Well done to Kenory Theam and Ashley Vaid who represented
Wellington Secondary College at the Rotary Model United Nations
Assembly, held at Lyndale Secondary College on Saturday August 17.
Kenory and Ashley participated in a mock assembly where they spoke to a
variety of resolutions, debated resolutions and provided support to different countries.
Phone: 9547 6822
Email: wellington.sc@education.vic.gov.au
Attendance: 9562 4762 or 0484 009 562
IT Helpdesk: helpdesk@wellingtonsc.vic.gov.au
Year 12 Formal
The Year 12 Formal was held at Leonda on Friday August 2. I am pleased to report that it was a fantastic night filled with fun, glamour and collegiality amongst staff and students alike. Thanks to Mr Coles, Mr Feenane and Ms Pillay, the Senior School Team, the formal committee and all staff who attended for organising and making this Wellington’s night of nights!
College Production
Rehearsals for our annual production are certainly ramping up and I know cast and crew are really looking forward to opening night on Wednesday August 28 and the remaining shows in that week. This year’s show is The SpongeBob Musical. Our students would love to see you there. Tickets are selling fast and can be purchased by clicking here.
Our Community Voice Team have been working behind the scenes to organise the now-famous nightly raffle. The prizes will not disappoint!! If you would like to donate to the raffle, there is still time and donations can be left at the General office. Should you wish to join the Community Voice Team to support school events, please email us at wellington.sc@educcation.vic.gov.au and one of our committee members will be in touch.
House Athletics
The House Athletics was held on Tuesday August 20 at Casey Fields Athletics Track. Congratulations and well done to all the students that participated and contributed to the House Athletics. It was a fantastic event where students represented their house with pride. The enthusiasm demonstrated by the staff and students has a highlight. A special thanks to the staff and student leaders that made the event so successful. The results and photos from this event will be available in our next Journal.
Outstanding Sport Performance – Daniel Atkinson
Congratulations to Daniel for his outstanding swimming results. Daniel represented Wellington Secondary College as part of Team Victoria swimming team that competed in Queensland earlier this term. Daniel competed against athletes from all over the Australia, as well as swimmers from Fiji and Cook Islands. Daniel finished 8th in the 15/16 year old 200m Butterfly event and 17th in the 15/16 year old 50m Backstroke events. He was also a member of the 6x50m Freestyle relay team and the team finished 7th overall.
Well done, Daniel!
Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey
This is just a gentle reminder to all families regarding completing the Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey. All families are welcome to provide feedback, please refer to the Compass newsfeed from Mr Jackson Keat on August 16 for more details. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Marsh at the General Office.
3 Way Conferences – Wednesday September 18
Planning for 3 Way Conferences on Wednesday September 18 is well underway. Just like previous years we will be using the Microsoft Teams platform to conduct the conferences. When meeting with your child’s teacher, I encourage you to acknowledge what is going well, as well as identify strategies for focused improvement. Bookings will open on Compass from 9am on Monday September 9.
Mr Chris Knight
Principal
On Monday, 22nd July, Wellington Secondary College took a captivating journey back in time when we hosted History Up Close for a special Medieval-themed day dedicated to Year 8 students. This was an opportunity to celebrate the learning our year 8’s completed on Medieval Europe in Humanities during term 2.
The day unfolded with a collection of fascinating facts about medieval life, seamlessly blending knowledge with hands-on, engaging activities. Students were immersed in the musical strains of unique Middle Age instruments and were introduced to the era’s curious and often harsh forms of punishment and peculiar healing remedies. Some daring students even found themselves locked in the stocks, experiencing first-hand the whims of medieval justice.
The fashion of the time was not left unexplored, as students enthusiastically donned various medieval attires, stepping into the shoes of knights and nobles. The battlefield came alive as they took on plate armour and wielded an array of medieval weapons. With longswords in hand, they fought thrilling duels and faced down barrages of tennis balls, shielded by wooden shields.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone for making the day a fantastic and unforgettable experience!
