THE BRUNSWICK - Brunswick Secondary College

THE BRUNSWICKNew StaffWho’s Who?VCE GraduatesReflections and DestinationsWorld ChallengeA personal reportB R U N S W I C K S E C O N D A R Y C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N EHouse LeadersIssue No 1 April 2012

THE BRUNSWICKWelcome to the first edition ofThe Brunswick Star.We hope you enjoy reading about ourcurrent students, recent graduates andfuture plans. The Brunswick Starreplaces the previous College Newsthat was published fortnightly.This year, we have developed a fourpart strategy for communicating withour school community.Day to day information and updates are postedon the Compass Portal Newsfeed.These reminders and notices are customised to each yearlevel. We ask all parents to check the Compass Portal atleast once per week. The Latest News section on theCollege Website www.brunswick.vic.edu.au providesinformation and photos of recent school events andstudent achievements. It is updated regularly.By clicking on the Latest News link on the menu,you can access previous stories. The Student LearningGallery on the website (currently under construction) willshowcase student learning across year levels and subjects.It is a project that I am personally passionate about as itcelebrates our core purpose and work in school, the dailylearning that occurs in each classroom.Fourthly, the more magazine style format ofThe Brunswick Star provides feature stories of termhighlights and student achievements.The title of this publication, The Brunswick Star,connects to our school logo. The logo consists of a starwithin a circle with a single gold star emerging from thecircle. The stars represent the diverse elements that makeup our school community. We are proud to have studentsfrom over 48 different nationalities and to be a school thataccepts and values the uniqueness of each individual.The star is also a symbol of excellence, one of our sixschool values.Principal’sMessageThis year brings a very significant review for our school.Timed to coincide with preparation for the introduction ofthe Australian Curriculum, our Learning Review will involvea collective examination of what and how we teach andassess. While meeting the requirements of the AustralianCurriculum is important, our key driver is our own StrategicPlan and its ambitious goal and commitment to ensuringthat all students make or exceed expected progress.The Learning Review will involve student and parent focusgroups and feedback surveys conducted by externalconsultants. We will value and welcome your input.The quality of teaching and relationships is what,above all, determines the quality of any school.We are pleased to welcome our new staff to BrunswickSecondary College, to know that they will be mentored byour core of experienced teachers and weekly ProfessionalLearning Teams. We look forward to 2012 and workingtogether with you to support your child’s learningand growth.Every best wish.Vivienne TellefsonPrincipalA primary purpose of this publication is to celebrate excellencein ways that inspire others to do their best and takefull advantage of the opportunities we offer at the school.I am sure you will agree that the World Challenge article inthis edition fulfills this purpose. The small star in the upperright of the logo has a special significance for this firstedition of The Brunswick Star. It represents the individualstudent emerging proudly and confidently from the schoolon graduation. The achievements and reflections of our2011 Year 12 class are valuable reading for all, whetheryour child is starting secondary school, in VCE or theyears in between.

THE BRUNSWICKWorldChallenge2011When eighteen students and two teachersembarked on Brunswick Secondary College’s firstWorld Challenge expedition to Vietnam and Cambodia in Decemberlast year, it was impossible to predict the experiences that we wereall to share. The expedition was the culmination of almost two yearsof planning and fundraising. It was also the beginning of somelife changing experiencesDuring the month abroad, students were challenged physically, sociallyand mentally on a daily basis. It was these challenges, as you will readabout in the student reflections by Gracie and Rachael, which boughtout the best in the students. The growth in confidence, resilience, camaraderieand empathy demonstrated by all was nothing short of extraordinary.Our students took every opportunity and ran with it, whetherit be tutoring and socialising with students at the Don Bosco TechnicalCollege or whilst trekking through torrential rain in Dalat National Park.The great success of our first World Challenge expedition has paved theway for future World Challenge trips. BSC will hold them bi-annuallyaccording to interest. Please stay tuned for information regarding the2012/2013 World Challenge Tour.Warren Evert, Junior School Leader

