Preshil Weekly – Term 3 Week 4

Senior Student Leadership Teamwork
Last Friday, during the whole school meeting, Aaron asked all students to add their thoughts on what they believe would make Preshil an even better experience for them and bring greater student-centricity to our environment. This was followed up in the regular lunchtime student leadership meeting on Tuesday, in which students worked with Aaron and Karoline to distil these ideas into four categories. The team then worked together to design another whole school activity that garnered more student voice in finding ways to bring their ideas to life. These activities have been important pieces in engaging with our students to ensure that their voices are heard and acted upon.

Erin’s Art Club
Erin, in the Peppercorns, has shown great initiative by launching a weekly Art Club. This club invites children of all ages to come together and share their love of art, fostering creativity and community within Preshil.

Year 10 Debating Team Win
Our Year 10 Debating team competed in the final regular round of the competition and won! They will now be heading to the finals.

100 Days of Kindergarten
Some of the current 4-year-old class visited the 5s on Thursday to learn all about how they celebrated their 100 days of Prep. They enjoyed spending time with Clinton and some of the current 5s children. They’re looking forward to more visits soon.

Year 7 Camp
The Year 7 students have had a fantastic week in the picturesque Yarra Valley. This time has allowed them to get to know each other better, deepen their appreciation for nature, and build stronger connections within the group. Throughout the week, they participated in various activities, including abseiling, rock climbing, paddleboarding, caving, hiking, and navigating an obstacle course. They also learned about bush safety and engaged in nature therapy. The students gained valuable knowledge about the local environment and First Nations perspectives, including insights related to the area around the school. The highlight of the week was the impressive talent show on the final night, featuring singing, acting, dancing, magic tricks, and mime performances due to a lost voice or two. Overall, the week was a memorable experience, filled with cherished moments that will be fondly remembered.

Year 8 Camp
Our Year 8 students had an incredible camp in Sydney, beginning with exploring the Blue Mountains and riding the scenic lifts. They toured the iconic Opera House and enjoyed a picturesque harbour cruise. A visit to Taronga Zoo was a highlight, followed by an exciting ghost tour. The trip concluded with a relaxing day at Bondi Beach, creating unforgettable memories for all.

Arlington Preparations for Book Week – “Reading is Magic”
Arlington children have decided that this year, for Book Week, they will bring the magic with lots of ideas for creations to inspire the imagination and compliment Anthology Week.

Secondary Electives
This week following our Electives Presentation our years 9 and 10 students participated in our Career Clusters Workshop. The Career Clusters, designed by the team Study Work Grow, give us a new way to talk and think about the way we work very similar to the Foundation of Young Australians seven job clusters. During the workshop they explored the six clusters: The Guardians, The Makers, The Informers, The Linkers, The Innovators and The Coordinators. They then brainstormed and shared their ideas about what jobs fitted into which Cluster. Learning that sometimes some jobs fit across many clusters. The quiz helps them get a start on finding out what cluster they may fit into. They found some people might fit into many clusters. They also learnt that like other career quizzes it is not meant to be a crystal ball nor is a finite decision. It’s a starting point from which to learn about the world of work. Interested family members are also able to take the Career Cluster Quiz for themselves here. We find that this can help support their young people by understanding the Clusters for themselves and therefore enable them to engage with the process their young people are going through. You can read some more about the Career Clusters here.

Welcome Larry Roadcap
We are pleased to introduce Larry Roadcap as Preshil’s new Business Manager. Larry joins our community from the Presidio Knolls School, a progressive independent school in San Francisco serving 400 students in preschool through grade 8, where he served as the Chief Finance and Operations Officer. He brings with him a rich and varied career, encompassing roles in schools, banking, financial risk consulting, and enterprise financial systems. Larry also has significant experience working in the non-profit sector, including oversight of the financial operations and management of a large organisation in Australia that tackled homelessness and social housing. Larry’s career in education has been driven by personal values, a commitment to lifelong learning, and a desire to foster holistic child development in supportive learning environments. Larry holds a BA in Economics and a Certificate in Asian Studies from Georgetown University, a dual MBA in Finance and Technology Management from Columbia University and the University of California, Berkeley, and a Certificate in Education from the University of Melbourne. Larry excels in building genuine relationships and fostering a culture of accountability and trust. He has extensive experience in managing large budgets, designing strategy, and leading complex initiatives. Larry’s passion for education and his alignment with Preshil’s values make him an invaluable addition to our community. Please join us in welcoming Larry to Preshil. He is eager to integrate into our community and will be residing in Ormond with his husband, Juan Pablo, and twin 14-year-old daughters Louise and Olivia (pictured). We are excited about the wealth of experience and the fresh perspective he will bring to our school.

Final Book Sale to Support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation
We are excited to announce our final book sale to raise funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Join us for our “Book Sale” fundraiser at the Kevin Borland Hall on Tuesday, 5 August, starting at 3:15 PM. Donations can also be made directly at Preshil Great Book Swap. The Indigenous Literacy Foundation is dedicated to gifting new, culturally relevant books to remote communities across Australia. Their mission is to foster a love for reading among children under five and support communities in creating their own stories in their chosen languages. Our first book sale was a great success, raising $335.75, and we have a wonderful selection of books to ensure this next sale is just as fruitful. Each book can be purchased for a gold coin donation. If you would like to further support this fantastic cause, you can make an online donation using the QR code provided or via Preshil Great Book Swap. Thank you for your support!