The Crest - Issue 8

THE ST MICHAEL'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL MAGAZINE

A Reflection from Mr Houlihan STORIES FROM ACROSS THE SCHOOL 13

Signature Programs – learning experiences beyond the classroom

Girl power in engineering

Encouraging the joy of reading

Music at the Centre

The stage is set

The Secret Garden

Kosi to Coast returns

Exodus

Extended Tuition takes off

Reconciliation and respect

ACS Athletics

7-12 House Cross Country

ACS Cross Country

House Aerobics

Geoffrey Ryan Cup

Kitchen Garden Mini Market

Happy Birthday to our Senior School Houses

The St Michael’s Community Festival 2022

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Ongoing connections with the Old Michaelian community

Col wins gold

Reunions

Sustainability in practice –the Second-Hand Uniform service

Thank you to all staff, from the Parent Community Association (PCA)

Gifts for the future

St Michael’s acknowledges the Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the School stands. We pay respect to their ancestors, elders and emerging leaders, and are committed to reconciliation. 28 5 23

A Reflection from Mr Houlihan

As we approach the end of my first term as Head of the School, and in my 22nd year at St Michael’s, I continue to be impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of our students, the breadth of their endeavours, and their openness to new experiences. Reading through this latest edition of The Crest, I am in awe of how our students have so readily embraced the return to onsite learning and taken up the many opportunities available to them.

The word for the year in 2022 was ‘courage’ and it has taken a great deal of collective courage to return our School to its typically vibrant, busy self. The pandemic has been a major disrupter, and not just in the manner that it required us to constantly pivot, reimagine, and redesign so many activities. The post-pandemic world is different and has gifted us ‘fresh eyes’ to observe our environment anew. This in turn has led to a necessary shift in our thinking, requiring us to relearn, in a subtly different way, skills and habits which were once second nature.

For our students, this has meant readjusting to a communal learning environment, rather than learning in the more isolated confines of their home or bedrooms. This has required greater intentionality on their part in contemplating and respecting the protocols and behavioural expectations associated with participation in school events.

Courage has been plentiful in the many individual acts of students reengaging, participating and team building postpandemic. It requires valour to try out for a sports squad, daring to audition for a production role, mettle to take on Exodus and resolve to be a leader. The many stories you will read in the following pages are testimony to the fact that our students have shown great courage in doing all these things and more.

Such courage is, in many ways, a manifestation of the Learner Dispositions we seek to instil in our students through our Teaching, Learning and Caring Framework. Our students are supported to develop eight Learner Dispositions, including to be Confident, Tenacious, Curious and Motivated. Confidence is especially relevant as we define it as to be brave in our actions, willing to try new things and believe in ourselves. Our staff have also displayed great perseverance and courage. It has taken a huge effort for them to re-establish norms, rethink programs to ensure they are relevant in 2022, and relaunch activities after a two-year hiatus. You will see throughout this publication evidence of the commitment, determination and pride our staff take in supporting our students and giving them so many opportunities to grow and develop.

Parents too, have played an important role. The Parent Community Association has tirelessly worked to offer a broad range of events designed to build a strong sense of community among our parents, including the huge undertaking that was the Community Festival. In turn, parents have been both enthusiastic participants and eager volunteers.

As we reflect on the year that was, we can be justifiably proud of the way in which our whole School community has leaned in. We have shown courage, and joy, in re-immersing ourselves in the richness that is life at St Michael’s. And with the approach of the festive season and holiday, I wish you and your families every blessing and much joy, safely shared in each other’s loving company.

"Courage has been plentiful in the many individual acts of students reengaging, participating and team building post-pandemic. It requires valour to try out for a sports squad, daring to audition for a production role, mettle to take on Exodus and resolve to be a leader. "

Signature Programs – learning experiences beyond the classroom

At the beginning of 2022, St Michael’s Grammar School launched our Framework for Teaching Learning and Caring. This framework identifies the driving principles and practices to promote student learning experiences that provide opportunities for students to use their head, heart, and hands. To support this, a number of Signature Programs have been introduced to assist us achieve our educational vision to nurture creative, inquiring minds learning From, With and For the world. Through Signature Programs students develop the capacity to collaborate with peers, communicate effectively, think critically, and demonstrate citizenship in their engagement with the wider community.

Signature Programs draw on evidence based experiential learning processes relating to the connection of learning, experience, and reflection. This approach recognises the student as an active participant in learning as they engage with their peers, community, and the environment. St Michael’s Signature Programs draw on these principles making deep connections between classroom based learning and rich experiences beyond the walls of the School, with these programs enhanced by partnerships with community groups and organisations. Learning also focuses on developing student capacity to be future ready and contributing citizens, in areas such as sustainability, leadership, and wellbeing.

In the Junior School, Signature Programs were met with enthusiasm as students engaged in deep hands-on learning in, and outside of, the classroom over an extended period of time. The inaugural Year 3 program, ‘Penguin Squad’, named by the students who participate in the program, involves an ongoing collaboration with Earthcare and the St Kilda penguin colony. Through the Penguin Squad program in 2022, students utilised cameras installed at the penguin nesting site to investigate the ecosystem in which the penguin colony exists and the penguins’ life cycle.

Year 4 students participated in the ‘Tomorrow’s Leaders for Sustainability’ program at St Kilda Botanical Gardens, in partnership with the Port Phillip Eco Centre. Through this program students develop an understanding of local indigenous flora and fauna and the preservation challenges they face. This informed student work building ‘Nest Boxes’ and ‘Insect Hotels’ which were placed around the School to provide homes for indigenous birds and insects.

As Year 5 students prepared for the challenge of being leaders of the Junior School they engaged in the ‘Leading the Future’ Signature Program. Over time, students developed their understanding of leadership and their ‘leadership toolkit’, exploring concepts such as being your best self, leading teams and community leadership.

In their final year of Junior School, Year 6 engaged in a service-focussed entrepreneurial inquiry. This weekly program was designed to assist students develop an understanding of entrepreneurial thinking and mindsets, as well as project planning and pitching skills. Students worked through a business plan to identify their market, their customers’ needs and the potential solutions. The culmination of this inquiry was a ‘Market Day’ in Term 4 during which they launched their intended product or service and sometimes both!

Signature Programs are also being developed for each year level in the Senior School. Year 10 students benefit from the Signature Program: ‘Immersions’, which offers students a suite of rich immersive learning experiences to choose from. Immersions allow for deep engagement with learning and experience over an extended period of time. Immersions included ‘The Great Barrier Reef’, which connected VCE Biology to diving experiences at the reef, the ‘Professional Sports Experience’ (Health and Physical Education), ‘Northern Territory’ (Indigenous Perspectives), ‘Wellbeing Retreat’ (Health Education), ‘Work Experience’ (Careers Education), ‘The Art Industry ‘ (Creative Arts), ‘Engineering Exploration and Drones Immersion’ (Design Technology), and ‘Bon . Appetit’ (Food Technology & Hospitality’). More Signature programs will be introduced in the Senior School in 2023.

The development of Signature Programs at each year level is an important part of our Strategic Direction: Towards 2030 as we continually strive to improve our teaching and learning practice and prepare our students for the world beyond school.

Dr Luke Mandouit Associate Head – Research Innovation and Professional Practice

K-12

1. Kirsten and Liam (3D) holding discs which tell the students what is and isn't permitted in national park sites 2. Students and staff participated in the networking activity 3. Students participating in the networking activity

Year 3 students on the St Kilda Pier at sunset

Year 6 Signature Program launch

Students participating in the networking activity

Students listening to a presentation given by Earth Care

The first penguin the Year 3s spotted at St Kilda Pier

Girl power in engineering

Ophelia (9H) has a passion for science, with a keen interest in engineering and her goal is to study Aerospace Engineering at the tertiary level.

When we asked Ophelia what interests her the most about this field she said “engineering is the reason everything works, without engineering, many simple things we have today would never have been possible, from phones to container ships. Engineering helps the world improve what we already have”. More specifically Ophelia enjoys Aerospace Engineering because having moved around the world, she grew up around planes. Ophelia explains that “planes have always been an interest of mine and have fascinated me with their design and how they work”.

During the July school holidays, Ophelia was one of 40 Year 9 students accepted to participate in the University of Melbourne’s Girl Power in Engineering and IT program. The program is a four-day program at the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus to increase awareness and inspire students about the exciting career possibilities in STEM.

The program extends over four years, beginning in Year 9 with a camp at the University. In Year 10, the previous year's participants are offered work experience in the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology and in the final stage of the program in Years 11 and 12, the participants have access to student mentors. The mentors are studying engineering at the University of Melbourne and they assist students preparing for VCE.

Ophelia shared her experience of the program, explaining that “everyone gained an understanding of all types of engineering from biomedical to industrial through participating in activities

based on engineering and IT”. Some of the activities included participating in making robots dance and building mini wind turbines. The participants also had the opportunity to tour the different laboratories and research facilities, and hear lectures about the diverse areas of engineering and IT.

Ophelia feels that the Girl Power in Engineering and IT program “put me with like-minded people who I instantly got along with and we were able to all enjoy the experience”.

Currently, the gender split in engineering is 80% male and 20% female, which is why the University of Melbourne has created this program with an aim to provide more opportunities to girls and women interested in STEM.

Ophelia explained that “engineering is a broad field where there is an area for everyone, engineering also offers flexibility and endless possibilities”.

For anyone trying to get involved in engineering programs or any career, Ophelia’s advice is “to ask your teachers for help, I found out about the University of Melbourne’s program from my maths teacher, and you never know what they might be able to offer”.

We are proud of Ophelia for her commitment to her passions in STEM.