Ms Katrina Antoniou
Curriculum Area Leader – Humanities
On Saturday August 17 two of our Middle School students, Ashley Vaid and Kenory Theam, participated in the Model United Nations Assembly, an exciting event that saw them compete against 17 other schools from around Victoria. Each school was randomly allocated a country that is part of the United Nations, and our students were tasked with representing Saudi Arabia in this unique diplomatic challenge.
The day was long and intense, starting at 8:30 am and wrapping up around 6:00 pm. Despite the length of the day, Ashley and Kenory displayed remarkable focus and dedication. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Glen Waverley, they took on the roles of UN delegates, simulating committee sessions, navigating the complexities of diplomacy, international relations, and debating critical world issues.
Throughout the day, they formed alliances with other countries, debated global issues, and gained a deeper understanding of the workings of the United Nations. Ashley and Kenory not only excelled in their roles but also represented Wellington Secondary College in a fantastic manner, making us all proud. In addition to their outstanding performance, the girls made many new friends from other schools and have taken away valuable experiences and connections from the day. Their participation in the Model United Nations is a testament to their hard work and commitment, and they should be incredibly proud of themselves. Congratulations, Ashley and Kenory!
Ms Claire Caughey
Head of Middle School
After spending many weeks preparing for MUNA, we were both eager to participate in this new opportunity and terrified at the same time. On Saturday August 17, we gathered in the assembly hall, where we worked through four resolutions before engaging in discussions about them. It was fascinating to hear different nations’ perspectives on global issues, and as we walked around, we made new friends and collected our awards toward the end of the day.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would jump at the chance to do it again. This event helped us develop teamwork, make new friends, and learn a great deal about the participating countries. It also significantly improved our public speaking skills, helping us overcome the nerves we had about speaking in front of others. Initially, we were nervous and unsure about joining MUN, especially with only two weeks to prepare, but the support from Ms. Caughey made us feel more confident.
Ultimately, we discovered that MUN was not just about public speaking; it was also about tackling international issues and making valuable connections with new people. We wished the day didn’t have to end.
Ashley Vaid
10L
Kenory Theam
10K
On Friday 2 August, the class of 2024 gathered at Leonda by the Yarra for the treasured tradition of the Year 12 Formal. After the success of 2023’s move to mid-year, the cohort scrubbed up exceptionally well, as the result of hours of work on hair, makeup, and bicep curls was on display.
The attendees at this exclusive event enjoyed a three-course dinner, complete with ice-cream bar, as well as celebrated some of the more unusual and unique achievements this year. Once the food and formalities had finished, everyone danced the night away to the work of an amazing DJ. All staff and students had a memorable evening, and the atmosphere was one of unbridled joy and positivity – a true reflection of the ‘caring’ element of the Wellington Way!
However, all involved were partying with one eye on the exams, which loom ever closer… but for this night at least, the students’ minds were focused on the joy of the occasion. Special thanks are due to Ms Pillay for her hard work leading the organisational process, and to Mr Feenane for his work and support in the lead up to the event. The formal is big event to organise, and without their work it would not have been the great success it was.
Congratulations to the class of 2024 for making this one of the best Formals yet, and we wish you all the best for the remainder of your time at Wellington. Bring on Valedictory
Mr Simon Coles
Head of Senior School
Early in term 3, the SRC hosted a cookie contest! This is something new and different that we tried, and it was a complete success. The contest was for open towards all students and staff. They were asked to bake their own cookies from scratch at home, and were required to submit them to SRC. On the submission day, some SRC members and staff members worked together and judged the cookies, and came up with a result!
The categories that were used to judge the cookies included texture, taste, appearance and creativity. We received a whole variety of cookies such as Salted Caramel, Cinnamon Scroll cookies, Classic Choc Chip and more!
While it was almost impossible to judge, the winners are as follows:
We received a great response from everyone, and we are very grateful for all the participants and their efforts. We are looking forward to hosting such fun events in the future.
