PRESHIL WEEKLY
Dear Preshil Community,
Japan Study Tour
Julia Madden, Natalie Kisilevich, and 9 of our senior students flew out this Thursday for their 10 day study tour of Japan, a tour promises to be an exciting adventure! Students will embark on an immersive cultural experience. Over the course of the trip, they will explore Tokyo’s iconic landmarks such as Tokyo Tower, Tsukiji Fish Market and Akihabara, participate in sushi-making classes, and visit historic sites in Kamakura. Additionally, students will engage in language training, cultural exchanges, and hands-on activities like taiko drumming. Highlights include a day at Tokyo Disney and visits to local gardens, museums, and temples. This trip is a fantastic opportunity for our students to experience Japanese culture firsthand!
“Connected but Conflicted – Navigating the Digital Grey with our Tweens and Teens”
On 19 November, we hosted an engaging parent seminar led by Natalie Kisilevich. The session delved into the benefits and challenges of the digital space for our young people, providing parents with a deeper understanding of how to navigate the complexities of digital engagement.
Nat shared current research, practical strategies, and valuable resources to empower parents in supporting their children’s healthy digital habits. The seminar was well-received, with enthusiastic feedback from attendees who appreciated the insights and actionable advice shared. The session was incredibly insightful, and it reaffirmed the importance of addressing this critical topic in our community.
Building on the success of this event, we will explore opportunities to continue the conversation, including follow-up seminars or workshops focused on specific aspects of digital wellbeing and engagement.
Working Bee at Arlington
Last Saturday, we held a working bee with parents and children at the Arlington site. The first one in several years! It was wonderful to come together and tackle tasks that are trickier to address during the regular day-to-day running of the school. A heartfelt thank you to the families and staff who joined us. Looking ahead, we will continue to offer these opportunities for the school community to contribute. The co-creation of our school’s environment, and the strong partnership we share with our families, will ensure that Preshil remains a special place for our young people.
Summer Sol
With the relocation of our Summer Sol Celebration to Arlington, we’ve decided to partner this with another long standing tradition, and so have created the Summer Sol Dah Doo. While Doo Dah would usually have our parent volunteers cater a Fruit and Lunch offering for our children, at Summer Sol, our children will be preparing the offerings for our families. It is our Preshil way of showing gratitude and thanks for all the support our families give to us every day.
We hope you can join us in the Front Garden at Arlington from 3.00pm on Friday 6 December for an afternoon of music, food and games, all prepared and offered by the children. A lovely way to end the year together.
Warm regards,
Aaron Mackinnon
Principal
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Peace Cafe
This week, the Year 8 Changemaker group and their mentor Amanda Seefeld, opened the Peace Cafe. Not only does this bring joy to the school community, but they raised money for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.
Japan Study Tour
Our Japan study tour has taken off! We look forward to sharing more photos with you.
Year 9 MYP Design Students Mosaic Making
This term, our Year 9 MYP Design students have been diving into the colourful world of mosaic making! Armed with tiles, tools, and boundless creativity, the students explored practical making skills while crafting their very own unique mosaics. Each piece is a personal expression and reflects the hard work of our young designers, while nurturing essential skills in project planning, presentation, and concept drawing. Our young designers used the design cycle with enthusiasm and creativity while applying design-thinking strategies like brainstorming initial ideas, to the final placement of tiles.
The results? Stunning mosaics that are not just projects—they’re gifts! Students had the choice to take their mosaics home or leave them as a legacy to enhance our school grounds. Many chose to contribute their pieces, making the school community brighter and more vibrant for years to come.
Year 7 Cardboard Arcade Presentation
The Year 7 students had a successful cardboard arcade presentation on Monday 11th November. The arcade was aptly named ‘Cardzone’ and we had visitors from the Peppercorn class and from BK. The visitors to the arcade were able to use their entry tokens to play the games and in some cases win prizes. They were also asked questions from the Year 7 designers to and help evaluate the success of the design and construction.
Thank you to all visitors of the arcade. It was a fun session and very valuable to the Year 7 designers.
