The Arrow Term 2, No. 2

Principal Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope this article finds you well. If you are like me, you can’t quite believe that June has arrived. In 15 days, the shortest day of the year will be upon us and that means a good ten weeks or so of very dark morning walks with our dogs.

The whole school is in a high intensity work phase with a combination of work tasks, assessments due, and Year 10 – 12 exams approaching. This all goes towards the end of semester reports and the completion in another stage of secondary education. Whether you are a Year 7 completing their first semester, a Year 9 French Binational student preparing for the Brevet exams, or a Year 12 student completing the second last semester of high school ever; it is an important time to reflect on the hard work done, the lessons learnt and the progress that is achieved. This academic data is complemented by the Learning Behaviour data we have collected. The combination of these data sets is used when determining student course selections in Year 10 and 11. These will be all detailed in student end of semester reports.

In a previous role I completed a Microsoft Education course called ‘21^st Century Learning Design’ that focused on key elements of learning and provided guidance for teachers. One of the elements relevant to exams and end of semester progress is the concept of ‘Knowledge Construction’. In essence this is the core of learning. Constructing knowledge, engaging in applying this knowledge and displaying skills and reasoning are all displayed during assessment and class time to identify which stage learners are at. 21CLD has rubrics that help teachers design learning programs. In this case:

Level 1 – Content taught and activities provided require students to construct knowledge and build on past learnings.

Level 2 – Content taught and activities provided can only be completed by building on past learning.

Level 3 – Content taught and activities provided require students to apply their knowledge in new contexts

Level 4 – Content taught and activities provided require students to link knowledge to new and different contexts and across disciplines.

Questions in exams, prompts for essays, activities in science practicals and classroom tests are all designed to test the knowledge construction that has been happening in the teaching units. Achievement has a direct correlation between student effort and investment in achieving the different levels of knowledge construction.

For example, when asking a student ‘Do you have any homework?’ really what we could be asking them is ‘Which level of knowledge construction are you working on?’ Students will look bemused as they would not know what you are talking about.

So, putting things in plain language, linking effort to knowledge construction could look like this:

Level 1 – small amounts of effort using prior learnt knowledge in answering low level questions.

Level 2 – effort made to learn new knowledge and working towards answering complex questions.

Level 3 – effort made to learn new knowledge and using new and complex scenarios to apply the knowledge and the skills obtained.

Level 4 – effort displayed in linking past, and present knowledge to related concepts within a subject, and then a demonstration of taking the learning across into other disciplines.

Year 7 – 9 students have two weeks of Semester 1 to complete, and our Year 10 – 12 students start their exams this week. I wish all the students best of luck as they show us their ‘knowledge construction’. I know that our students benefit from the investment we, and they, make in themselves.

Upcoming events include our highly anticipated Year 12 Formal on June 12^th @ Luminare events venue in South Melbourne. Always an extravaganza of fashion, fun, dancing, and celebrations this night once again is being organised by the students for the students. Thank you to the staff and a couple of key parents who are helping the students prepare for the best night ever!!

Our new School Council has met twice and have already shown a willingness to discuss issues and commit to the school’s best interests. You have recently received a letter from our President, Mr Leo Pappas, and our Treasurer, Ms Joanna Giacomazzi, regarding school fee payments and some of the investments the school would like to make in learning, facilities, and student areas and safety.

On June 16^th the annual School Council public meeting is being held. This is a meeting attended by interested parents as the Principal reports the following:

• the proceedings of the council over the past year,
• the endorsed 2024 Annual Report, and
• a report summarising the audited school financial accounts.

The documents will then be available on the school website for future reference and public record.

All community members and parents are welcome. If you are planning to attend this evening, please arrive at the main reception area on Burgess Street building at 6.30pm. There is a regular school council meeting preceding this at 5.30pm in the staff centre.

Until next time,

Ross Pritchard

Principal

Fostering cognitive engagement in our students

Do you ever wonder how many exposures it takes for your brain to rewire? 17. That’s right, it is seventeen times that we need to see, retrieve and actively use information to ensure that it is encoded and stored in our long-term memory.

With our staff Professional Learning Day earlier this term we focused on our School Strategic Plan Goal 1: Maximise the learning and engagement of every student, investing in the practice of our teachers to refine their implementation of our instructional model, GANAG, as we built their understanding in how student learn. Staff engaged in an understanding of students’ brains, neuroplasticity and memory to reflect on their practice and facilitate reflections to enhance our teaching and learning programs at Auburn.

Our students’ brains are continuing to develop as adolescents and there are ways that we can support them to be successful with their learning programs at school. As their brains are highly adaptable through neuroplasticity, we can help them to shape their brain development so that they are actively participating in their learning opportunities. Through a gradual release of responsibility in the classroom, students can build on the knowledge they have retained from previous lessons to retrieve information they need to embed into their application tasks.