Ramita Singh
11J – SRC Member
The theme for Science Week this year was ‘Species Survival – More than just sustainability’. Students were able to conduct a bird survey around the school grounds looking at our local biodiversity. The most common observed bird species was the Little Raven, but other birds seen around our school include Magpies, Corellas and Rainbow Lorikeets. Students also watched the movie The Lorax, played a Biodiversity Board game and got creative by making some baskets out of sustainable sourced materials.
Congratulations to the following five students who got the highest scores on the Daily Quizzes that were held:
Mrs Sharon Jones
Head of Science
The Unit 1 and 2 Environmental Science class ventured to Werribee River to learn how Environmental Indicators are used to assess ecosystem health. Students surveyed sites across Werribee River to measure the condition of aquatic ecosystems. Students had a great day applying their skills in the field.
Mr Chris Feenane
Year 12 Coordinator and Science Teacher
Static electricity on balloons is a fascinating phenomenon that occurs due to the transfer of electrons between different materials. e.g. Rubbing the Balloon: When you rub a balloon against your hair or a wool sweater, electrons (which are negatively charged) are transferred from one material to the other. Usually, electrons move from your hair or sweater to the balloon. Students of Year 9E have practically observed the Static electricity in their classrooms and enjoyed the lesson.
Mr Radha Kollipara
Science Teacher
Congratulations to the following students who have been awarded French and Mandarin Students of Term 2. These certificates are for their diligence, positive approach and grit to the study of French and Mandarin. We recognise their efforts in their application to work, perseverance, initiative, participation and co-operation. They also earn 5 points each for their respective houses.
| Acacia | Dianella | Eucalyptus | Waratah |
| Emir Hadzikadic, 07B | Ellennie Tiv, 7H | Wilson Lim, 7C | Ahmed Hersi, 7A |
| Rehatpreet Kaur, 7D | Christina Vo, 7H | Sunny Pham, 7E | Jenna Maabreh, 7F |
| Arrian Taing, 8A | Rotakna (Jessica) Sinon, 07J | Angela Lim, 9G | Yashpreet Singh, 7G |
| Qaseh Muhd Ikmal Jokumil, 8D | Oscar Chao, 8B | Aryan Narendra, 8H | |
| Gianna Lee, 8E | Samyog Coimbatore, 8C | William Heng, 8I | |
| Raymond Pham, 8F | Armaan Singh, 08G | Jay Summersett, 08I | |
| Lucas Tea, 9E |
To celebrate Languages Week this term, students participated in French and Chinese activities in which they had the opportunity to learn about the culture of different countries. This year the event aligned perfectly with the Paris Olympics, enhancing the experience. The students participated in pétanque competitions (a type of lawn bowls – see below photos), sampled crêpes, experienced live Chinese Martial arts and took part in the Chinese Dragon dance.
Students who won awards were invited to the Languages morning tea and treated to croissants, escargots (pain aux raisins), madeleines and spring rolls.
Dragon Dance
Many students took part in the Chinese Dragon Dance on Tuesday July 23. They had the chance to wear the traditional Chinese costumes and take part in the dance with the help of Ms Renz and Mr Wei.
Crêpe Day was a great chance for students to put their French language oral skills into practice in a conversation with a person as they ordered their French pancakes using the French they had learned and practiced in class.
There were a wide variety of toppings available: au citron et sucre (with lemon and sugar), à la confiture (with jam), au miel (with honey), au sirop d’érable (with maple syrup), au chocolat (with chocolate) et and au caramel (with caramel sauce).
Where did Crêpes Originate?
In Brittany, France, or Bretagne, in the northern part of France.
The making of pancakes go back way into ancient history and is in every culture. However, in this very wet area of Northern France wheat did not grow well, but around the 12th century, buckwheat was introduced and thrived in these conditions. Soon recipes followed. Before there were pancakes, grain was boiled in water to make a porridge.