McDonald Head of Senior School

1. Ophelia particpating in robotics

2. The participants programmed a dancing robot in their hands-on workshop

Emma

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Sporting prowess

It has been a big year for our girls on the sports field. In volleyball, diving, and netball our students have excelled.

Leah (10S) was selected as a player in the Under 15s Team Victoria Volleyball Squad. The state-based team represented School Sport Victoria at School Sports Australia Indoor Volleyball Championships on the Sunshine Coast from 22 to 26 August 2022. Leah and her team placed 5th. She has also participated in many other competitions and leagues including the Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships, where her team placed 9th and the 2021/2022 Beach Volleyball Season – where her team won the A Grade competition.

In Diving, Charli (8H) won a gold medal, together with her team mate, Melissa Wu, in the Women’s 10m Synchronised Diving at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Charli was the youngest member of the entire Australian Commonwealth Games team.

On Charli’s return to School, students and staff formed a guard of honour to congratulate her on her wonderful achievement. Charli was also admitted to the ACS Hall of Fame in August. The Hall of Fame recognises students who have demonstrated outstanding success in their sport.

In early September Charli was one of 33 Australian Commonwealth Games athletes awarded an Australian

Sports Medal, by the Governor-General. The medal is awarded to athletes who displayed great spirit and determination at the Commonwealth Games.

Lucy (10B) was selected to play in the Maria Little Shield Netball Tournament in late October at Sydney Olympic Park. Her team finished the competition with a silver medal, placing second among the seven teams participating. Since 2013, the Marie Little Shield Netball competition has provided female athletes with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to represent their state at a national level. The Shield was named after Marie Little (OAM), an Australian netballer who dedicated her life to those with an intellectual disability.

Congratulations to Leah, Charli and Lucy for representing the School with pride, and for performing at a high level. The entire St Michael’s community is enormously proud of all three students, not just for their performances, but also for the grit and courage they have shown, on and off, the sporting ground.

Mr Tyren Montebruno Director of Sport (K-12)

1. Charli (8H) at the Commonwealth Games

2. Leah (10S)

On the path to success

Two Year 10 students from St Michael’s, Eva (10B) and Ruby (10S), have been selected to participate in the prestigious Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program offered by the University of Melbourne.

The Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program is an academic enrichment program designed to support high achieving VCE students. Selected while in Year 10, students then participate in the program in years 11 and 12. Established in 2007, it is named for Professor Kwong Lee Dow, a former ViceChancellor of the University of Melbourne and a distinguished education scholar.

As Kwong Lee Dow Scholars Eva and Ruby will have the opportunity to take part in events and activities focused on expanding their academic and personal horizons. These include VCE revision lectures, personal development workshops, overnight adventures on campus and celebration events with family. They will also have access to the full library resources of the University.

When speaking about students selected for the Program, Professor Kwong Lee Dow said: "They've been chosen not only because there is a feeling that they will succeed and will do well in the University, but that they have qualities of leadership, engagement and involvement."

Students must apply for the program and the School is then asked to provide comments in support of the application. In supporting Ruby’s application, the School observed that her answers to question ‘display power in knowledge, reflection and appreciation of others, whilst also acknowledging difficulties which can at times need to be faced. This insight is a sign of maturity and awareness.’

For Eva the School commented that ‘you have a picture of Eva being a mature, insightful young girl with an awareness for others, the environment and her ability to cause change through social action.’

We offer our warmest congratulations to Ruby and Eva and have no doubt that they do indeed have the qualities of leadership, engagement and involvement.

1. Eva (10B) and Ruby (10S)

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Students' voices celebrated

The whole School community was thrilled when St Michael’s became one of only three finalists in the Victorian Student Representative Council’s (VicSRC) ‘Student Voice School of the Year’ Award.

Student voice and agency are important components of both our Teaching, Learning and Caring Framework and our Strategic Direction: Towards 2030. One of our goals is to ‘develop mechanisms for student voice, participatory decision making and feedback on their experience…’ We have made great progress in improving student voice and agency across the School in recent years, especially with the work of our Years 5-12 Student Representative Council informing various Committees.

Our Reconciliation Action Plan Committee, the Uniform Committee and Wellbeing Committee are just three of the committees in which our students are active participants.

In addition, students have been instrumental in developing the Student Hub, a digital platform run by, and for, students. The Hub features a ‘You can ask that’ segment (based on the ABC Show), a Pride resource centre, a First Nations resource centre and ‘Song of the day’.

The Merry Month of May, is another annual student-led activity and students are also responsible for hosting the

Astor Assemblies. In 2022 students designed, edited, and curated The Phoenix a student publication full of interviews, music, study tips, art, and literature.

In all these endeavours, staff have worked hard to foster an environment where students are genuinely heard and can flourish.

Following the advice that we were finalists for the Student Voice School of the Year’ Award, the Student Leaders were invited to produce a video to showcase their work. On Thursday 17 November, a contingent of staff and student leaders represented St Michael’s at the Awards Ceremony. While we did not win, the quality of the submission from our Student Leaders is evidence of their empowerment.

Badges presented to our early learners

For the first time in the School’s history the children in our Early Learning Centre were presented with a House badge to signify they were now part of one of the four Junior School Houses, Cintra, Marlton, Moss and Woods. St Michael’s Grammar School’s House system is central to the school’s history, Wellbeing programs and to developing a sense of belonging. The House system guides students through school life, and is the focal point of our supportive, inclusive, and encouraging culture. It also builds the sense of connection at the House based carnivals that all ELC children are now able to participate in.

On Thursday 16 June, each child was welcomed into their House by the Year 6 Co-Captains and Vice Co-Captains and Year 6 House Captains. It was wonderful to see so many Early Learning Centre parents and guardians attend this historic event. The children enthusiastically embraced the occasion demonstrating their strengths of courage, teamwork, and gratitude.

Mrs Alexandra Fegan Director Early Learning Centre

Arbor and Silvae Children’s Dinner Party

On Thursday 25 August the children in Arbor and Silvae Groups attended the Children’s Dinner Party. The dinner party is a special experience not only for the Arbor and Silvae Group children, but also for the staff of the Early Learning Centre and for staff across the School who feel privileged to attend. It was, once again, a special and memorable evening. The children demonstrated their strengths of respect, kindness, gratitude, and

friendship. It was clear that they all appreciated the sense of occasion, engaging in all parts of the evening with zest and enthusiasm. Their excitement filled the spaces and contributed to making the evening such a joyous experience for all.

In the words of more than one student – “it was the best night of their life!”

Mrs Alexandra Fegan Director Early Learning Centre

“It’s a great day for us to be at the dinner party. Thank you for the land of the Boonwurrung people. Thank you to our teachers, it’s a great honour to share with our teachers and our friends and they care for us and respect us.”

Hannah (Arbor)

1. Pre-Prep (4YOK) students proudly holding their badges

2. Atlas (Pre-Prep) with his mum (Miss Amy White) and Grandmother 3. Alex (Arbor) 4. Sadie (Silvae) 5. Seb (Arbor)

Community Action Day returns

St Michael’s third Community Action Day for 2022 was celebrated on Friday 5 August.

Students and staff took part in the festivities, which included a raft of exciting activities and games at recess and lunch and most importantly, supporting our chosen charities: the Sacred Heart Mission, Kids Under Cover and Jeans for Genes Day.

In line with Homelessness Week, students of all year levels collected non-perishable food items to be delivered and donated to the Sacred Heart Mission.

Students had the opportunity to wear casual clothes and were encouraged to make a gold coin donation to raise funds for Kids Under Cover. This is an Australian not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preventing youth homelessness by supporting vulnerable young people between the ages of 12 and 25, who are either at risk of homelessness or already homeless.

Years 7-12 students were encouraged to wear their denim in support of Jeans for Genes Day to help the scientists at the Children’s Medical Research Institute find cures for genetic

diseases. They also enjoyed a sausage sizzle at lunchtime along Coleman Walk with many helping hands cooking the barbecue and collecting money for the chosen causes.

Staff members and student from our Community Action teams worked together throughout the day to ensure the events ran smoothly and the donations were collected.

Thank you to all the students and staff who participated in the Community Action Day and supported our chosen charities.

Mr Murray Phyland Head of Community Service (K-12)

1. Oscar (10M) preparing for the lunchtime rush

2. Mia and Audrey (Prep A) with donations of canned tuna and pasta

3. A phenomenal effort from the Junior School donating a table full of items to Sacred Heart Mission

4. Mairead (12K) and Alannah (12S) supporting Jeans for Genes Day

5. The lunchtime BBQ for Community Action Day

6. Some of the non-perishable donations to Sacred Heart Mission

Mr Matt Heinrich

Mr Matt Heinrich joined the St Michael’s community in Term 2 as Director of Learning Technologies and ICT. Commencing his teaching career in his hometown of Canberra, he developed a passion for inquiry-based learning and the use of technologies to support all students, before moving into coaching and leadership roles.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Education (Primary), a Master of Education (Information Technologies) with distinction and recently completed a Certificate in School Management and Leadership via Harvard Business School online. His focus as a leader is to build the capacity of others by delving in to what those in the St Michael’s learning community need, and what motivates them to succeed. “When we honour the diverse voices

throughout our School and empathise in alignment with our values, we can better understand how changes in practices and new technologies will intellectually, emotionally and socially improve the lives of others. Innovation must be inspired and underpinned by empathy.”

Beyond the school day, Matt enjoys keeping fit, is an avid Essendon supporter and seizes any opportunity to attend live music gigs. Playing piano from age four, he finds joy in immersing himself in his collection of keyboards and guitars as well as performing with others. Contributing wholeheartedly each day is what motivates Matt and his humility and expertise bring a fresh perspective on technology use at St Michael’s.

