PRESHIL WEEKLY
Welcome to the Preshil Weekly!
One of the absolute highlights this week has been our IBDP Art Exhibition. Unfortunately, due to family commitments, I was unable to attend the opening, but I have since spent time in the exhibition space, and I am truly impressed. The sophistication and technical skill displayed in the students’ work is remarkable. Each piece reflects their deep connection to their medium, with their unique expressions of ideas, concepts, and impressions shining through.
Our students should feel incredibly proud of their work, which stands as a testament to their dedication to the art-making process in all its forms and stages. What also stands out to me is that the students curated the entire exhibition themselves. They planned the layout, determined how the pieces would be displayed, handled the technical aspects of hanging and mounting, and executed it all with skill and creativity. It’s a comprehensive project that has provided them with both a genuine audience and an authentic learning experience.
A huge well done to our Year 12 DP Art students, and my sincere thanks to the staff who supported and worked alongside them throughout this journey. Special thanks to Fleur Fogarty, who deserves particular credit as both teacher and mentor to the students. Thanks also to the broader visual arts team for their valuable contributions in helping our students succeed in this process.
Warm regards,
Aaron Mackinnon
Principal
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
The Peppercorn Shark Tank
The Peppercorns have successfully set up an online store as part of their recent unit on product development and distribution. As part of this unit, the students pitched their innovative product ideas to a “Shark Tank” panel, and the final selected products are now available for purchase. This initiative has allowed the students to apply their creativity, entrepreneurial skills, and teamwork, and we encourage you to explore their unique creations HERE.
Year 10 Debating Success
The Year 10 debating team (Tuesday, Ethan, and Hamish) returned victorious from Wednesday evening’s debate against Xavier. Now in their second year of competitive debating, the team has enjoyed great success, reaching the octofinals of the 2024 season. We wish them the very best for next Thursday’s octofinal debate.
IBDP Arts Exhibition and Performance Night
The IBDP Arts Exhibition and Performance Night was a stunning showcase of creativity and excellence. The works displayed demonstrated an incredible depth of skill, knowledge, and personal self-expression, with students curating an exhibition that could easily hang in Melbourne’s finest galleries. Charlie Button represented the DP Music class with captivating performances of Schubert’s Ave Maria and On My Own from Les Misérables. The theatre students tackled the collaborative project challenge by drawing on a range of theatre styles, including realism, Brecht, and Physical Theatre. Theatre performances were equally impressive, with Year 10 students presenting moving vignettes from The Crucible, while Year 11 and 12 students delivered powerful, self-devised pieces on ‘Climate Change’. The evening concluded with an interactive discussion, reflecting the hard work and creative freedom that underpin the arts education at Preshil.
Lighthouse Keepers visit Kew Public Library
As part of our Book Week 2024 celebrations, the Lighthouse Keepers visited Kew Public Library. We jumped into the school minibus (always a highlight for the kids) and took a short drive to the library. The children met with the librarian, discussed the purpose of a library, and looked at pictures of libraries from around the world. Fun fact: In remote parts of Thailand, they have mobile libraries carried by elephants—how amazing! We shared a story together and then had the chance to see the automated book return system in action. It was incredibly exciting to watch as the books were returned and automatically sorted right before our eyes. Afterwards, we had time to explore some of the 50,000 books on offer while relaxing in the comfortable chairs. To end our visit, we walked to the nearby park, where we enjoyed our lunches and made the most of the beautiful green spaces.
Year 8 Changemaker – Team Arlington!
This week, a very excited group of Year 8 Changemaker students presented their plan to Cressida, our Head of Arlington Campus, on how they can bring a café/tuck shop to life at the primary school. Building on the social enterprise café started by the Year 9 Changemaker team, Year 8 will be offering “Sushi Wednesday” at Arlington from the start of Term 4, with lunch packages that include sushi, a juice box, and a muesli bar or muffin. The team (pictured below) are thrilled to launch this initiative, with all proceeds going to a charity of their choice.
Open Afternoon of Learning AKA “Afternoon See”
The afternoon began with musical performances by the Junior Choir and Whole School Singing, celebrating the learning experience here at Arlington. Families visited homerooms with their children to engage in inquiry activities linked to their homeroom topics, as well as to share in music and art activities together and enjoy a gallery of artworks displayed on the Hall Stage. Next year, look out for our “Afternoon See” dates.
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THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday 9 September
- Blackhall – Year 12 Mock Exams Start – Monday-Friday
- 9:00am-3:30pm: Arlington – Youth Leadership Day – This is an inter-school opportunity for children in grades 5 & 6. The day will focus on responsibility, and everyday leadership.
- 3:20pm-4:20pm: Blackhall – Homework Club – Gallery Classroom (upstairs in Kalimna)
- 11:00am-2:00pm: Arlington – Hays Paddock Excursion – The loft room are going on an excursion to Hays Paddock Kew East. Families are more than welcome to join us as a class as we enjoy some snacks and outside play.
- 3:20pm-4:20pm: Blackhall – Homework Club – Gallery Classroom (upstairs in Kalimna)
- 3:30pm-4:30pm: Whole School – After School Sport (Years 5 & 12) – The Cage at BK
- 2:30pm-3:30pm: Arlington Big Day In – Doo Dah Day is here! Culminating in the Big Day In concert in the Hall from 2.30pm. On a day when the generosity of parent volunteers is central to the success of Doo Dah, we encourage families to share this generosity by donating to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Foodbank. A tub has been put outside the Hall for donations, along with a list of needed items.
- 3:30pm-4:30pm: Whole School – After School Sport (Years 5 & 12) – The Cage at BK
- 3:30pm-4:30pm: Whole School – Years 1-12 Chess Coaching (Arlington Sitting Room) – Complete the Term 4 Lesson Sign Up Form to join in for Term 4 lessons
- No special events
