display, which celebrated diversity and encouraged students to embrace their individuality.

For Year 7 students, the focus was on character strengths and relationships. They explored their unique qualities and learned how to build positive connections with others. The performance of ‘The Flipside’, by Brainstorm Productions, provided a thought-provoking look at resilience and perspective, while a session with Police Officer Peter Williams on Cyber Safety gave students practical advice for staying safe online.

Year 8 students worked on understanding the power of mindset and how it influences their actions. The Bounce mindfulness drumming session was a popular activity, combining rhythm and reflection to help students develop focus and calm.

In Year 9, students learned about neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and grow. This knowledge encouraged them to approach challenges with a growth mindset and see learning as an ongoing process.

Year 10 students focused on relationships and making positive choices. They attended workshops by the Pat Cronin Foundation, which aimed to end the coward punch and change attitudes toward violence. The ‘Tomorrow Man/Woman’ sessions encouraged students to reflect on their values and become better versions of themselves, while Red Frogs provided advice on safe partying and responsible decision-making.

Year 11 students gained practical skills for life after school. A guest speaker from RACV shared tips on buying a car and understanding credit cards, helping students prepare for financial independence.

B O UNCE

For Year 12 students, the focus was on mentorship and life beyond school. Guest speaker Sonya Karras talked about safe partying, ensuring students were equipped to make smart choices during celebrations.

Motivational speaker Mike Rolls inspired students to embrace resilience and positivity as they prepared for the next stage of their lives.

Overall, the Bounce program has been a valuable part of the year at Ringwood Secondary College. It provided students with opportunities to learn, reflect and grow, while fostering a sense of connection and community across the school

CHAPLAINCY

The role of the Chaplain is to support the emotional wellbeing of students, providing pastoral care services and strategies that support the emotional wellbeing of the school community. The role is an integral part of the Ringwood Secondary College Wellbeing team. In addition to 1:1 support to students the following programs and initiatives have been undertaken by the chaplains with support of the wellbeing team and the leadership of the College.

RAISE MENTORING

This program was run in Term 2 which matched a small group of students with a trained mentor. ‘Through the school, I attended a free program called ‘Raise Mentoring’. At first, I was a bit nervous to meet new people and try it out; however, I am quite glad that I ended up going. I believe that Raise is a great way to meet new people who have similar interests and make new friends. At Raise, I was able to feel comfortable around new people and I enjoyed being free to talk about different topics and emotions. Abi

BREAKFAST CLUB

Breakfast Club runs every Tuesday morning from 7:30-8:30am and provides milo and toasties to anyone who needs breakfast. As well as this, it is a great place to relax and socialise before school! I, personally, come every week and have made many new friends this year, all in different year levels. Amazing wellbeing staff, Grant and Jenni, run the club and have cultivated such a friendly environment that I love to come to and spend time with fellow regulars every Tuesday. Other students, whether regulars or occasional attendees, have similar sentiments towards the club and I speak for all of us when I say it is one of our favourite parts of the week!

Liv, Year 10

LEGO CLUB

“Lego Club is fun. We all make cool designs and share them around; my favourite part of Lego Club is when we play with our Bey Blades.’ - Lucas ‘I like Lego Club because it’s fun with my friends and you can build anything”

Oscar “I recommend Lego Club to anyone who like creating”

Josiah

CROCHET CLUB

This is a student lead activity that is supported and facilitated by the Chaplain. It is a lively gathering with some very experienced crocheters and some not so experienced crocheters. ‘Crochet club is a great opportunity to meet new people and learn a new skill. In crochet club we welcome everyone from all year levels to come and learn how to crochet. You don’t have to know how to crochet because there are members that can teach you and help you learn. Crocheting is a good skill to learn, and it helps with stress and anxiety. So, get some yarn and your crochet hooks- let’s learn how to crochet together!’

Harriet, 8J

SECONDHAND UNIFORMS

A stall was held at the beginning of the year for parents to purchase secondhand uniforms. It was lovely to meet new families and excited students.

FOOD HAMPERS AND CHRISTMS HAMPERS.

Distribution of food to support families throughout the year and especially at Christmas is also one of the services provided by the wellbeing team and chaplain.

TRANSITION TO YEAR 7 AND YEAR 9

A new initiative this year was to have the VCE VM students support the transition of our Year 7 students. They planned a very good program which included being in the classrooms on the first day to assist with the new laptops, helping with lockers, organising and supervising games at recess and lunchtime, and giving each student a zooper dooper and fairy floss at lunchtime. Also, there was a transition afternoon for Year 8s progressing to Year 9 when they found their new classrooms and areas for 2026, met their coordinators and generally were put at ease about moving to middle school. The above could not have been as successful without the generous support of the following organisations who donate both money, food and materials:

• Ringwood RSL who support our Year 11 volleyball team

• Bunnings Ringwood donates whatever we need - garden seats, mosaic tiles and much more

• Philip Webb Real Estate donates Christmas hampers

• Ringwood Church of Christ who make and donate ham and cheese rolls weekly

• FoodBank Victoria provides fruit for the students daily and other food as requested for families

• Eat Up who provide ready-made cheese sandwiches which are enjoyed as toasties at brekky club

INTERNATIONAL Student Program

Celebrating Diversity and Excellence: 2025 International Student Program

Ringwood Secondary College was honoured to welcome 19 new international students from China, Taiwan and Vietnam, who contribute richly to our diverse and dynamic school community.

This year, we are pleased to introduce the Semester 1 and Semester 2 International Student Program Awards, which aim to recognise and encourage students who consistently demonstrate exemplary learning practices and positive attitudes.

To foster intercultural connections and promote student wellbeing, the college operates a badminton club every Friday lunchtime. This initiative provides a valuable opportunity for both international and local students to engage in physical activity, while forging meaningful friendships. Furthermore, each term the college celebrates students’ birthdays in conjunction with traditional cultural festivals, reinforcing a sense of community and cultural appreciation.

We are especially proud to highlight the achievements of one of our international students, Enoch. Enoch was shortlisted for and awarded the prestigious Year 11 Global Citizenship Commendation Award

at the 2025 Victoria Global Learning Awards. Complementing this accolade, Ringwood Secondary College’s music program was honoured to perform the opening act at the awards ceremony with a string orchestra presentation.

‘At Ringwood Secondary College, I was blessed to experience a wide range of opportunities which led me to succeed in school life in Melbourne as an international student. Sporting events and music programs gave me the chance to meet wonderful friends and teachers that helped me adapt to school and Australian life more easily, while creating lasting memories that will guide my future. I want to thank the teachers who have been supportive and encouraging, and especially international staffs with dedicated guidance and help, which gave me confidence to complete VCE studies successfully.’

Enoch, Year 12 International Student from South Korea

‘Studying at Ringwood Secondary College has been an incredible journey. The teachers at Ringwood have been very supportive and approachable, always willing to help me achieve my best in VCE. Beyond academics, I have enjoyed opportunities to participate in sports, which helped me stay active and build teamwork skills, and filled me with the joy in my memories. These experiences have shaped not only my

academic success but also my personal growth. I am grateful for the friendships, lessons and memories that will stay with me long after graduation.”

Jay,

Year 12 International Student from Thailand

IMPROVEMENTS at RSC

With the completion of the STEM building in 2024, our focus this year has been on improving and upgrading our existing facilities. A major focus has been improving the safety, security and functionality of buildings, walkways, play areas and access points in and around the school.

Summary of updates 2025

STEM Laser installation

We were excited to procure a very capable laser cutting machine which has been installed in the STEM building. This will undoubtedly enhance the projects being created by our wonderful students and staff.

Canteen redevelopment

It was very exciting to make significant improvements to our college canteen. Renovations included new stainless-steel benches, a larger modern bain marie, new sliding windows, improving lighting and serving capacity, new roller doors to improve security and updated plumbing. We look forward to further improvements in 2026.

Hall Stage improvements

New stage rigging was installed to significantly improve the safety and functionality of the hall operations.

Rooms 1-5 Air Conditioning

All the Art and Visual

Communication rooms have recently had new air conditioners installed. The old evaporative systems were very noisy and not especially effective - it’s great to finally reward staff and students!

Ramp improvements

The Department of Education, in partnership with the college, undertook a review of all the college ramps. Several required major changes to bring them into compliance with current building codes. This included handrails and safety features like stair nosing and tactile indicators.

Textiles development

One of the workrooms in our new STEM Centre underwent some significant renovations to enable Product Design: Textiles to be offered within the building.

Middle School Office development

We have recently commenced works on our new Middle School office in the 500s building, which is due for completion early 2026. The new office will be equipped with a small kitchenette and toilet and enable Middle School staff to work in close proximity with students.

Safety and security

Installation of new cameras throughout the school as well as additional speakers for PA and safety announcements. New emergency evacuation drawings were finalised and installed throughout the school. New evacuation markers were installed on our oval to help in the event of an evacuation.

Minor projects

Several smaller but important projects were completed throughout the year. These include tree and stump removal, asphalting of basketball courts, repairs to the synthetic grass courts, new decking to 214, Hill Street development, cladding of canteen West wall, roof repairs throughout the site. New cabinetry installation to Library and Senior school.

Brendan, Chris, Matt FACILITIES TEAM

STUDENT Leadership

2025 has been a very busy year in the student leadership space. Preparation for the year began in late 2024, when the newly elected Year 12 prefects jumped straight into planning for two school wide initiatives.

The Head and Deputy Head prefects developed and implemented a whole school student feedback survey, with the aim of improving the student experience at each year level.

At the beginning of the 2025 academic year, Caitlyn, Ella, Lani and Natalie then presented their findings to the entire college teaching staff, to assist with the

planning and implementation of teaching programs throughout the year. Whilst this work was being done, the broader prefect team were creating a series of informative videos to assist students in understanding the college’s new positive learning behaviours. These videos were later shown in ‘Bounce’ classes at all year levels.

On February 19th, all 83 student leaders from Years 7-12 took part in our Student Leadership Training Conference.

Throughout the course of the day students were able to get to know the

teams that they would be working with for the year and began work on a range of school improvement initiatives. The college prefects did a fantastic job in promoting these upcoming events and organising working parties to make sure these college community events and initiatives were a success.

From this point onwards it was full steam ahead, with Semester 1 featuring student led highlights such as the Staff vs Students’ netball match, the Lip Sync Battle and the Philanthropy team sausage sizzle, which raised over $500 for vulnerable members of our community.

STUDENT Leadership

Semester 2 didn’t slow down, with the student leaders putting together events such as the middle school trivia competition, the Wear It Purple Day fashion parade, in collaboration with the college’s Standout Group and the Year 11 Volleyball tournament.

Of particular note was the speech delivered in the Victorian Parliament by James, Cleazza, Sasha, Ella, Jess and Chloe on the unique importance of Australian democracy, which they have subsequently received an award for.

This is without mentioning the pivotal support our student leaders have

provided at events such as Aths Day, college production rehearsals and our seasonal instrumental music concerts. I would like to congratulate all our college student leaders for the way that they have taken responsibility for upholding and embodying our college values in 2025.

The example that you have set for your peers has been fantastic, and you have done a tremendous job of bringing the college community together. I would also like to acknowledge the efforts and contributions of the outgoing Year 12 prefects throughout such a busy year.

Each of you has contributed to making the college a safer, more inclusive and more enjoyable place to come to learn and have set a high standard for our incoming 2026 prefects to uphold. We wish you all the very best for the future and are excited to see where your journey takes you.

Declan Trounson, Student Leadership Coordinator

WELLBEING

SENSORY MODULATION

Sensory modulation means using our senses to help manage how we feel. This can support children to feel calmer, more motivated, sleep better and join in with learning, daily tasks and social situations.

Our eight senses are always sending messages to the brain, which affect how we feel and respond. By noticing changes in mood and using sensory strategies, children can stay balanced, grounded, and better able to manage stress.

At school, Wellbeing has sensory boxes with a range of tools and items to help students regulate their emotions and behaviours both in and out of class.

MANAGING ANXIETY AND STRESS AROUND ASSESSMENTS AND WORKLOAD GROUP

‘In Term 2 a small group of students went to ‘managing anxiety and stress around assessments and workload’ group over a few lunchtimes weekly. We learnt new techniques and skills to help us study effectively and work through school related stress and anxiety.

We did different activities each week and the main one that helped me was an open-group discussion about different study hacks. It helped me not feel alone while also giving me new ways to work through my anxiety and revise for tests, and now, using those methods, I have felt more comfortable when going into tests and made getting prepared less stressful.‘

Molly, 10I

‘The group was about managing stress and anxiety around workload and assessments. It covered things like weekly planners, tips to break up workloads and strategies to complete work by a due date without procrastinating or being completely overwhelmed. One thing that really helped me out was the weekly planner, because it allowed me to visualise my week and sort out when to do what work.’

Annessa, 9K

STANDOUT

This year, StandOut members have had a big year with organising events and fortnightly group meetings. Beginning in Term 1 we organised a stall at the swimming carnival, where we gave out pride pins and ran small games for students to participate in. This stall was for spreading awareness of StandOut as a group but also about pride and being true to yourself.

We also had group activities such as rock paintings, where we created our own pet rocks for us to keep. During Term 2 we had IDAHOBIT day. On this day we did a school-wide nail painting and chalk drawing. This event was to educate people on IDAHOBIT day (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia).