Miss Zoey Collings

Miss Zoey Collings has been a member of the St Michael’s community since 2018. She is a Health and Physical Education teacher. Zoey entered the education sector after many years of working as a Myotherapist in private practice and at Collingwood Football Club. Zoey was drawn to teaching as she is passionate about student wellbeing, mentoring and empowering young people to achieve their own personal potential. Zoey believes that education starts with relationships, and she values building rapport with her students. She holds a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education.

At the beginning of 2022, Zoey was appointed the Sarum Head of House (Years 7-9). Zoey appreciates the opportunities offered by the position and is committed to providing the best pastoral care for every student.

When not at school Zoey loves attending live events (music, sports, comedy), going to the beach with her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Frankie, and travelling. Zoey was fortunate to tick off a bucket list item this year when she swam with the whale sharks at the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.

Encouraging the joy of reading

It’s been a busy year in the Knowledge Commons. Since we were once again able to host students and visitors back on campus, we have celebrated a range of fun and inspiring literary events.

In February the Junior School celebrated National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS), hosted by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). NSS is celebrated annually by students across the nation. ALIA chooses a picture book written and illustrated by Australians for students, children and families to read at the same time all across the nation. Students and families can choose to read the book themselves or watch the live feed via the ALIA website or YouTube.

This year the chosen book was The Family Tree by Josh Pyke and Ronojoy Ghosh. Our Early Learning Centre, Prep and Year 1 students had a live event hosted in the Prep Chapter space with a special guest reader, while the other Junior School classes watched the live feed. Mr Houlihan elicited some very insightful observations from the audience, but by far the most interesting topic was how old is Mr Houlihan really? The overall consensus was at least 100!

Book Week in August was the highlight of the year for the Knowledge Commons and we celebrated with costumes, author visits, competitions and the much-anticipated Book Parade. We were so happy to see parents back on campus and celebrating with us too! We were very lucky to secure author visits from Maxine Beneba Clarke author of Fashionista, Wide Big World and The Hate Race (ELC-Year 3 and Year 12), Andrew McDonald author of The Real Pigeons series (Years 4-6) Emily Gale author of The Other Side of Summer and Elsewhere Girls (Year 7) and Melissa Keil author of Life in Outer Space and The Secret Science of Magic (Year 8).

In 2022 the Bookmark Competition was open to students in the Senior School who enthusiastically took part and we are looking forward to the winning bookmarks circulating soon, with entries from Prep-Year 10

The Blackout Poetry competition was open to Senior School students and involved tearing pages out of old, no longer usable books, and using a black marker to choose their words and then colour around them to create a unique and visually interesting poem.

Throughout the year the Knowledge Commons has also introduced a range of exciting new online and physical resources.

Students can now access:

• BorrowBox our eAudio and eBook platform

• GALE databases which give Senior School students access to a variety of international journals, encyclopaedias, newspapers, magazines and digital articles to support their learning across most subjects.

• A range of Australian digital newspapers including The Age and Herald Sun

• New and exciting print magazines such as the AFL Record, Dance Magazine, Whacky but true! Slam Skateboarding and more.

• Senior School students have had their fiction collection gentrified (organised into genres) for easier access and use.

After a very big year in 2022 we are very much looking forward to more exciting developments in the Knowledge Commons in 2023.

Marion George Head of Knowledge Commons

1. Mr Gerard Houlihan reading to the ELC-Year 2 children

2. ELC-Year 2 students at Simultaneous Storytime

Dance in the cinema

This year, the St Michael’s annual Dance Project took a slightly different form, presented instead as a screening of short dance films and live entertainment, at a gala premiere in The Astor Theatre on 23 August 2022.

Each dance film explored one of six key film genres; Mystery/Spy, Horror, Gothic, Romance, Thriller, Fantasy and Sci-Fi and demonstrated choreography inspired by its film genre, with a stylistic or thematic similarity to soundtracks, narrative, aesthetics, or emotional responses of classics, cult favourites and new releases.

The choreographers utilised the mood and tone of their designated genre, as a stimulus to compose their dance.

Congratulations to our Years 7-12 students involved in an amazing production, and to all the staff, practicing dancers and PRIDE Productions who helped the Dance Project come together throughout Semester 1.

Miss Amelia Jones Dance Co-ordinator

1. The cast of Cinematic filming at Port Melbourne Pier 2. A scene from Cinematic 3. The cast of our Dance Project – Cinematic

Hello, Dolly!

On Wednesday 3 August, we were welcomed back to the National Theatre after an absence of more than three years. Hello, Dolly! was the perfect musical to mark our return to the stage.

On its surface, Hello, Dolly! comes across as a farcical musical full of matchmaking silliness, poking fun at longheld sexist stereotypes, chasing wealth and meddling. However, when you step back and really connect with each character’s journey it is, at its core, a story of the human condition, of our need for connection, our need for self-reflection and awareness, and our ongoing need as humans to grow. As we connected with the story, the more we realised Hello, Dolly! is in fact a beautiful clever comment on humanity.

It was a true privilege working with the incredible cast and watching the students wholeheartedly dive into understanding the deeper implications of the story they are telling and the characters they are portraying.

To the incredible cast, crew, orchestra, staff and volunteers working behind the scenes, we thank you. Without everyone, this musical would not have been possible.

Chloe Hancock Director, Hello, Dolly!

1. Charlie (11B) as Horace Vandergelder

2. The Dance Troupe of Hello, Dolly!

3. Scout (11B) as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!

4. Jack (12S) as Barnaby in Hello, Dolly!

Music at the Centre

Tuesday 30 August saw our much-anticipated return to the Melbourne Recital Centre for a wonderful celebration of Music at St Michael’s. This year the program for Music at the Centre was developed around the theme, “Discovery” and the selection of repertoire was both thoughtful and highly polished.

While there were many highlights, it was truly wonderful to see both our Junior Band and the Junior Harrison Choir perform with such poise and musicality. Both groups were clearly well rehearsed and the joy on the young faces as they achieved a major performance milestone was a delight to behold.

The senior ensembles and choirs definitely brought their best, as though they had been saving their efforts for the chance to shine once more in such a splendid venue. Bravo to all performers and the wonderful team of staff who have worked so hard to maintain interest and quality through some difficult years.

Particular congratulations to Old Michaelian and guest soloist Kobe Vincs (2021), whose original composition, Voyage of the Beagle was performed so well by the Scholastica Band.

It was a magical evening that provided a most heartening insight into the continuing strength of our music program at St Michael’s and was, in the kind words of Mrs Jones, “a triumph”.

Mr Ben Moody Director of Performing Arts

1. The Chamber Choir performing at Music at the Centre

2. The Scholastica Band (7-12) performing Voyage of the Beagle

The stage is set

Virtuoso celebrates excellence among our students in Years 11 and 12, with a range of solo performers featured throughout the evening.

Each of the performers selected bring outstanding skills and virtues in music performance, technical mastery and artistic creativity to the stage.

Deakin Edge was the venue for our Virtuoso concert on 23 June and we were joined by family, friends, students and staff. The evening included a variety of works from Chopin to Sondheim, with highlights spread through the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary periods.

1. Anna (12M) and the supporting orchestra performing at Virtuoso

2. Jasmin (12M) performing at Virtuoso

3. Hannah (12S) perfoming at Virtuoso

The featured performers in Virtuoso were: Christopher (11K) Hannah (12S) Alec (11S) Flynn (11H)

Anna (12M) Jasmin (12M) Scout (11B) Jack (12S)

Dominic (12B) Mia (12M)

Congratulations to our Years 11 and 12 students on their stunning performances and to all the staff, supporting performers (including Old Michaelians) who helped the show come together.

Mr Ben Moody Director of

Performing Arts

The Secret Garden

I felt an impulse to adapt Francis Hodgson Burnett’s 1911 novel The Secret Garden as a response to the last few years, and its aftermath – it remains a story deeply relevant to our contemporary experience. Aesthetically, the production was minimalistic and worked as a symbolic, mood piece influenced by physical theatre. It was designed to place more emphasis upon the idea of isolation, states of grief and fear, and the link between emotional and physical illness.

To emerge from darkened places often requires connection with something beyond ourselves, such as the natural world and its promise of regeneration, and the significance of human bonds. In this story it is the children who open the door and guide others to states of healing and growth.

I am indebted to our fantastic cast and crew for their willingness to take the risks necessary for creative endeavour

and success – to see them take flight was incredibly rewarding. In some ways, the process itself mirrored the themes of the piece; they thrived due to the bonds they forged with each other, empowering them to shine. It was a truly special experience for all of us and we thank the members of our community who came and shared it with us.

Mrs Sarah Merry Director, The Secret Garden

1,

& 3. The cast of The Secret Garden performing on opening night.

Kosi to Coast returns

This year was the 30th year that St Michael's has teamed with the Outdoor Education Group (OEG) to offer the Mt Kosciuszko to coast expedition (more familiarly known as Kosi), with the first set of Kosi students setting out on their expedition in 1991. The milestone of the 30th expedition was much anticipated after being postponed for two years due to the adverse circumstances of lockdowns.

And so in 2022 students had the remarkable experience of following in the steps of 30 different cohorts of previous students. We treaded in our snowshoes through the powdery snow of Kosciuszko National Park before switching to hiking boots to tackle the treacherous hills of the Alpine National Park, and then, to finalise the journey, paddled through the gorge of the Snowy River.

At 6.30am on 10 September, we arrived at the Bailey Room where we were greeted by the cheerful and optimistic welcome from Mrs Jones, our stomachs full of nerves and excitement ready to set out for our 20-day adventure.