As parents and carers, you can support their cognitive development at home:

• Encourage consistent sleep routines to support memory consolidation overnight.
• Support their working memory and organisation by reminding them to use a schedule to plan and ‘chunk’ their homework and revision into manageable steps within their routines.
• Help them to make semantic connections within their long-term memory by linking their learning to real interests and asking them about their learning at school, such as:
  • “What was something new or confusing in class today?”
  • “Can you walk me through how you solved that problem?”
• Encourage emotional regulation (taking healthy breaks, engaging in hobbies, naming emotions and reflection) to calm the brain so that they are able to retain new knowledge more effectively.
• Respect their need to develop independence and agency by offering help, asking guiding questions instead of providing answers and celebrating effort and progress, not just results. This will help them to foster our Auburn Learn Quality of Character (including growth mindset and resilience)

Closing up Semester 1

We have finished a busy period of summative assessments (CATs & SACs) in the Senior School and I commend all of our students for their perseverance as their Semester 1 classes ended on Tuesday. With our Semester 1 mid-year examinations beginning, our students will have the opportunity to test their long-term retention of the knowledge and skills covered in their semester subjects, demonstrating their learning since the commencement of Headstart in November last year.

These examinations provide students with comprehensive evidence of their learning for this semester. Students will receive clarity about the structure and format of their exams from their classroom teachers. They are encouraged to ask questions and seek assistance if they are unsure at any point so that they can be supported in the lead up. Teachers will use unpack this data to support students in developing their academic goals for Semester 2.

This term all Senior School students have had protected time to work on their My Learning Growth documents. Students have accessed their individual templates to reflect on their Term 1 attendance, Learning Behaviours and CAT/SAC data before setting engagement, academic and wellbeing goals for this term. We know that goal setting promotes motivation and accountability, and students were supported in designing SMART goals that will support their success this term. When we review our individual data, we start to think about the opportunities we want to provide ourselves for the future. This will be integral in support students to make informed decisions as part of their 2026 program selection.

Ella Price

Senior Assistant Principal

CSEF 2025 Applications

A reminder to all schools that the submission of CSEF applications close on Friday 4th July.

Please ensure all applications are entered and endorsed before the closing date (note that schools must complete both steps to ensure the applications are processed and paid).

Late applications will not be processed after the closing date.

If you have any queries, please direct them to [email protected]

You can download the application form here- csef-application-form-2879 (2)

AHS Internal Examination Period

Our Semester 1 AHS Internal Examination Period support students to demonstrate their understanding of the key knowledge and skills from their Senior School classes. This enables them to test their long-term retention of their learning as well as facilitating goal setting for the start of Semester 2 classes (Term 2, Week 9). Developing examination skills through regular exposure to exam conditions helps our students to build essential skills such as time management, critical thinking, and written communication. It also simulates the conditions of the end-of year examinations that students will experience in our VCE and IB programs.

Using summative assessments such as internal examiantions enables our teachers to use evidence of student learning to make judgements on student achievement. Our staff have been working collectively to design assessment tasks that allow for all students to experience a degree of success while balancing judments that are consistent, informed and measured against curriculum standards (Victorian Curriculum or Study Designs). Examination data allowing teachers to adjust their scope and sequences for Semester 2 as they design targeted support to address learning gaps or misconceptions for the cohorts.

During the Semester 1 Internal AHS Examination Period, Senior School students are to uphold the following expectations.

• Students are required to attend exams wearing full school uniform. Students out of uniform will not be permitted to sit their exam.
• Students are only required to attend school for the scheduled exams. Students can study at home at other times.
• If students have more than 1 exam (on one day) they are able to study privately in the Senior Building.
• Studnets will need to respect the designated spaces that will be allocated for use. This will including signing in.

Students can not:

• Wander around the school grounds or using the yard outside of break times. They are to make your way directly to the Senior Building to establish a strong revision routine.
• Access the canteen outside of break times.
• Leave school to seek food from external venues and then return on-site. Students are only to arrive and leave school once a day.

Exam expectations have been embedded for students. Some key reminders to help them prepare are:

• Student ID cards should be displayed on the exam desk to help the supervising teachers
• Arrive early: 10mins before the start time of your exam
• Clear water bottle – place your water bottle on the floor by your exam desk.

Celebrating IDAHOBIT at Auburn High School – The Power of visibility, advocacy and allyship

On Monday May 19th, Auburn High School proudly celebrated IDAHOBIT: the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersex discrimination and Transphobia. While the official day fell on Saturday, we were determined to mark the occasion together as a school community. And what a vibrant, affirming day it was!

Our school was filled with colour, joy and meaningful action. Headspace joined us in making pronoun keychains, students and staff alike had their nails painted in rainbow colours at lunchtime, and our staff proudly wore rainbow accessories to signal their support. The Wellbeing Team covered the school in posters that celebrated diversity and reinforced Auburn as a safe and welcoming environment for all students, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation.

But beyond the fun and festivity, IDAHOBIT reminds us of something much deeper: the importance of using our voices to support and protect those who are too often made to feel invisible. For many LGBTQIA+ young people, school is not always a safe space. Discrimination, casual slurs, and a lack of visibility can contribute to feelings of isolation. At Auburn High School, we are committed to standing against that.