Sunroom Walkathon
The Sunroomers are continuing to act on their knowledge, sense of empathy, and compassion towards people who have been displaced in this world (ie. asylum seekers). After raising nearly $1000 through their Bake Sale project, they have been working hard to organise a Walkathon to continue raising funds for, and the awareness of, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.
The date is set (Friday 29th November), the children have created pledge forms, calculated and mapped their ‘fraction of kilometre’ circuits around Arlington. All that’s left to do is gather the pledges and WALK!
Early Commencement Program
This week, the students in Year 10 (entering into Year 11 in 2025), and the current Year 11 students, undertook an Early Commencement Incursion called ‘This is my Body. How can I get my energy back?’ This incursion was led by Angelica from ‘This is Our Body’ and was a great opportunity to connect our senior students in an exploration of the way we often become disconnected from our bodies during stressful times.
The focus was on the importance of joyful movement, nutrition and rest for our mental health, and in particular, for stress management. There were opportunities for discussion and taste testing!
In one of the activities, students built their own breakfast bowls, helping them think about all the quick and easy ways they can build a balanced diet. Some of their key takeaways from the Incursion were:
Eating food is more important than only trying to eat ‘healthy’ (fed is best).
Joy is really important to schedule into your day through time blocking.
Being realistic about your study goals.
Keeping dry foods in your locker for when you get to school and haven’t eaten breakfast or forgotten your lunch.
Feeling validated that someone in the workforce understands how difficult it is to be a teenage.
The importance of light exposure in the mornings!
The importance of being real with my friends so they know how to support me.
Lunchtime concert at Arlington
On Thursday, we took a break from the heat and gathered for a relaxed lunchtime performance in the Kevin Borland Hall at Arlington. Music teachers, Michelle and Michelle, guided students through performances on a variety of instruments, delighting a small but appreciative audience. From original pieces to covers, student-led ensembles and duos to pianists, singers, drummers, and even a tabla performance, the musical diversity was truly impressive. Congratulations to all the performers – thank you for sharing your incredible talents with us! What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon!
Preshil at the forefront of Vocational Education Planning
On Thursday, our dedicated Vocational Major Program Coordinator, Emma Borland, proudly represented Preshil at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Learning’s VCAA Workshop for the VCE Vocational Major (VM) and Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) – planning for 2025.
This prestigious event brings together educators from across the state to shape the future of vocational education and pathways. Emma’s involvement highlights Preshil’s commitment to innovative, student-centered learning, ensuring our programs continue to empower students with the skills and opportunities they need to thrive in their chosen paths.
We are excited about the ideas Emma will bring back to inspire and enhance our community.
Senior Studio Information Night
We are delighted to invite you to our ‘Welcome to Senior Studio Information Night’.
This Senior Studio Information Night will be a valuable opportunity to learn more about the structure of the Senior Studio, the different academic program offerings, the pastoral and wellbeing support, and importantly, an opportunity to meet the team.
Date: Wednesday November 27th, from 6:00pm – 7:00pm.
Location: Preshil Blackhall Campus – Senior Library, 12/26 Sackville Street, Kew, 3101.
On behalf of the team, we look forward to seeing you all, as we navigate an exciting path towards 2025, and the awe and wonderment that truly awaits.
Please RSVP via this link, by Tuesday November 26th.
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.
THE WEEK AHEAD
- Blackhall – Early Commencement continues (Year 10 & 2025 VCE Students)
- Blackhall – Japan Trip Continues
- 9:00am-10:00am: Blackhall – Parent Coffee Catch Up (Year 9) – Principal’s Office
- 9am-3pm: 2025 Year Orientation Day
- 6:00pm-7:00pm: Blackhall – Senior Studio Information Session – Blackhall Library
- 9:00am-10:00am: Blackhall – Parent Coffee Catch Up (Year 10) – Principal’s Office
- 6pm-7pm: Middle School Information Session – Blackhall Library
- 9:00am-10:00am: Blackhall – Parent Coffee Catch Up (Year 8) – Blackhall Library