The expedition begun at Perisher Valley where skiers were the last signs of civilisation, and ski lifts the last infrastructure, we would encounter for the next three weeks. Three days in and we were already faced with our biggest challenge of the journey, 70km/h winds. The temperature was well into the negatives, and equipment was flying away as we struggled to keep ourselves standing. This day unfortunately was to be our ‘Kosi summit’ day and so we were hit with our second disheartening challenge of the trip, accepting that we would not be able to summit.

Many more challenges came our way but so did many more smiles as our resilience grew and before we knew it, we had made it through four snow days and six days of hiking. A total of 140 km completed by foot accompanied by 13 days of spectacular sights that we will never forget.

On day 13, we were introduced to our raft guide Jen. This marked the beginning of our river component of the journey.

Jen often sung us songs around the campfire, “Listen closely to the lyrics of this one,” she would say, before singing us ‘Price Tag’ by Jessie J. It was a song we had all heard a million times before. “Can we all slow down and enjoy right now? Guarantee we’ll be feeling alright,” this line stuck with us the most as it summed up our rafting experience well. We all got to slow down, rest our knees and ankle, enjoy the moment while really appreciating and taking in the nature that surrounded us. Rafting also got the adrenaline flowing as we travelled down the white-water rapids of the Snowy River. Above all, the rafting component gave us the opportunity to really get to know each other and develop friendships.

Before we knew it our alarm went off at 3.30am for ‘Marlo day’. Despite an early wake up to avoid the coastal headwinds in our canoes, unluckily the headwinds still got the better of us. The final challenge to face, two paddles forward and the wind would push us two steps back, almost as if we were on a treadmill. After an exhausting seven more hours of paddling, we made it to Marlo. Filled with accomplishment, we ran into the beautiful blue waters of Marlo beach.

We finished with a pub feed to treat ourselves and one last night under the tarp before we said our goodbyes. An incredible experience where we learnt so much about ourselves and how to push past our limits. Kosi to Coast really brought out the best in each and every student and we formed so many friendships that will remain with us for life. The expedition taught us many lessons and we gained a new appreciation for the little things, whether it be a break in the storm, songs by the campfire or friends by our side.

Layne (11B)

1. Year 11 students on the Kosi to Coast trip

2. Students climb the summit of Mount Kosciuszko

Exodus

YEAR 3 EXODUS

On 20 October the Year 3 students packed their sleeping bags and overnight luggage for our 2022 Exodus, which was held at the School. The students arrived with excitement and eagerness to start their first Exodus journey at St Michael’s Grammar School.

The students had a fun filled day of team building activities and cheered loudly as the dismissal bell went; it signalled our camp had started! The students and staff set up tents in Wilma Hannah Hall and made sure their lanterns were turned on for an exciting night of team building activities with friends. We had visits from many staff and Mrs Armatas and Mr Houlihan enjoyed watching the students organise the camp site. The team watched a movie in their sleeping bags and enjoyed some popcorn, then headed off with their tent buddy to get comfy and sleep soundly, waiting for the early mornings adventure. The morning began with the packing up our ‘camp site’ and heading to Dolly’s Café for breakfast. We then went to the bus to take us on an exciting adventure to the Werribee Zoo. A big thank you to all the students for their enthusiasm, care and compassion for one another. And an especially big thank to the staff, Mrs Klose, Mrs Munro, Mr Sanderson, Mrs Barklamb, Mrs James, Mrs Bennett, Ms Pagnani and Mr Thompson for their time and effort, arranging such a special experience for everyone involved.

Thank you also to Dolly’s Café for their delicious food on Exodus. What wonderful memories were made during this special time in Year 3.

Miss Jacqueline Pagnani and Mr Mark Thompson Year 3 Classroom Teachers

YEAR 4 EXODUS

Our Year 4 Exodus returned to our traditional site at Aireys Inlet for our two-night Exodus experience from 4-6 May. The theme of the Exodus was Collaborative Connections. Each of the activities allowed the group to extend their connections and collaboration skills in a range of settings.

The students had a program of Archery, Giant Swing, Low Ropes, Climbing Wall, Canoeing, Hut Building, Initiative Activities, Coastal Environmental Investigation and a tour of the Split Point Lighthouse. It was also recommended to our Year 4 Students that they might look at the television program, Around the Twist during their holiday break as the show was filmed at the Split Point Lighthouse.

It was pleasing to see our cohort enjoy the Bush Dance on the second night, with their themed outfits and dance moves! We do look forward to this tradition continuing in 2023!

We would like to thank our Year 4 students for embracing the challenge of Year 4 Exodus, and I extend my thanks to the staff for their involvement in this experience.

Mr John Sanderson Director of Experiential Learning

1. Year 4 Exodus 2. Year 10 Exodus 3. Year 8 Exodus

YEAR 6 EXODUS

In May 2022, the Year 6 students went on Exodus to Marysville for four nights. While we were there, the students undertook teamwork and leadership building activities, such as bouldering where we would work in a group to overcome different physical obstacles. We also did some teamwork building activities like cooking, where we would prepare a meal for the rest of the class. On days two and three, we spent the nights in tents rather than in cabins. It was a lot of fun attending Year 6 Exodus this year!

Ethan (6I) and Teddy (6I)

I think the best thing about Exodus was the rock journey. It was scary at the start but it was fun at the end. The thing that was the worst about camp was sleeping in the tent, it was so cold. I was a little sick there and I did not have two good sleeps. Sleeping in the cabins were so fun. Lastly, the talent show was awesome.

Leighton (6E)

Year 6 camp was my best camp by far, from the sharing cabins with my friends to climbing massive rock walls. I loved all the activities we did and I learnt how to do so many new things. I became closer to my classmates and was able to push my limits. My favourite part of camp was the rock journey, where we climbed actual rock walls and walked through caves. I’m so glad that I got to enjoy the true beauty of Marysville. Camp was by far the highlight of my year.

Alex (6E)

Camp was one of my highlights in Year 6 because I was able to do fun activities and be with my friends for five days! My favourite part of camp was the rock journey because you could go for a walk on a mountain and through a cave and you got to see some of the best views. But all the other activities were still great and we all had lots of fun. I really think Year 6 camp was the best camp.

Baxter (6E)

Exodus was, overall, a truly brilliant experience only made possible by our teachers and OEG helpers. From the moment we left on Monday to our return on Friday, we were all excited and nervous. But despite the weather, we made some memories that will stay with us forever; the talent show , and every spectacular person that was brave enough to volunteer to perform. Other memorable moments were telling stories around a crackly campfire, keeping out the cold wind, the kangaroo and her baby that visited our campsite every day. And of course, let’s not forget all that time spent playing Gaga Ball. Year 6 Exodus has been successful, and we all bonded together even more.

Edith (6M)

YEAR 8 EXODUS

Our Year 8 Students experienced the magic of the Murray River for their Exodus experience. The journey, on Yorta Yorta Country, is built around the theme of Action and Reflection and students are encouraged to reflect on each environment and discuss and explore their differences, uniqueness and how connected they felt to each location. Despite challenging environmental conditions at times, our students showed great determination and positively and fully immersed themselves in the trip.

“I loved the canoeing section of the trip – it was peaceful and a great mode of transport.”

“Our group was pushed and challenged at times, and sometimes it felt like we wouldn’t make it! The only downside was the washing once home!”

“I had fun with my mates – we learnt so many skills and laughed along the way”

Mr John Sanderson Director of

Experiential Learning

YEAR 10 EXODUS

In 2022, our Year 10 Students travelled to Gariwerd for their Exodus journey. The experience involved the cohort selecting the type of program for the week ahead. Some of our Year 10 Students chose the Kosi to Coast Training Hike, which involved a bush walking journey in preparation for Kosi to Coast in Year 11. These students were supported by Old Michaelians – Evie Craig (OM 2019) and Max Bainger (OM 2017). While they faced challenging weather conditions at times it was pleasing to see the resilience and courage shown by these students, all of whom embraced the challenge!

Our remaining students, participated in a multi-activity, base camp program that was designed to provide them with the opportunity to reconnect with the natural environment and each other, through a range of outdoor activities and experiences. Divided into groups, the students participated in activities such as Day Hikes, Initiative Activities, Abseiling, Mountain Bike Riding and Mini Golf. In addition, Father McKie presided at a Eucharist which encouraged the students to reflect on their experiences.

I would like to thank our Year 10 Students of embracing the new challenges of Exodus, and the staff who attended the journey. We look forward to supporting their Year 11 Exodus experience.

Mr John Sanderson Director of

Experiential Learning

Extended Tuition takes off

The Extended Tuition Program is an extension of St Michael’s core Curriculum and Co-Curricular Program; offering students the opportunity to engage in a range of self-selected activities. The Program has been very popular in 2022 with over 150 students enrolled each term. In addition to the established Extended Tuition Program, with Young Engineers, Soccer and Hip Hop Dance, students have been undertaking a range of new activities in 2022 including ballet, chess, science with Fizz Kidz, Code with Minecraft and drama.

BALLET

Taught by Pippa Keltie who is an experienced dance teacher and performer, the ballet program is available to students in Prep to Year 3 to practice the foundations of classical dance. As part of the Extended Tuition Program, more advanced ballet classes will be available to further year levels in 2023 providing the opportunity for students participating in the existing ballet class to progress to formal ballet study if they wish.

AFTER-SCHOOL SCIENCE WITH FIZZ KIDZ

The Fizz Kidz after-school Science program offers students the opportunity to enjoy and understand science by engaging in weekly hands-on experiments in a safe, fun environment with a strong focus on tactile learning.

In Term 3, students investigated the fundamental scientific principles of electricity, light, sound and touch. Students had the opportunity to engage in weekly hands-on experiments such as building electronic circuits.