In Term 3 we ran our biggest event of the year, which was the Wear It Purple teachers vs students fashion show. Wear It Purple is celebrated every year by the college and recognises and supports LGBTQIA+ youth, to let them know that they are not alone, particularly with the significant mental health issues that impact the community.

To end the year off, we held Trans Awareness Week in the senior school building involving carnival games. Trans Awareness Week is to help shine light on the transphobia in the world and to prove that no matter what you are or who you are, you are perfect. Overall, this year has been a wonderful year for Standout.

BOARD GAME CLUB FEEDBACK

‘Board game club is something I look forward to every Monday. I enjoying playing with my friends and always winning every round.’

Archie, 7G

‘Board game club has been a fun way to get inside. I have made a few new friends and found some cool games, like The Genuis Square, that Archie doesn’t win.’

Lucas, 7A

‘My experience of board game club has been excellent. There are so many cool games to play with and lots of people to play these games with.’

Shiney, 7G

‘Board games club has brought me closer to so many of my friends through (sometimes competitive) games. They are fun, engaging and easy for us all to keep up! My personal favourite is ‘Spot It’, a game that involves looking, attention and skill.’

Callum (the wise hero), 7E

YEAR Seven

Our Year 7s started 2025 with great excitement and nervousness. Everyone was curious if they were ready to take on the demands of secondary school and the answer was YES!!! They just dived right in and absorbed themselves with all that Ringwood Secondary College had to offer. Right from the start, where they worked out how to open their locks, read a timetable and move from room to room successfully.

Some of the events they have been involved in are:

• Start-up orientation program

• Mental health carnival

• Swimming carnival

• Waratah Bay Beach camp

• Cybersafety information session

• Brainstorming production - ‘Wired’

• Student leadership day

• Drama production performance

• Geography field trip

• Whole School production

• Junior School productionHigh School Musical 2

• Lunchtime clubs

• Breakfast club

• Volleyball/D & D club

• Open Night

• School tours

• Small schools program

• Speaking at parent and staff information nights

• Athletics carnival

• Academic award recipients and helpers at Awards afternoon

• Celebration Day - Lilydale Lake

• Interschool sports events

• Instrumental music events

YEAR Eight

Our Year 8s started 2025 with great excitement, getting involved in all that Ringwood Secondary had to offer. Most of the year was spent taking on new challenges and enjoying the final year of Junior School.

Some of the activities undertaken included:

• Swimming carnival

• Cybersafety information session

• Student leadership day

• Whole school production

• Junior school production

• Lunchtime clubs

• Leading school tours

• Open night

• Speaking at parent information nights

• School tour leaders

• Athletics carnival

• Cross country

• Receiving and helping run the academic awards ceremony

• Helping with 2026 orientation day

• Interschool sports events

• Instrumental music events

• Celebration Day - Funfields

JUNIOR School Production 2024

YEAR Nine

A YEAR OF CHALLENGE AND ADVENTURE

What a fantastic year it has been for our Year 9 students! 2025 has been filled with opportunities, experiences and achievements that have helped shape an unforgettable chapter in their secondary school journey.

From the very start of the year, students threw themselves into every challenge and activity with enthusiasm and maturity. Their commitment to interschool sport saw strong representation across a range of competitions, showcasing teamwork, determination and school pride. Many students went even further, earning the incredible achievement of State representation in cross country, swimming and athletics, a true testament to their hard work and athletic ability.

Academically, students faced some big milestones, including NAPLAN and Morrisby testing; both of which provided valuable insights into their learning strengths and future pathways. These were followed by career interviews, where students showed impressive reflection and maturity as they began planning for the exciting years ahead.

Leadership and community involvement also featured strongly throughout the year. Students played an important role in assisting with school tours and Open Night, representing the school with confidence and pride as they welcomed future families and shared what makes our school special.

Creativity and performance shone brightly too, with many students involved in music, band and the school production, bringing their talents to life on stage and in concerts throughout

the year. Their efforts were recognised alongside our academic award winners and scholarship recipients, who all achieved outstanding success through dedication and perseverance.

The InterGREAT program continued to challenge and inspire, with activities such as high ropes, escape rooms, rock climbing and more, encouraging teamwork, problem-solving and resilience. The year finished on a high with the highly anticipated City Experience, where students explored Melbourne, developed independence and made memories that will last well beyond Year 9.

This year has truly showcased the growth, spirit and potential of the cohort. Whether in the classroom, on the field, on stage or out in the community, our students have demonstrated what it means to embrace every opportunity!

YEAR Ten

A YEAR OF GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT

What an incredible year it has been! 2025 has been filled with memorable experiences, personal growth and plenty of achievements both in and out of the classroom.

Some of the major events for the year included formal at Karralyka, where students impressed in their finest attire and celebrated together with laughter, dancing and plenty of photos to remember the night. We had students taking part in work experience, gaining valuable insights into the world beyond school and beginning to explore their future career pathways.

A major highlight was the unforgettable Central Australia trip, where 86 lucky students travelled through the heart of our country, visiting iconic landmarks, connecting with indigenous culture and forming lasting memories and friendships.

Throughout the year, careers counselling sessions helped students think deeply about their goals and plan for the years ahead, while the METEC driver education days gave some an early taste of life behind the wheel, building confidence and safe driving habits. Students also proudly represented the school during school tours and Open Night, showing leadership and maturity as they welcomed prospective families and shared their experiences.

Presentations from Tomorrow Man/Woman and Red Frogs provided important lessons around wellbeing, resilience and making positive choices; messages that will no doubt stay with students as they continue to grow.

There were many achievements to celebrate this year, with several students achieving state-level representation in cross country, swimming and athletics, while others brought home victory in the ‘Schools Cup’ state volleyball tournament, demonstrating the talent, teamwork and determination of our cohort. We also recognised our academic award winners for their outstanding commitment to learning, along with school scholarship recipients who were rewarded for their excellence and dedication.

This year also marked a significant academic milestone - completing exams for the first time. It was a valuable learning experience in preparation for senior years, showing perseverance and focus under pressure

From milestones to memories, this year has truly showcased the best of what Year 10 has to offer - growth, success, friendship and resilience. Congratulations to all students on an outstanding year!

CENTRAL

‘Our Central and Top End tour this year was incredible! We arrived in Uluru all still bleary eyed from the plane trip. To see the rock in person is truly amazing - the sheer scale of it is almost unbelievable! One of my favourite memories is when we got to watch the sunset on Uluru, and the bright, deep red colour that the rock became is still so vivid in my mind.

The famous reptile night in Alice Springs was so fun. Rex the Reptile Man showed us all these incredible creatures, including a bearded dragon and one of Australia’s most deadly, the King Brown. There was definitely a wide variety of reactions to having a python go across your shoulders and sniff your ears,

including some hilarious faces, but it’s an experience that none of us regret. A new thing we got to do this year was a night learning about the stars. We learnt how to find true south using constellations and got to use state of the art telescopes to look at a handful of stars in the night sky. Later, we went on a river cruise along Katherine Gorge, which was just beautiful. It was so amazing to see all the natural beauty our country has to offer. Our stop at Daly Waters was memorable as well, because we got to sleep under the stars on nothing but a tarp and our sleeping mats. After a week or so in tents, the fresh air and gorgeous night sky was truly something else.

We got to do the famous Adelaide River Jumping Crocodile Cruise. Seeing such huge, prehistoric creatures up close was both terrifying and exhilarating. To finish off our trip, we spent the final two days in Darwin. There, we had bucketloads of fun at Aqua Park Darwin. The very last night has to be my personal favourite. We spent hours at Mindil Market, then walked over to the beach to watch the sunset, which was stunning. The atmosphere of the market at night was indescribable – live music from an artist local to Cairns, talented and inviting street performers, and the hustle and bustle of people from all over the world coming together in one place.

I wouldn’t change anything about our trip this year, especially the people. Central is such a unique experience: people you wouldn’t usually talk to at school, or people you know but haven’t really taken the time to chat to, get together and learn more about each other, against a backdrop of Australia’s gorgeous outback. These memories we’ve made and connections we’ve formed will stay with us well past Year 12.’

Tali, 10D

DUKE of Edinburgh

The Year 9 Outdoor Education elective once again followed the framework of the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, guiding students through a rich program of personal development, service, skill-building and adventure.

The year began with a focus on communication and group dynamics, as students participated in initiative activities designed to build teamwork, problem-solving and leadership.

From there, students set SMART goals, aligned with the Duke of Edinburgh’s personal development framework; striving to learn new skills, contribute to the community through service and improve their physical health through sport or fitness pursuits. Many students supported local groups, coached younger participants and worked hard to reach personal goals.

In preparation for their adventurous journey, students developed key outdoor living and travel skills before heading to Mount Buffalo National Park for their practice expedition. They took on ‘The Big Walk’, climbing over 1,000 metres of vertical elevation in one afternoon before establishing camp.

Over the following days, students challenged themselves with caving, crevassing, abseiling and rock climbing, while demonstrating self-reliance, teamwork and some impressive camp cooking skills.

Back in the classroom, students applied their learning through a peer teaching series, each running a formal, structured lesson for their classmates. Standout sessions included lessons in parkour and a variety of arts and crafts, showcasing creativity and confidence.

During this same period, students earned their Workplace First Aid Certificate,

facing several surprise ‘incidents’ to test their emergency response skills in realistic scenarios.

As the year draws to a close, students are preparing for their qualifying journey, where they will traverse the Mount Baw Baw plateau - a region known for its unpredictable mix of rain, snow and sunshine. This challenging Alpine expedition will conclude with a white-water journey down the Thomson River, providing the perfect finale to a year of growth and adventure.

The Duke of Edinburgh elective is a class by application only, with students expected to maintain high standards of engagement, leadership and conduct.

This year’s group has shown maturity and determination. We look forward to seeing these young leaders continue to apply the lessons learned through a year filled with challenge, achievement and adventure.

INTER Great

YEAR 9 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

If Year 9 had a motto for 2025, it would be: “Why just sit in a classroom when you can climb, jump, escape, bowl, swing, hike and even change a tyre?”

Our Year 9 program this year has been nothing short of action-packed.

THE ADVENTURES

Students tested their teamwork, courage and balance in more ways than one.

Highlights included:

• Escape Room – where students discovered that communication is the real key to escaping (and sometimes the only thing harder to find than a clue is patience with your teammates).

• Strike Bowling – proving that knocking down pins is harder than it looks…

• Indoor Rock Climbing – a perfect mix of grit, determination and camaraderie

• Bounce – where the laws of gravity were thoroughly ignored and students learned that trampolines are just as fun as a teenager as they were at age 4.

• Belgrave Treetops Adventurezip-lining through the forest canopy while discovering just how loud a group of teenagers can be when faced rickety tree-top rope bridges

• Bushwalk – reminding everyone that not all heroes wear capes; some wear sturdy shoes and carry extra snacks.

THE LEARNING (Yes, We Did Lots!) Inside the classroom, the challenges were just as exciting, though slightly less likely to involve helmets

Students:

• Designed personal projects based on their own passions - from art to sport, to technology and everything in between.

• Learned practical life skills like planning a holiday, changing a tyre and creating fitness programs (so parents, if you get a flat on the freeway, you know who to call).

• Put their endurance to the test during Urban Hiking through our surrounding suburbs, proving you don’t need mountains to get your steps up.

• Planned, filmed and edited interviews with industry professionals, giving them a taste of the ‘real world’ (and also a newfound respect for anyone who has to edit videos for a living).

• Worked together to design a 90-minute Amazing Race through Melbourne CBD - an event that one lucky group will get to run for the whole year level during City Experience Week. (Yes, they’ve promised nobody will get lost!)

THE TAKEAWAY

Year 9 has been a year of adventure, independence and discovery - both of the world around us and of ourselves.

If this year has proven anything, it’s that Year 9 is about more than just preparing for exams - it’s about preparing for life, one trampoline jump and crocheted dog blanket at a time.

YEAR Eleven

TRANSITION INTO VCE

Transition Week gave students a clearer understanding of senior school expectations and the faster pace of VCE. It emphasised the importance of using class time wisely and highlighted the need for increased maturity and responsibility. It also allowed students to connect with their peers and teachers, helping ease anxiety about the challenges ahead.

FORMAL

On September 9th, the Year 11 Formal was held at Bramleigh Estate. The night was a fantastic success, with stunning photo spots, a fun photo booth and a packed dance floor full of students and teachers. Everyone looked amazing in their carefully planned outfits, and the atmosphere was full of excitement and celebration. Awards were given for best dressed, best dance moves and other fun categories. A huge thank you to the staff and students who made the night so memorable!

LEADERSHIP

Year 11 leadership has been a rewarding experience, allowing us to grow as individuals and as a team. We worked hard to create opportunities for our cohort to connect and enjoyed representing our peers. Highlights included our Term 3 Volleyball Tournament - now in its third successful year - and the AFL Tipping Competition with fantastic prizes donated by major clubs. We’re proud of the foundation we’ve built and are excited to carry these skills into our future contributions to the school and beyond.

Arwen and Brodie

COPING WITH WORKLOAD AND MAINTAINING BALANCE

The jump from Year 10 to VCE brought new pressures, but the Year 11s showed resilience throughout. Balancing subjects, extracurriculars and relationships required sacrifice and discipline. Many developed strategies to manage stress and avoid burnout, skills that will support them through Year 12. You have to push to finish your work and minimise distractions. - Keith Prioritise yourself before academics and extracurriculars. - Scarlett At Ringwood, we strive for balance alongside achievement. Whether it’s prioritising tasks or using planners, we’ve found ways to manage our time effectively while still making space for family, friends and fun.