So how did we go from porridge to pancake? Spilling Porridge became a Fortunate Accident!
Legend has it that a housewife in Brittany, accidentally spilled some thin porridge on a hot flat stove and through this mistake came the discovery of how good a thin crispy pancake tasted.
Where does the word Crêpe come from?
The word crêpe comes from a Latin word Crispus which meant crisp.
The Day of Crêpes
La Chandeleur (Candlemas or Crêpe Day) is celebrated in France on the 2nd of February, 40 days after Christmas Day, and sees people young and old tuck into delicious pancakes. The origins of the celebration date from ancient times, but over the centuries many French regions have created their own traditions to ward off evil spirits, or guarantee prosperity for the coming year.
Traditions associated with La Chandeleur
In Brittany, many people believe that if you successfully flip six pancakes in a row in a pan, you will be married by the end of the year. In Franche-Comté, a proverb claims that if you can carry a candlestick all the way home from the church on 2 February without letting it go out, then you will be sure to stay alive during the coming year. The tradition that most people in France follow is: If you hold a gold coin in your writing hand and manage to flip a pancake using your other hand and catch it in the pan, your family will soon become rich.
Mr Bushan Sookhareea
Curriculum Area Leader – Languages
Last week was language week and it was a very amazing week because on Friday we were allowed to order and eat crepes. We all practiced for 2 weeks to eat delicious crepes when I was walking to the crepe truck everyone was ecstatic and happy to eat crepes. I was the first to order in my class, so I ordered two crepes one for me and my friends. The crepes were very soft and delicious so It was fun. Not only we ate crepes we also saw wushu which is Chinese martial arts which was very interesting since it was the first martial arts in the world. So it was very fun and most people enjoyed it
Max Kim
7B
On Crepe Day we were able to order a crepe using the French words we learnt. It was fun to be able to use the French language in a real-world situation. The crepes were incredible with many different options of flavours to chose from. It was an over all very good experience.
Jay Summersett
8I
On Friday July 26 it was crepe/pancake day and our French class went to makerspace to buy some crepes. There was many delicious additional toppings like strawberries, timtams, oreos, bananas. For my crepe I ordered a chocolate syrup crepe with strawberries I ordered in French at first I was nervous because I thought my pronunciation would be bad but when I ordered it was very reliving and wasn’t that bad, I ordered a chocolate syrup crepe with strawberries as an additional topping. After I ordered my crepe I tasted it and the crepe tasted sooo good I was very happy and I enjoyed the day with my friends eating crepes.
Monique Channa
7B
On July 26, students who are learning French were given an opportunity to buy Crepes. A Crepe is a dish made from unleavened batter or dough that is cooked on a frying pan or a griddle, and it looks like an ultra thin pancake. This dish is very cultural to France. When my class went to order, we were given the criteria of ordering in French. After ordering in French, I was surprised to learn that the lady selling them didn’t know much French. In my opinion, the Crepes were delicious and the experience was amazing. Or in the words of the French, un crepe est delicieux.
Saanvi Shaker
8J
Last week was spectacular, it was language week and the school celebrated it by bringing a crepe stall and allowing us to order and eat, i wasn’t there before the week before to prepare but, i reckon it was a payed-off well training for ordering crepes with our wanted flavours!
Andrew Khuu
7B
Last week was language week and a food truck came to Wellington secondary school, the woman selling the Crêpes was donating the money she earned to charity so she could go help the homeless people and make their lives better. In that same week Miss D preformed her Wushu which was a Chinese martial arts style, I really enjoyed watching her preform Wushu because I have never heard of it, and it sounded cool.
Kavinu Withanage
7B
When we bought crepes on Friday it was actually my first time tasting a crepe as i had seen some crepe shops in Egypt when i visited but never really had the experience of buying one, when speaking in French I got kind of nervous since it was my first time speaking French to someone other than my French teacher but I think I went pretty well. I ordered 1 crepe for the first time with chocolate syrup and strawberries. It tasted really good, although you had to bite a lot to actually taste the strawberries and chocolate syrup since they were at the bottom of the crepe, it tasted so good I had to buy another one.