THE BRUNSWICKWorld Challenge cont/Gracie’s CambodiaAs we all said our last minute goodbyes and assuredour parents that we had everything we needed, I don’tthink any of us knew that we were about to embark onsuch a life changing trip. As we all compared weights ofeach other’s packs, little did we know that soon thesepacks would almost become a part of our bodies as welugged them through Cambodia and Vietnam. We allknew each other from the year of fundraising and teammeetings and we knew we’d get along and have funtogether. We did not as yet know that we’d becomelike a family.The World Challenge trip was so different to what Ithought it would be like. I knew that it would be anexcellent experience but not that it would make such adifference in my life. As soon as we arrived in Cambodiait was as if a new door opened up and everything wasput into perspective.We all waited patiently in the airport waiting for ourteam leader of the day, fellow students, Iman, to bookour first few days of accommodation. We slatheredsunscreen all over us, much to the amusement of thelocals. Some of us braved the toilets quickly, othersstayed in the toilets already with a nasty case of travellersstomach. When the accommodation at “OkayGuesthouse” was booked we cheered and hoisted ourbags back on, took a big breath and got ready to testour negotiation skills with the many tuk-tuk and taxidrivers out the front. We decided to take the tuk-tukoption over the air conditioned taxi and all 21 of us piledinto five tuk-tuks with our packs and all. Driving fullspeed down the highway, waving to locals, laughinglike maniacs, taking the first of many photos; this wasgoing to be a fantastic month.The first couple of days were a whirl wind of meetinglovely locals, exploring the area, trying new food andgetting used to the heat. My first email home had thequote, “I can’t even explain how amazing the last 2days have been. I’ve had some of the best experiencesI’ve ever had. We joined in public aerobics last night andplayed Cambodian soccer with some kids in the park.Tonight after a delicious dinner we joined in a publichip hop class” I don’t think the smiles on our faces everfaltered.The community project work at Don Bosco TechnicalSchool was so rewarding. We worked on the farm ofthe school, helping with projects that would bring theschool profit and become self-sustaining. The studentsand teachers we met were so overwhelmingly grateful.They thanked us for coming and helping them out, butalso for introducing them to our culture and bringingthem a little out of their shells. We also donated $6,000to the school to buy a breeding bull, 7 cows, twoweeders for the rice fields, one drum seeder for rice, amushroom farm and two rented tip trucks to move soilfor the sewerage water filtration area. I don’t think we’dever been thanked so much.

THE BRUNSWICKWorld Challenge cont/ Just when we thought this tripcouldn’t get any better we left Cambodia and got on abus to go to a whole new country. I think all of us wereguilty of accidently thanking Vietnamese people in theKhmer language when we first got there. We spent afew days in the bustling city of Ho Chi Minh before weembarked on our trek, many people’s favourite partof the trip. We all grew very close during the trek. Webonded over crying/laughing hysterically about missingmilk, the massive spiders on the walls and the frogs inthe toilet. But the strongest feeling was that of accomplishmentafter we had finished.We were all very sad when the trip came to an end andwe had to say goodbyes to our World Challenge mumand dad (Miss Wood and Mr Evert) and had to partfrom each other, leaving all the in jokes behind. It trulywas the greatest thing I’ve ever done during my time atBrunswick Secondary College. Of course there were upsand downs but even the low moments were hilariousto look back on. I came home looking forward to thenext few years at school, determined to do well afterseeing how hard everyone worked over there. I havemade lifelong friends and now have some of the funniestmemories that we’ll be reliving in years to come.Thank you for giving us this opportunity!Gracie Jirik, Yr 11Rachael’s VietnamWorld Challenge was an amazing experience and I enjoyedevery part of it; the hiking, the volunteering, themanual labour and the exploration of another country.was all good.I went to Cambodia and Vietnam when I was in year 7and thought that because I had been there before I sortof knew what to expect. I was wrong. Going on WorldChallenge was different from any other trip I had beenon; I wasn’t a tourist I was an honorary ‘local’.Throughout the trip nearly everyone was homesick atleast once but I am proud to say I wasn’t! I loved thefreedom of the trip; I can remember a day when Lahniand I were craving a coconut so we just went walkinground the streets for the man that sells coconuts. On allthe other days we were allowed to explore Cambodiain groups of four!The people of Cambodia were so friendly, everywherewe went it seemed that we were either creating agame of soccer or a dance circle. Every day at DonBosco Technical School, after lunch there was a gameof soccer or basketball. One day the Cambodianstaught us some of their native games and dance stylesand then we taught them ours. One night at the DonBosco school we had a dance performance with all thestudents, it was so much fun and I bet we could havegone all night.I think what I loved the most was the main hike inDalat. Just imagine steep, muddy, overgrown paths inthe rain. The whole group worked as one big family. Ifsomeone said they needed a break, we would take abreak and if one person said to slow down we wouldslow down. We were an awesome team and I wishthe hike went for more than 3 days. I can rememberon the second day it was raining quite heavily and wewere going down a very steep, slippery, muddy path.Everyone fell over at least once. Laura held the recordfor falling over the most; I think it was 14 times, closelyfollowed by Georgia. It was so slippery that when youfell, you didn’t just fall you slid until you were so deep inthe mud you couldn’t go any further. By the end of thehill there was not a clean body in sight!Now that we are all back from overseas our expeditionhas finished but we still meet up during and after schoolbecause our World Challenge group has become ourWorld Challenge family.Rachael Mayger. Yr 11