Creating a culture where every student feels safe, seen and supported requires all of us. It means listening to marginalised voices. It means standing up against prejudice when we see it. It means wearing a rainbow lanyard, joining the Fruit Salad Club, or simply using respectful, inclusive language. These small actions send a powerful message: you belong here.

This year’s IDAHOBIT celebration was a vibrant reflection of our DARE values of Diversity, Aspiration, Respect and Excellence in action. When students see themselves reflected in their school’s values and supported by their teachers, peers, and wider community, they are empowered to be their full selves. That is the foundation of both wellbeing and learning.

To everyone who participated, thank you for showing what allyship looks like. When we show up for one another, we create a school and a society where everyone has the right to feel proud, safe, and valued every single day.

31 May World No Tobacco Day

This health awareness day created by the World Health Organisation reminds us of the dangers of using tobacco and e-cigarettes. They are highly addictive. The chemicals and nicotine in them can cause lung damage, heart disease and cancers and harm the brain development of children and teenagers.

Parents, carers, schools, and community all play an important role in protecting children and young people from, and educating them about, the harmful effects of smoking and vaping. Research from VicHealth shows that young people care about what their parents, carers and older siblings think and do about vaping.

Some tips on how you can talk to your young person about smoking and vaping:

• Start with information and key facts.
• Approach it calmly.
• Don’t make assumptions. Avoid making accusations.
• Avoid judging or lecturing. Consider questions like: ‘how did it make you feel?’ And ‘what made you want to try?’
• Focus on health and explain your concerns.

You can also view this video https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/E-cigarettes_and_teens/ on smoking and vaping from experts at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne for health advice and tips for starting a conversation with young people.

Other services that can provide you with information or advice about include:

• Quitline org.au 13 78 48
• Parentline 13 22 89
• Headspace
• AHS Wellbeing Team

(Adapted from Smoking and vaping: Advice for parents | vic.gov.au, May 2025)

Penny Hsiao

Health Promotion Nurse

Teaching for How Students Learn: Enhancing our instructional practice

Last week, our staff came together for a powerful professional learning day titled Teaching for How Students Learn, designed to deepen our understanding of how learning occurs in the brain and how we can translate this understanding into the delivery of effective and consistent classroom practice.

Grounded in the latest neuroscience research, the day unpacked the structure and function of the brain, exploring how emotions, social connection and cognition interact to impact learning. The research underpinning the sessions was grounded in the work of Judi Newman’s Social Influence Model, alongside recent releases on best-practice teaching and learning from the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO).

These insights were directly connected to our school’s instructional model, GANAG, strengthening our collective ability to leverage the strengths of our instructional model to design lessons catered for how students learn best. Sessions on working memory, cognitive load, and neuroplasticity reinforced the importance of explicit teaching. Explicit teaching is an evidence-based approach centred on the idea that teaching has been successful when students have retained what they’ve learned – not when content has been delivered. To maximise learning (i.e. storage in long-term memory), explicit teaching is dynamic and responsive. It involves interacting with students as they practise and adjusting teaching to learning needs as they arise. There are five elements within DET’s definition of explicit teaching (based on research from AERO), as outlined below:

Our focus for this professional learning day was exploring the ‘knowledge and memory’ component to consider how we can provide explicit explanations of New Knowledge (the ‘N’ of within GANAG). Teachers explored key strategies including: breaking down new content into small, manageable chunks; using consistent and clear language; explicitly linking new knowledge to prior learning; checking for understanding regularly; and providing worked examples with step-by-step explanations. Teachers also practised modelling their thinking aloud and using examples and non-examples to clarify concepts and address misconceptions.

Importantly, the day concluded with protected collaboration time in which staff applied these strategies in subject-based teams, enhancing upcoming lesson sequences to build student knowledge in lasting ways. This work directly supports our School Strategic Plan Goal 1: Maximise the learning and engagement of every student, and specifically Key Improvement Strategy Strengthen a whole school approach to embed high quality teaching and learning to effectively provide for the needs of every student. Our GANAG instructional model acts as a strong base upon which we can build to continually improve teaching and learning at AHS. Other elements of explicit teaching will be explored in future professional learning sessions as our work in the instructional practice space evolves. I thank all staff involved for their enthusiasm and active participation on the day; they truly embodied what it means to be a lifelong learner.

Samantha Francis,

Learning Specialist: Instructional Practice & Staff Development

Year 10 Work Experience

Work Experience is an important part of our career education program at Auburn High School. It helps students to explore potential jobs, develop employability skills, understand workplace expectations and make informed education and career choices.

This is a compulsory part of our Year 10 careers education program where students will:

1. Develop employability skills and understand employer expectations.
2. Learn about careers you didn’t know existed and speak to employee about their education and career pathways.
3. Add to your resume and improve your chances of getting interviews because you have experience and a good referee.
4. See if your ‘dream job’ is what you imagined. This is integral timing as Year 10 students prepare to select their Year 11 program and subjects for 2026.
5. Best of all –increase their self-understanding, maturity, independence, and confidence!