Seth

GETTING READY FOR YEAR 12

This year brought a major increase in workload and time management demands, especially for those completing an early entry VCE subject.

It offered a glimpse into what lies ahead and allowed us to begin developing the skills needed for Year 12. Our advice is to believe in yourself, prioritise your wellbeing and keep striving to be your best academic self.

Scarlett and Cassie

ELEVATE

This year we participated in two Elevate sessions: Ace Your Exams and Time Management.

Both were incredibly helpful and offered practical strategies we applied throughout the year. The time management session helped us create routines that balanced school and home life and taught us how to overcome procrastination.

The exam prep session gave us tools to reduce stress and better prepare for assessments. These sessions helped us reflect on our habits and build strategies to carry into Year 12.

Ozana

VM REFLECTIONS

The VCE Vocational Major program has been a valuable experience, allowing me to complete my VET course without missing classes and providing me one day a week for work experience. It’s helped me explore future career options while still studying.

Jack

I’ve enjoyed group projects because they create a sense of togetherness. Excursions like The Base for Kids taught us to be grateful and interviewing shop owners at Queen Victoria Market helped us understand business decisions. I recommend VM to students as it teaches you real life skills that will help transition after school.

Tiana

The VM program gave me experience both in and out of the classroom. Weekly placements helped me explore potential careers and gain practical skills.

I recommend VM to students who enjoy hands on learning and want to go straight into work after school.

Emily

YEAR Twelve

Congratulations to the Class of 2025! This year’s cohort has navigated their final year of school with collaboration, enthusiasm, humour, and at times, stubborn determination.

They have exemplified our school values of Respect, Resilience, and Achievement in all aspects of their final secondary schooling journey. Whether this was academic or extra-curricular in nature.

Many examples include:

• Being on the sports field and at swimming and athletics carnivals

• Engaging in the arts with events such as the senior production, music programs and lip-sync battle

• Having fun in events like Staff versus Student games and dress up days.

The sense of community, resilience and positivity this group has demonstrated, will undoubtedly serve them well in the future. The VCE VM groups especially have engaged their community spirit in the Community Garden project, learning about gardening, caring for plants and developing practical skills to take away from the experience.

The Senior School team wishes the Class of 2025 the very best as they embrace opportunities, encounter new challenges, overcome hurdles and pursue their dreams and aspirations in the years to come.

When asked for their thoughts on their final year at Ringwood Secondary College, Year 12 students offered the following reflections:

Overall Year 12 highlight:

• Athletics day, when Mabo won for the first time is yearsss!

• Doing a photoshoot with my friends for my VCD finals.

• Having classes with friends as well as legal studies trip to the courts.

• Doing Art. Art as a subject has allowed me to grow so much into my desired style. I have made works I am really proud of and am excited to show people.

• The amount of Teacher vs Year 12 matches and getting involved.

What they will miss the most about school:

• I will miss the amount of encouragement and support we get from our teachers and memories with friends.

• Probably the support system and being constantly surrounded by my friends, teachers or other people at the school who really make life more enjoyable.

• I will miss having a structured schedule and physically coming on the school grounds. I will also miss having interactions with teachers which I have formed meaningful, close connections with.

• I will miss being surrounded by my friends each day, participating in all the sports events, and buying caramel slice and BBQ chicken paninis at the canteen.

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

• Having the freedom and being able to spend more time hanging out with friends.

• I’m looking forward to the choices I get to make about my life. I’m excited to see where life takes me.

• I hope to go to university and study the course I’m passionate about. I also want to travel to Spain, which I’ve always dreamed of visiting, and I hope my friendships with my current close friends will stay strong.

• Further expanding my knowledge and experience of music and being a musician.

• I’m looking forward to continuing what I want to study and stay connected with the friends I’ve made through the years.

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

• Lock in and get good sleep!

• Your ATAR doesn’t define you, there is more than one pathway to get to your goal.

• Don’t compare yourself to others, we all have our own strengths and qualities that make us our unique selves.

• Complete all classwork in class to have more time for yourself! Don’t leave things to the last minute, because it will become stressful.

• Use your teachers, they are there for you and you can ask as many questions as you want!

YEAR 12 Students v Staff Games

YEAR 12 Students v Staff Games

CLASS of 2025 - Year 12

CLASS of 2025 - Year 12

CLASS of 2025 - Year 12

CLASS of 2025 - Year 12

CLASS of 2025 - Year 12

CLASS of 2025 - Year 12

CLASS of 2025 - Year 12

YEAR 12 Celebrities Day

YEAR 12 Final Bell

CAREERS

Term 2 of 2025 brought exciting changes to the careers team with the welcome addition of two new careers practitioners, Georgie McKeown and Allyson Girgis. Together, they bring a wealth of life experience and professional expertise, creating a fresh team full of enthusiasm and dedication to supporting our students’ futures.

Junior School students embarked on the beginning of their careers journey through the ‘Bounce’ program. These activities gently introduced students to identifying personal strengths, celebrating their achievements and starting to think about future career goals. This reflective process is one that we encourage students to revisit and build upon each year.

Term 3 saw Year 9 students actively preparing for the years ahead. They completed their Safe@Work OHS modules and attended information sessions Year 10 work experience. Additionally, they completed the Morrisby Profiling Program, which involved a series of questionnaires designed to provide insights into their

strengths, abilities, motivations and personality traits. Each student received a detailed report and engaged in a one-on-one session with a Morrisby-certified counsellor to unpack their results. This process provides valuable guidance that students can refer to as they explore future pathways.

Year 10 students all met individually with a member of the careers team in Term 2 to discuss their career interests and goals. Over 240 students participated in the highly successful work experience program, gaining first-hand experience in a wide range of workplaces. Students showed great initiative in securing placements and embraced the opportunity to explore real-world work environments. For those unable to participate, an alternative program offered career focused sessions at school, alongside excursions to Box Hill Institute and Swinburne University.

Once again, our Year 10 students and their parents took part in the annual Course Counselling Day, an important event where students receive tailored

advice on subject selection and pathway planning for their VCE years. This productive day allows students and parents to connect with members of the student management or careers team to ensure their interests and ambitions are aligned with their study plans.

We are proud to congratulate three Year 10 students - Matilda, Adelaide and Eshita, on their selection to the prestigious Monash Scholars Program. Facilitated by Monash University, this program provides exclusive access to a range of activities and support throughout their VCE years.

The Class of 2025 has received extensive support as they prepare for life beyond school. The careers team has been assisting students with further education applications, employment opportunities, apprenticeships, traineeships and much more. We congratulate the graduating class and wish them every success in their next adventure.

VET Vocational Education and Training

At Ringwood Secondary College Applied VET programs are empowering our students by equipping them with practical skills and industry knowledge across a range of vocational fields. More students choose courses that offer hands-on, real-world experiences aligned with their interests. By creating flexible learning pathways, these programs open doors to further training, apprenticeships, and career-focused courses, helping students build not only expertise but also vital transferable skills that boost their employability.

Congratulations to the following VET students who achieved a Certificate of Excellence in their program for an outstanding effort throughout the year:

• Paige Atherton - Certificate II in Cookery

• Abbey Riddley - Certificate III in Music {Performance}

• Cierra Shook - Certificate II in Dance

• Emily Conroy - Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation

• Tyson McLaughlin - Certificate III in Acting [Screen]

RINGWOOD Training

A FANTASTIC YEAR AT RINGWOOD TRAINING

2025 has been another year of growth and success for Ringwood Training, with enrolments reaching around 700 students. Our VET in Schools (VETiS) program continue to thrive, with over 300 students taking part - reflecting the strong demand created by changes to VCE and VCE VM.

Engineering and Automotive training remain popular pathways. This year alone, more than 70 new automotive apprentices and 35 engineering apprentices began their training with us, strengthening our role in preparing young people for rewarding careers in the trades.

We are proud to have received state and national recognition in 2025. Ringwood Training was named a finalist in the Weld Australia Welding Excellence Awards for Training & Education Organisation of the Year. At the Maroondah Business Excellence Awards we are a finalist in the Educational Services category and David Wilson received an Empowering Women in Trades award, a tremendous acknowledgement of his leadership and commitment.

This year also marked an Australian first: Ringwood Training became the only provider in the country to offer laser welding technology. Thanks to a partnership with Industrial Laser Solutions, students now have access to this cutting-edge equipment in a purpose-built booth.

Our quality is also reflected in student and employer feedback. In 2025, survey results from the Department of Education once again placed Ringwood Training well above the state average in most areas. Beyond the classroom, our staff have given generously of their time to industry committees, forums and careers events - helping shape the future of vocational education while inspiring the next generation of students.

We thank Ringwood Secondary College and the School Council for their ongoing support. Their commitment ensures that students in Eastern Melbourne have access to high-quality VET and post-secondary pathways.

At Ringwood Training, we remain dedicated to creating strong pathways from school to work. Whether through VET in Schools, School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs), or Certificate III apprenticeships, our programs provide students with the skills, experience and confidence to step into the workforce and succeed.

AUTOMOTIVE

VET in schools

This year, 125 students commenced or continued their two-year VCE VET Certificate II in Automotive Studies. All VET students transitioned to our state-of-the-art online learning platform, which received excellent feedback and delivered strong academic results.

We also enjoyed several visits from our valued industry partners, including the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) and William Adams, and wrapped up the year with our always-popular end-of-year BBQ celebration.

SBATS (school-based traineeships)

This year saw a record number of Automotive School Based Apprentice/ Trainees, 31 in total across both the Thursday & Friday classes. The SBAT classes are a combination of students undergoing a Cert III part time apprenticeship who complete up to two years of their apprenticeship while still at school, and students completing Cert II traineeship with the idea of transferring to a full time Cert III apprenticeship when they leave school.

Despite the increased number of students, up approximately 20% from last year, there were still a good number that completed their studies on time or ahead of schedule. These students have now the option of completing an extra day each week at their host workshop.

Apprenticeships

Our automotive apprenticeship program provides VET in Schools and school-based traineeship students with a genuine pathway to achieving a trade qualification in the automotive industry.

Through our strong connections with industry, we are continually approached by employers seeking motivated students with the right skills and attitude to take up employment opportunities that lead to exciting and rewarding careers in this evolving field.

Many of our students have successfully gained apprenticeships in dealerships, general workshops and through partnerships with the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC).

This year, 160 students were enrolled in the Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology apprenticeship program, with 55 students successfully completing their training.

We are now enrolling new apprentices for 2026, many of whom progress from our Certificate II in Automotive VET program, continuing their journey toward becoming qualified automotive technicians.

ENGINEERING

A hugely successful year in Engineering Fabrication. We had 4 students accepted to display their VETiS Engineering projects for the Victorian Top Designs awards, on show in the Melbourne Museum, one of which won the ‘Craftsmanship Prize’. 2025 has seen the largest intake of students wanting to do the Certificate II in Engineering Studies at Ringwood Training. This has placed a great demand on the workshop and staff have been working hard to ensure that all students get a great outcome. We started the year with over apprentices, all working towards their 3-year program and, with many completions happening late in the year, we have seen some great work carried out from students who want to outdo their peers in creating the best projects.

Welding short courses have again been popular with 11 courses completed so far and now only one remaining before the year is complete. We also have run one lathe course earlier and still one more coming to round the year out. Next year we are excited to be looking at running a garden sculpture course, with projects made from ‘Corten steel’. Participants take home their own small sculpture that they have created themselves.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The IT department at Ringwood Training continued to deliver training to its students during 2025. Once again, many feeder schools sent students from years 10 to 12 to enrol in:

1. ICT30120 Certificate III in IT

Networking and Cyber Security

2. ICT30120 Certificate III in IT Game Design

3. 22519VIC Certificate IV in Integrated Technologies (VET Cisco)

Due to several constraints and government policy decisions, it was deemed best to focus on the following two options for 2026 with the possibility of running classes on an additional day to provide more choice for students:

1. ICT30120 Certificate III in IT

Networking and CyberSecurity

2. ICT30120 Certificate III in IT Game Design

MUSIC

CELEBRATING A YEAR OF MUSICAL EXCELLENCE AT RINGWOOD SECONDARY COLLEGE

The 2025 music year has been a remarkable journey of growth, achievement and celebration. From budding beginners to seasoned performers, every ensemble has worked tirelessly to hone their craft and share their passion for music. Here’s a look at what each group has accomplished throughout the year:

TRAINING BAND

Training Band, made up of 60+ students who picked up an instrument for the first time this year, has made incredible progress. Most members are Year 7 students, though some older students have taken on a secondary or tertiary instrument. Their resilience in learning a new skill from scratch has been inspiring and their respect for one another as they grow together as musicians, has been a cornerstone of their success. They performed at the Junior Winter Concert and showcased their development at the college’s annual Gala Concert, marking a significant milestone in their musical journey.

JUNIOR CONCERT BAND

Formed in September 2024, the Junior Concert Band consists of students in Years 7 and 8. Rehearsing every Monday morning, the band has performed at numerous college events, including the Junior Winter Concert and the Victorian Schools Music Festival (VSMF), where they achieved a gold award. Their achievement reflects their dedication,

while their respect for each other’s growth has fostered a strong sense of unity. They have worked hard to refine their skills and build confidence as performers.