THE BRUNSWICKNew Staff2012Kate AllibonHi, this year I will be teaching English and SOSE along with theSpecialist Subject City Life to year 9 students.Before my time at BSC I worked in Public Relations with anAustralian fashion company and spent a large amount of timetraveling the world learning about new cultures and havingfantastic life experiences.This helped me to realise what a difference an education canmake to individuals as well as communities as a whole.My first few weeks at BSC have been very rewarding and everyonehas made me feel extremely welcome. I look forward togetting to know the school community even better overthe coming year.Rohan McCarthyHello, my name is Rohan McCarthy and I am starting as the newYear 9 Coordinator at Brunswick Secondary. I am brand new toVictoria this year, having moved down from Brisbane and amexcited to work with the school community. I feel like it has beena very positive start for our year 9’s this year with the renewalof our House System seeing eight Junior House Leaders beingelected this term. I believe that all of year 9 can lead by examplein the junior school, demonstrating to our younger studentswhat it means to be a Brunswick Secondary student. This will bean exciting year with the roll out of netbooks to our cohort andall the opportunities these will bring for success and learning.As Year 9 Coordinator, please don’t hesitate tocontact me with any issues you might have over the year andkeep an eye on the Compass portal news feed for messagesfrom me pertinent to year 9 students.Rosalie FourniotisHi, my name is Rosalie Fourniotis. I have been teaching for overtwenty years in the western suburbs and most recently at RMIT,where I taught pre-tertiary Legal Studies to international studentsfrom all over the world. I am extremely and genuinely excited tohave now joined the staff at Brunswick Secondary College whereI am currently teaching VCE Legal Studies and ESL.I was raised, educated and still live in Brunswick and have threechildren in state schools (one in Year 9 at BSC and two still tocome). In my free time I love to read, keep up with current affairs,swim (desperately missing Brunswick Baths) and am a bit fanaticalabout scrabble. My first couple of weeks at BSC have beenwonderful. The positive energy I have experienced amongst thestaff has been matched in the classroom, with students displayinga readiness to work hard and a camaraderie that will support all

THE BRUNSWICKNew Staff2012Lara AlexanderHello! My name is Lara Alexander and I’m lucky enough to beteaching English and SOSE this year. I have just finished myDiploma of Education at the University of Melbourne and plan tocontinue my Masters in Literacy and Language. I’m passionateabout literacy and film education and will enjoy bringing this intomy classes. So far I’ve enjoyed getting to know both the studentsand staff and I look forward to becoming a part of the vibrantBrunswick Secondary College community.As the new Debating Coordinator I also look forward to workingwith the students involved in debating and public speaking.I can’t wait to further improve the already fantastic reputationand success of the debating program at Brunswick!Michelle O’BrienMy name is Michelle O’Brien and I will be teaching Maths andScience to Year 9 this year. I have spent the last few years athome on family leave with my young children and before thatI worked in a number of schools teaching from year 7 to VCE.After some relief teaching and a short-term contract at Brunswickduring term 4 last year I am excited to be staying on at the schoolon a permanent basis. I live locally and am looking forward tobeing a part of the school community.Helen LambropoulosHi everyone my name is Helen Lambropoulos and I am the newStudent Wellbeing Coordinator/Counsellor. Previous to this roleI was the School Focused Youth Service Coordinator in Morelandfor two years. I’ve also worked in Local Government, CommunityServices and a couple of other government schools.I look forward to getting to know the staff, students and parentsat Brunswick Secondary College and to encourage all students toget involved with extra curricula activities. I enjoy taking photos,traveling and being outdoors. I also have a keen interest in historyand architecture. I’m excited about working at BrunswickSecondary College and really look forward to a great year.Nicholas KempI’m a brand new teacher with a passion for science teaching,I have a great time doing it and getting to know my students.I am very much enjoying becoming a part of the BrunswickSecondary community. I am particularly pleased to have theForensic Science Specialist Subject at Year 8.Natalie MrmacovskaHi my name is Natalie Mrmacovska and I am a new teacher atBrunswick SC this year. Last year I was studying and working forthe Department of Education and Early Childhood Developmentwithin the Human Resources division. I am thoroughly enjoyingmy time at Brunswick SC working in my new role as a teacher,especially getting to know my students in Year 8 & 10. I lookforward to becoming a part of Brunswick SC community.Hope to meet you all in the year ahead.

THE BRUNSWICKNew Staff2012Katrina CroakerHi, my name is Katrina Croaker and I am teaching Health,Physical Education, Food and Kitchen Garden this year.This is my eighth year teaching and I have taught in arange of locations, including Cairns, Hong Kong and mostrecently, Cloncurry. Being a ‘Queenslander’, I have only justmoved to Melbourne this year, and have been made to feel verywelcome by students, staff and parents. I am extremely excitedabout teaching at Brunswick Secondary College and look forwardto being involved in every aspect of the school community!Ian HanmerWhat is an accountant?Someone who solves a problem you didn’t know you had in away you don’t understand at a price you can’t afford.Did you hear about the cannibal Accountant?She charges an arm and a leg.Which clients do short accountants like best?Small businessmenG’day my name is Ian Hanmer and I will be teachingAccounting to the Year 12 students. Last year I workedas a Tax consultant taking a break from my long teaching career.I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching the class so far and they area great group of students. My theme for the year is “IF IT’S TO BE,IT’S UP TO ME” hoping the students will understand that if theyare to meet their full potential it really is up to them. I am trulylooking forward to becoming part of the BSC school communityand contributing to college life.Richard AndrewsMy name is Richard Andrews and I’ll be teaching HPE, Foodtech and Bushwacked this year. I became a teacher to share mypassion for health, sports and physical recreation with a goal toinspire more students to learn the benefits of being physicallyactive and healthy not only in their youth but in the latter yearsin life. My first few weeks at Brunswick SC have been challengingas I learn so many new processes but also very enjoyable andI’m happy that I’ve felt welcomed by the staff, students and thewider community. I look forward to working closely with mystudents whether it be in the classroom, kitchen or sportingfield, to see them reach their potential and have them enjoy theoutdoors as much as I do.