Key Dates:

• Work Experience Week: 30 June – 4 July 2025

Common questions you might as you support your child to find a placement:

• My child is struggling to write an email to local employers, what do you suggest?
  • We encourage them to check the Year 10 Team – Work Experience Channel. There is a sample email template that students can personalise before sending to employers. We also encourage them to update their CVs.
• My child is struggling to find a placement, where can they look?
  • We initially collated opportunities here. Some of these are now outdated but could help for inspiration.
  • Our local learning and employment network has collated opportunities here.
  • Look at the Yellow Pages or Google Maps.
  • We have been lucky to have members of our local community offer opportunities which have been posted on Teams. Students who are interested in these placements should contact Ms Price for contact information.

Once my child has a placement what do they do?

Our school is lucky to have early access to the Department of Education’s new digital work experience application portal. The portal replaces paper forms and is designed to save time by simplifying the process for families and employers. Families can fill out and sign the form from a mobile phone or computer. The digital work experience forms are securely stored in line with Victorian privacy laws.

Please download the 2025 AHS Work Experience Handbook V2 from Compass to assist with these steps. You may also like to download the Study Work Grow Work Experience Guide for students and their families as an additional resource.

• They need to email Ms Price who will then resend their individual link to the Work Experience portal.
• Students will then enter their personal placement information.
• Once all information has been entered and verified by the emergency contact and employer it will alert Ms Price to review the placement.
• At this point students will be prompted to upload their OH&S certificates. Specific information on these can be found in the attached handbook.
• If all information meets the placement requirements the formal work experience form will be sent off for all parties to sign electronically. This will be sent from DocuSign.
• The final signature will be completed by Ms Price who will finalise the placement, ready for students to start on Monday 30th June.

Students can see the following staff for additional support:

• Leading Teacher Curriculum Year 9 & 10: Andrea Ganotis
• Year 10 Leaders: Jacqueline Wong-fat and Natasha Sutherland
• Tutor Group Teachers:
  • 10A: Peter Ryan
  • 10B: Jean Zhang
  • 10C: Year Level Leaders
  • 10D: Isobel Hudson
  • 10E: Edon Germano
  • 10F: Charly Layton
  • 10G: Natasha Sutherland

We look forward to all of our Year 10 students experiencing a Work Experience placement in Week 11 and thank you for your support.

Senior School Programs in 2026

We had over 100 families log in to our Webex last week that introduced our community to our Senior School Programs in 2026. Thank you to everyone who attended. We appreciate your involvement in this partnership as we collectively support our Year 9, Year 10 and Year 11 students to select their 2026 programs. The recording and slides from the session can be found on Compass under School Documentation – Course Selection Documents.

Fostering our Auburn Learner Quality of Communication at Year 10 we encourage questions and curiosity from our students and families in order to access and process the information about our programs in 2026 in preparation for course counselling next term.

We have the follow upcoming information sessions:

• VCE (Vocational Major): Wednesday 4th June 6pm (On-site in our Senior Building on Auburn Road)
• International Baccalaureate: Tuesday 10th June 6pm (On-site in our Senior Building on Auburn Road)

If you are able to attend these on-site sessions, please RSVP using the form on Compass.

How Parents and Careers can support their child to prepare for course selection:

1. Explore Future Options Together.
   • Talk to your child about what they want to do after school — whether it’s work, further study, or training.
   • Discuss their interests, strengths, and which subjects they enjoy most.
   • Read the school’s Curriculum Handbook (when released) to understand subject choices and requirements.
   • Look at the ‘Where to Now?’ guide, which explains pathways and options beyond school.
   • Visit tertiary institution websites to check prerequisite subjects for courses your child may be interested in.
2. Keep attending our sessions!
   • Attend further information and Q&A sessions to clarify your questions.
   • Attend our Senior School Expo next term and encourage your child to speak with current Year 10 or 11 students.
   • Go to university open days to explore post-school opportunities.
3. Encourage conversation at home:
   • Talk regularly with your child about their ideas and decisions.
   • Encourage them to seek advice from friends, teachers, or mentors.
   • Review your child’s Morrisby Test results with them and talk about what those results might suggest for subject or career choices.
   • Use the school’s Careers Department website for tools and advice tailored to your child’s goals.
   • Ask your child to share the goals they have set in their My Learning Growth Profile.
   • Review your child’s recommendation letter with them (released later this term)

We look forward to working with your child in the coming months as they choose their individual pathway!

Careers Expo 2025

Our Year 10, 11 and 12 students recently visited the Careers Expo earlier this term as part of their careers program. The Careers Expo included exhibitors from universities, TAFE colleges and training providers. Students were able to attend subject specific seminars to support them with their academic studies, as well as hear about areas of interest in the workforce. We had students inspired by GAP year programs and international exchange opportunities, and those who were considering contributions to society through organ donation. It was fantastic to see our students proactively asking questions at the stalls, seeking information to understand the possibilities that exist beyond Auburn. In the afternoon, we were so lucky to be able to take these three Senior School to an array of afternoon sessions that complimented industries of interest for our cohorts. Students had the opportunity to visit: SeaLife Aquarium, The Melbourne Theatre Company, The National Gallery of Victoria, The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS), panels from members of our alumni community. A huge thank you to our Senior School Team who organised these fantastic opportunities for our students in order to complement their experience.