INTERMEDIATE CONCERT BAND

The Intermediate Concert Band (ICB), composed of students in Years 8–11, has been a standout ensemble in the college’s music program. Rehearsing every Monday afternoon, the ICB has developed their skills and performed at several events, including the Winter Concert and VSMF. Their resilience in tackling challenging repertoire and their respect for the collaborative process have been key to their success. They have grown significantly as musicians, showcasing their ability to work together as a cohesive unit.

JUNIOR CHOIR

The Junior Choir, accompanied by Year 10 student Joshua, has been a vibrant part of the college’s vocal program. Throughout the year, they have worked hard to refine their harmonies and deliver memorable performances at events like the Winter Concert and the college’s annual Gala Concert. Their respect for each other’s voices and their resilience in mastering complex harmonies has been remarkable. They have become a close-knit group, supporting one another as they develop their vocal skills.

TRAINING STRINGS

Training Strings, a group of Year 7 students new to their instruments, has made remarkable progress this year. They performed at the Junior Winter

Concert and showcased their development at the college’s annual Gala Concert. Their resilience in learning a new skill and their respect for the process of improvement have been truly inspiring. They have worked diligently to build their technique and confidence as string players.

INTERMEDIATE STRINGS

Intermediate Strings, consisting of students from Years 7-10, has celebrated their achievements throughout the year. Many members have only been learning their instruments for a year, but their passion and progress have been evident in their performances at the Winter Concert and the college’s annual Gala Concert. Their resilience in overcoming challenges and their respect for each other’s growth have been key to their success. They have become a tight-knit ensemble, supporting one another as they develop their skills.

SENIOR CHOIR

The Senior Choir has been a cornerstone of the college’s music program, performing at events like Generations in Jazz and the Victorian Schools Music Festival. They also performed at the college’s annual Gala Concert, where they bid farewell to their Year 12 members. Their achievement in delivering powerful performances and their respect for the legacy they leave behind have been a testament to their dedication. They have worked tirelessly to refine their sound and create memorable moments for their audiences.

CHAMBER MUSIC WINNERS

Jessica, Joshua and Sarah, winners of the Chamber Music Festival, have been a shining example of creativity and talent. Their achievement in crafting a skilful arrangement of ‘Waltzing Matilda’ and their respect for the art of collaboration, have made them a standout ensemble. They have demonstrated exceptional musicianship and a deep understanding of the nuances of chamber music.

TRAINING STAGE BAND

The Training Stage Band, formed in September 2024, has had a busy year of performances, including Jazz Night, Generations in Jazz and a competitive performance at VSMF. Their resilience in mastering the complexities of jazz and their respect for the genre’s traditions have been key to their growth. They have worked hard to develop their improvisation skills and build confidence as performers.

JUNIOR STAGE BAND

The Junior Stage Band, led by Dane Sorensen, has achieved great success this year, including a gold award at VSMF. They performed at Jazz Night, Generations in Jazz and the Junior Winter Concert. Their achievement in earning top honours and their respect for the mentorship of their conductor, have been evident in their polished performances. They have become a dynamic and cohesive ensemble, showcasing their passion for jazz.

SENIOR STAGE BAND

The Senior Stage Band has had an eventful year, performing at Generations in Jazz and the Victorian Schools Music Festival. They also performed at the Hawthorn Town Hall for VSMF. Their achievement in delivering polished performances and their respect for the legacy they leave behind have been a source of pride for the college. They have worked tirelessly to refine their sound and create memorable moments for their audiences.

FREDDIE FREELOADERS JAZZ COMBO

The jazz combo, led by Lucas, has focused on improvisation and student composition. They performed at the college’s annual Gala Concert. Their resilience in pushing creative boundaries and their respect for the art of improvisation have made them a unique and talented ensemble. They have worked hard to develop their musical narrative and create original works.

SYMPHONIC

BAND

The Symphonic Band has been a standout ensemble this year, performing at several college events, including the Winter Concert and the college’s annual Gala Concert. Their achievement in mastering complex compositions and their respect for the collaborative process has been a source of pride for the college. They have worked diligently to refine their sound and create powerful performances.

SENIOR STRINGS

Senior Strings, many of whom started learning their instruments in Year 8, has been a testament to dedication and hard work. They performed at the Winter Concert and the college’s annual Gala Concert. Their resilience in achieving such a high level of skill and their respect for the art of string performance have been truly inspiring. They have become a close-knit ensemble, supporting one another as they develop their skills.

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Symphony Orchestra has been a cornerstone of the college’s music program, performing at several events throughout the year, including the Winter Concert and the college’s annual Gala Concert. Their achievement in delivering powerful performances and their respect for the tradition of orchestral music have been a source of pride for the college. They have worked tirelessly to refine their sound and create memorable moments for their audiences.

The 2025 music year at Ringwood Secondary College has been a celebration of talent, hard work and the enduring spirit of the college’s music program. Here’s to many more years of musical excellence!

MUSIC GALA

‘On Tuesday the 16th of September, Ringwood Secondary College celebrated its Gala Concert. The Gala is the cumulation of the practice that the music program has engaged in since Term 4 of last year. The concert presents all our dedicated music students’ work; from the Year 7s of the Training Band, to the Year 12s of the Senior Stage Band.

No year in my six years at Ringwood Secondary College, has that dedication been more on display than in 2025. In the unfortunate absence of our Director of Music, Ms. Janine Pero, the remaining staff and students in our illustrious program stepped up to take on positions of leadership and have taken

actions of initiative, which has all been instrumental in getting us ‘over the line’. Particularly, the efforts of Mr Timothy Jaques have been more than commendable.

Typically, the Gala features a student-arranged ‘finale item’. This year, it was slated to be ‘You’re the Voice’, the famous John Farnhum recording. Unfortunately, this year it was just not realistic to get the Symphony Orchestra and the student choir up in time, and instead this arrangement will be played next year. I would still like to acknowledge the work of Samuel, Thomas, Lucas, Phoebe, Lars and myself, in creating this year’s arrangement. We put a lot of work into it, and I can’t wait to come back and see it performed next year!

Every Gala, a group of students works almost invisibly, running the show smoothly and silently. The work of the Stage Crew is an indispensable aspect of all of Ringwood’s concerts, and this year I’d like to particularly highlight the work of Stage Manager Seth, taking over Thomas’s usual position. He has demonstrated tremendous leadership, especially without the usual assistance of Ms Pero, working alongside Mr Jaques.

As ever, no Ringwood show can be done without a tech team, and I’d like to welcome Will O’Brien to his first Gala as Technical Director and congratulate his tremendous efficacy and skill this year.

Gala was, as well as a celebration of our hard work, a farewell to our Year 12s and their years of practice and dedication. These students have worked tirelessly over these last few years to perform at their highest standard and to foster their own musical voice. As we bid them farewell, they presented to us the culmination of years of study, showing us all their own distinctive voices.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Music Programme who make our work possible. Director Janine Pero and her endless hard work and invaluable dedication to the students of our amazing and respected program and to our students, who continue to foster a beautiful and powerful musical culture Their ceaseless enthusiasm and excitement for music make our program what it is. I am extremely grateful for Ringwood Secondary College’s music program and the opportunities and experience afforded to me through it, will stay with me for the rest of my life.’

Sasha Durkin, Music Prefect

MUSIC

PRODUCTION Little shop of Horrors

ATHLETICS

RINGWOOD CARNIVAL

Vibrant colours, creative costumes and unwavering house spirit were on full display at this year’s athletics carnival, creating an atmosphere of excitement and friendly rivalry. Students enthusiastically took to the track and field, giving their best in all events. Our novelty races such as the sack race and tug of war brought plenty of laughter and joy, ensuring everyone could be involved. It was a fantastic day of participation, teamwork and school pride from start to finish. The biggest achievement of the day however was MABO house being crowned champions of the day, most likely their first win since the house system was established!

Congratulations to the 2025 age group champions:

13 Yr: Matisse and Jacob

14 Yr: Mia and Max

15 Yr: Indy, Matt and Henry

16 Yr: Rebekah and Stephen

17 Yr: Ashlee and Taj

20 Yr: Nat and Pat

DIVISION ATHLETICS

Over 100 students represented the school this year at Proclamation Park, where we were once again crowned Division Champions. A fantastic effort from everyone involved. On the day, we broke 8 records. Teetut broke the 20M MC record for shot put, Jemma added another division to her résumé, breaking the 17F Javelin record, Matt wowed everyone watching as he broke a 20 year record in the 15B high jump, Imogen broke the 20F MC long jump and 100m

records, our 14G relay team flew around the track to break a record and Year 12 student Nat broke the 20F 3km and 800m records in her last division event.

Congratulations to those who were Division age group champions: Mia 14G, Matt 15B, Emily 16G, Stephen 16B, Taj 17B and Nat 20G.

REGION ATHLETICS

We returned to a brand-new Knox Athletics track surface, which provided great conditions for our students to achieve their best. There were Ringwood students competing in events throughout the whole day – it was so hard to watch them all! We were highly successful across the day, finished 4th in the region overall. Congratulations to all our athletes for their positivity!

On the day our gold medal winners - Ben, Matt, Emma, Nat, Mia, Jemma and Indy Our silver medal winners - Rebekah, Mia, Belle and Matt. Our bronze medal winners - Michelle, Mia, Sammi, Mia, Imogen, Matt and Henry.

STATE ATHLETICS

We had 8 students qualify to a wet, rainy and cold Lakeside Stadium. It was a highly competitive day, with many impressive athletes from across the state; some of them even breaking ex-Olympian records! Our students performed so well and we are very proud of them!

Our results from the day were:

Jemma: 2nd in 17G Javelin

Matt: 3rd in 15B High Jump

Ben: 3rd in 17B 110m Hurdles

Emma: 3rd in 20G Shot Put and 4th in 20G 100m

Rebekah: 4th in 16G 400m

Nat: 5th in 20G 1500m

Mia: 5th in 20G Long Jump and 6th in 20G Triple Jump

Indy: 7th in 15G Shot Put

Congratulations to all our students once again, reaching State level competition is a phenomenal achievement We sadly say farewell to our U20 students who have represented us so well across their time here at Ringwood.

CROSS COUNTRY

RINGWOOD CARNIVAL

Like 2024, our cross country across all year levels was an optional sign up, with those only running with the intention of making our division team competing this year. We returned to the original course, with the railway works done, which was welcomed by our competitors. Like every good event, it was finished off with a smile and our traditional Zooper Dooper!

Congratulations to the 2025 Age Group Champions

13 Yr: Violet and Jacob

14 Yr: Lenka and Phoenix

15 Yr: Sammi and Matt

16 Yr: Rebekah and Josh

20 Yr: Natalie and Lewis

DIVISION CROSS COUNTRY

Ringwood was once again the dominant force at HE Parker Reserve, winning the division cross country again for the 33rd time in a row! We were blessed again with beautiful sunshine and a hint of a breeze; ideal conditions for our athletes to run in. Mr Kilby on the lead bike was put under pressure by our runners, hot on his heels around the 3km and 5km courses.

Gold medal winners on the day included: Jacob 13B, Lenka 14G, Matt 15B, Rebekah 16G, Natalie 20G and Lewis 20B.

REGION CROSS COUNTRY

43 students descended on Yarra Glen Racecourse to represent the school at region. We were greeted by a beautiful, crisp Yarra Valley morning and the course was basked in sunshine for the day; a rare thing to occur at the course! Congratulations to all our runners who took part in their races, you all ran so well and did yourselves and the school proud.

Notable finishing places on the day were: Rebekah came 3rd in the 16G race and Nat came 2nd in the 20G race, both amazing achievements! Our 16G cross country team finished third in the teams’ event, a great result for the girls.

More results included: Jacob 12th in 13B and Matt 7th in 15B

STATE CROSS COUNTRY

Once again, Yarra Glen racecourse played host for the 2025 State Championship. Lightning struck twice this year with another picturesque day

in Yarra Glen. Having run this course for our region championship, our students were at an advantage over their regional competitors. We had 4 representatives this year, Jacob, Matt, Rebekah and Nat. Our results for the day were: Jacob finished 32nd, Matt finished 29th, Rebekah finished 12th and Nat an amazing 5th place in her final cross country run for the school. These State results are phenomenal, and our students should be very proud of themselves!

We say farewell and thank you to our U20 athletes this year who have always produced strong results.

SWIMMING

RINGWOOD CARNIVAL

2025 made a splash with one of our most memorable swimming carnivals yet, marked by high attendance, bold house colours and an electric atmosphere of pride and participation. The day kicked off with the vibrant fashion parade, where students flaunted their creativity before diving into the pool. The grass area came alive with ‘Dane’s Dancefloor’, as students sang and danced between events. The inflatable waterslide proved a crowd favourite, with lines of eager participants all day. Competition heated up in the pool, especially during the ever-popular water polo matches. The first Year 12 v Staff matchup was the centrepiece of the day, with the staff coming out strong victors in the game.

In a close contest, house scores remained tight throughout the day, but once again it was Frazer House who took home the honours, making it a threepeat for them.