My mum didn’t get mad because of how much i spent on crepe but honestly i don’t regret it one bit and I’m so happy to say my first crepe tasted really good!!
Erhas Shakan
7B
My experience was a very wonderful time at Wellington. Frist when I walk up to the food truck, my mind started going into a new universe because the crepe smelled wonderful. Although I was off into a new universe, I was also sweating bullets because I was so scared I would mess up in French. It was either Go Big or Go Home. But once I ordered I felt relieved and was ready to eat my crepe and once I got it was so amazing which the flavour melted in my mouth.
On the day I was excited for crepe and ready to test the French skills I’ve practiced and learnt during the semester. It was period 3 and our French teacher took us to buy crepe during class. I ordered my crepe and the seller was impressed of my fluent French. The seller gave me the crepe and I eagerly grabbed the crepe full of excitement. I took a huge bite, and it was….. Delicious!! I took many bites and savoured every moment and bite. I decided to buy 3 more!!!
Arya Shah
7B
At the end of Semester, 13 students graduated from our onsite intensive English language class and transitioned to mainstream classes. Students worked hard throughout the semester improving their English skills and some also participated in extra curricular activities including the Swimming Carnival, Sports Competitions and the fundraising events.
Brian Nguyen, Hong Long Ly, Kimlorn Ke and Daniel Pham qualified for the Intermediate Boys Badminton Regional Finals.
Other students competed in other events, including some at the Athletics Carnival.
This week our international leaders organised a fundraiser “Coin Collecting for UNICEF”. These funds assist many children in overseas countries to have a better quality of life.
Students had lots of fun participating in lunchtime activities including karaoke.
Kenory Theam and her team mate competed in the Rotary Model United Nations Assembly last weekend. Both girls worked very hard preparing for this where they competed against many other schools across Victoria.
This week at a special lunch for our new Semester 2 students we got to hear about their experiences studying at Wellington.
Ms Connie Tzelepis
Director of International Programs
On Tuesday, the 30th of July, we held a bake sale, raising $437.50 towards our Sustainability Fund! Thanks to:
| Aaqilah Nabeel | Ashley Vaid |
| Dean Richards | Divyanjali Vinai |
| Gianna Lee | Isabelle Szabo |
| John Modouris | Jordan Jackson |
| Lyheng Sou | Nurali Seyit |
| Saanvi Shaker | Tianha Do |
We were able to bake and sell all of our delectable goods that were available at the makerspace. Thanks to everyone who came to purchase any of our many items. We hope you enjoyed the sweet treats! We are still learning how to cater for our community, and we had several vegan brownies left. If you have any questions about what you would like us to make in term 4, please feel free to tell any of the Sustainability Champions. As it stands, the plan is to include a savoury option and a fruit smoothie, alongside cupcakes, brownies and cookies. Have a lovely August!
Isabelle Szabo
8E
For Science Week, two Sustainability Champions helped and facilitated the Species Survival game: Saanvi Shaker (8J) and Jordan Jackson (7H). Students participating realised some of the positive and negative impacts affecting species in ecosystems over time, and sadly just like the biodiversity crisis in real life, they all finished with less species in their ecosystem than they started. We shall play this game again to help educate the players that we’re all part of the big, interconnected web of life. Every living being, from the bees that pollinate the flowers in crops or trees, to the fungi decomposing organic waste, we are all linked and part of nature. The survival of other species not only safeguards nature’s beauty, but it ensures the health of the ecosystems that provide our food, clean water and the air we breathe.