Some student reflections on the afternoon sessions can be found below:

Attending the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) was an excellent event for the year 11-12 career expo that I would highly recommend to others. Admittedly, I chose to attend the VIS because all the other events scheduled seemed boring, however I learned a lot from the VIS about the harsh conditions and training that athletes subject themselves to in order to be the best. Methods like the climate chamber, like we saw in the VIS, were particularly impressive for the training of these amazing athletes. If you’re interested in any sports, athleticism and even how the body responds to harsh stimuli, I highly recommend attending the VIS next year at the Career Expo.

• Antonio, Year 11

After the Careers Expo, a group of students got the opportunity to tour the Melbourne Theatre Company’s (MTC) HQ. We met our tour guide, a company member who has experience being in several plays. To start, we listened to an engaging presentation on the process of making a production come to life, from the initial plans to opening night. We saw costume plans, and miniature sets they make on a 1:25 scale.

Once the presentation finished, we were given a tour of the inner workings of the MTC. Starting with the costume storage, there were racks and racks of costumes, all meticulously sorted, and even a huge wall solely dedicated to different stage shoes. Next, we visited the milliner’s room, where they custom-make hats for theatre, and we learnt about how the role of hats has evolved through history. Adjacent to the milliner’s room was the wig room. MTC is one of the last places that make their wigs. Did you know they get all their hair from Germany? Human hair is important as it means they can manipulate the hair with heat easily.

Heading into the more industrial areas of the MTC, we got a special look at where seamstresses turn those costume plans into reality. They had just bumped out of the room for a production that was about to begin, but that didn’t mean taking a break; it just meant starting on new costumes. After that, we saw the prop warehouse, a massive room with props of every kind. Phones from every era, any type of chair you could think of, and also a creepy mannequin… Then we went downstairs to the large workshop where they build all of their set pieces.

Our final stop was the rehearsal rooms, where we could imagine actors preparing for upcoming productions with a newfound appreciation of all the work that goes in.

• Brigitte, Year 11

Ella Price

Assistant Principal (Teaching & Learning | Senior School)

Kangourou des Maths Award Ceremony  – Celebrating Mathematical Excellence

On Friday 6 June, Auburn High School and Camberwell Primary School came together to celebrate their students’ participation and outstanding achievements in the Kangourou des Maths, an international mathematics competition that has now been running for 35 years. With over 6 million students participating worldwide each year, across multiple languages and countries, this prestigious event encourages mathematical curiosity and problem-solving beyond the classroom.

This year marks a special collaboration between Auburn High School and Camberwell Primary School, with all French-program students in Grade 5 and 6 at CPS (CM2 & 6e) and Years 7 to 9 at AHS (5e, 4e, 3e) invited to sit the French version of the competition.

In addition, passionate mathematicians from Years 7 to 11 at AHS who voluntarily opted into the Australian edition of the competition, known as Kangourou sans Frontières, were also recognised during the ceremony.

We were honoured to welcome two special guests to this celebration of student achievement:

• Melissa Clarke, Assistant Deputy Secretary of the School Performance, Teaching and Learning Division from the Department of Education; and
• Professor Federico Frascoli, Chair of the Department of Mathematics at the School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology.

Their presence highlights the importance of encouraging mathematical excellence and recognising student effort at all levels.

We were especially proud to celebrate the exceptional performances of one student who stood out at the international level in the French Kangourou des Maths:

🥇 Philip Nguyen (Year 7 / 5e) achieved an outstanding 10th place out of 45,000 participants. Philip was even invited to attend the official Kangourou Trophées Ceremony in Paris on Saturday 31 May — an incredible honour.

Congratulations to all students who took part in this year’s Kangourou des Maths, and a special bravo to our top achievers!

Prix du Civisme (French National Order of Merit) Launch in Melbourne

The 2025 edition of the Prix du Civisme was officially launched at a special ceremony held at St Kilda Town Hall, attended by:

• Commandeur Serge Thomann, Vice President of the Australian Section of the Association Nationale des Membres de l’Ordre National du Mérite (ANMONM);
• Lyn Tuit, President of the Australian Section of ANMONM;
• Paule Ignatio, Consul General of France in Melbourne,

along with many members of the wider French community in Melbourne.

The Ordre National du Mérite was founded by General De Gaulle on December 3, 1963. The order is designed to acknowledge those who have made an outstanding contribution to society in both civil and military domains. Providing exceptional service to others, to the nation, selflessly and on a volunteer basis are hallmarks of the order.

The aim of the Prix du Civisme is to encourage young people to undertake projects to assist others. These may be actions of personal courage, projects and actions to benefit the wider community including both in Australia and abroad, projects and actions designed to protect the environment and wildlife or reduce pollution or waste and emissions, and projects aimed at helping the disadvantaged in our communities reflecting the values of ‘liberty, equality and fraternity’.

