PRESHIL WEEKLY
Hello, and welcome to this week’s edition of the ‘Preshil Weekly’.
What a week it has been! We’ve had our annual production, the AGM, the release of our much-anticipated Educational Review findings to a full capacity audience, and an Open Morning for prospective high school students. It has truly been a week of significant events.
Theatre Production
On Wednesday night, I had the absolute pleasure of attending the 2024 production of Lady Macbeth. The students’ performances were of such high standard that it blew me away. Their artistry was evident in how they managed the bespoke space, transforming the Black Box Theatre into a highly engaging and intimate performance venue. This unique approach truly brought the Shakespearean masterpiece to life in a contemporary and edgy way. Congratulations to our students for their outstanding work, in addition to Laurie for his dedication in running Preshil’s Theatre program.
Community Engagement Strategic Pillars
This week, we continued our engagement workshops with staff and the community, further unpacking the pillars of Built-for-Purpose, Student Identity and our Aligned Educational Program. The insights and perspectives gained from these workshops are invaluable in helping us form achievable, relevant, and contextually appropriate actions and strategies. I want to commend the overwhelming positivity and enthusiasm shown by those who attended. I also worked with students to engage with the pillar of Student Centricity. I will continue validating some of the feedback already received from the community and staff as we move forward.
Educational Review Release
On Tuesday evening, we hosted a community forum to discuss the findings and outcomes of the Educational Review. This review was crucial for our school community, allowing us to thoroughly analyse how our educational programs support and enrich the learning and unique pathways of Preshil’s young people. I valued the contributions and engagement of community members, students, and staff throughout the review process. The findings provide a fair consolidation of this engagement and reflect our broader educational landscape. In the coming weeks, we will continue to share cohort-specific information as we work with our young people and their families to understand what this review means for them and their education in 2025 and beyond. We’ve attached an updated Frequently Asked Questions document to help clarify the community’s questions. Please reach out if you have any questions that need further clarification.
Warm regards,
Aaron Mackinnon
Principal
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Lady Macbeth
The Lady Macbeth production is a stunning success! The acting is captivating and, at times, genuinely scary. The sound and lighting expertly guide the audience’s experience, while the imaginative costumes perfectly support the characters. Despite its simple design, the set allows the story to unfold brilliantly, with excellent stage management and creative use of characters to manoeuvre set pieces. The dancing is mesmerising, both graceful and terrifying, and the music beautifully complements each scene. Magnus’s singing adds gravity and contrast to the death scenes, while Tuesday’s brings light and relief. This show is a testament to the creativity and expertise of our talented students and their brilliant theatre teacher, Laurie. It’s no surprise it’s sold out, but be sure to catch the movie version when it is released and made available for sale in the coming weeks!
Preshil Peace Cafe
Preshil’s Peace Cafe, our social enterprise started by the Year 9 Changemaker class, with support from the Year 11 Business Management class and Year 8’s Community Project, has had an incredibly successful launch.
The primary mission of the Peace Cafe is to raise funds for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), aiding in the provision of essential supplies for displaced families in need. Our first “Sushi Wednesday” was met with enthusiastic approval from both students and staff. A massive congratulations to all the students who worked tirelessly to bring Preshil’s Peace Cafe to life. A very special thanks goes to our inspiring Head of the Changemaker program, Amanda Seefeld, for her unwavering dedication and hard work in supporting our students. Be sure to get your orders in early for next Wednesday – https://www.trybooking.com/CTWWA
Kinder Update
We have had a busy week filled with exploration and imaginative play. The children immersed themselves in the world of dinosaurs, creating various habitats and engaging in role-playing adventures as their favourite prehistoric creatures. A highlight of the week was building erupting volcanoes, which added an exciting, hands-on element to our dinosaur explorations. Their curiosity and creativity know no bounds as they continue to discover and interact with the natural wonders around them.
Arlington Electives
The beginning of term marks a new cycle of the Arlington Electives program. Children from Prep to Year 6 select an elective and join with their peers of all ages to engage in selections like; Rocks and Gems and beginners Geology, Lego Masters, Knitting, Soccer, Environmental Art and Japanese. This cycle, one of our Year 6 children is running an elective of their choosing, for their peers, learning the strategy game Warhammer.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday 29 July
- BK – Year 7 Camp – Yarra Valley
- BK – Year 8 Camp – Sydney
- 3:20pm-4:20pm: BK – Homework Club – Gallery Classroom (upstairs in Kalimna)
- 6:15pm-9:15pm: BK – DAV Debating – Camberwell Grammar
- 9:15am-11:00am: Arlington – Primary School Open Morning
- 12:10pm-5:00pm: BK – Year 11 & 12 Theatre Class Excursion – A Streetcar Named Desire (Melbourne Theatre Company)
- 11:10am-1:10pm: BK – Electives presentation on Fragrance and Perfumery (Library)
- 8:45am-12:10pm: BK – TOK Compulsory Supported Writing Session (The Cottage)
- 3:30pm-4:30pm: Arlington – I Am Mindful (I.A.M) with Peppercorns (Arlington Art Room)
- 3:30pm-4:30pm: Whole School – Chess Coaching (Arlington)
- 7:00pm-8:30pm: Preshil Presents: Lady MacBeth (Black Box Theatre)