Congratulations to the 2025 age group champions

13 Yr: Rosie and Callum

14 Yr: Annalia and Jayden

15 Yr: Emi, Jasmine and Byron

16 Yr: Lucy and Isaac

17 Yr: Elise, Dion and Josh

20 Yr: Emily and Bryan

DIVISION SWIMMING

For as long as it says on the shield (starting in 1997), we once again won the Maroondah Division competition. Our

margin this year? Double second place + 240 points, a phenomenal effort from our swimmers. We had many successful individual and team relay performances throughout the day. We had 10 of the 12 possible age group champions and broke 4 division records along the way! Congratulations to the age group champions: Callum 13B, Jayden 14B, Jasmine 15G, Byron 15B, Rebekah 16G, Joel 16B, Elise 17G, Dion 17B, Emily 20G and Bryan 20B.

Byron broke a 40-year record in the 15B 50m breaststroke and his own record from last year in the 15B 200m IM, Emily broke the 20G 50m freestyle and Bryan the 20B 50m freestyle.

REGION SWIMMING

36 students represented Ringwood this year at region, where we were once again very successful. For the fourth year in a row, we finished 3rd in the region where we had many great individual and team performances in the pool.

Gold medal winners - Lucy, Byron, Bryan, Under 20 Boys/Mixed Medley relay, Under 20 Boys/Mixed Freestyle relay and Under 14 Boys Freestyle relay Silver medal winners - Byron, Emily, Jayden

Bronze medal winners - Emily, Bryan, Jayden, Joel

STATE SWIMMING

This year we had 8 students at the State Championships, a fantastic achievement. We decided to stack some of our relay teams with the fastest mixed swimmers across age groups which paid

dividends. Along with three relays, we had nine individual events, the busiest swimming state carnival for some time.

Lucy had a packed schedule with 5 individual events and two relays. Her results for the day included 2nd the 16-20G 200m freestyle, 1st in the 16G 50m butterfly, 2nd in the 16G freestyle, 2nd in the 16-20G 400m freestyle and 1st in the 16-20G 200m IM. Five events in the day and finishing in the top 2 in all of them is a phenomenal achievement. Byron competed in the 15 Boys 50m breastroke, defending his title once again. Not only did he win three years in a row, but he also broke the record for the event again; now holding 3 individual state records. He also came 2nd in the 15B 50m freestyle and 1st in the 15B 200m IM. Bryan came 7th in his 20B 100m freestyle.

Our Under 20 mixed medley and freestyle relay consisted of Lucy, Emily, Bryan and Byron. They came 3rd in their medley race and 2nd in their freestyle relay, two great results. Our Under 14 Boys freestyle relay consisting of Callum, Jayden, James and Eugene also finished on the podium, coming 3rd in their race.

We farewell our class of 2025 with great appreciation and admiration, as they were fantastic contributors to the swimming team in their time here.

TEAM SPORTS

TEAM SPORTS

Ringwood had an outstanding year in Maroondah division sport, claiming flag after flag across multiple events. The junior school trophy cabinet is now brimming with 2025 pennants, while the senior school walls proudly display an impressive collection of division titles. Throughout each competition, our students represented the school with pride, respect and true Lantern spirit.

This year we competed across 48 region events with students from all year levels representing Ringwood. Like last year, we had a team represent us at region for every sport, which shows how widely talented our students are. We were

highly competitive in all our region events, usually winning 3 games out of the 3 for the day. Unfortunately, having strong sporting academy schools in our region can make it very difficult to progress through to the state level. We lost all our region finals to Rowville, but our students know that pushing academy schools and being highly competitive against them shows how strong we truly are in. At the time of writing this, we still have 8 teams representing Ringwood at region, fingers crossed one of those teams can make it through to state competition.

Other special moments in team sports throughout the year included Indy representing Victoria Metro in the Under

16 National Basketball championship, where Indy won gold and played a pivotal part in the final. Liam represented both the Australia Select team and New Zealand in a big month of basketball in China for the Asia Cup, along with being one of three students representing Victoria in the SSV School Championships in Queensland. Henry also represented Victoria at these championships for AFL and Year 12 student Justin represented Victoria for Soccer and was offered a contract by an A-League club after the tournament - an amazing achievement!

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

1st - FRAZER

2025 has been a great year for Frazer.

The Swimming Carnival was our most successful event, as we gained the most points to win the day overall. We were less fortunate at Athletics, in which we came 3rd, but that minor setback didn’t stop us from achieving for the rest of the year, as we were able to win the house cup for most points at the end of the year!

I would like to thank all the dedicated, talented and enthusiastic members of Frazer who all played a significant part in our achievement of the House Cup.  Ella, Frazer House prefect

2nd - FREEMAN

2025 was another big year for Freeman House!

We placed 2nd in both the annual Swimming and Athletics carnivals and finished just short of claiming the overall School House Cup! But the brilliant effort from our Freeman representatives was key to our big achievements! This includes Year 12 Freeman house superstar Natalie, who finished 2nd place in Regional Cross Country and 5th place against the whole of Victoria in the 2025 State Cross Country!

Although Freeman just fell short from claiming another School House Cup this year, incoming prefects Alice and Emma are ready to take us back to number 1, for what will be an exciting and eventful 2026!

Ashley, 12G, Freeman House prefect

3rd - MABO

2025 was a year of spirit, determination and teamwork for Mabo House.

Our biggest highlight came in May when we won the Athletics Carnival, marking the first time in ten years that Mabo had taken victory in either the athletics or swimming carnivals. The dedication and enthusiasm shown by every member of the house made this triumph especially memorable.

Although we didn’t win the overall House Cup or the Swimming Carnival, the unity, encouragement and effort displayed throughout the year truly embodied the Mabo spirit. From cheering in the stands to competing on the track, every student contributed to an unforgettable year. Mabo continues to grow stronger each year—go Green Team!

James, Mabo House prefect

4th - JACKMAN

This year in Jackman House was an eventful one. Although the results may not have gone our way this year, what matters most is the effort and participation that went into it from all our Jackman members.

I, and all the house prefects, are immensely proud of all the students who participated this year, from all the houses, whether it was to compete for a podium or to try something new.

We hope that you continue to participate in the following years and invite you to try out everything that you can. Make the most of the opportunities given to you, and let’s make next year a Jackman Year!

Casper, Jackman House prefect

COMMERCE

YEAR 12 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT F1 GRAND PRIX EXCURSION

In March the Year 12 Business Management cohort went to the Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park.

Students had the opportunity to walk around the track and investigate different aspects of Business Management such as Corporate Social Responsibility, Technology, Quality Management and Materials Management, that the Australian Grand Prix Corporation incorporates into the preparation and operation of the event itself.

Students were also able to observe how various small businesses were able to operate in close vicinity to one another and the main racing hub itself.

To end the day, students were given the opportunity to visit the Innovation Hub, view on track activities and see the concept of quality assurance in action via track inspections conducted by the FIA.

Overall, the day gives students are great insight into many different aspects of their Business Management studies and allows them to have a great contemporary case study that they can use throughout the year.

YEAR 11 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT MARKET DAY

Market day gave us an insight into how much goes into running a business and how important planning is in Business Management.

We got to work with our peers to collaborate and create a stall which gave us an idea on how to run a business. We used skills that we have learnt this year

in the subject to help us in both practical and knowledge aspects of the business.

The process leading up to the day was filled with tedious creating of each product and how we were going to implement all the necessary components into the business, whilst also having fun and enjoying each other’s company.

We thoroughly enjoyed the making and creation of our own business, and we all are so proud of how far ours and the cohorts businesses came.

Scarlett, Emily, Harriette & Chloe

YEAR 12 LEGAL STUDIES COURT VISIT

On the 5th of June our Year 12 Legal Studies class had an excursion to the Ringwood Magistrates Court, in which we had the opportunity to gain insight into the processes of the criminal and civil justice systems.

The day began through a class discussion with one of the court’s most experienced magistrates, who outlined his role and career pathway, as well as allowing us to ask a number of questions regarding his experiences and daily routines.

We were then encouraged to apply what we have learnt in our course and develop our knowledge by sitting in the court rooms, in a self guided process in which we could observe their procedures through a number of different hearings.

Overall, the day provided an alternate way to understand the justice system in a manner that was engaging, interesting and remains one of our fondest memories of the year.

Evie

YEAR 10 DOLLARS

AND SENSE

As part of Dollars and Sense, students learn about the share market; they put into practice what they are learning by playing the ASX Share market Game.

Students receive a virtual $50,000 they can invest over a 10-week period, in over 200 companies listed on the ASX. The prices students buy and sell at are the same prices as they would get in the live market so this is as close to real life share trading as you can get. As a result of playing the Game students:

• Develop their knowledge of the share market

• Learn how to research companies

• Discover the importance of wise investment decisions

• Gain a greater knowledge of economic and world events

Students have just started playing the game and are learning quickly that it is an ever-changing economic landscape. Well done Shlok who is currently 1st in Victoria and 8th in the country.

Students in the Dollars and Sense class completed two interactive online courses from Fair Work to develop valuable workplace knowledge and skills.

The first course, Starting a New Job, helped students understand their rights and the important questions to ask when beginning employment.

The second, Difficult Conversations in the Workplace - Employee Course, equipped them with strategies to confidently address workplace issues with their employer.

Students found the courses engaging and came away with a stronger understanding of their rights and the communication skills needed to navigate the modern workplace.

DANCE

It has been an incredible year for our VCE and VET Dance students. We began the year by attending the ‘Top-Class’ concerts, showcasing the highest-scoring VCE and VET Dance performances from 2024. This excursion provided a valuable opportunity to see the standard of excellence expected at the top level and inspires students as they began developing ideas for their own solos.

Throughout the year, our VET Dance students participated in a range of exciting workshops with industry professionals, including Amber Orchard (Jazz) and Lachlan Bastin (Lyrical) from KADS, as well as Issy Fox (Contemporary) and Campbell MacCorquodale (Jazz Technique) from Patrick Studios Australia. Students also took part in mock auditions at The Space, working with Tamsyn Chaw (Jazz), Connor Micallef (Contemporary), and Trevor Santos (Street), and engaged in a Q&A session with talent agent Katie Collins - an invaluable insight into the professional dance world.

Our VCE Dance students also enjoyed enriching learning experiences, including workshops with RSC alumna Emily Lodge, who focused on developing physical skills for their skill-based solos, and Ben Curé from Lion Heart Dance Company, who guided students through movement creation and the choreographic process for their compositional solos.

We are immensely proud of all our dance students for their dedication, creativity, and passion. We wish them every success as they continue to pursue what they love - both on and beyond the stage.

DRAMA

Ringwood’s drama students have demonstrated outstanding creativity, commitment and passion this year, continually embracing opportunities to create exciting and thought-provoking work across all levels. Students consistently stepped out of their comfort zones to explore challenging themes and performance modalities.

VCE

The senior drama students experienced an exciting new dynamic this year within their combined Year 11 and 12 class, providing many opportunities to learn from each other. Students honed their performance skills by attending professional performances as well as the VCE ‘Season of Excellence’. Students developed strong solo performances drawn from a prescribed stimulus, which were further developed on an excursion to a Drama Victoria solo workshop. These dedicated students become a wonderful ensemble over the year, creating performances featuring a range of complex characters and their hard work highlighted their talent and commitment to the arts. Our graduates are to be congratulated on the pride they have shown in their work.

VCE drama has been a blast! Highlights include the epic drama excursions; in particular getting to see professional performances of The Robot Dog and Beetlejuice. Our ensemble performances taught us many important lessons in group work, but the main take away - don’t build a hotel on a field of vengeful sunflowers!! Our solo performances challenged us and ultimately reflected everyone’s unique tastes and talents. But between all the fun drama games, ‘Theory Thursdays’ and ‘Feowy Fwidays’, the bond that we shared as a class was truly special. Being in a space where we could all be weird, vulnerable and creative together is an experience that’ll stick forever.

Esther

VCE drama student and Performing Arts prefect

YEAR 10

Year 10 students excelled this year, delving deeper into performance with intentional meaning. Showing impressive growth, their focus was intensely thematic: exploring the impacts of climate change They investigated sophisticated performance styles including epic theatre, afro-surrealism and poor theatre, and proudly represented Ringwood by

performing their final ensemble performances at the Malthouse Theatre’s annual ‘Suitcase Series’.

YEAR 9

The Year 9 cohort successfully followed the playmaking process to develop ensemble and solo performances, focusing on foundational skills. They explored character development whilst discovering performance styles such as melodrama and the ever spooky ‘theatre of cruelty’. Their work focused heavily on the practical application of production elements including sound, lighting, costume and props, to effectively enhance performance.

YEAR 7

Our youngest performers had a blast introducing performance styles and focusing on essential storytelling. Their studies culminated in a fun and energetic Commedia dell’arte competition where their creativity and teamwork truly shone.

Congratulations to all students for their hard work, commitment, and impressive achievements throughout the year!

Lauren Rowe

DESIGN & Technology

PRODUCT DESIGN

A very productive year with many new and exciting developments built into the curriculum. Where design has always been the subject theme, these new capabilities allow far more accurate and intricate work to be designed by students. This is not only pertinent to maintaining industry relevance, but it’s an engaging way students discover their new designs coming to fruition. Having recently installed a brand-new Thunder Laser Cutter, we have been able to implement CAD/CAM to modernise student outcomes.

YEAR 7

Students were introduced to two main material areas, timbers and fabrics. They started off by designing and making small sample projects, a finger puppet and a door wedge. These projects, alongside theory content, have enabled students to familiarise themselves with a range of tools, equipment and machinery. We have then introduced a

new project this year, an animal themed glasses holder; students have thoroughly enjoyed designing and making a fun and unique product.