CODE WITH MINECRAFT

Code with Minecraft is designed for students to learn the fundamentals of coding through play-based learning using the Minecraft Education Edition. The program was very popular among junior students in Term 3 where they were able to learn drag and drop coding, design 3D structures and complete weekly coding challenges. Students were further able to develop their coding skills in the Minecraft Program during Term 4, focusing on creative coding by developing 3D structures.

CHESS

Beginners and experienced chess players alike attended the after-school chess in Term 3, each session focuses on a different strategy with students learning advanced chess openings, mid-game and end-game strategies and concepts. During Term 4 students who participated in the chess program had the opportunity to take part in a chess tournament at St Michael’s.

DRAMA

Drama students explored storytelling through voice and movement exercises and learning team building and communication skills while engaging in fun drama exercises to develop their performance techniques. After-school drama will be expanded to further year levels through the Extended Tuition Program in 2023.

For further information about the Extended Tuition Program please visit: https://www.trybooking.com/eventlist/stmichaelsetp or contact

Nick Bostock Activities and Venue Hire Coordinator nbostock@stmichaels.vic.edu.au 8530 3224

Reconciliation and respect

St Michael’s was thrilled to have David Tournier, Boon Wurrung Senior Cultural Officer, offer a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony on the School grounds on 1 June, during National Reconciliation Week. Whilst the inclement weather meant the occasion was adapted to a mostly online format, it was a rich learning experience for all our students and staff.

During his address, David spoke of the word ‘womindjeka’ meaning far more than ‘welcome’, as it is often translated. In fact, we learned from ‘Barraeemal Story’, by N’Arweet Carolyn Briggs (AM Boon Wurrung) that the word is created from three distinct parts: womin (come), dj (ask to come) and eka (what is your intention?). David summarised ‘womindjeka’ as ‘to come with purpose’. He also spoke of the three different plants he used for the Smoking Ceremony and their symbolism: gum leaves to represent his connection to family, cherry ballart to symbolise children and wattle to pay respects to his elders.

Student leaders, the Junior School RAP Club and staff then participated in the Smoking Ceremony. David invited us to see

this as not only a moment of cleansing for our spirit but also a moment for reflection to focus on the actions we can take to learn more about and acknowledge our First Nations Peoples.

David then spoke with some students and shared a collection of artefacts, allowing a deeper understanding of our history, the Boon Wurrung community, and their deep, enduring connection to the land.

Ms Alex Mountford

Chair of the Reconciliation Action Plan Working Party

Mairead (12K) and Finn (12H) School Co-Captains

Gigi (1R) Zoe (3E) Khloe (4A) and Coco (4F)

David Tournier, Boon Wurrung Senior Cultural Officer

Breen – champions of the track and field

This year the Years 7-12 House Athletics Carnival was held on Tuesday 3 May and student engagement and participation were at an all-time high, which led to some highly competitive races and events.

Well done to Breen House who were too strong throughout the day, winning the carnival, making it a three-peat from 2020 to 2022.

There were also some great individual performances, with Year 8 student Samuel (8H) breaking the School record in High Jump. He broke the record by 1cm with a jump of 1.61m, a record that has stood since 2011.

Well done to all students and staff on what was a fantastic day. The results of the Years 7-12 House Athletics Shield were:

Placing House Points

1st Breen 6770

2nd Hughes 6700

3rd Kilburn 6612

4th Mitre 6475

5th Sarum 6313

Mr Tyren Montebruno Director of Sport (K-12)

ACS Athletics

In the lead up to the ACS Athletics Carnival, on Monday 23 May, our committed team took part in an intensive three week training schedule, including Saturday and Thursday mornings and Monday afternoons.

St Michael’s placed 3rd overall on the day, with a final score of 2,663, an improvement from our 4th place finish in 2021 and an increase of 188 points on last year. We also won the following pennants – Year 10 Girls, Year 10 Aggregate, Year 12 Boys and Year 12 Aggregate.

A special mention to Charli (10K) who was awarded the Female Athlete of the Meet Award in recognition of her achievements on the day.

A big thank you to Miss Emma Cowan, our ACS Athletics Coordinator, who worked tirelessly putting the team together and Head Coaches Mr Steve Cain and Mr Jackson Bennett for organising our specialist coaches who prepared and trained our students so they were ready to perform on the day.

Mr Tyren Montebruno Director of Sport (K-12)

1. Breen – champions of the track and field

2. Our girls race to the finish

3. Charli (10K) receiving the Female Athlete of the Meet Award

4. St Michael's ACS Athletics Team

7-12 House Cross Country

Congratulations to Hughes House on winning the 2022 Years 7-12 House Cross Country Carnival.

For the first time the Carnival was held at Caulfield Park and it did not disappoint with perfect conditions. All students had the option to run or walk the 2.8km loop with a number of students producing some incredible individual performances across all year levels.

Again, well done to all who competed, you should be extremely proud of your efforts.

The competition results are based upon participation rates, as listed below:

Placing House % Points

1st Hughes 77.39%

2nd Kilburn 73.50%

3rd Sarum 72.81%

4th Breen 72.41%

5th Mitre 68.81%

Mr Tyren Montebruno Director of Sport (K-12)

ACS Cross Country

The 2022 ACS Cross Country Carnival was held on Friday 12 August at Bundoora Park.

A squad of 120 Years 7-12 students were selected to compete in the final ACS carnival of the year.

St Michael’s students produced some outstanding individual performances with the following students finishing in the top three in their events: Danielle (9M), Tilda (9B), Emily (10B), Nicholas (11M), Chloe (11H), Anna (12H).

All students who competed, proudly represented our School which resulted in our highest overall finish since 2015, finishing in second place behind Westbourne Grammar School.

Mr Tyren Montebruno Director of Sport (K-12)

1. Harry (8S) and Patrick (7M) race to the finish line

2. Mia (12H) and Emai (12B) with their medals post race

3. Our Year 12 students at their final ACS Cross Country

House Aerobics

The St Michael’s Gymnasium was abuzz on 5 September, when House Aerobics returned to our campus as a live event. The day itself was the culmination of practice over many weeks with the School grounds enlivened by the sound tracks of the various routines, from before School to the end of the day.

Congratulations to Hughes House who took home the trophy at this much-anticipated competition.

All our students participated with enthusiasm, and it was a close competition with Kilburn placing second, Breen and Mitre placing equal third and Sarum fifth.

We also saw a staff team take the floor for the very first time. We hope they participate with the same level of energy in years to come. Even when there was a technical glitch and the music stopped playing, the students clapped them on and even started to sing the lyrics to help keep the team

in-time. It was a beautiful moment of collegiality and support, something St Michael’s is known for within the community. The results of this year’s House Aerobics competition were: Placing House Points 1st Hughes 17

Mr Tyren Montebruno Director of Sport (K-12)

1 2

Geoffrey Ryan Cup

The Geoffrey Ryan Cup, our annual football matches against Westbourne Grammar School, was held on Wednesday 10 August. Hosted by St Michael’s the game was played under the lights at North Port Oval, our new ‘home ground’ for football matches. Our strong connection with Port Melbourne Football Club, formed in 2020 in the midst of COVID, has only just begun and we look forward to continuing to grow the partnership in the years to come.

The facilities at North Port Oval enabled us to host a special function for parents and staff of both Westbourne and St Michael’s. In addition, many current students, Old Michaelians and interested bystanders watched the game and were well catered for by the PCA with coffee, cake and a barbecue on offer.

After winning both games ‘away’, in 2021, the results did not go our way this year with both the Girls First XVIII and the Boys First XVIII losing narrowly to Westbourne, the girls by four points and the boys by three. As suggested by the narrow margins, both games kept the several hundred spectators on the edge of their seats until the very end.

We were extremely proud of the courage, tenacity and effort of all players throughout the matches and the sporting spirit demonstrated by both teams

Mr Tyren Montebruno Director of Sport (K-12)

Kitchen Garden Mini Market

The Environmental Action Team had huge success on Thursday 23 June, selling the produce grown in the Octavius Brown Kitchen Garden. Set up at the Marlton Entrance to the School, produce for sale included lemons, oranges, limes, carrots, chilli, radishes, grapefruit, lettuce, spinach and cos lettuce. The Environmental Action Team’s enthusiastic rendition of ‘get your fruit and veggies here’ would have competed with the shouts of Queen Victoria Market Stall Holders.

Parents were warmly greeted and encouraged to pay for the produce as they saw fit. Some items were more highly valued

by parents than others with lettuce being a hot commodity and flying out the door. The students raised approximately $500 with all funds re-invested into the next crop of garden goodness, ready for spring.

Mr Murray Phyland

Head of Community Service (K-12)

1. Our girls in action at North Port Oval 2. Geoffrey Ryan Cup – boys' match 3. Stephanie (5P) and Lucy (5K)

4. Students with fresh produce from the Octavius Kitchen Garden

Happy Birthday to our Senior School Houses

The House System at St Michael’s occupies a very special place in the life of the School. As we celebrate the centenary of the founding of the first four Senior School Houses, Hughes, Kilburn, Mitre and Sarum, it is timely to look back on their formation. Breen House was not established until 1987.

From their beginnings in 1922 the Houses at St Michael’s were always different in that they were never solely about sport. The introduction of the House system ‘enhanced competition between students in academic work and conduct as well as sport’.1 The Sisters’ Diaries from 1922 record the adoption of the House system and laid out very clear rules for their operation.

Each House was to comprise about 20 girls and each was to be managed by its own ‘officers’. These officers were to be the Head of the House (always a prefect), a council of two members and a Sports captain. These would be elected positions. A Court of Honour was to be held each week where the Head of House would read out the various good and bad marks for the House that week and any other matters of interest. By the mid-1920s all the Sister schools had adopted the House system.

