Preshil Weekly – Term 2 – Week 2

Bialik Yom Ha’Shoah Commemoration Assembly
On Monday, a group of students from the Year 9 & 10 Humanities course attended the Bialik College Yom Ha’Shoah (Holocaust) Commemoration Assembly accompanied by Aaron & Jason. It was a privilege to be afforded this immense opportunity to learn, listen, and be a part of this heartfelt, and deeply profound commemoration.

Early Mathematics at Kindergarten
This term, we have begun early mathematics explorations through Growing With the Seasons enquiry. The children have started to explore the Wombat season, Waring in the Woi Wurrung language of the Wurundjeri people. They are learning about habitats such as the Wombat’s burrows. As the entrance of a burrow is round, this has sparked an opportunity to explore geometrical shapes, such as the circle as well as round shapes and spirals. Shape and space are fundamental to children’s lives, spatial language provides children with essential tools to describe their environments and negotiate their wants and needs.

In addition to using nature as a tool to learn about other ways of living and explore early mathematics and art, the children are practicing Participatory Democracy and co-created our Kindergarten Harmony Agreements, the children shared actions that are okay and not-okay at kindergarten.

Year 11 Round 2 Debating
This week, Preshil’s Year 11 debating team achieved another excellent result in Round 2, successfully arguing the affirmative case on the topic “That all childcare centres should be funded and operated by the government.”

Their well-structured arguments, critical engagement with the issue, and collaborative approach reflect their continued growth and dedication. Congratulations to the team on their ongoing success.

Salvos Furniture Donation
Over the Easter break, Preshil donated about 40 pieces of furniture (assorted tables, desks and chairs) to the Salvos. It was great to be able to clean out our spaces while supporting a good cause.

Environmental Art Exhibition: Loft Room & Vertical Art Elective Collaboration
Throughout Term One and into the start of Term Two, children from the Loft Room and young people from the Years 7–10 Art elective, have been working together on a collaborative project exploring the theme Our Environment.

Over several weeks, the group has engaged in observational drawing, clay sculpture, and, more recently, soap carving. Their work has been informed by both the natural and built environment across our campuses, as well as by artists such as Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore, who explore form, texture, and abstraction.

The project is now complete, and we’re looking forward to sharing the outcomes in a small exhibition on Thursday May 8th, 3pm – 4:15pm in the Kevin Borland Hall.

The exhibition is open for all families to attend will include finished artworks alongside documentation of the creative process.

Mim Stewart for Creative Industries Talk
This week in Creative Industries we were fortunate to welcome back alumna Mim (Mary) Stewart, who generously shared her journey with our students—offering insights into what it means to explore personal truth and integrity. Mim has built an inspiring and varied career spanning education, haute cuisine, fine art and  teaching Auslan. Speaking with warmth and authenticity, she reflected on the profound influence Preshil had in shaping her creative and thoughtful response to the world around her.

Preshil, Candlebark and Alice Miller School Music Camp
The Middle School Music Camp at Candlebark School in Romsey was a fantastic experience for everyone involved. Over the course of two days, students have engaged in music playing, bushwalking, and collaborative games against the stunning backdrop of the Kerrie Valley. Strong friendships have formed as participants focused on enhancing their musical abilities.

This unique opportunity has fostered creativity and teamwork, resulting in treasured memories. and melodies! The Preshil, Alice Miller and Candlebark students look forward to more musical journeys together.

Year 12 Theatre
The Year 12s performed their Theatre solos this week and absolutely blew away the audience. There was such diversity across the three performances: Magnus performed a piece about an Astronaut crashing on Mars, inventing clever multimedia and soundscape. Charlotte performed a hyper-realistic and restrained performance of Blanche from Tennessee Williams’s “A Streetcar Named Desire” and Minna performed a grotesque and purely physical interpretation of “Medea”, with no words.

Some of the audience reactions included: “Fully immersed”, “Powerful”, “It felt like you were just telling me a secret”, “Shocked”, “It felt like an unimaginable pain, loss and an inability to escape”. We are so proud of our students and the dedication they have towards their craft.

Myfan Jordan visits Preshil
This week we had the pleasure of welcoming Myfan Jordan back to Preshil.

Myfan Jordan is an independent author and researcher based in Naarm (Melbourne, Australia). She has spent 20 years working with grassroots communities, supporting people experiencing disadvantage to influence public policy through co-design research. Myfan’s areas of policy expertise include workplace bullying, degrowth, gender, housing, ageing and neuro queering/LGBTIQA+ inclusion. She is the director of Grassroots Research Studio and a jewellery designer at Twisted Princess Studios. Myfan is a PhD Candidate at La Trobe University, exploring ‘Neuroqueering the Australian Workplace’.

Myfan was a student at Preshil in the 1970s and has published several books. A signed copy of her first text will be available for students to borrow on the alumni publications shelf in the Blackhall Library from next week.

Pickleball
This week students visited Grace Park Lawn Tennis Club to hone their Tennis and Pickleball skills. The weather was perfect and we even saw an Ace player walk by!

Term 2 Study Support
Term 2 Study Support is being offered as a 30 minute 1:1 time slot. Book Study Support Here

Click on the time you’d like to meet, fill in the details you’re asked for and you’re good to go!  We’re running it on the table upstairs in Blackhall outside OB.

We have times available before school and after school. If you don’t need this time any more, please be respectful of our staff time and cancel the booking – someone else might need that slot and they can then book in.

Preshil Careers Hub
Discover everything you need to make a successful transition through high school and into the ‘real world’. Sign up to receive our Pathways & Careers Newsletters, access the latest guides on life and money management, work experience opportunities, and parent resources. You can also connect with the Careers and Pathways Team for personalised support. Click the link below for more information on Preshil’s Careers Hub.