THE BRUNSWICKNew Staff2012Tony MartinsonI am a Science and Mathematics teacher who recently arrived inVictoria from Perth in August 2011. My interest and experiencein the Aquatic sciences has led me to teach VCE level Chemistryand Biology. Experience in business and quantitative studies havebeen the back bone to my Mathematics background.After spending several months touring Japan, teaching andvolunteering at the beginning of 2011, I realised my immensepassion for educating students of all ages. I have thoroughlyenjoyed building strong relationships with the students, parentsand staff at BSC to date, and look eagerly toward the rest of mytime teaching Science and Mathematics at BSC.I actively participate in extra-curricular activities at Brunswickand look forward to contributing to the Brunswick school communitywhere and however possible. Although I have supportedFremantle football club for 17 years I do look forward to watchingsome live football in 2012.Lisa ShukroonHowdy! My name is Lisa Shukroon and I have arrived as part ofa two-for-one deal! Iam teaching EAL/D (the acronym previouslyreferred to as ESL) in the Language Centre upstairs and Year 7EAL/D and Year 9 English at Brunswick Secondary downstairs.So far I have found students and staff to be welcoming, energised,keen, innovative and occasionally cheeky (Phht! Staff, eh?)I have come here via University High (8 years) and prior to thatfrom a career in publishing (writer, editor and graphic designer).My teaching philosophy is simple - learning is one of the bravest(and exciting!) things we can do, because it requires us toacknowledge there is stuff we don’t know. This year in the stuff-I-don’t-know pile (a gargantuan pile though it is) was “how toplay a guitar” – hopefully I can support students to bravely write,speak and read beautiful language faster than I ammaking not-quite-so-beautiful music!Josh NolanHi!! This year I will be the Sports Coordinator as well as teachingPhysical Education, Health and Food Technology. I am reallylooking forward to organising the sports teams and studentsthat will compete in various sports throughout the year.It will give me an opportunity to meet heaps of new people andwill also allow me to help and assist teams and students as muchas I can. This will be a busy year for me because on top of beinga school teacher I also train every day and compete on theweekend in track running (athletics).I have really enjoyed being a teacher at Brunswick SecondaryCollege and am looking forward to the year ahead. I am alsoexcited to see who will RING THE BRUNSWICK BELL.

THE BRUNSWICKHouseLeadersIntroducing The Bsc Junior House LeadersThis year students nominated to be Junior House Leaders.These students gave excellent speeches at extended pastoral infront of 200 of their peers! They will be the face of their teamsthis year both in and out of the school, leading the way forour junior school students. It is excellent to see such a strongcontingent of enthusiastic and committed year 9 students,willing to lead by example for their peers.The House Leaders are: Gus Cox, Darren Chow, Troy Vasileiou,Anne McKenna-Freeman, Dakota Aubichon-Cascon, HelenaGumela, Luke Johnstone and Sophie Van Dartel. Some of themhave elected to introduce themselves to you in the newsletter.From left to rightGus Cox, Darren Chow, Troy Vasileiou, AnneMcKenna-Freeman, Dakota Aubichon-Casconand Helena GumelaABSENTLuke Johnstone and Sophie Van DartelGold HouseHello, my name is Annie and I represent gold housewith Helena. As house leader I aim to make surethat house teams are not only used in sportingevents, but are also used in day-to-day classes andextra curricula activities and events. Gold has alreadyrung the bell once as the winners in the 2012Year 7 and 8 Swimming Sports. Let’s hope we canring it again many more times! GO GOLD!White HouseHi I’m Dakota and together with Troy I am the whitehouse leader. What I want to do this year toimprove our house system includes getting morepeople to join the High Resolves leadershipprogram. I think it’s an important topic and we haveto know more about the world and itsdevelopment and how to improve the world in smallways. I think High Resolves is really fun and agreat way to learn about conflicts, and diversity andeverything in between. I hope to motivatepeople to do that this year.Blue HouseHi, my name is Gus Cox. I am a Year 9 Blue House leader together withDarren. At school I am involved in a number of activities such as playingthe trumpet in both Concert Band and Stage Band, the Rock Eisteddfodand the school hockey team. My hobbies outside of school includeplaying guitar, trumpet, circus activities (juggling, diablo, unicycle), listeningto all types of music, hockey, swimming, the beach, and skateboarding.As House leaders, Darren and I would like to promote participation,fun and friendship. I hope to see as many House members as possibleinvolved in activities as this will contribute to our success including bothsporting events and extracurricular activities.Green HouseHello, Sophie and Luke here. We are your Green House Captains.Throughout this year we are looking forward to working with years 7 to9. We would like to make people more aware of what is happening inyour school community and the world. Talking about the issues of climatechange and global warming is going to be a very big part of what Lukeand I will concentrate on. We can’t wait to encourage people to try newactivities and opportunities. We will work together with the other HouseCaptains to make this year very enjoyable.Rohan McCarthy, Year 9 Coordinator

