COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Sybilla George (OM 2020) leading a workshop for Literature students
Ongoing connections with the Old Michaelian community Our vibrant community of Old Michaelians provides support to students in their endeavours, participates in events, and nurtures a sense of belonging across the entire school. In Term 1 2021, our 2020 Dux of the School Sybilla George returned to St Michael’s as part of the VCE Literature Enrichment Program, which sees Old Michaelians and professional academics share their knowledge with our current Literature students. Last year, Sybilla achieved a perfect score of 50 in Literature. Sybilla led a seminar on how to plan and write a Passage Analysis for our Year 12 cohort. She shared planning and drafting tips, and modelled writing skills and interpretative strategies for this section of the VCE course. These skills will feed directly into the students’ final exam at the end of the year. Also assisting with Literature, Ben Hughes (OM 2019) helped the Year 11 students by demonstrating his approach to Passage Analysis, a cornerstone of the Year 12 exam. Several Old Michaelians have returned to assist with the Performing Arts in 2021. We thank Lydia Crist (OM 2016) for her assistance with the Dance Project, Cian Westall (OM 2017), who helped with Drama Studio maintenance, set building and lighting for the 2021 Student Production The Real Inspector Hound, and Olivia Walker (OM 2018), Sam Deshayes (OM 2019) and Ellie Singe (OM 2020), who assisted with House Drama. Sam also was on hand for Twilight Music and Ellie was a great help with lighting for the Student Production. Thanks also to Ethan Hunter (OM 2018), who designed the sound for the Years 10 to 12 Play, William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. Several Old Michaelians also put up their hands to attend Exodus with our current students. Thank you to Mima Golias
and Evie Craig (both OM 2019) who led groups on our Year 7 Exodus, and to Georgia Byrne and Tara Flynn (both OM 2020), who worked as leaders on Year 8 Exodus. Tara also attended the Skills Extension Program Surf Weekend, and in her spare time works as a St Michael’s Sports Coach! “My main motivation for getting involved as an Old Michaelian is wanting to give back to the School for all that I received over my 13 years here as a student. Also, given some of last year’s losses in terms of events such as school camps and carnivals, it’s nice to be able to still be a part of these, and watch the current students enjoy the events that my cohort came to really cherish.” – Tara Flynn (OM 2020) Every year, the Old Michaelian Association Committee offers support to the entire Year 12 cohort. The OMAC provides treats for Year 12 students to give them a boost as they progress through their studies and head into exams. One evening in April, the OMAC left hundreds of Easter eggs in the Year 12 common room. This was a sweet surprise for the Year 12 students to find in the morning! It is fantastic to see our Old Michaelian community having such a strong presence at the School and we are looking forward to welcoming many more Old Michaelians back to the St Michael’s campus after having to postpone or cancel so many events in 2020. If you are interested in learning more about the OMAC please contact oldmichaeliancommittee@stmichaels.vic.edu.au.
The Crest Issue 5 2021
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