In 1990 the purpose of the House system was substantially reinforced when Council determined that Houses would be the main focus of connection, rather than class or year level, and the basis for individual contact between students and staff. ‘A child would enter Form 1 (Year 7) and grow in it under the care of a designated House master and mistress whose duties would

include keeping records of academic progress, counselling, admonishing and advising students, maintaining contact with parents, and conducting weekly assemblies and prayers.’

The naming of the four Houses was of special significance. Hughes was named for Canon E S Hughes, the Community of the Sisters of the Church’s priest, and a generous benefactor to the School. Among many donations to the School, Canon Hughes and his wife gifted a small cottage in Wandin Yallock to the Sisters and this was to become both a holiday home for the Sisters, and at one stage, the place where the students were evacuated during the Second World War. The Hughes’ lion on a navy background is partly based on the Hughes’ family crest. Kilburn was named for the site of the Sisters’ first convent in Kilburn London, the ‘Mother’ House. It was in Kilburn, originally home to an important priory founded in the twelfth century, that Emily Ayckbowm established the Church Extension Association which was to become the Community of the Sisters of the Church to which she would become Reverend Mother. In the early years Kilburn’s motif included the oval shaped badge of the Sisters of the Church that we now know as the crest.

Mitre honoured Archbishop Lowther Clark, Archbishop of Melbourne, for his many kindnesses to the School, a mitre being the headdress worn by senior members of the Church. The kindness of the Archbishop was no small thing as in Sydney, the Bishop of Sydney had been decidedly unwelcoming of the Sisters. Archbishop Clark was a strong supporter of the

School and personally intervened to assist the Sisters obtain full registration as a secondary school when this was initially denied. Of course, the mitre was incorporated into the imagery of the House.

Sister Bridget, the daughter of a baronet, was one of the original Sisters to travel to Australia in 1892. She was a much-loved member of the Community at St Michael’s from its inception until 1932. It was Sister Bridget who gifted the money to the Sisters to purchase Marlton House when the School first opened. Sister Bridget’s aristocratic family had a close association with Salisbury Cathedral. Sarum was the earliest settlement on the site of Salisbury and close to the family’s ‘seat’ or ancestral home. Sarum was therefore named to honour Sister Bridget. The Sarum crest is taken from the Salisbury Coat of Arms.

It was not until 1987 that the fifth and final House, Breen came into existence. It was named to Honour Dame Marie Breen, an Old Michaelian who became a senator in the Federal Parliament, the first Victorian woman to be so elected. The impetus for the creation of Breen was the rapid expansion in students in the mid-80s due to the School becoming co-educational and the Federal government’s initiatives to make secondary school more accessible. The resulting larger classes for the VCE hastened the need for a fifth House.

While the nature of the Houses has evolved, they continue to play an important role in the pastoral care of our students. They teach students about personal accountability, allegiance,

loyalty and belonging. Central to wellbeing, the House system is interwoven with each student’s life at St Michael's. Each student is accompanied by a closeknit House group through the years, jointly representing their House in community events, performances, assemblies and sporting contests. Students take great pride in their House affiliation, with friendly rivalry adding a sense of excitement. Some students follow in their parents’ or grandparents’ footsteps by joining the same House.

There can be no doubt that the House system leaves an indelible mark on our students. At each reunion Old Michaelians are keen to know how ‘their’ house is faring in the House Cup and our stories and social media posts about House events are always the most popular.

And the inter-House rivalry remains fierce!

Ms

Ros

Casey Director of Enrolments, Engagement, Communications and Advancement

1. St Michael’s Grammar School; A study in educational change, Victoria Peel, Allen and Unwin, 1999

Sarum 1980

Breen 1987

Kilburn 1987

Hughes 1948

Breen 1990

Mitre 1949

Sarum 1945

The St Michael’s Community Festival 2022

On 22 October we welcomed the St Michael’s and wider local community to our campus for our biennial Community Festival. This year’s Festival theme was ‘A celebration of Who We Are!’. After a wet start to the day, it was a great relief that the clouds parted and the sun shone brightly as the Festival commenced.

The Festival was a great success in achieving its aim to bring our community together and create a wonderful sense of energy and fun. An estimated 2,000 people attended and everyone enjoyed the thrilling amusement rides, a wide array of workshops, stalls, food, entertainment, arcade games and the animal farm. Wonderful feedback was received from our broader community, including prospective parents and future families, who took the opportunity to visit the School to better understand who we are.

The Community Festival Steering Committee devoted months of work in planning and executing the event and of course it

would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors and donors and the involvement of over 250 students, parents and staff volunteers. We thank them for their contributions and also acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of Mary Wood PCA Vice President (Events and Programs) who was a driving force behind the Festival.

Ms Gloria Cafra Engagement Marketing Manager

1. Entertainment at the Community Festival

The crowd gathered at the Community Festival

Rides at the Community Festival

Josie Rizza and Kate Kloss, two of our many volunteers

Animal farm

Market stalls inside Dolly's Café

Our Volunteers

Students enjoyed the rides at the Community Festival

Students took on the festive spirit

Ongoing connections with the Old Michaelian community

The strong presence and engagement of our Old Michaelian (OM) community continues to contribute to the enrichment of our students’ experience across the School’s Co-Curricular program.

Our performing arts students benefited from the talent of many OMs including Tiernan Maclaren (OM 2017) who supported production set construction, Harrisen Hughes (OM 2021) who played in the Virtuoso orchestra and Harry Nguyen (OM 2018) who played in both the Virtuoso Concert and Hello, Dolly! orchestras. Harrisen also assisted with bump-in and bump-out for Hello, Dolly! Along with Luca Amodeo (OM 2021), Oliver Thompson (OM 2021), Alex Whaley (OM 2021), Hugo Monaco-Templeton (OM 2019) and Sam Deshayes (OM 2019). Kobe Vincs (OM 2021), who is studying a Bachelor of Music at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music provided artistic collaboration and guidance to the Scholastica band who undertook the challenge of learning and performing his composition – Voyage of the Beagle at the Music at the Centre concert. Kobe wrote this composition as the Victorian representative of the 2021 Young Composers’ Project of the Australian Society for Music Education (ASME).

Winnie Laing (OM 2020) and Mima Golias (OM 2019) Coached the 1st XVIII Girls Football team who competed for the Geoffrey Ryan Cup at St Michael’s new football home ground at North Port Oval, home of Port Melbourne Football Club. Westbourne Grammar were the eventual victors in what was an exciting and competitive match.

Many other OMs are working as coaches and provide inspiration and motivation for our St Michael’s sporting teams. Matt Walker (OM 2021) and Max Thompson (OM 2019) are coaching with the Swimming Club (SMGS Aquatics). Matt and Stella Smith (OM 2021) have also taught Prep, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 students in the pool. All four OMs were heavily

involved with the Swimming program during their time at St Michael’s and Matt Walker and Max Thompson were both ACS Swimming Captains in Year 12. They have demonstrated a pathway and inspired some of our current Year 11 students to undertake their swim teaching qualification and start working with Aquastar, our Swimming school partner, after school. Students participating in our Experiential Learning program enjoyed the support of Evie Craig (OM 2019) who attended the Kosi to Coast Exodus and Nick Leach (OM 2018) and Tara Flynn (OM 2020) who assisted with the Bon Appetite Food Technology Immersion.

Our wonderful Snowsports team who competed at the Interschools Competition held at Mt Buller, was very fortunate to have support from Saffron Rich (OM 2019) our Snowsports Coach, as well as Winter Olympians and OMs, Brodie Summers (OM 2011) and Tess Coady (OM 2018).

We thank all Old Michaelians for their support and look forward to the ongoing contribution and engagement of our diverse and vibrant Old Michaelian Community with the School.

If you are interested in engaging with the students, contributing to life at St Michael’s or learning more about the OMAC please contact oldmichaeliancommittee@stmichaels.vic.edu.au

1. Snowsports team at the Snowsports Breakfast

2. Saffron Rich (OM 2019) with Mr Stuart Whitehouse, Liam (12B) and Zac (11H)

Col wins gold

Col Pearse (OM 2021) won the Men’s 100m Butterfly S10 final at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Col finished the race with a time of 56.91 sec, in front of Alex Saffy (Australia) and James Hollis (England).

The Old Michaelian went head-to-head with Saffy, until the 75m mark, when he pulled away to claim his first international gold, nearly one second quicker than Saffy. A brilliant race that had the St Michael’s community and much of Australia on the edge of their seats.

The Birmingham event is Col’s first Commonwealth Games, but it’s not the first time he has tasted success. At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics (held in 2021) Col won a bronze medal in the Men’s 100m Butterfly S10 with a time of 57:66 sec. Col also competed in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley SM10

and made the final where he finished fourth. He also made the final of the Men’s 100 m Backstroke S10 where he finished eighth. Earlier this year, Col won two silver medals – Men’s 100m Butterfly S10 and Men’s 200m Individual Medley SM10 at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships. Col’s determination, work ethic and resilience are admired by all members of the St Michael’s community. We are so proud of you Col, congratulations on winning gold.

1. Col Pearse (OM 2021) at the Commonwealth Games

Karen Trepte (nee Fagg) (OM 1986)

Old Michaelian Karen Trepte (OM 1986) is currently working for the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), whose purpose is to strengthen society through world-class governance. Karen feels that in her role, she fulfills this purpose by bringing governance education and advisory services to Boardrooms in Victoria.

This role allows Karen to use her own board experience to help other board members bring a new level of governance to their organisation which she explains “entails speaking to lots of very interesting and inspiring leaders – which is my favourite part”. Karen also shared that she has been able to work with boards bringing governance into the Indigenous space, to enable the Indigenous voice to be heard.