THE BRUNSWICKCongratulations to each of the following studentsfor the effort they have made to achieve their personalbest and for modelling to others the importanceand power of effort.Andy Farah Daffyd Lewis ScholarhipAndrew Farah is the recipient of a 2012 Daffyd Lewis Scholarship.This prestigious scholarship provides Year 12 male graduates withsignificant financial assistance for each of the years they are atuniversity. In 2012, Andy is studying Civil Engineering at RMIT.Together with music teacher, Wayne Simmons,I had the privilege of giving Andy a practice before the DaffydLewis Scholarship interview. It was an honour to hear Andy speakso openly about the genesis of his interest in construction andengineering and his intended career and aspirations.Andy began by explaining that the first times he accompanied hisbuilder father to work felt like a chore. He then described how, ashe began to learn more about the project management aspectsand people skills involved, he came to experience firsthand theincredible satisfaction of seeing an initial design become realisedin a final product.Andy was enthusiastic in outlining how and why he grew to lovethe work, saying it was clear to him at this early age this is whathe too wanted to do. He talked about studying Physics in Year11 and 12, and his fascination in learning the technical designprinciples involved in construction.He also discussed his major folio work in Visual Communicationand Design. A highly sophisticated architectural project, it demonstrateshis expert use of latest design technology and a complexunderstanding of environmentally responsible architecture.When we asked Andy what he did in his time outside of school,it was no surprise to hear him talk about experimenting withGeo Sketch Pad.He explained how he imagined particular clients and projects,exploring various options to meet their needs. In response to thequestion ‘Where do you see yourself in ten years time?’ Andyspoke of wanting to be established and secure in his job but stillinvolved in formal learning, outlining how his is a field wheretechnology and the possibilities it offers are continually changing.Most significantly to us, he discussed how he would also like tobe seen as ‘A strong member of his community.’Andrew Farah is a most worthy recipient of this substantial scholarship.He has shown consistent efforts to improve academicallythroughout his years at Brunswick Secondary College. This isdespite the significant personal challenges he suffered throughouthis father’s extended fight against and eventual death fromcancer when he was in Year 11.His strong personal motivation to succeed is related to the clarityof his goals. It also reflects an awareness of how important hiseducation is to his mother, deceased father and extended family.Andy spoke at the first assembly for 2012, communicating to allstudents the importance of taking advantage of every opportunitywhether it is the generous assistance of the VCE teachers atBrunswick or the scholarships that are more broadly available.Our school mission talks of our commitment to ‘the developmentof young people who live successful and constructive lives,with positive personal values and a strong sense ofcommunity…. young people who will become leaders in theirworld.’ We are very proud of Andy’s achievement and hisexample to others.CongratulationsAndy FarahMiranda WatsonMiranda Watson College DuxMiranda Watson’s academic commitment is clearly demonstratedin her achievement of an excellent ATAR (97.85) andselection into the course and university of her choice, a doubledegree in Arts and Asia-Pacific Studies at the Australian NationalUniversity. Equally impressive is the fact that Miranda waschosen for the 2011 Long Tan Award.This ‘All Rounder’ leadership award recognised the quiet andpersistent leadership that Miranda bought to all her classes andpeers throughout her six years at Brunswick Secondary College.Miranda was an outstanding role model in learning, demonstratingintellectual curiosity, collaboration with others and thehighest possible work ethic.Susan AhmedSusan Ahmed Assistant Principal’s AwardIn presenting the Assistant Principal Award to Susan Ahmed,Alison Sanza began with a quote from the French writerAnatole France: “To achieve great things, we must not onlyact, but also dream.Not only plan, but also believe.” Ms Sanza spoke next of howachievement cannot be measured by results or scores alone,but rather “Achievement and the success that follows, is thewarm comfortable feeling you get when you know you havedone the best that you can possibly do and that you havedreamed, planned, acted and believed.” Susan Ahmed did allof this, achieving higher than predicted results in each of hersubjects and demonstrating to her peers and younger studentsalike the great power of effort. In 2012 she is studyingEngineering (Sustainable Systems) at RMIT University.