Ms Bruna Amaral
Science Teacher | Sustainability Coordinator
Ashley Vaid (10L) had the idea to participate in the Think Science 2024 competition promoted by ANSTO. Since the beginning of term, she managed to persuade seven of the Sustainability Champions to conduct a first-hand science investigation on a topic of their choosing, and following all steps of the Science Inquiry strand of the Australian Curriculum. The two teams submitted their 5 min unlisted YouTube videos last Friday, which was the deadline!
We would like to thank all those teachers who supported them with advice and time out to do the work in the lab. Also, thank you to Debbie Mcinney who prepared the two experiments that the students designed.
Ms Bruna Amaral
Science Teacher | Sustainability Coordinator
Over the past month, two groups of four students engaged in the ANSTO Think Science competition, each tackling a distinct experiment. In my group, our focus was on testing the pH levels of soil from various locations within the school. We started our project by formulating a hypothesis and clarifying our aim, laying a solid foundation for our scientific exploration. Through a single session, we delved into the experiment, documenting our observations and data. Subsequently, we channeled our efforts into crafting a detailed scientific report and creating a video presentation that encapsulated our journey of discovery. This experience improved not just my scientific understanding but also my ability to collaborate with peers, which bettered my research and teamwork abilities.
Participating in the competition was not solely about the monetary rewards for our sustainable project of installing solar panels around the school. Even while it would be nice to win, the real reason we participated was to enjoy discovering new things and broadening our views. Our academic path has been profoundly impacted by this event, which has motivated us to keep up our passionate and committed pursuit of scientific innovation and research.
Ashley Vaid
10L
ThinkScience is a nationwide science competition which 2 groups from our school applied for. It is a competition where a group of a few students need to create a science experiment which is then made into a YouTube video including the method, investigation and all parts of a normal scientific practical. Our group was a group of three (John Modouris, Divyanjali Vinai and Joann Jackson) and we each cooperated together to successfully complete the submission. Since the topic of science week this year was biodiversity we linked our experiment with diversity in animals and local creek waters.
Our experiment was measuring the pH levels of local creek waters and observing whether a change in temperature affected the level of pH in waters, relating our experiment back to biodiversity by observing the changes in wildlife in the Dandenong Creek and the Blind Creek over different seasons. We experimented the three samples of tap water, Blind Creek and Dandenong Creek changing the temperature of water to simulate water changes in different seasons. Two drops of each sample were dropped onto universal indicator paper, collecting the results in a table. After completing the experiment we collected our results and observations, creating a 5 minute YouTube video explaining what was done and why it was performed. Overall, our group enjoyed participating in Think Science and look forward to doing this again next time.
Joann Jackson
10D
The Community Garden was full of students eager to help do some weeding and watering this week. The Community Garden is a work in progress and would welcome the involvement of all students who want to experience the joy of doing some gardening. The Community Garden is open every Thursday at lunchtime.
Mr Salim Serin
English & Humanities Teacher
Thank you to everyone who donated clean pieces of clothing and shoes for the Sustainability Champions to sell on the 19th September. In addition to the Fashion Sale, a few VET Fashion students will be offering a service to repair clothing items on the 16th September. We are hoping that these events will bring awareness against Fast Fashion, because cheap clothes that are mass-produced for the purpose of fashion trends have a catastrophic impact on the environment. Embrace second-hand, vintage, or upcycled clothing to give garments a new life and reduce textile waste.
Ms Bruna Amaral
Science Teacher | Sustainability Coordinator
Paul Dillon has been working in drug education for 30 years and is the founder of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA)
Doing Drugs with Paul Dillon
This podcast examines issues relating to alcohol and other drugs that many parents/carers are likely to face. It provides practical advice and strategies and has been developed to help parents / carers to safely navigate through this often-challenging time of adolescence & transition in a young person’s life.
Each podcast is approximately 25 minutes and covers advice on vaping, how to talk with your child about drugs, alcohol and parties
The DARTA website also provides expert resources and information on a wide range of alcohol and other drug content.
Ms Shelley Beasley
Adolescent Health Nurse – Wellbeing team