YEAR 9

Students begun with the folding stool. This has always been a favourite, proving to be engaging from the outset. Where they may change the basic specification of the stool, the folding mechanism is retained and offers a sound point of investigation and analysis. To a similar extent, it also offers exposure to a raft of hand tools, providing the opportunity for students to hone their skills in a practical capacity. Students then went on to make a time piece, and used a variety of materials including wood, metal and plastic.

YEAR 10

Students were introduced to an adjustable USB lamp project, inspired by an art and design movement of their choice, including Art Deco, Bauhaus and

Op- Art. Students have designed the base of their lamps by producing high quality 3D sketches, and then used CAD/ CAM to produce the base and shade. Hand tools were used to make the adjustable mechanism, prioritising accuracy and precision.

VCE PRODUCT DESIGN

Students designed products in response to the study design, ‘designing for positive impacts for end users.’ Initially, they researched different user needs, from busy working professionals, people suffering with addiction to people with visual impairments, and designed products to meet those needs. Two students have designed a chess board for visually impaired people, whereby the board is tiered, and the pieces are recognisable by height.

ROBOTICS

Students explore mechanical and software engineering through hands-on robot design and coding. They learn key

principles such as gear ratios, torque, and differential steering, and use Python to control motors and sensors for autonomous movement. Working collaboratively, students apply product design and problem-solving skills to two major projects: creating a robot that can perform an autonomous “prison escape,” and another designed to operate within a simulated nuclear disaster zone.

TEXTILES

The Year 10 Fashion and Textiles students have built on knowledge gained in Year 9 and have had the opportunity to refine and learn new skills. Students have followed the design process from initial client contact to the evaluation of the success of a product (garment). Students have used a range of graphical product concepts, eg, mood boards, lotus diagrams and fashion model illustrations to explore options and represent design thinking.

Students have compiled a folio of their work samples, production tasks and graphical product concepts. Students learned to read and use a commercial pattern and constructed a garment for a client, following the constraints and considerations of a design brief. Students have investigated properties of fabrics from natural and synthetic sources. They have learned about textile recycling in Melbourne and are encouraged to use sustainable practices both at school and at home.

This year has seen the number of Year 9 Textile classes increase from two to three. Textiles provides the opportunity for students to build on prior knowledge and learn new practical skills they can use for life.

Students revise and consolidate their knowledge of the sewing machine. They create samples of a range of machine

stitches and evaluate their use and function. Students then progress to learning how to use an overlocker. This new knowledge leads to learning and practising garment construction techniques such as creating commercial seams and hems. These skills and knowledge were applied to produce a pair of poly-cotton boxer shorts.

Students investigate a range of technologies, tools and processes, including hand work, to enable them to make informed choices during the construction process. Students employ safe work practices when using tools and equipment. Students compile their tasks, work samples and other relevant information to create a folio.

ENGLISH

English at Ringwood Secondary College is all about discovering the magic of the pen and paper. Much more than persuasive oral presentations and text response essays, at the heart of our faculty is a belief that the subject helps young people meaningfully engage with the world around them.

This ethos is well and alive in our classrooms, from Year 7 to the Senior School’s study centre. As students engage with a diverse range of texts - from the beloved Shrek to the seminal Oedipus the King - their determination, creativity and thoughtfulness is on full display.

In 2025, our junior classes enjoyed Reading Ladders sessions in the warmth of the library, participated in mini debates and experimented with descriptive writing to share their own, unique stories and engaged with the worlds of Whale Rider and A Bridge to Wiseman’s Cove.

Entering Middle School, Year 9s developed their analytical skills through a close study of Mean Girls and Of Mice and Men and built their understanding of how the media attempts to influence various audiences.

Year 10s immersed themselves in dramatic readings of Twelve Angry Men, crafted vignettes and feature articles in response to the framework of ‘Place and Displacement’ and built their own short story collections in the Creative Writing elective.

And at the tail end, our cohort at VCE - across English, Literature and English Language, have built their persistence and grit, proving that they have the skills and will to go out and seize the future. From expository essays on the evolution of our language, to close analyses of poetry, and quizzing each other on quotes in a spare period, their mastery of written and spoken language is something to be commended.

As a teaching team, we are incredibly proud of the growth these young people have exhibited over the course of the year and the work that is produced each day. Now, it’s time for you to see the fruits of these efforts for yourselves. We hope you enjoy this selection of excerpts from across the school!

STUDENT WORK SAMPLES

YEAR 7 DESCRIPTIVE WRITING

The hill slopes up from the grass towards the chain-link fence. The old road of patchy bitumen and gravel curves around it, before splitting in three towards the campsites. On the other side of the fence, horses graze lazily and kangaroos bound around. The whole scene is surreal, with a warm sunny wash, it looks like something right out of an old painting.

Outside the reception building is an assortment of four-wheel drives, utes and trailers - as well as the occasional Corolla. A paved path leads up to the porch and from the porch a screen door leads inside. Behind the desk is one of the varying staff, all warm and

welcoming. Shelves of essentials line one wall and a freezer full of ice creams on the other. A well-earned reward after a long day.

Finn, 7F

YEAR 9 CREATIVE RESPONSES TO MEAN GIRLS

Jin had a strange sense of deja vu as he stared at his computer and desk. One had sparks and wires flying out, and the other was filled with mud. His body was cold and trapped within this company. His mind had already succumbed and merged with the harsh reality of his current situation. He would be held there for the rest of his foreseeable future.

Oleg, 9I

The gym felt quiet, punctuated only by the sneakers on well-polished floors. I picked up my pen. My hand trembling, I glanced at Regina. Her gaze was flat, daring me to defy her. And for a split second, I almost put the pen down. But then I thought, if I didn’t speak now, I’d never get to be myself again. I started writing.

“I don’t know who I am without you. But I want to find out.”

The words terrified me and set me free at the same time. My entire high school experience had been about belongingbelonging to Regina, to the Plastics, to an idea of perfection that had nothing to do with who I was. I wanted to believe I could belong somewhere without having to disappear.

When Ms Norbury asked if anyone wanted to share, the air thickened. I felt everyone’s eyes flicking towards Regina, waiting for her reaction.

Kingsley, 9I

I peered through the tiny window and saw that everyone was already seated. I took three deep breaths, since that’s supposedly meant to help with nerves, before opening the door with a screech. The spotlight was now on me, with twenty-five pairs of eyes staring me down. Not intimidating at all.

“Oh, hi Sophia!” The teacher, with her neat, coffee brown hair tucked behind her ear, smiled like she meant it. “Everyone, this is Sophia, who will be joining our class. Be friendly, alright?”

I forced a smile before scanning the room for an empty seat. There was one near the front, with a girl who smiled warmly, and had glossy hair that probably smelt like roses. The other option was the back row, alongside three girls that looked like their stares could kill.

Calista, 9I

YEAR 10 VIGNETTES ON ‘PLACE AND DISPLACEMENT’

He’s always on time. The same navy scarf, that look in his eyes like he didn’t sleep, or maybe just woke up remembering something hard. I start his oat flat white before he even walks in.

He nods. I nod. It’s the smallest routine, but it holds. Sometimes, I think he’s a writer. Other days, I think he’s just trying to keep it together, one quiet morning at a time.

This cafe isn’t flashy. It’s chipped mugs, soft music and the comfort of knowing no one’s watching too closely.

I used to think I needed to be someone else to be part of anything. But here, behind this counter, I don’t have to perform. I can just be. And in the stillness, I get to see people. Really see them. Maybe that’s what keeps me here. Sharon, 10B

YEAR 11 AND 12 WRITING FRAGMENTS

Avoid She stands melting into the sand; grains entwined in her toes. As she steps, footprints along the shore are erased shortly by the sea. She gazes to the horizon,

where the sky meshes with the ocean. Behind her, mounds of cans and bottles fill what once was yellow. She can’t bear to turn and face what’s already been done.

Forget

He flickers his lighter at the dead of night. His brain fogs over, the weight of his mind dragging him down. As he ponders the alleyway, he pours remnants from his bag, Coke cans and bottles making piles. He stares up at the apartments, to the moonlit sky. No lights shine on him. It’s too dark to see what’s left behind.

Harmony

They lay on the boat, curls wisped up by salty air, tan glazed by the sun. The shore ponders away as the water deepens. The rays touch the edges of the water, glistening and enlightening that summer is finally here. They dive in. Bliss. Echoes of the inhabitants of the seas. Flippers kicking gracefully. Beautiful creatures move beneath, their shells the colour of the deepest forest. They swim alongside one another, peacefully.

Arwen, 11D

He could see her. Through the large window out of the front of the cafe that he’d stupidly agreed to meet them at. No. He reminded himself. He has to do this. He needs to.

She was with his father, sitting together in a corner, her hands clasped tightly in his. She looked so old, her hair was all but gone, a few white strands here and there, wrinkles pulling tight at her face. She’ s changed, he told himself.

He forced himself to open the door. It banged loudly, and all eyes were drawn to him. He made contact with one pair and one pair only. Those eyes. Those wide, innocent blue eyes. Those eyes that so many times he’d seen bloodshot and crazed. That had looked right into his and told him that she didn’t love him. That he’d never be good enough. He didn’t look back as he walked out.

Emma, Year 11

There was no sound, but the world felt loud. The water stirred without touching us. Ziqi was still holding my hand (that, or I was still imagining it). The humming had stopped. The announcements ceased. It was as if the system itself had backed away, reluctant to interrupt what it did not understand.

“You can stay,” she said suddenly. “Just stop asking.”

“Asking what?”

“If it’s real. If I’m real. If this is helping.”

I looked into her eyes. There was nothing artificial in them, but that meant nothing. Memory could be realer than reality sometimes, more complete. More loyal. The sky began to melt at the edges. Like the room was bleeding its colour palette into the ocean.

“What happens if I don’t leave?” I asked, quietly.

She didn’t respond. Instead, she placed her head on my shoulder, like she used to do when we watched those black and white films she liked; the ones where nothing really happened and yet everything changed. I closed my eyes. Ziqi was humming now. A slow tune I had never heard or had forgotten repeatedly. I looked around for a shoreline that no longer existed. A thought bloomed quietly in my chest.

“What if this is all that’s left of me?” The water touched our chests.

“I’m tired,” I said.

Ziqi lifted her head. Her eyes were not pitying, not afraid. Just calm.

“You always say that” she replied.

The ocean didn’t drown us. It just carried us upward. The beach, the sky, even the edges of her voice started dissolving into white.

Bach, 12F

I’ll always miss being a kid. And maybe I’ll always wish I could go back to simpler times. But I know that I will always hold the magic of Christmas morning and the feeling of playing with my dolls, the carpet of my bedroom floor rubbing against my toes.

Because maybe the magic of childhood is never really gone, it’s just waiting to be relived in new ways.

Through old songs, blurry photographs and echoes of laughter that fade into the night. Within stories told, and memories made, and one day the magic I help someone else believe in.

Zoe, 12C

ENGLISH as an Additional Language

At Ringwood Secondary College, we are proud to have a rich and diverse cohort of students studying English as an Additional Language (EAL). Across Years 7 to 12, students develop their skills across reading, writing and speaking. Equally as important, they consider how they relate to one another and the broader community.

In our classrooms, students learn about the human experience through the lens of beloved texts including Gulliver’s Travels, Billy Elliot and Frankenstein. They explore contemporary issues and craft persuasive oral presentations, and craft extended responses to the frameworks of ‘Identity and Personal Journals’.

We are immensely thankful to our teaching team of Ms Kazakis, Ms Duffy, Ms Moore, Ms Menz and Ms Nicholls for their tireless efforts throughout the year, and their commitment to creating safe, respectful and engaging environments in which young people thrive.

STUDENT REFLECTIONS

EAL is a good subject for me to improve my English. It provides opportunities to communicate with other non-English native speakers. The teachers have a lot of patience and love to teach us, which makes me feel really warmed. EAL is the subject that I like, and I like my EAL teachers.

Yiyi (Jasmine), 11C

Since joining into EAL, I met many new friends that had different background and cultures. This year we studied Macbeth and Rear Window and I enjoyed learning about them. Going to EAL class always made me feel relaxed, while being able to have fun in learning new things.

En Tong, 11E

EAL is a great learning environment for students who are not fluent in English. We as students are learning things and having fun at the same time regardless of our backgrounds. Teachers are kind and would help us no matter the situation we are in. I love attending EAL classes so I can meet my friends and the teacher.

Cheuk Fung (Nexus), 11F

From 2023 to 2025, what has EAL brought to me? In 2020, I just came to Australia. Although I did not have problems with living, I could not understand the meaning of texts. Since I began studying EAL at Ringwood Secondary College, the teacher has taught us about the meaning of different angles and shots, and what that indicates about themes and characters. That has helped me truly understand English.

Zhe (Shane), 11H

EAL is the most important way to learn how to apply English in my life. It is a class where we are learning knowledge together, improving our skills and then facing the final exam. EAL is a family, as we’ve been through a lot together and we support one another. I’m happy to meet Ms Duffy and all my classmates. EAL is a link to connect us. I hope in the remaining time, we can continue to cooperate until we master English.