THE BRUNSWICKPrincipal’s AwardChenkun ZhaoChenkun, right, with Italian teacher, Ms Firuze HosseiniChenkun Zhou was awarded the 2011 Principal’s Award.She obtained an impressive ATAR of 96.35 and is studyingScience (Physiotherapy) at the University of Melbourne.The Principal Award is based on the personal values the studentmodels for others. Chenkun was chosen for this awardbecause of her commitment to developing interculturalunderstanding and her exceptional work ethic.As a Chinese background student who has studied Italianthrough to Year 12, Chenkun has a highly developed understandingof the role of language in shaping Australia as amulticultural nation. This is best reflected in her own words‘Learning Italian allows me to better fulfil my responsibilitiesas a Chinese immigrant in this nation’ and ‘I would like topresent myself as a symbol of successful absorption of a varietyof cultures.’ In speaking at the 2011 end of year assembly,Chenkun highlighted how our increasingly globalisedinternational community makes contact with people from adifferent nation or with a different culture an inevitable partof everyday life.She emphasised the responsibility that each of us shares toparticipate in and contribute to the wider society. Chenkunis committed to achieving a more socially just and inclusiveworld. Her ambition is to work for the United Nations orWorld Health Organisation.Chenkun Zhao Leftand Firuse Hosseini(Italian teacher)John Cummins ScholarshipYhizaira and Quetzal Rodriguez BurgeYhizaira Rodriguez Burge and her brother Quetzal migratedto Australia from Mexico toward the beginning of 2011.Quetzal, an accomplished pianist, is currently in Year 11 atBrunswick Secondary College. Yhizaira, a very talented cellist,is in Year 9. Both students spend many hours after school atschool practising their instruments. Two of the musical highlightsof 2011 included their exquisite duet of ‘Gavotte’ byJ.B.Lully and their moody performance of ‘Jealousy’ by JacobGabe at the Clock Tower Concert, where the siblings joinedwith Daniel Sosa-Haby playing violin. Yhizaira and Quetzalare recipients of the John Cummins Memorial Fund ScholarshipProgram ‘Dare to Dream’, supporting promising youngpeople who are striving to achieve their potential.It is offered to students who display determination, commitmentand passion; all qualities which are much admiredin these two young siblings. We were recently informedthat Yhizaira has been selected to be in the orchestra for the2012, State Schools Spectacular, a position that will involveher in Sunday rehearsals for much of the year. We lookforward to their musical contributions to Brunswick SC andbeyond throughout 2012.education.CongratulationsMimi AwadUBS ScholarshipMimi AwadIn 2012, Mimi Awad is a Peer Support Captain. In 2011, shewas a Peer Support Leader. Mimi stands out for her incrediblyenergetic and absolute commitment to other students. Sheis genuine and engaging, knowing when to take the leadbut also content to work in the background.On the three occasions she has spoken to our new Year 7families, she has impressed parents with her warmth andresponsiveness to the needs of our new students. We arethrilled that Mimi has been selected for the 2012 UBS YoungWomen’s Leadership Program. The Program involves a twoweek residential at Sydney University in April. Its aims includeintroducing the Year 11 girls to a diverse group of contemporarywomen leaders, demonstrating the possibilities andsatisfaction of a career in business and developing leadershipaspirations and skills. Having had our students participatepreviously in the UBS Program, we know it has had a positiveand ongoing impact it has on the girls who attend. Wealso know that Mimi will be an asset to the program, learnas much as possible and apply her learning for the benefit ofothers in the school.Wannik ScholarshipJasmine HockingToward the end of last year I was privileged to attend the2011 Wannik Scholarship Presentation at Queen’s Hall in ParliamentHouse.Jasmine Hocking was of one of twenty Year11 Koorie studentsfrom across Victoria to be awarded thescholarship. Within the grand and ornate setting of Queen’sHall, Winifred Bridge (Aunty Winnie) gave a beautiful welcometo country and Minister for EducationMartin Dixon presented students with the scholarship anda commemorative certificate. Students were photographedwith both the certificate and the eucalypt branch they hadbeen presented with in the welcome to country.Brunswick Secondary College was very proud of Jasmine forreceiving the scholarship and also proud to be a part of theNorthern Metropolitan Region which has a strongand stated commitment to improvement in indigenouseducation.Minister Dixon andJasmine HockingYhizaira & Quetzal BurgeWannik GroupThe scholarship providesfunding for indigenousstudents to use intheir final year of school.Minister Dixon and Jasmine Hocking