Karen feels that in her role she is serving the community and, upon reflecting on her time at St Michael’s and in the Girl Guides, she believes that both the School and the guiding movement held service to the community in high esteem. While she says that community service might make us think of volunteer work or charity work, service can come in many guises, “Board members are custodians of the company for a short time, and they do their best to grow that company for the next generation”.

Karen’s career went to a new level when she moved into account management in the energy industry. She made her mark in energy sales in Victoria before moving to the United Kingdom. During her time in the UK, she rose to become a board member herself and started her own energy brokering business, which grew to an organisation of 50 people across three locations.

Speaking about how St Michael’s prepared Karen for her career, she says “with the House system, which turns 100 this year, we were able to compete at many activities in a safe and nurturing environment. This gave me the competitive streak I have to this day, and the love of mixing with lots of varied personalities. We also learned that not everyone is like us –and that is OK too”.

Karen has some sage advice to all students, “pursuing a future in any field relies on taking opportunities that come your way, whether you are ready for them or not, you might just surprise yourself”. She also reflected on the advice she received from the Careers Counsellor of the day that “we would have more than one career in our lifetime – gone were the days of a job for life”. Karen felt that this advice helped her to know that a change in her career pathway was to be embraced and not feared.

We thank Karen for her time and for sharing her experience.

Patrick Hughes (OM 1996)

Old Michaelian Patrick Hughes (OM 1996) is a film writer, director and producer, known for a number of hit action movies including The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017), The Expendables 3 (2014) and Red Hill (2010).

Patrick is passionate about writing, directing and producing films. This year, Patrick has focused on writing and is writing three films including one for Netflix. He really enjoys the writing stage and describes it as “pure creativity that is untouched and untainted”.

Prior to, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Patrick was directing films, which involved a great deal of travel around the world. Directing involves managing crews, actors, studios, budget and the schedule and taking on the responsibility for the entire production. Despite all of this, Patrick said, “there is a tremendous amount of reward that comes out of hard work” and he is excited that he will be back on set directing next year. He says that Australia is a wonderful place to be filming now due to exchange rates, which haven’t been favourable since 1999.

For Patrick, a key highlight of his work is that from day to day his job is never the same. He is conscious that on paper his job seems ridiculous. A typical day for a director might involve travelling to an exotic place, filming a boat chase and blowing something up, which sounds incredible. Another highlight for Patrick is that he is fortunate to work with many gifted and talented crew and cast and every day he is learning something new from others, particularly those that have been in the industry for longer.

Thinking about his time at the St Michael’s and how the School helped him prepare for his career, Patrick said that he “feels indebted to St Michael’s”. Patrick was very interested in the Arts and Fine Arts at school and was often involved in acting in the School productions. Patrick studied photography in his senior years, however, he was also interested in filmmaking, often filming in and around the School, using his friends as actors.

There were no film studies at St Michael’s at the time and when Patrick was in Year 10, he visited the Principal, Mr Tony Hewison, advising him that he really wanted to apply for the Victorian College of Arts (VCA) to study film and television.

Patrick explained to Mr Hewison that in order to do this, he needed to create some short films and asked whether one of the art subjects could be made into a film course. Mr Hewison was very open to this idea and the Photography course became a combination of photography and film studies. Mr Hewison’s willingness to listen to student voice allowed Patrick to create his short films in order to be admitted into the VCA.

Patrick also feels that St Michael’s provided him with the foundations for transitioning into adulthood and entering the workforce, including developing his people management skills which are highly important in his current role. Only when stepping back, after finishing school, was Patrick able to appreciate what the education system and the School did to assist in setting him up for his future.

The short films that Patrick made during his time at St Michael’s did well and won many awards, including Best Film at the Australian Teachers of Media awards, Best Art Film and Best Drama and Short film, with his film playing at the IMAX cinema in Sydney just after he finished year 12. This really helped Patrick to launch his career and be accepted into the VCA.

His advice to students who are interested in pursuing a career in the film industry, or any industry, is to “go for it, the only person that is going to stop you from pursuing what you are passionate about is you. Believe in yourself and in your ideas, don’t wait for approval from others to tell you that you can or can’t do something”.

Patrick has recently created his own production company, Huge Films, here in Melbourne and is looking forward to producing and shooting his upcoming projects here, including the action and sci-fi film ‘Warm Machine’ which will be filmed next year.

We thank Patrick for taking the time to share his story of success in the film industry and we wish him all the best with his upcoming films.

Reunions

It was wonderful to hear the cries of “that was MY locker!” as Old Michaelians toured the senior campus as part of a welcome return to in-person reunions in 2022. The reunions were a great opportunity for Old Michaelians to reconnect with their classmates after many years and all were well attended. There was a particularly strong turnout for the rescheduled Class of 1986, 35 Year Reunion thanks to the rallying of classmates by Old Michaelian Association Committee member Carolyn Pradun. Many past staff also attended, and it was a wonderful night of reminiscing and reflection. It was also heartening to hear that many Old Michaelians also reconnected at the Royal South Yarra Tennis Club – this reunion originated in 2005!

A special Reunited Formal was also held for the Class of 2021 which brought together the best elements of a Reunion and the Years 11 and 12 Formals which the Class of 2021 were unable to enjoy due to the pandemic. The Reunited Formal celebrated the incredible resilience and courage that these young OMs have developed over their VCE years spent in and out of lockdowns. The glamorous event was held at Leonda by The Yarra, and included an extremely popular photobooth and a special rock band performance by Class of 2021 members Harrisen Hughes, Luca Amodeo, Tom Cerra, Joshua Sun and Alexander Whaley.

CONNECT

The Old Michaelians Facebook group is a lively group where past staff, students and parents can keep in touch and stay up to date with Old Michaelian news and events. Additionally, SMGS Generation is a networking platform exclusively for the St Michael’s community – this allows Old Michaelians to connect with each other professionally, for mentoring, and for opportunities to connect to School activity such as careers nights.

St Michael’s Old Michaelians

SMGS Generation

UPCOMING REUNIONS IN 2023

We invite OMs to join us at their upcoming reunion and we encourage OMs to keep their details up to date via stmichaels. vic.edu.au/update-your-details/. Please check our website at stmichaels.vic.edu.au/community/events/ for reunion dates.

1. Attendees at the Royal South Yarra Tennis Club Reunion, many of whom attended St Michael’s in the 1950s and 1960s.

2. Tim Crane, Rebecca Clifton, Hannah Reid and Stephen Buchan – 2007

3. The Class of 1986 35 Year Reunion pictured with past and current staff

Vale

St Michael’s pays tribute to Old Michaelians, Staff and members of our community who are no longer with us and offer our condolences to their family and friends who are in our thoughts and prayers.

Mrs Betty Hogan (nee Nutting) (OM 1943) 27 December 2021

Mrs Helen Israel (nee Kew) (OM 1943) 4 February 2022

Mrs Patricia Kelly (nee Ludlow) (OM 1943) 19 May 2022

Mrs Wyvern Hodgkin (nee Carter) (OM 1943) 8 September 2022

Mrs Monica Shepherd (nee Johnson) (OM 1943) 25 September 2022

Mrs Elizabeth (Anne) Bayton 17 June 2021

The Right Reverend John Bayton AM 14 August 2022

St Michael’s thanks the community for advising us of the passing of their loved ones. This information is correct at the time of publication. To respect the family of the deceased, names will only be published where the family has advised the School or there has been a public notice advising of the death. These names have been added to the School’s Year’s Mind Book, which records anniversaries of significance to the School community. This will ensure that they will be remembered in prayer at a Eucharist held in the School’s Chapel of St Michael and All Angels at the appropriate time each year and that their memory will be honoured by St Michael’s Grammar School in perpetuity.

If you are an Old Michaelian or member of the St Michael’s community who would like to share a story or community notice, please contact us at engagement@stmichaels.vic.edu.au

Sustainability in practice –the Second-Hand Uniform service

The Parent Community Association (PCA) Second-Hand Uniforms (SHU) volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that beyond providing excellent quality garments to the community, they contribute to a circular economy. In practice, this means diverting as much as possible from landfill, and ensuring that garments continue to be loved. This is no easy task as the SHU receive a considerable number of garments each month. Much of it is high quality and they are grateful for the care that students take with their uniform!

With growing demand from current families, most are sold to the parent community, however some garments remain unsold either because there are excess quantities or because the items have been phased out and are no longer part of the uniform. What happens to these excess garments? The PCA partners with two foundations who do incredible work in the Pacific region - building infrastructure, connecting running water and supplying children with everything they need for school.

The PCA proudly supplies the Katalyst Foundation with the excess summer dresses, shirts and shorts. General Manager, Liz Zamanis-Robertson (OM 1992) says “Uniforms are so important, they promote a sense of community and belonging to a group, they encourage unity. When donations such as uniforms reach the other end, they are met with so much gratitude and happiness, their reactions continue to spur us on in our work. The children often squeal with delight and are so excited – we see this reaction from all age groups as there is little to no chance that uniforms could be bought for many of these students”. Katalyst Foundation focuses much of its work in these remote, underprivileged communities of Vanua Levu, Fiji.

Additionally, the PCA are delighted to support the Reagan Milstein Foundation in Tonga, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, providing sport uniforms, backpacks and rugby jerseys to be redistributed to youth football teams and communities.

Leftover garments are also used by Year 12 students to create their uniform costume masterpieces worn at their breakfast celebration on Valedictory Day.

Only a very small number items, equating to less than one rubbish bin per year, is deemed unusable, and the PCA is working on plans for these to go to a fabric recycler, again ensuring they do not end up in landfill.

