Parent Bulletin 10
7 August 2025
Freaky Friday
Don't miss your chance to see Freaky Friday this week at the Clocktower in Moonee Ponds. It's an incredible celebration of our students so get along and support your mates, and see what performing arts is all about!
Thursday 7 August 7.30pmFriday 8 August 7.30pmSaturday 9 August 6pm
Tickets available via The Clocktower.
Tickets available via The Clocktower.
Cross Country Team Report
Senior girls cross country team win Bronze at State championships!
Congratulations to Stefanie Ripplinger, Maisie Gasper and Amelia Manefield who all put in strong performances last week to secure a medal at state cross country. These girls have been strong every year since they were in year 7, with consistent efforts finally paying off and earning them a medal.
Individual Results: 14 Girls Maddie Gilcrist 10th, Sorrell Pakula 86th, Charlotte Walsh 91st14 Boys Aidan Lowe 11th16 Girls Amelia Hanks 74th16 Boys Will Lowe 75th17-20 Girls Stefanie Ripplinger 16th, Maisey Gasper 48th and Amelia Manefield 49th17-20 Boys Aiden Davis 6th
Angella DavisCoach
Congratulations to Stefanie Ripplinger, Maisie Gasper and Amelia Manefield who all put in strong performances last week to secure a medal at state cross country. These girls have been strong every year since they were in year 7, with consistent efforts finally paying off and earning them a medal.
Individual Results: 14 Girls Maddie Gilcrist 10th, Sorrell Pakula 86th, Charlotte Walsh 91st14 Boys Aidan Lowe 11th16 Girls Amelia Hanks 74th16 Boys Will Lowe 75th17-20 Girls Stefanie Ripplinger 16th, Maisey Gasper 48th and Amelia Manefield 49th17-20 Boys Aiden Davis 6th
Angella DavisCoach
Strathmore-Bologna Exchange Program
The Strathmore-Bologna Exchange Program is an integral part of the Italian program at Strathmore Secondary College. This is a reciprocal program with many benefits for our students and has been running successfully for the past 10 years. Hosting an exchange student helps form strong connections and lifelong friendships and is a mutually rewarding experience.
We are seeking host families this year who will be able to provide accommodation for one or two students for the last two weeks of Term 3. They will arrive on Sunday, 7th September and depart Friday, 19th September.
Ideally your family should be able to offer the student(s) a room of their own, either single or twin share, as well as transport to and from school. The 22 students are aged between 15 and 17 and are from il Liceo Galvani in Bologna, Italy, a prestigious senior high school specialising in teaching foreign languages through science. All students are proficient in English.
Should you be interested in hosting an Italian student (s), please contact Antonella Alampi at antonella.alampi@education.vic.gov.au
In your email, please include:
We are seeking host families this year who will be able to provide accommodation for one or two students for the last two weeks of Term 3. They will arrive on Sunday, 7th September and depart Friday, 19th September.
Ideally your family should be able to offer the student(s) a room of their own, either single or twin share, as well as transport to and from school. The 22 students are aged between 15 and 17 and are from il Liceo Galvani in Bologna, Italy, a prestigious senior high school specialising in teaching foreign languages through science. All students are proficient in English.
Should you be interested in hosting an Italian student (s), please contact Antonella Alampi at antonella.alampi@education.vic.gov.au
In your email, please include:
- Your family name
- Your child’s name and year level
- Your address
- Your contact details (phone, e-mail, mobile)
- Number of students you can accommodate (1 or 2)
- Preferred gender (if applicable)
- Nominate how your child gets to school (car, public transport, on foot)
- Declare any family pets
- Declare if you are smokers/non-smokers
We hope to hear from you soon.
The PESA Finals
Congratulations to Bonnie Green.
Strathmore Secondary College would like to congratulate Bonnie Green for reaching the State finals of the PESA: Positive Education Schools Association competition for 2025. She was part of the last six finalists who reached the finals. These were held last Friday on the 25th of July at the Wheeler Centre which is situated in the Victorian Public Library.
Bonnie’s determination and diligence in making the last six places for the entire competition is to be particularly commended. The competition itself ran for approximately three months, during which 150 students participated from schools all over Victoria.
Each participant in the finals was required to produce a prepared speech, lasting for at least eight minutes, followed by an impromptu speech of 3 minutes duration, with only 4 minutes of preparation permitted.