THE BRUNSWICKVCE 2011Reflections& DestinationsHolly Moore – School Captain 2011My best ideas for getting through Year 12 and doing wellwould be to treat every SAC like an exam, work really hard forthem because it will pay off in the long run. Also, be insanelyorganised and write notes that will be good enough for thefinal exams – this will save you so much time and allow youto do other things in the lead up to the exams. Finally, havea social life, because you will be hard pressed to get throughsuch a tough year being a hermit.In 2012: Holly is studying Music at Monash University, a talentedsaxophonist, she intends to become a professional musician.Year 12, 2011Miranda Watson, College DuxCongratulations to Miranda Watson, the 2011 College Dux.Miranda, who obtained an Enter of 97.85 is excited to be studyingInternational Relations/ Arts at Australian National University.Miranda was also awarded the Australian Defense Force funded Long TanLeadership and Teamwork Award for her thoughtful contributions andcollaboration in all classes. Miranda truly exemplifies the school values ofteamwork, excellence and persistence.‘This year I will be moving to Canberra to attend The Australian NationalUniversity, doing a double degree in Arts and Asia-Pacific Studies. I will beliving in a residential college not far from campus, with about 500 otherANU students, and I’m very excited to be moving out and to learn howto live in my own. I feel very grateful to Brunswick Secondary College forhelping me achieve this, and very proud to be able to say I graduated asthe Dux of Brunswick. I’m sure it gets said all the time, but the teachersat a school are really what make the school great, and this is especiallytrue for Brunswick. My teachers were consistently hardworking and dedicatedthroughout my six high school years, therefore motivating me toachieve all I knew I was capable of. Memories from high school that willstay with me include the fun I had on camps and the friends I made,but will include the teachers I’ve admired from year 7 to year 12.Kara SchenkYear 12 was like a rollercoaster ride; the thought of going through the ridescared me. There were moments of joy and excitement, moments where Ifelt ill and exhausted, and then finally, at the end of exams I had a sense ofrelief. Not just the relief of completing my exams, but also that I had beenbrave enough to go through the entire thing with my head up and eyeswide open.My advice to Year 12s: Study hard, respect and help out your classmatesand never underestimate the support of your teachers. Most importantly,take care of your body and head with healthy food and exercise.In 2012:Kara is taking a gap year before studying Sports Managementat Latrobe UniversityChenkun ZhaoThis year I encourage everyone to study and live positively.There are often difficult times at school and home for all ofus; but it is important to always have motivation through thedesire of achieving a certain goal or simply the thought ofcompleting a significant stage inlife. I couldn’t have completed VCE without the endless encouragementand support from my mom.The other importantpart of Year 12 is valuing the relationships that formed withyour classmates, friends, teachers and other staff members atBSC; these can never be found elsewhere. Regarding exams, Ibelieve that everyone has their own method of studyand preparation. What is important is finding a method thatsuits you and allows you to manage your school and family lifeeffectively.In 2012: Chenkun who obtained an ATAR: 96.35 is studyinga Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne in 2011.She will also pursue studies in Italian.Jenny ZhuoThe most important lesson that I learnt during Year twelve isthat balance is key. It is ok to have a day off from study hereand there, as Year 12 is like a full-time job; busy, hectic andyour responsibilities never go away no matter how much youtry to block them out.In 2012: Jenny is studying Physiotherapy at Latrobe University.Jai ApplebyYear 12 is a stressful, yet exciting year and I encourage allcurrent year 12 students to take full advantage of the supportnetwork that surrounds them. Remember to pace yourselfand even though a little bit of socialising is good, excessivesocialising will damage your chances of performing to the bestof your ability.In 2012: Jai is taking a gap year and working as a SecondaryTeacher Assistant at Brunswick Secondary College. He islocated in the front office and manages student attendanceand excursions among the many and varied other tasks thatare expected of this role. He looks forward to meeting youthroughout the year.Left to Right: Chenkun Zhao / Jai Appleby / Miranda Watson / Kara Schenk / Holly Moore with Carl Allen, Director of Jazz, Juilliard School

THE BRUNSWICKInternationalWomen’sDay EachBSC Celebrates InternationalWomen’s Day in Style!International Women’s Day is a day ofcelebration. Throughout history womenhave accomplished many amazing things.Women, from Cleopatra to Penny Wong,have all contributed to the society wecurrently exist in and it is so important forus as a school community to celebratethese achievements.Not only are we celebrating famouswomen on this day, we are also celebratingthe women we are so lucky to have inour lives such as mothers, grandmothers,friends and teachers.of us have special women who haveinfluenced us immensely and we celebrateInternational Women’s Day at BrunswickSecondary College as a way to show themjust how much we appreciate them.On International Women’s Day we acknowledgethe progress and achievements womenhave made in the past, but we also looktowards the future and strive to reach truegender equality, not only in Australia butin other cultures too.We have come a long way, but thereis still so much more we can do.Alex Brown, Debating Captain‘Connecting Girls and Inspiring Futures’was the theme for this year’s InternationalWomen’s Day, celebrated with a scrumptiousbreakfast under the shade sails last Thursday,March 8th.Many teachers, students and parents turnedup to celebrate the great achievements madeby girls and women in our society and also toreflect on the importance of continued supportof women’s rights throughout the world.Guest speaker, Angela Savage ( local author,former Facilitator for The Red Cross and the currentHead of Neighbourhood House Victoria)reminded us that 70% of the world’s poor arewomen and inspired our students to use theireducation and advantage to improvethis inequality.The Public Speaking Captain, Maggie O’Shea,did a wonderful job as MC (Mistress of Ceremonies)for the event. The senior acoustic band (comprisingMitchell Wood, Jonathon Newman,Jim Thomas and Alex Brown up front on vocals)provided the perfect musical accompanimentto the breakfast.Thank you to all the teachers and parents whomade delicious treats for us to eat and share.Many special thanks go to the organisers of thisevent, Claire Kavanagh and Oki Gardner,who did such a wonderful job of bringing us alltogether on the day.Kate Savage, Teacher