Junyi (Austin), 11I

FOOD Studies

YEAR 8

Students embarked on an exciting culinary journey, exploring the fundamentals of cooking, nutrition and food sustainability. Throughout the year, students engaged in the Muffin Design Brief project and practical activities, where they learnt essential techniques and skills, from knife skills to baking.

The curriculum emphasised healthy eating and nutrition, encouraging students to make informed choices about their diets. They also explore food safety practices, ensuring they understand the importance of hygiene in the kitchen.

YEAR 9

Students continued their cooking journey, combining culinary skills with creativity and cultural exploration. Throughout the year, they developed their skills in the preparation of both sweet and savoury products.

Students completed the Pizza Design Brief Project, where they applied the design process to develop their own pizza. Additionally, students engage in the Cultural Project, where they discovered various food cultures and the significance of meals in different communities, enhancing their appreciation for diversity in cuisine.

Students have gained confidence in their cooking abilities and a deeper understanding of how food connects us all.

YEAR 10 FOOD MAKERS

Students immersed themselves in the planning and production of a range of sweet and savoury foods. Throughout the semester, students learnt about influences on meal planning, the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, sensory evaluation and the science of food. This knowledge was applied to the Lemon Meringue Cupcakes practical cook and structured questions test.

Students also challenged their creativity and presentation techniques within the High Tea Design Project. This assessment allowed students to apply each stage of the design process, practice prototyping and gave them the opportunity to produce their own signature recipe.

YEAR 10 FOOD FOR LIFE

Students explored how food nourishes the body from consumption to digestion, the nutritional benefits of eating the correct portions of the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, food groups and strategies for interpreting food labels. Across the semester, student assessments involved writing a design brief for a healthy bento lunchbox and a written test. Through the completion of this elective, students have learnt to prepare a wide range of meals, make informed food choices, participate in taste testing and reflect on the social, emotional and comfort role food plays within their everyday life.

VCE FOOD STUDIES

In VCE Food Studies, students are challenged to explore the meaning of food citizenship and food sovereignty. These concepts empower students to become active members of our food system and challenge traditional methods to ensure sustainability for future generations.

In Units 1 and 2, students explored food from a wide range of perspectives, including past and present patterns of eating, global food production systems and the development of food and cuisine in Australia. The students consider the perspectives of indigenous and native ingredients and how our concept of what truly is Australian cuisine, has changed with various patterns of migration. Through a range of practical activities, students use inquiry-based learning to examine the physical and chemical changes that occur to food via preparation.

Students also researched current trends, economic, environmental and ethical dimensions of food. They participated in various practical activities including cooking, demonstrations, sensory analysis, product and dietary analysis. Students applied practical food skills and designed a range of food, bearing in mind sensory properties, individual needs, preferences and innovations.

Units 3 and 4 students learn both theoretical and practical food skills, as the various roles of food are explored. The physiology of eating and digestion is considered, as too are the social and emotional factors that influence our development of lifelong food habits. Students develop their capacity to make informed food choices, with consideration given to food safety, ethics, sustainability and evidence-based principles of the Eat for Health program which include the AGHE and ADGs.

HEALTH & Physical Education

HEALTH

Throughout the year, students from Years 8 to 12 continued their journey through a wide range of health education topics, to increase their awareness of real-world issues and empower them to make positive decisions and contributions to the real world.

In VCE Health and Human Development, students took a deep dive into global health challenges, with a strong focus on international initiatives and social movements. They examined how collective action can bring about real change and contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They also explored the rise of new health technologies and unpacked the ethical dilemmas that often come with innovation in the health space.

Mental health and wellbeing remained a core focus across all year levels. Students learned to identify signs of stress, anxiety and burnout, while also exploring practical strategies for managing mental wellbeing. Open conversations and inclusive activities helped foster a safe, supportive environment where students felt comfortable asking for help and supporting their peers.

Respectful relationships and sex education continued to be a vital part of the curriculum. This year students further developed their understanding of consent, healthy relationships and sexual health. One highlight of the Year 9 program was the creation of their own sex education board games, which was a fun and creative way to demonstrate their learning while encouraging discussion and teamwork.

Education around drugs, alcohol and road safety was also a major component of the year’s program. Students designed their own road safety awareness campaigns and participated in the popular METEC excursion, where they got hands-on driving experience under the guidance of professional instructors. One of the most popular activities involved wearing ‘beer goggles’ to simulate the impact of alcohol on coordination and spatial judgement.

Engaging, safe, inclusive and open learning environments were created throughout the year in classes to encourage engagement in these important topics. By tackling real-world issues in a safe space, students were empowered with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions and take charge of their own health and wellbeing.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

As 2025 draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to look back on an action-packed year in PE, where the focus wasn’t just on improving sports skills, but on building confidence, teamwork, leadership and decision making.

One of the highlights in Years 7 and 8 is always the SEPEP netball and speedball units, where students take responsibility for sessions, organising teams, coaching, umpiring and running their own mini competitions. These student-led sessions help build essential life skills like leadership, communication and problem-solving, all while having a great time on the court.

The PE program also introduced students to a variety of sport specific skills, including athletics, cricket, touch football, softball, soccer

gymnastics and dance at Year 7. Year 8 students explored sports such as athletics, basketball, football, volleyball, dance, tennis, hockey and softball. Each activity brought its own unique challenges and rewards. Whether students were sprinting down the track, hitting a six, or expressing themselves through choreography, there was something for everyone to enjoy while staying active.

At Year 9, students took park in thematic units where ‘game sense’ was a large focus. Students worked together to develop tactics and strategies in a range of court, field, striking and net/wall sports, while also exploring a range of physical activities to encourage students to engage in lifelong physical activity. Year 10 PE students learnt about body systems, relating to physical activities and explored training principles around improving physical capacity.

Year 10 Active for Life students tried their hands at a variety of recreational activities like min-golf, ten-pin bowling, ice skating and curling.

These experiences were all about stepping out of comfort zones, discovering new interests and learning the importance of lifelong physical activity.

At the heart of it all was a commitment to fun, participation and personal development. From trying something new to smashing a personal best or simply building stronger friendships through sport, every student had the chance to grow in their own way.

HUMANITIES

YEAR 9 GEOGRAPHY TOURISM FIELDWORK

The Year 9s went on an excursion to Melbourne’s CBD. We were aiming to answer the question ‘How well does Melbourne cater for all tourists?’ Together we answered this question by collecting data from 3 different sites including Federation Square, Chinatown and the Queen Victoria Market. Our data collection consisted of bipolar scored surveys for environment, accessibility, signage and tourist experience, as well as tallying facilities which helped us with our analysis. At each site, we also performed 10-minute traffic and pedestrian counts as part of our data collection, then we had 20 minutes to explore the sites and appreciate the Melbourne tourist experience. We also spent an hour in the Queen Victoria Market, touring the various stalls it had to offer and enjoying some brilliant food from various cultures as is the essence of Melbourne. Overall, this was a wonderful experience that provided us with an insightful and enjoyable education of Melbourne’s CBD’s talent for tourism.

Tully, 9I

YEAR 8 GEOGRAPHY FIELDWORK

Our class 8I, went on a Geography excursion to four different stops along the Yarra River. We went to Fisherman’s Bend, Dights Falls, Wombat Bend and Pound Bend. We got to use some of the scientific equipment for water testing, so we tested the Yarra River for turbidity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, general and carbonate hardness PH, NO2, NO3 and temperature. The main purpose of our fieldtrip was to examine the four stops along the river and compare them to each other. The information that we collected would be used to complete our assessment task that would require us to create graphs, fieldwork sketches and type everything into a document that explains everything we did and what we found. It was great to be outside of school on an excursion where we could explore more about Melbourne.

Aivan, 8I

YEAR 7 GEOGRAPHY FIELDWORK

In October the Year 7s headed to Docklands for their first fieldwork. They explored livability and sustainability, gathering evidence on environmental quality, transport, public spaces and facilities. In the weeks that followed, students transformed their data into maps, graphs and analyses, using the evidence to judge whether Docklands is livable for everyone.

This semester, students have been learning about livability in Humanities.

So far, they have learnt about what makes a city livable, how it is rated and where are the most livable cities. Students worked on their livable cities’ poster, a poster where students chose a city to research. They had to research things like health care, crime rate, cost of living and environment. Students then made a poster on all the information they found.

Another project that students worked on was a video about water sustainability. Students were asked to research facts about water sustainability, about how they could save water, what desalination plants were, and the pros and cons of using them.

In class, students have done a data collection. Working in groups, students were assigned an area of the school to analyse the livability. They were asked to find the number of benches, toilets, water fountains, recycling bins and rubbish bins. They were then asked to rate the quality of these items, from 1-5, 1 being a low quality, and 5 being at a high standard. Students were then asked to turn their data into a graph, before answering a few evaluation questions.

Coming up, students have been preparing for an excursion to Docklands, a place at the far end of the city. The purpose of this excursion is to analyse the livability of Docklands, gathering data like what they have been doing in class.

Jeremy, 7H

YEAR 7 ACE ANTARCTICA FLAG DESIGNS MADE

IT TO THE ANTARCTIC!

In November last year, our Year 7 ACE Geography students were given the opportunity to enter an amazing design project run by the UK Polar Network to design a flag for Antarctica. Last year, they had over 350 schools from 30 countries enter the competition.

There were certain design guidelines students had to follow, and our final entries consisted of 2 x A4 flags with a combination of 6 flag designs included on each.

Photos were taken by the polar researchers out in the field holding the student flag designs. The photos were sent back to the UK Polar Network, and a copy of the photos and a certificate were then sent on to the college.

Our students loved the opportunity and embraced the challenge of creating a flag for Antarctica.  The news was shared with the students when they returned to school this year. Their designs were fantastic, and the ACE students involved (now in 8I) were excited to see the photos and hear the great news!

Ms Annette Niven

HISTORY

I’m Harvey from 7H. In History this year we’ve been learning about Aboriginal history and the Out of Africa theory; it has been super fun, and I’ve enjoyed learning about the oldest humans and how they migrated from Africa to Australia. We also learnt about aboriginal paintings and learnt what some of the symbols meant and then we made our own aboriginal paintings with the symbols we know.

YEAR 8 ACE HISTORY

We time-travelled to the Middle Ages as trainee plague doctors, analysing case notes and (fake!) urine to diagnose our ‘patients’, then debated the strange remedies available at the time. Medieval medicine served up some wild cures - herbs, humours…and that unforgettable chicken-on-a-bubo method. Weird? Absolutely. Unforgettable? Definitely! History has never felt so hands-on.

LANGUAGES

FRENCH

From poetry and posters to films and international diplomacy, our students have been busy in French classes across Years 7-12. They have embraced language learning in the classroom and had opportunities to enhance their learning outside the classroom. Here’s a snapshot of what our students have achieved and enjoyed throughout the year.

YEARS 7-9

Throughout the year, students combined language learning with artistic expression as part of their assessment tasks. Year 7s created a poster for a missing pet, using authentic Canadian posters to help them demonstrate their descriptive skills and introductory information. Year 8 students imagined themselves as fashion designers and set to work designing and curating a catalogue of outfits, using the skills and knowledge they’d learnt about the weather and clothing in French. Year 9s spent time looking at gastronomy in France, with an emphasis on regional differences, and then produced either a brochure for their region, or a set of postcards, imagining that they had spent time in the area.

In May, Year 7 and 8 ACE students took part in the prestigious Berthe Mouchette Poetry Competition. The entrants all applied themselves to the task, and earnt exemplary marks, and 17 of

the students went on to be named as finalists. Participation in the competition offered students the opportunity to build confidence in public speaking, performance, and pronunciation while also building and honing essential study skills in the process.

In August, Year 8 students embarked on a treasure hunt in the city, where they worked collaboratively to solve a set of clues and navigate their way through the city streets, laneways, and arcades. Along the way, they learnt about some of the city’s more obvious landmarks and focused on some details on statues and emblems.

YEARS 10-12

The senior French students ventured into the city in to watch Tous Toqués, a Québecoise film that featured in this year’s edition of the annual Alliance Française French Film Festival. Inspired by the gastronomy themes within the film, students traversed the city’s alleyways to explore some authentic French eateries, where they ordered their lunch in French.

In July, Year 11 and 12 students filed into the auditorium at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Learning alongside scores of students from other schools to replicate a Model United National General Assembly. Our students represented member states Egypt, Mexico and Poland, as they debated

the use of Artificial Intelligence whilst protecting their respective states’ positions. Animated diplomacy and skilful negotiation took centre stage as our students stepped outside of their comfort zones to use French in a real-world setting.

The NGV Winter Masterpieces focused on French Impressionism in an exhibit that replicated wealthy Bostonians’ homes. The VCE class delved into the worlds of Monet, Renoir and Manet as they explored and experienced this once controversial art movement.

FRENCH CLUB

Our students’ passion for language learning is most delible in our weekly French Club, which has been alive with enthusiastic Year 7s through to Year 12s, who’ve regularly availed themselves of the opportunities to speak with Océane, a native French speaker. Some weeks, students battled it out in French board games and card games, whereas they were entertained by French cinema other weeks. The year culminated in an art competition, which brought out creativity from the junior years.

It’s clear that our classrooms are full of bona fide global citizens, as we see them immerse themselves in the French language and culture. It has been a pleasure to see our students’ passion for language this year. Vive le français!

INDONESIAN

Selamat Datang ke Bahasa Indonesia!