Prix du Civisme – Year 9/10 French students Call for Nominations

Year 9 or 10 students, have you contributed to your community — either here in Australia or abroad?

The Prix du civisme (Civics Award), launched by the French National Order of Merit, recognises outstanding civic engagement by young people.

If you, or someone you know, have made a meaningful contribution to the wider community through volunteering, leadership, social action, or any other form of civic involvement, do let us know! Get in touch with Madame Oldfield if you are interested or would like to learn more about this prestigious award.

New French Books in the Library – Explore, Read, Enjoy!

We’re excited to announce the arrival of a fresh collection of French books in the school library! Imported directly from France, these new titles offer students even more opportunities to read for pleasure, expand their vocabulary, and explore diverse Francophone cultures and perspectives.

The collection includes:

• Graphic novels (bandes dessinées) for all ages
• Contemporary French fiction
• Books for beginners in French as a Second Language

Whether you’re a native speaker, learning French, or simply curious, there’s something for everyone.

We invite all students to come and browse the new collection — and don’t hesitate to ask your French teacher for recommendations.

Reading in French is one of the best ways to boost your language skills and have fun while doing it. Bonne lecture !

Save the Date! Melbourne Bastille Day French Festival – 10th Anniversary Celebration

Get ready to celebrate all things French! The Melbourne Bastille Day French Festival is returning on 12 & 13 July 2025 at the iconic Queen Victoria Market — and this year marks its 10th anniversary!

This beloved annual event is a highlight of Melbourne’s cultural calendar, bringing together lovers of French language, food, fashion, music, history and more.

Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in the joie de vivre of French culture right here in Melbourne!

For more details, visit: https://www.bastilledaymelbourne.com

Innovations in Space

A group of students recently attended a virtual event hosted by Rotary Hawthorn, featuring astrophysicist Dr Brad Tucker. The session, titled “Innovations in Space”, explored exciting developments in space science and technology, including satellite research, telescope construction, and emerging space innovations.

The students gained valuable insights into current challenges and breakthroughs in the field – an inspiring experience that continues to fuel their passion for STEM.

Deakin Science and Engineering Challenge

A group of students in Years 9 and 10 have begun weekly lunchtime sessions in preparation for the 2025 Science and Engineering Challenge – a nationwide STEM event coordinated by the University of Newcastle in partnership with Rotary and Deakin University.

Set to take place in June at Deakin’s Geelong and Melbourne campuses, the Challenge invites students to compete in hands-on engineering and problem-solving activities.

Our school will be entering a team to compete against other schools from across Victoria. This program fosters collaboration, creativity, and real-world STEM application, helping students explore future pathways in science and engineering.

Genaaron Diamente

STEM Classroom

Last week, the Year 7A Science class conducted a DNA extraction experiment using a strawberry!

We are currently studying Biology, focusing on the classification of organisms and exploring how closely or distantly related they are. During our discussions, students expressed curiosity about DNA, so we seized the opportunity to include this exciting experiment – typically conducted in Year 10!

The students did an outstanding job and were thrilled to observe the cloudy strands of DNA rising in their test tubes after adding the necessary chemicals.

Well done to Miss Mangano and the 7A Science Legends for their enthusiasm and effort!

Join Us for the 2026 French Cultural Tour Information Evening

Update from the Student Leadership Team!

This term, The Student Leadership Team has been busy preparing a range of activities and fundraising events for the school!

The Philanthropy Action Group held a Bake Sale for our World’s Greatest Shave event on the 30th of May, which was very successful with just over $240 being raised for the AHS team. On the 24th of June, we will host a World’s Greatest Shave event at school, with brave participants volunteering to shave, cut or colour their hair to raise awareness and funds for the Leukaemia Foundation. Moreover, from the 4th – 26th of June, the Push-Up Challenge is taking place in Australia, and AHS is taking part to do our part in raising awareness for mental health! To fundraise, a BBQ will take place on the 20th of June at lunchtime for students to enjoy a snag, whilst contributing to this great cause.

The Extra-Curricular Team organised and has been running a Basketball Competition throughout the term. With the group stages wrapping up just before exams, make sure to head down to the ECA in the couple weeks following exams (Week 9 & 10) for the knockout stages. Keep an eye on teams for finals dates!

The House Spirit Action Group has organised a house logo competition, with entries open until the 27th of June. The winning logo will be used in House events and potentially the house banners. See teams or compass for more info!

For IDAHOBIT day, the Wellbeing Team organised for Headspace to come in at lunch and organise various activities for students, to celebrate the diversity of our school community. Moreover, to celebrate Education Support staff day, a padlet was released to the students with everyone writing a positive message of thanks to all the staff members who do significant work for the school, behind the scenes.

We are excited for a busy few weeks ahead!

• Joshua Pettier (Year 12)

International Student Program

As part of our background study of Tim Winton’s Blueback, our Year 10 EAL students explored one of the novel’s key themes: marine protection and conservation. The book’s powerful message about caring for our oceans inspired students to learn more about real-world issues facing marine life today.