Current PCA SHU Leader Amy Rose is extremely proud that even beyond their life within the St Michael’s community, the garments continue to serve a purpose to others. The tireless work of the previous PCA SHU Leader and past parent, Anouk Hulme, whose dedication to sustainability was a driving force in ensuring these garments would go on to live a renewed life, is also acknowledged.

“When donations such as uniforms reach the other end, they are met with so much gratitude and happiness, their reactions continue to spur us on in our work. The children often squeal with delight and are so excited – we see this reaction from all age groups as there is little to no chance that uniforms could be bought for many of these students” “Uniforms are so important, they promote a sense of community and belonging to a group, they encourage unity. They also transport students to learning mode as soon as they are put on”.

Learn more: rmf.world/ and katalystfoundation.org

1. SHU Volunteer Anwyn Griffiths packaging the sport uniforms for the Reagan Milstein Foundation

2. SHU Leader Amy Rose with current parent Jo Rosenthal, on her way to deliver the garments to the Reagan Milstein Foundation

The PCA – bringing us together

The Parent Community Association (PCA) has continued its mission to bring the St Michael’s community together. Memories of the restrictions of the past couple of years are fading as we enjoy the many successful PCA events attended by our enthusiastic parents and look with optimism and positivity to brighter days ahead.

One of the events strongly supported by the PCA was the Geoffrey Ryan Cup on 10 August. This annual St Michael’s v Westbourne 1st XVIII Boys and Girls Football Matches, was held for the first time at our new football home ground - North Port Oval, in celebration of the School’s partnership with the Port Melbourne Football Club. A dedicated group of PCA and staff volunteers contributed cakes for our stall and managed the barbecue offerings, with a busy coffee machine to ensure that a very appreciative crowd of over 300 supporters was nourished and caffeinated.

We adopted a very successful new format for the PCA Father’s Day event on 2 September which was held at the Porsche Centre Brighton where our guest speaker, Bryce Gaton - founder of EVChoice Consulting, provided independent and up to date advice about Australia’s likely tipping point towards more sustainable electric vehicle transportation. The event was well attended by our fathers, who enjoyed the discussion panel hosted by Master of Ceremonies, race driver and St Michael’s parent Sven

Burchartz, and happily socialised during our host’s tour of the state of the art Porsche workshop.

The PCA Kitchen Garden Working Bee is now a biannual event so there has been continuity established in maintaining and improving this educational garden for our students’ use. The group of enthusiastic volunteers who worked at the School on Saturday 3 September was able to successfully improve the condition of several garden beds, the chicken coop and the pond, creating space for new vegetation, seedlings and produce used in various class activities.

We are very grateful to and thank our wonderful PCA Year Level Representatives and volunteer Leaders who are the glue that has been re-uniting our parents post-lockdown and building links with our School. The team has continued to organise various coffee mornings and parent events to ensure those strong bonds continue to be forged across year levels as well as more broadly. Please put your hand up if you would like to offer your volunteer support with our PCA team in 2023.

Rebecca Verratti has been involved with the PCA for nine years. This year Rebecca assisted with the sewing bee for the Years 10 – 12 Musical Hello, Dolly! which involved creating many different and elaborate costumes for the ensemble. Rebecca explained that “creating items for the musical is a fun way to be involved” and particularly as Rebecca’s child was in Hello, Dolly! she felt “it is a great way to be a small piece of the jigsaw that culminates in such a magical performance”.

As a current parent, Rebecca has also volunteered her time to assist at Open Mornings. Open Mornings provide an opportunity for potential future families to visit St Michael’s, to understand the School’s culture, receive information and meet students and staff. Current parents are also invited to volunteer to liaise with potential parents giving them an opportunity to ask questions from a current family’s perspective. Rebecca reflected, “the time flies as potential parents have so many questions, it is very well received and the engagement is high”.

Last year, Rebecca assisted with processing second-hand uniform items, explaining that “the number of items received can be overwhelming for the volunteers and they are always very appreciative of the assistance”.

Rebecca has volunteered at St Michael’s in many different capacities over the nine years, a key highlight included assisting in the reading programme when her children were in the early years of Junior School. She described the experience as “particularly rewarding” as “little children discovering books, art and the wonder of school and the opportunities it brings is wonderful”.

Particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, Rebecca feels there has been very little interaction with parents on campus, however, volunteering gives Rebecca “the opportunity to chat with parents and feel connected with the School and what is going on in our children’s lives”

We asked Rebecca for any tips on how to fit volunteering in with other commitments, Rebecca explained “there are tonnes of volunteering options that are flexible enough to fit around busy schedules with varying commitment levels. You can choose one-off roles on weekends through to weekday ongoing commitments. It is also a great way to get a few of your St Michael’s tribe together and connect through helping out the School. The School will appreciate it”.

Sarah Dunphy

Sarah Dunphy enjoys “the opportunity to meet other parents - both in the PCA and in the wider year level”. She currently shares the 3-Year-Old Kinder Year Level Representative (YLR) with another mother. While there are a few parents with older children at St Michael’s, for most parents, Margaret Thomas House Kindergarten, now known as the St Michael’s Early Learning Centre, is their first experience of the St Michael’s community Sarah said.

Sarah’s favourite memory of volunteering to date was a parents’ cocktail evening, explaining that when her son started at Margaret Thomas House during COVID, there were limited opportunities to get together as a parents’ group. However, when her daughter started, the YLRs were able to organise the parents’ cocktail evening. “It was the first time many parents were able to get out together, so it was a really fun event”. YLRs have tried to run different events, as every family is different,

including park plays, a wonderful table at the Trivia night and a mum's dinner.

To other parents thinking about volunteering, Sarah says “please consider it, there are so many ways to contribute to the community which can fit into your schedule – from being a parent rep to one-off activities”. Sarah’s husband, Ben, volunteered one morning earlier this year in the Prep room for their ‘Grow Day’ –which involved helping the children learn about the human body. Ben “had an amazing time with the kids and they loved having a new 'teacher' help them out”.

Sarah’s advice to anyone considering volunteering as a YLR is to “plan out the year's activities ahead of time so you know when you might need to put extra effort into the role and keep it simple – a park play for the younger years is easy and enjoyable for everyone”.

Rebecca Verratti

Thank you to all staff, from the Parent Community Association (PCA)

On World Teachers’ Day, Friday 28 October, the PCA held a celebration morning tea for teachers and staff across our wonderful School to recognise those who plant and nourish our children’s learning seeds. As parents we watch them grow and evolve across their time at school under the experienced nurturing care of their teachers. Our School is a critical part of our children’s evolution.

Our PCA appreciates the life journey our teachers create for our students at St Michael’s where they, together with all the staff, provide a culture that goes beyond DRCC; building acceptance, inclusion and encouragement of each individual student’s strengths

As an expression of the PCA’s appreciation, each staff member received a specially selected edible indigenous plant with seeds, organised by our thoughtful PCA VP (Events and Programs) Mary Wood. The gift aligns with the spirit of our School’s Reconciliation Action Plan. Our students and parents also left appreciative messages for various staff members on a digital messaging padlet online. 1. Laurence Brottes and PCA Executive 2. Plants for the staff as gifts 3. PCA President Tamsin Jowett

Gifts for the future

Sadly, in 2021 St Michael’s lost a dear friend in Jan GordonClark who passed away in October 2021. Jan’s 81 year association with St Michael’s is unlikely ever to be surpassed. She joined as a student in 1940, graduating in 1952 and occupied many voluntary roles including as a foundation member of the School’s Council, serving on the School’s governing body for an unbroken 40 years.

In 2014 Jan was the recipient of the St Michael and All Angels Medal and the accompanying citation read, ‘…There is no-one in the St Michael’s community who has given so unstintingly of their life over such a lengthy period to ensure that we continue to prosper as a learning community…’

Jan not only gave her time and used her considerable intellect to support St Michael’s, she and her husband, Dr Henry Gordon-Clark were also generous benefactors during their lifetime. And, as a final act of generosity, Jan made a bequest in her will to support scholarships at St Michael’s.

Jan’s thoughtful gift was very much in keeping with her vision and commitment to doing all she could to help St Michael’s thrive. It was in every way a gift for the future. Before her death Jan had discussed her proposed gift and was able to ensure that the donation would be used in accordance with her wishes.

Over the years the School has received many bequests, and these have been used to improve facilities for students or to support scholarships. Bequests, a gift in a will, provide lasting benefits for future generations of students.

To acknowledge and thank those who indicate that they intend to support St Michael’s by leaving a gift in their will, we have formed The Seven Sisters Society. The Society is named to honour the original seven Sisters who came to Australia in the 1890s; Sisters Hannah, Rose, Irene, Bridget, Lucy, Phyllis and May.

Becoming a member of The Seven Sisters Society, through a gift in your will, can strengthen your close and enduring connection to St Michael’s. Members will receive special communications and invitations to School events and to events just for Society members. This will enable you to be well informed about the School and to connect with like-minded benefactors.

If you are interested in finding out more about bequests or The Seven Sisters Society, we encourage you to speak confidentially with the School’s Advancement Office by calling 03 8530 3315 or emailing donations@stmichaels.vic.edu.au

Ms Ros Casey

Director of Enrolments, Engagement, Communications and Advancement

1. Dr Janette Gordon-Clark

2. Dux of the School, 1952 3. Jan with the 1952 Prefects (back row on left) 4. Jan at the St Michael's 50+ Year Reunion in October 2013

Nurturing students to learn From, With and For the world.

applications open for

entry Our Scholarship program is an integral part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion and we welcome students who will bring their own story and gifts to our vibrant community. This might include students who have achieved excellence in a particular field of endeavour, including, but not confined to, sport, the performing arts, visual arts or academic study or who may demonstrate strengths in a range of disciplines, including a commitment to contributing citizenship.