THE BRUNSWICKSettlingin toSecondarySchoolYear 7 is a year of new beginnings as students embarkon new learning experiences and forge new friendships.In starting secondary school, the Year 7 students areembarking on the next stage of their lives and theexperience will be different for each and every one of them.Talking to and observing their interaction with each other, I have the sense that most students’transition into Secondary School has been smooth. Other staff have communicated to me thatthat they feel the 2012 Year 7 students among the most confident we have seen.Most students have quickly adapted to using their timetables and changing rooms for differentsubjects. Students are developing new friendships which will be strengthened as the schoolyear progresses. The Year 10 Peer Support students are enjoying working with Year 7 and willcontinue to support their transition to secondary school throughout the year.Nadia Cavallin, Year 7 Coordinator

THE BRUNSWICKPersonalGlimpses 1Year 7 and 8 Swimming SportVictors – Gold House Proud to be GoldOn the 21st of February, the year 7 and 8 studentswent on the annual swimming carnival. It was lots offun and myself and the other gold house captainAnnie, became friends with a lot of people in ourteam. We had one of the most inspirational swimmersin our team. Brigette Williams, Year 8, came first, threetimes in a row with a sprained ankle. WE would havenever won without her. So congratulations to all thepeople in the gold team and keep up the good workguys. Helena Gumela, Year 9 (Gold House Captain)Pink Stumps DayPink Stumps Day for me was a way to spreadawareness of women’s health in a fun andengaging way. It was also a way to raise moneyfor breast cancer awareness and support theJane McGrath Foundation. The day was reallypositive and allowed students of all year levelsto be involved with this event. Overall women’shealth is not an issue many younger studentsmay be aware of, so it was great to spread theword. All proceeds from the uniform free daywent to the Jane McGrath FoundationNiki Davies, Sports CaptainOur Stage Band takes a bowYear 9 City Life Excursion“As part of our elective “City Life” we had an excursion to theCity of Melbourne called ‘City Life English focus’. In groups,we were given a map and a number of challenges to findvarious parts of Melbourne. The most interesting place I discoveredwas “The Block Arcade”.It was full of life with people buzzingabout, and lots of little café’s and shops. The decoration in thebuilding was also amazing, it has mosaic flooring, wrought ironand carved stone throughout. It was great heading to the Cityand being able to take our time and have a look around on ourown. I discovered Melbourne really is special.” Gus CoxSydney Rd FestivalBrunswick Secondary College Acoustic and Stage Bandsperformed at the Sydney Rd Festival earlier this month.I am confident in saying that it was a really positive experience notjust for me but for everyone. The opportunity to perform to thebroader community was challenging but also rewarding.The Acoustic Band had also played at Brunswick SouthQwest fete the preceding Friday. As Music Captain, I really lookingforward to organisng and bringing together events and performancefor this year and allowing students to perform not only withinthe school but also locally.,Mitchell Wood Music Captain

THE BRUNSWICKPersonalGlimpses 2Melbourne Comedy Festival Class Clown Runner Up – Blake Everett,Class Clown Runner UP!Class Clowns is a comedy competition for teenagersaged 14-18. This was my second year having enteredit, last year not getting past the heat rounds.This year I prepared my routine a lot better and camerunner-up in the second Melbourne heats, puttingme through to the state finals.I was up against some great teenage comedians.To my surprise I came runnerup, meaning I’m one ofthe top 2 comedians in the state. I will be competingin the National Final, which will feature acts fromall over Australia. It’s on April 20th at the MelbourneTown Hall and will be hosted by Sammy J and Randy.Blake Everett, Year 9Year 8 VolleyballOn Friday the 9th, the year 8s had their first interschool sportscompetition. I was with the boys’ volleyball for the day.They had much success during the day, and only dropped twomatches, both to Fitzroy High. The boys made it to the finalwhere they lost the first set by three points and the second set by2 points. Honourable mentions go to Jamal and Will,both key players in the team. All in all it was a really good dayand all the boys had lots of fun.The girls team played at Melbourne Girls College. Our girls playedwith great enthusiasm. At every point ,win or lose, the teamcontinued to cheer and encourage each other. Although our girlsdid not make the final, the team put on a fantastic show.They played with smiles on their faces and challenged theiropponents a number of times. Thank you to Year 9 students,Hannah and Rachael form the Sports Leadership Class for comingalong and supporting the Year 8 volleyball team on the day.Baden Smith, Sports Captain.