In response, students conducted independent research on endangered and extinct sea creatures that have been severely impacted by human activities such as pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction. They then created informative and visually engaging posters to present their findings to the class.

These posters will be displayed around the school to help raise awareness about the urgent need to protect our marine environment. It’s been a fantastic opportunity for students to combine literacy skills with global issues they care about.

Jean Zhang

International Student Coordinator

Important IT Notice for Families – Microsoft Windows 10 End of Support and Device Upgrades Suggestion

Dear Parents and Carers,

We would like to kindly inform you of an important change regarding student devices, particularly for those using Self-Managed Devices (BYOD).

As announced by Microsoft, Windows 10 will reach End of Support (EOS) on 14 October 2025. After this date, devices running Windows 10 will no longer receive security updates, feature improvements, technical support, or bug fixes. While Windows 10 devices will continue to operate, they will become increasingly vulnerable to security risks and system issues.

What This Means for You

The AHS Student 1-to-1 Laptop Program allows families to choose either the School-Managed Device option or the Self-Managed Device (BYOD) option.

All family opt-in School-Managed Devices have already been deployed or upgraded to Windows 11 and comply with the Department of Education’s cybersecurity standards.

Families who have chosen the Self-Managed Device (BYOD) option are fully responsible for ensuring their child’s device meets the Department’s minimum requirements for operating systems and cybersecurity standards.

What Should You Do Next

If your child’s laptop is a Self-Managed Device (BYOD) currently running any version of Windows 10, you will need to check if it is eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 11 before Windows 10 EOS.

To check and upgrade:

1. Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security

2. Select Download and Install Free Upgrade to Windows 11

If your child’s device is not eligible for a free upgrade or does not support Windows 11, we strongly recommend beginning to plan for a replacement device before Windows 10 EOS. This will ensure your child can continue to access online learning tools securely and without disruption beyond the support cut-off date while remaining compliant with the Department’s minimum requirements for school network access.

For guidance on transitioning to Windows 11, please visit Microsoft’s official support page.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school’s IT Team at [email protected].

Kind regards,
IT Department
Auburn High School

PRODUCTION CAST ANNNOUNCEMENT

We are thrilled to announce the incredible cast of our upcoming School Production of The Little Mermaid Jnr.!

Thank you to all students who auditioned, we were blown away with the level of talent and enthusiasm displayed!

Get ready to dive into the magical world under the sea with unforgettable characters, incredible music, and a splash of creativity and talent! Stay tuned for more updates – and get ready to be part of our world!

Tickets on Sale Now, book via the trybooking link below!

https://www.trybooking.com/DCKOV 

CAST LIST

Ariel- Summer O’Keefe Prince Eric- Pascal Franco Sageman Ursula- Hermione Barrow Sebastian- Alex West Flounder- Alyssa Larkins Scuttle- Aiko Deighton Grimsby- Tully Dick Triton- Ted Harbottle Flotsam- Zara Lienert Jetsam- Madeleine Yates Chef Louis- Leon Polack Triton- Philippe Asselin Mersisters/Princesses- Loulou Lambel, Konstantina Samartzis, Tara Sharrock, Eleanor Carroll, Elea Vagedes, Zoe Rudge Carlotta- Abigail James

Ensemble: Asha Lienert, Alyssa Barnes, Shaurya Chowdhury, Merline Deighton, Angus Dick, Selwyn Greenwood, Audrey Hodges, Humi Keenan, Chris Kerr, Coco Lewis,Vaanika Mali, Hannah Murphy, Leonie Pourchot- Dautun, Liugo Rivoalan, Ria Sharma, Zachary Taylor, Miles Ting, Madeleine Trevaskis, Charles Wiggins,Adrian Yates, Penelope Yates, Ariel Zhang

Vietnam Philanthropy Tour – Part 1

In trepidation and excitement, we arrived early at the airport and endured the formalities and sprawling queues of customs. Once everyone’s bags were checked and we were safely aboard, so begun the eight-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City. After a layover in the aforementioned city, acclimatising ourselves to the new culture, language and food (with some of us making the first of our ill-advised dong-spending decisions), there were some delays with the flight, the resolution of which the cabin crew celebrated through a mesmerising multicoloured light display. Meeting our new tour guide, the illustrious Dong, and following our Global Learning Expedition connections Ben and Ross, we wearily boarded the bus to our hotel, where we were given our accommodations and collapsed in bed for the night.

In the morning, we enjoyed a buffet-style breakfast rife with culinary discoveries, with both familiar classics and exciting new dishes to try.

We set out for the remote village of Mai Chau, captivated by the towering hills of our surroundings. Mai Chau is a beautiful village among rolling green hills and enormous fields of rice, which we had the pleasure of touring through in the afternoon (despite the sweltering heat). Later, we stopped by the local primary school and nailed an impromptu dance performance led by Audrey S and engaged with the children on various riveting subjects such as Fortnite, Ronaldo v. Messi and fierce rock-paper-scissors battles. Everyone was astounded when, saying our goodbyes, they all hopped on their bikes and departed without parental supervision. We were grateful to donate over 2000 exercise books, 600 pencils, 1200 pens, 300 erasers and 300 sharpeners to the school community as a result of the generous donations from our community.