This year, our Year 7–9 students have been diving into the vibrant world of Bahasa Indonesia, one of Australia’s closest neighbours and most exciting languages to learn! From ordering food at a pasar buah (fruit market) and describing their keluarga (family), to mastering tongue-twisters and Indonesian raps, students have had plenty of laughs along the way.

The classrooms have been filled with energi dan semangat as students practised speaking, played interactive games and discovered just how similar - and different - life can be in Indonesia. Whether learning to introduce themselves, talk about their hobbies, or compare fashion styles across cultures, our learners have developed real communication skills while having fun.

Beyond language, students explored Indonesia’s rich culture, from

batik and wayang kulit to music, food and festivals. By the time they reach Year 9, many can confidently hold a short conversation entirely in Indonesian — an amazing achievement and a skill for life.

Terima kasih to our dedicated students for bringing enthusiasm and curiosity to every lesson. As we say in classSedikit-sedikit, lama-lama menjadi bukit! (‘Little by little, a hill is made.’)

MATHEMATICS

In mathematics this year, our brilliant brains battled with binomials, wrestled with ratios, and triumphed over trigonometry! And that’s just the start.

The mathematics classrooms at RSC have been buzzing with energy, technology and a touch of competitive spirit. Students have navigated numbers with laptops, iPads and CAS calculators in hand, diving into digital platforms such as Cambridge, Mathspace, Manga High, Essential Assessment, Transum, Desmos and CIMT, to name just a sample. Technology has definitely played its part in 2025.

At the junior level, our Year 7 and 8 students explored the essentials, from fractions and formulas to the foundations of algebra. They’ve plotted points with precision, mastered mean, median and mode and tackled transformations. There’s been friendly competition in Manga High and mental maths challenges and some creative data collection with accompanying graphs made for excellent displays.

In Year 9, students stepped up to more sophisticated studies, exploring linear relationships, interpreting gradients and intercepts and graphing equations that connect to the world around them, including graphing football kicks. Algebraic equations and expressions became lengthier and measurement and geometry moved more into the 3D world. The CAS became a handy tool to do some of the hard work for students in many topics throughout the year.

For Year 10, the focus turned to preparing for the senior years ahead. Quadratic equations took centre stage as students saw parabolas representing basketball bounces. They unravelled the mysteries of measurement, trigonometry and statistics and learned that mathematics is as much about persistence as precision.

At the senior level, General, Methods and Specialist Mathematics students delved deep into the demanding domains of differentiation, dynamics and data. CAS calculators became constant companions. Summary books were made, dismantled and remade throughout the year for the sometimes very lengthy SACs. The final weeks senior classes saw a plethora of practice exams, intensive revision lessons and checklists checked off. Vocational Major students brought numeracy to life by applying their mathematical knowledge to real-world challenges. Their learning extended well beyond the maths classroom, linking concepts from across the curriculum and showing how mathematics ties into daily life and future pathways.

A highlight of the year was the Australian Mathematics Competition, held in August. Approximately 130 students from across Years 7 to 12 rose to the challenge, pitting their problem-solving skills against students across Australia. Congratulations go to every participant who took part in this demanding but rewarding contest. A special mention goes to our overall highest achiever Dirk in Year 7. Congratulations Dirk!

As the year draws to a close, we wish our Year 12 students all the best for all the exams they are undertaking - and EXTRA GOOD LUCK for your maths exams! And of course, we send them all the very best for what the future brings. Congratulations on graduating from RSC!

Here’s to another year of marvellous mathematical moments, where we have again seen that numbers are nifty and algebra can be awesome!

MEDIA

Media and Photography students have continued to impress our school community with their creativity and their passion for the Visual Arts.

This was most evident at the Arts and Technology exhibition in Term 4 where we showcased and celebrated the incredible work that our students created throughout the year.

Our Year 12 Media students spent the best part of eight months working on the development and production of their final products, which included short films, photography series and animations.

In Term 1 we went on an excursion to the Melbourne Museum to visit the Top

Designs exhibition, from which students gained inspiration and ideas for their media product. Year 11 Media students showcased their diverse skills throughout the year. They worked in small production teams to create short films inspired by the directors that they studied in Unit 2.

In Term 4, students planned for and created an individual product and developed their use of media equipment and technologies.

In Years 9 and 10 Media and Year 9 Photography, our courses focused on building and developing students’ production, editing and written analysis skills. Students created work in a range of media forms, from music videos

and short films to movie posters and magazine covers, to photo collages and portrait series.

We encourage our students to take this time at the end of the year to reflect upon 2025 and to think about what they are most proud of.

Perhaps they learned a new skill, developed their analytical writing, or contributed successfully to a group project. We look forward to seeing our students continue to create and make products in 2026.

Amaya Irvine

Glory Lung

Asal Shekarabi

Gabrielle Simpson

Esther Zam

Gryna Zaathang

Muyouyi (Ella) Chen

Zoe Poulter

Oliver Molnar

Lucy Pollock

Callum Ferrari Isaac Taylor

Jasmine Leeds

Kai Kornhofer May Yan Lee

Mietta Shallcross Summer Wilde

Thomas (Tom) Grist Bailey McMahon Indy Springett

Isabel Wheeler Justin Vanrolian

Imala Johnston

Zach Cowan Irsia Rasmussen

Lucas Tang

Amelie Turner Claren Lim

OUTDOOR Environmental Studies

This year, VCE Outdoor Education students embarked on a series of unforgettable experiences that deepened their understanding of Victoria’s diverse environments and their connection to them.

UNIT 1

Students travelled to Gariwerd (the Grampians) during Gwangall Morron, the Season of Honeybees, where they explored the region’s world-class rock-climbing sites and its significant cultural landscape.

From conversations around the campfire, exceptional stove top meals, to starlit stories, epic scrambles and some terrific effort rock climbing and abseiling, students immersed themselves in the unique northern Grampians, learning to distinguish between real and perceived risks, while developing a shared language to describe and reflect on their evolving relationships with outdoor environments.

UNIT 2

students Took to the water for a three-day white-water expedition down the Yarra River, discovering an exceptional landscape much closer to home. Along the way, they explored human impacts and management strategies within local environments.

Spotting wombats, a multitude of bird life and cleaning up a literal boat load of rubbish, students showed incredible determination, covering more moving water in a single day than any other school group before them. Students also demonstrated grit and a sense of fun splashing, crashing and swimming rapids along the way.

UNIT 3 & 4

Running for the first time in 2025, students stepped out early in the year with a five-day expedition through the Yarra Ranges, combining bushwalking, mountain biking and field investigation to support their academic studies. Their

experiences directly informed a major report, examining the Yarra Ranges and Ringwood area from pre-human history through to modern environmental protection movements and future sustainability initiatives. This has been an enjoyable learning experience, and the students have done well engaging with their local environments and learning about what has, what is and what could impact our incredible natural environments.

Across all four units, Outdoor Education has offered rich, hands-on learning experiences that extend well beyond the classroom. We look forward to many more adventures that connect us to our great outdoors and continue to inspire experiential learning in the years ahead.

SCIENCE

This year has been one of excitement, growth and innovation for the Science faculty. Across Years 7 - 10, staff have worked collaboratively to begin incorporating the updated Victorian Curriculum for Science, ensuring that our programs reflect current scientific thinking, skills and applications. These changes aim to build curiosity, critical thinking and hands-on inquiry from the earliest years of secondary school.

A major highlight of 2025 was the introduction of our new Year 10 Elective Sciences, offering students a taste of the content and skills explored in VCE Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology and Environmental Science. These subjects have given students the chance to explore their interests more deeply and experience the excitement of scientific discovery in preparation for their senior years.

Our stunning STEM building continues to inspire creativity and exploration, with learning experiences ranging from recreated crime scenes, recreations of

Newtons motion experiments to the modelling coral reef populations in our Year 9 Ecosystems unit. Next year, we look to further connect the delivery and relevance of STEM subjects and best utilise our facilities, with the creation of a special role at RSC to drive STEM Innovation.

This year’s National Science Week theme, ‘Innovation: Powering Our Future’, prompted some interesting conversations about how Science and Technology drive progress, from renewable energy and medical breakthroughs, to sustainable ecosystems.

The theme provided a perfect link between a curriculum that continues to change and the exploration afforded by hands-on practicals, of which there were over 1,500 before the start of Term 3.

As always, the entire Science faculty extends our thanks to Danielle Butress and Mel Jones for their support and arrangement of hundreds of different

practical activities across all areas of science. Interest in Science at both middle and senior levels continues to grow, reflecting our students’ enthusiasm and the dedication of our teaching team.

In 2026, we look forward to packed classes in senior Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Psychology.

This year we also celebrated the return of Ms Stowell and Ms Peach following the arrivals of Charlie and Mallory, and we wish Ms Henley all the best as she takes time away to welcome her new family member, Florence.

The Science faculty looks forward to another year of exploration, discovery, and curiosity in 2026 - as we continue to power the future of science learning at RSC!

Kain Gardner Head of Science

VISUAL Arts

The aim of Art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.

- Aristotle

The Visual Arts faculty is proud to present a collection of artworks showcasing the creativity, innovation and technical skill of students from Years 7-12 in Art and Art Creative Practice.

The Visual Arts program provides a supportive environment where students can explore and develop their artistic potential. They work across a wide range of materials and techniques, building skills in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media and digital art.

Throughout the year, students have engaged in experiences that inspired and extended their artmaking practice.

The annual Visual Arts exhibition once again brought the college community together to celebrate these outstanding achievements. The ability of students to communicate ideas, explore new perspectives and express individuality through visual language, continues to impress and inspire.

Dina Mihailidis Head of Learning - Arts

1. Aarush kasaraneni_Yr7 Art 2. Elyse Ng_Yr8 Art 3. Emsley Wong_Yr7 Art 4. Judah Mageean_Yr8 Art 5. Max Yan_Yr7 Art

6. Sarah Kim_Yr7 Art

7. Scarlett Stephens_Yr12 Art 8. Shaswat Rajauria_Yr8 Art

14. Gianna Cabrera_Yr7 Art

15. Iisla Sleigh_Yr7 Art

16. Jazmine Batchelor_Yr9 Art

17. Jessica King_Yr7A Art

18. Katey Livic_Yr12 Art

19. Eden Colston_Yr12 Art

20. Emsley Wong_Yr7 Art

21. Molly Stone_Yr10 Art

Angelique Thompson_Yr7 Art

Charlotte Pich_Yr12 Art

Charlotte Pich_yr12 Art

Charlotte Pich_yr12 Art

Darsh Shah_Yr7 Art

22. Nathaniel Mah_Yr9 Art

23. William Johnston_Yr10 Art

24. Tully Lewin_Yr9 Art

25. Victoria Bawi_Yr7F Art

26. Rachel Liang_Yr8F Art

27. Sophie Boucher_Yr11 ACP

28. Syesha Rodrigues_Yr11 ACP

29. Cameron Keltie

30. Eden Colston_Yr12 Art

31. Emily Cherry Moe_Yr7A Art

32. Emily Cherry Moe_Yr7A Art

33. Emsley Wong_Yr7 Art

34. Hana Denholm_Yr12 Art

35. Katey Livic_Yr12 Art

36. Katey Livic_Yr12 Art

37. Katey Livic_Yr12 Art

38. Katey Livic_Yr12 Art

39. Katey Livic_Yr12 Art

40. Linda Fanai_Yr7F Art

41. Lola Washington_Yr8k Art

42. Matisse Spits_Yr8 Art

43. Maxim Perfilyev_Yr8 Art

44. Molly Stone

45. Rachel Liang_Yr8F Art

46. Roi Kang_Yr10 Art

47. Serene Yu_Yr8 Art

48. Sisley Chen_Yr8K Art

49. Sophie Boucher_Yr11 ACP

50. Syesha Rodrigues_Yr11 ACP

VISUAL Communication Design

3. Ethan Mcintosh_Yr10 VCD

4. Zoe Kang_Yr10 VCD

5. Samuel Infanti_Yr12 VCD

6. Roi Kang_Yr10 VCD

7. Hamish Billimoria_Yr11 VCD

8. Anais Chung Po Chuen_Yr12 VCD

9. Anais Chung Po Chuen_Yr12 VCD

12. Cherry-May Cuthbert_Yr12 VCD

13. Ethan Albiston_1Yr2 VCD

14. Joanne Kuo_Yr10 VCD

15. Jovana Kitanovic_Yr12 VCD

16. Samuel Infanti_Yr12 VCD

17. Natalie BARR_Yr12 VCD

18. Eamon Finkemeyer_ Yr7 VCD

19. Maeve Markham_Yr7 VCD

20. Vivienne Richards_Yr7 VCD

21. Evie Vanderwerf_Yr8 VCD

22. Iris Wang_Yr8 VCD

23. Abishag Hmar_Yr9 VCD

24. Calista Chung Po Chuen_Yr9 VCD

25. Esther Laizo_Yr9 VCD

26. Hamish Billimoria_Yr11 VCD

27. Amelia Yao_Yr12 VCD

28. Cleazza_Lim_Yr12 VCD

29. Cleazza_Lim_Yr12 VCD

1. Ye Ye Lwin Yan Naung_Yr11 VCD

2. Chelsea Albiston_Yr10 VCD

10. Chay Dwight_Yr12 VCD

11. Chay Dwight_Yr12 VCD

BACK TO Primary School

YEAR 12 When I Grow Up

ART EXHIBITION

2025 Staff