We recently welcomed students and staff back from a number of overseas trips: World Challenge (India), Manchester City Tour (England), and Takada Study Tour (Japan). Each trip was a great success, allowing students to engage enthusiastically in cultural experiences and curriculum-linked learning. Our staff accompanying our students and international hosts commented positively on the students’ behaviour and curiosity. I want to thank the staff who planned and supervised these programs, and parents / carers for their trust and support.
I had the privilege of attending our Senior Sports Awards evening. It was a great occasion where students, with their families, were recognised for their various sporting achievements while representing the College. I was amazed at the accomplishments of our students in competing against other schools in team and individual sports, it was also reported that several students broke Parade and ACC records over the last school year! It is important to mention our 1st XVIII AFL football team winning the ACC and Herald Sun Shield Premiership for the third year in a row! Congratulations to the team and the coaching staff. It was also particularly special to see our female students from our Sports Academy receive several accolades for their accomplishments during their first year as Parade students. A special mention to Shaun Bowie, Dean of High Performance, and the PE Department for organising an enjoyable evening.
Our Art and Technology Exhibition opened on Thursday 9 October. What a wonderful expression of our students' creative, methodical, and thought-provoking contributions! I was truly amazed at the work our students from all Year Levels produced and it was quite difficult to choose just one piece for the Principal’s Award. This year, Year 12 Angus Tucker L04 was the recipient of this award for his layered depiction of dreams and nightmares. I would like to acknowledge our staff who continue to work with our students to express themselves through art and technology, and our Learning Area Leaders – Sasha Tukavkin, Art and Chris Sedgman, Technology – for their time and effort into bringing the Bloom Exhibition to life.
Our Year 12 VCE and VCE VM cohort has now finished formal classes for the year — an important milestone for our students! We celebrated this transition with a series of events including a barbecue lunch, games, presentations focusing on safe driving and safe partying, a liturgy and breakfast on Friday morning before heading off to Funfields. I am quite pleased to say that our Year 12s participated in all celebrations with a great spirit. Thank you to the staff and students who made these occasions so positive and memorable for everyone involved.
With classes concluded, we will be celebrating our Valete evening on Monday 20 October. This great tradition recognises the achievements of our Year 12 students and the efforts of their families and teachers who have supported them on their secondary school journey. Our VCE students will then enter a focused study period in preparation for their final examinations. This is a critical time for our VCE students to consolidate knowledge, refine exam technique and be mindful of their personal wellbeing. All Year 12 VCE teachers will be available to continue supporting our students during their normal timetabled classes until each examination has been completed. I urge our students to communicate with their teachers and gather feedback and advice while studying.
Our VCE VM students will be moving on to further study, apprenticeships, and other work opportunities. I wish our students all the best with their future endeavours and encourage them to use our school careers and wellbeing counsellors to navigate this next chapter in their lives.
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