In the evening, we were acquainted with our dinner venue for the duration of our stay in Mai Chau, a traditional lakeside stilt house, where we were provided with an abundance of delicious dishes, plus some variation of potato fries to remind us of home. We were welcomed to the village by a talented group of Thai dancers, who captivated us with their performances before getting us involved in a bamboo dance. It was tricky and technical to begin with, but we quickly got the hang of it and, when the opportunity for another bamboo dance arose later in the trip, we were pros. We also wheeled out another impromptu performance yet again courtesy of Audrey’s quick-thinking choreography skills.

Xavier M (Year 12) & Phoebe P (Year 12)

Library

In the library, we’re celebrating Mother’s Day and National Reconciliation Week with two engaging displays. The Mother’s Day Display highlights the origins of Mother’s Day and features inspiring quotes from renowned writers about the significance of mothers. The National Reconciliation Week Display delves into the meaning of Reconciliation, the goals of the week, and the importance of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country. Both displays include a selection of books that reflect these themes. We invite you to visit the library, explore the displays, and borrow a book to enjoy.

Ebooks & Audiobooks

Students are reminded that WorldBook Online is accessible through the Library Catalogue. EBooks & Audiobooks are available on ePlatform via the AHS Digital Library. This can be accessed by signing into Compass.

1. Go to the star: School Favourites
2. Click on to AHS Digital Library
3. Log in to the Library Catalogue using your Compass numerical Username and Password date of birth (eight digits EG: 12052012).

With thousands of titles available, the ePlatform Digital Library App opens a world of reading. The app is free to download on your devices from the Apple Store or Google Play Store, making it simple and convenient to access a wide range of books anytime, anywhere.

Class set texts are also easily accessible online, ensuring students have everything they need for their studies in just a few clicks.

Explore, download, and enjoy the endless possibilities the ePlatform Digital Library offers!

June & July 2025, Term 2

• June 5th, Year 8 Sports
• June 9th, Kings Birthday (Public Holiday)
• June 10th, Senior Sport Year 11 & 12
• June 10th, International Baccalaureate DP Program Infomation Session AHS
• June 12th, Regional Cross Country
• June 12th, Year 12 Formal
• June 17th, Semester 2 Classe’s Start
• June 17th, Year 10 Swinburn Excursion
• June 16th, Parent Fourm
• June 17th, Assesment & Reporting Day (Student Free)
• June 30th, Year 10 Work Experince Week
• July 1st, School Tour
• July 1st, Year 8 DARE Assembly
• July 2nd, Year 11 & Year 7 DARE Assembly
• July 3rd, Year 12 DARE Assembly
• July 4th, Semester 1 Reports Released
• July 4th, Last day Term 2

Community Infomation & Local Partnerships

La Croissanterie & Co – Since launching a few weeks ago, we’ve been thrilled by the warm support from our local community. Our bakery is quickly becoming a go-to destination for freshly baked pastries, cakes, coffee, and a wide selection of savory baguettes and sandwiches. Given our close proximity to Auburn High School, we’d love offer the below specials for students, parents, and staffs.

• Start-of-Day Program: A 20% discount on all pastries and cakes (including savory items) to make breakfast and lunch more convenient. Plus, any pastry or cake purchase comes with a 50% discount on one coffee. (Available Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–9:30 AM.)
• School Pick-Up Program: A 25% discount on all pastries and cakes to offer a quick afternoon treat. (Available Monday–Friday, 2:00 PM–3:00 PM.)
• Weekend Sports Program: A 15% discount on all pastries, cakes, and coffee to fuel up before or after games. (Available every Saturday and Sunday.)
  

Join the MCNC Family for Season 2!

We’re proud to have students from many local schools, including AHS, actively participating in our squads, spanning from U9 through to U15-U18/Open.

As our club continues to grow and our presence at the Stonnington Centre Netball Association strengthens, we are excited to extend a warm invitation to new players to join us for Season 2. Whether you’re new to netball or looking to take your skills to the next level, MCNC is the perfect place to grow, compete, and connect.

For more information or to register your interest, please contact us at [email protected].

Come be part of our thriving netball community—we’d love to see you on the court!

Exciting School Holiday Opportunity: Camberwell Scout Holiday Program

Scouts Victoria is thrilled to present an incredible opportunity for students and families in our local community! This school holidays, the Camberwell Scout School Holiday Program will be running an action-packed series of activities designed to inspire and engage young people.

The program offers fun, hands-on experiences that help participants develop valuable life skills such as confidence, teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience. It’s the perfect way for young people to stay active, connect with peers, and grow in a positive, supportive environment.

By taking part, students will enjoy a range of enriching activities that provide both learning and laughter, ensuring a holiday to remember.

We encourage all families to explore this unique opportunity and take advantage of the engaging and educational experiences Scouts Victoria has to offer.

For more details contact [email protected].