PESA is a very prestigious competition as it attracts highly motivated and talented students from all over Victoria and is usually dominated by private schools. Bonnie was the only government school student who reached the finals. As such, her effort in doing so is particularly commendable.
However, her achievement is also a reflection of the high ability levels of students who attend Strathmore Secondary College. The school has proven that it is more than capable of challenging the very best private schools in any of the high-performance competitions.
Finally, the school would like to acknowledge and thank Miss Shaalu Chaudhary for the time and effort that she spent in preparing Bonnie for the event.
Mr. C. Bassios
Strathmore Secondary College would like to congratulate Bonnie Green for reaching the State finals of the PESA: Positive Education Schools Association competition for 2025. She was part of the last six finalists who reached the finals. These were held last Friday on the 25th of July at the Wheeler Centre which is situated in the Victorian Public Library.
Bonnie’s determination and diligence in making the last six places for the entire competition is to be particularly commended. The competition itself ran for approximately three months, during which 150 students participated from schools all over Victoria.
Each participant in the finals was required to produce a prepared speech, lasting for at least eight minutes, followed by an impromptu speech of 3 minutes duration, with only 4 minutes of preparation permitted.
PESA is a very prestigious competition as it attracts highly motivated and talented students from all over Victoria and is usually dominated by private schools. Bonnie was the only government school student who reached the finals. As such, her effort in doing so is particularly commendable.
However, her achievement is also a reflection of the high ability levels of students who attend Strathmore Secondary College. The school has proven that it is more than capable of challenging the very best private schools in any of the high-performance competitions.
Finally, the school would like to acknowledge and thank Miss Shaalu Chaudhary for the time and effort that she spent in preparing Bonnie for the event.
Mr. C. Bassios
Photo by Nicole Cleary, courtesy Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
Murder Mystery in the Library
The annual library murder mystery is here. Tony Michaels, a friendly scientist on the Martian colony of Ares Alpha, has suffocated in an airlock while performing routine maintenance. Foul play is suspected.
Read through the evidence and witness statements in the library, and submit your accusations in the box of suspicion for your chance to win a voucher to Hoyts cinema.
Read through the evidence and witness statements in the library, and submit your accusations in the box of suspicion for your chance to win a voucher to Hoyts cinema.
Year 8 POP Art
In the pursuit of Excellence and displaying a great deal of PRIDE these Pop Art Paintings shone through as stand out pieces of Art. Well done all year 8 you have explored a diverse range of contemporary Pop Art related subject matter and shown your success this term.
Miss N. Kulyk
Miss N. Kulyk
National Science Week
Senior Art Exhibition 2025 – Unfolding
The Visual Arts Faculty warmly invites all parents, guardians, friends, and staff to the 27th Senior Art Exhibition, proudly showcasing the creative talents of our senior students.
This year’s theme, Unfolding, celebrates the evolving journey of our young artists as they explore their identity, creativity, and voice through art.
Exhibition Dates: Wednesday 10 – Sunday 14 SeptemberLocation: Neon Parlour, Thornbury
Featuring works from more than 30 students across Years 10, 11 and 12, the exhibition highlights a diverse range of media and personal expression.
Celebration EveningFriday 12 September6:00 – 8:00pmJoin us for a night of art, music, and community celebration.
We hope to see you there and thank you for supporting SSC’s vibrant creative community!
Students interested in getting involved are encouraged to join the Google Classroom (dzlr6d7y) or speak with a member of the Visual Arts team.
The Visual Arts Faculty
This year’s theme, Unfolding, celebrates the evolving journey of our young artists as they explore their identity, creativity, and voice through art.
Exhibition Dates: Wednesday 10 – Sunday 14 SeptemberLocation: Neon Parlour, Thornbury
Featuring works from more than 30 students across Years 10, 11 and 12, the exhibition highlights a diverse range of media and personal expression.
Celebration EveningFriday 12 September6:00 – 8:00pmJoin us for a night of art, music, and community celebration.
We hope to see you there and thank you for supporting SSC’s vibrant creative community!
Students interested in getting involved are encouraged to join the Google Classroom (dzlr6d7y) or speak with a member of the Visual Arts team.
The Visual Arts Faculty
Art Making & Exhibiting
AME Excursion: Exploring Photography and Curation at RMIT Gallery & NGV
As part of their studies for Unit 2 and Unit 4, our Year 11 and 12 Art Making & Exhibiting students recently took part in an inspiring gallery excursion to RMIT Gallery and NGV Australia.
At RMIT Gallery, students explored Auto-Photo: A Life in Portraits, gaining valuable insights into how photographers use subject matter, composition, and materials to communicate meaning. This directly supports their development of curatorial skills and understanding of artistic intent.
The journey continued at NGV Australia, where students examined key works of Australian photography. This experience deepened their understanding of how artworks are exhibited in professional contexts and how curators make decisions to engage audiences.
Throughout the day, students engaged in critical discussions and recorded visual research to inform their upcoming assessment tasks. The excursion provided a valuable real-world connection to the learning outcomes, enhancing both creative thinking and analytical skills in preparation for their own curatorial proposals and exhibitions.
Thanks for a great day!
Nicholas, Georgia & James
At RMIT Gallery, students explored Auto-Photo: A Life in Portraits, gaining valuable insights into how photographers use subject matter, composition, and materials to communicate meaning. This directly supports their development of curatorial skills and understanding of artistic intent.
The journey continued at NGV Australia, where students examined key works of Australian photography. This experience deepened their understanding of how artworks are exhibited in professional contexts and how curators make decisions to engage audiences.
Throughout the day, students engaged in critical discussions and recorded visual research to inform their upcoming assessment tasks. The excursion provided a valuable real-world connection to the learning outcomes, enhancing both creative thinking and analytical skills in preparation for their own curatorial proposals and exhibitions.
Thanks for a great day!
Nicholas, Georgia & James
Badminton
Strathmore Secondary College competed in Intermediate Badminton for the first time in over 10 years over the last two weeks.
On Friday 25th July 2 boys and 2 girls teams competed in the Moonee Valley Division competition. All teams performed very well with one team successfully winning through to the Western Metropolitan Region final held on 6th August.
The boys’ team did their best in the Region finals and competed well in the face of very good opposition.
All the players over the two competitions represented the school with pride and distinction. Thank you to the staff who supported the teams, in particular Ms Li.
On Friday 25th July 2 boys and 2 girls teams competed in the Moonee Valley Division competition. All teams performed very well with one team successfully winning through to the Western Metropolitan Region final held on 6th August.
The boys’ team did their best in the Region finals and competed well in the face of very good opposition.
All the players over the two competitions represented the school with pride and distinction. Thank you to the staff who supported the teams, in particular Ms Li.
First Lego League
Interested in joining a team for the First Lego League?
The First Lego League is an international competition using robotics to inspire a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Students compete by building and programming robots to complete a series of challenges. They also complete a project which involves researching and planning an innovative solution to a problem.
The 2025-2026 season has just launched. This year the theme is “Unearthed” and is all about uncovering the past to discover the future. The regional competition runs at Strathmore on October 31st. If successful, the team may also be required to attend further competition dates after that. Visit firstaustralia.org for more information.
To get involved students should attend the DigiTech club in F5 on Thursday lunchtimes. Teams are limited to 10 students from years 7 to 9.
Mr Stebbing and Mr O’Regan
The First Lego League is an international competition using robotics to inspire a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Students compete by building and programming robots to complete a series of challenges. They also complete a project which involves researching and planning an innovative solution to a problem.
The 2025-2026 season has just launched. This year the theme is “Unearthed” and is all about uncovering the past to discover the future. The regional competition runs at Strathmore on October 31st. If successful, the team may also be required to attend further competition dates after that. Visit firstaustralia.org for more information.
To get involved students should attend the DigiTech club in F5 on Thursday lunchtimes. Teams are limited to 10 students from years 7 to 9.
Mr Stebbing and Mr O’Regan
Year 9 Food Technology
To start the term, Year 9 Food Technology students have been revising essential kitchen hygiene and safety procedures, reinforcing the importance of safe food handling. In addition to this, they have begun exploring the role of breakfast in supporting physical and cognitive wellbeing throughout the day.
This week, students applied their learning in a practical setting by preparing mini quiches. This hands-on task allowed them to practise key food preparation skills, including safe use of knives and the oven.
The mini quiches were designed to be a nutritious and versatile option for breakfast, brunch or a healthy snack - demonstrating how students can make smart food choices to support their daily routines.
This week, students applied their learning in a practical setting by preparing mini quiches. This hands-on task allowed them to practise key food preparation skills, including safe use of knives and the oven.
The mini quiches were designed to be a nutritious and versatile option for breakfast, brunch or a healthy snack - demonstrating how students can make smart food choices to support their daily routines.
National Science Week MVCC
