McKinnon Secondary College

I am pleased to present you the Class of 2023 VCE results. These results reflect the cumulative contributions of our incredible staff and the hard work of our students. Once again I am particularly proud as these outstanding results make us the top non-selective Government school in the state.  Thank you for your commitment and dedication to our students. https://mckinnon.sc/2023VCEResults Kind Regards, Michael KanPrincipal    

Congratulations to all our young musicians on their outstanding performances at the Junior Concert held on Wednesday night. Your dedication and hard work shone through in every note.  From the Year 7 Concert Band's polished renditions to the String Ensemble's melodies, each group demonstrated remarkable skill. The Junior Choir's harmonies and the Intermediate Stage Band's confident solos were truly impressive.  Special commendations to Mr West, Ms Waugh, Mr Lee, Ms West, and Mr Byrne for their expert guidance. Thanks to Ms Humphrey for her engaging compèring, and to Ms Bugeja, Mr Serebrianik and the MAV team for overseeing the event. Well done to the entire music department for their passion in nurturing the talents of our young musicians. Lachlan NobleActing Principal 

It was a pleasure to host a morning tea for two of our Alumni - Jan Palethorpe - class of 1973 and Marian Crawford Class of 1972. Both Jan and Marian are successful artists and Marian is now a lecturer at Monash Fine Art.  The school recently acquired some of their art to display at the East Campus. It is wonderful to have our alumni artist’s work on display at the East Campus, infusing it with culture and connecting the campus to our proud history.   

East Campus was the stage for a remarkable concert, where over 270 talented performers showcased their musical prowess. The String ensembles, Concert bands, The Choir, Percussion ensembles, World Music Ensemble, and the Junior Stage Band captivated the audience with their dedication and hard work, delivering a diverse repertoire of exceptional performances. The success of this event was a testament to the unwavering support of the school community. The audio-visual crew and maintenance team worked tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring a seamless production and creating an unforgettable experience. Their invaluable contributions were the backbone of this musical extravaganza. This concert was a celebration of the power of music to unite and inspire. Congratulations to all the wonderful students and music staff for this remarkable achievement, a true testament to the transformative power of music.  

On Wednesday 5 June, the Year 9 language classes presented a project they’d been working on for weeks: an Expo. This expo ran throughout lunch, with stalls of the students spread around the 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 area, inside and outside the classrooms. We made expos on a certain topic related to the language we were learning. Since I am doing French I did one about the History of Luxembourg with my partner Madison. We all set up our stalls and got ready to teach visiting students and teachers about our topics, with brochures, posters and quizzes. As soon as the bell rang for the beginning of lunch, students from both year levels instantly flooded the area, eager to look at what the language students had to offer. The entirety of lunch, there were people all around our expos looking at our displays and winning food prizes for themselves, all the while educating themselves on various French, German and Spanish related topics which ranged from foods to architecture, and from famous sports players to fashion.   When students and teachers visited my stall, Madison and I greeted them in French and told them facts about the history of Luxembourg, and if they answered a question we asked correctly, they won a chocolate! The atmosphere was buzzing and everyone was enjoying themselves whether it was the stall owners or students or teachers.  It was such an amazing experience which we were looking forward to from the start, so if you came this year, I hope you had fun and if you didn’t I hope you can either make or visit a stall next year! Merci beaucoup!  AlisaYear 9 Student Last week, The Year 9 language classes hosted the Language Expo. Students were required to explore an aspect of a French, German or Spanish speaking country and make a stall showcasing this aspect of culture. These stalls ranged from The Eiffel Tower, Real Madrid, Spanish Food, Luxembourg, crepes and even Kylian Mbappe. The stalls were then opened to the school where over 300 students turned up to see our displays of culture. It was hectic, chaotic and a lot of fun to learn and present.  After the vote the Swiss Squad, Das Auto, Coco Chanel and French desserts won. Thank you to the Year 9 language teachers for making this possible. JackYear 9 FrenchOn Wednesday 5 June, all the language classes participated in the Language Expo. For this, every student got into groups to research an aspect of the culture of their country. Many people researched and presented about certain foods, but others also talked about the sports, royalty or fashion of their culture. It was very interesting to walk around and learn from other friends. Many groups had a very interesting display, by bringing in food or creating interactive activities. One group even made a puppet show!  My stall was about Food in Paris which I completed with my friend Amber. Did you know that Parisian people love to eat snails? On average, one French person eats around 500 snails a year!   Congratulations to the top four stalls voted by the staff and the students: Coco Chanel, Das Auto, Swiss Squad and French Desserts. As part of the Expo, there was also a quiz conducted, which contained questions about all the different stalls. Congratulations to Clementine and Ariel  who were tied winners for the quiz.  Overall, the Expo was a great success this year and a lot of fun to be a part of!  ChinthyaYear 9 FrenchBilingual Article Notre groupe a étudié l'équipe de France. Surnommés les Bleus, ils sont entraînés par Didier Deschamps. Sous sa direction, l'équipe a connu de grands succès, comme la finale coupe du monde 2022 et 2018. Les Bleus sont réputés pour leur talent exceptionnel ; des joueurs comme Mbappé et Kanté en sont de bons exemples. Cette équipe talentueuse reflète l'excellence du football français. Notre groupe a beaucoup aimé ce projet. Nous pensons que l'équipe de France est un modèle d'excellence sportive. This term, our group studied the French national team. Known as Les Bleus, they are coached by Didier Deschamps. Under his leadership, the team has achieved great successes, like reaching the FIFA World Cup 2022 and 2018 final. Les Bleus are renowned for their exceptional talent; players like Mbappé and Kanté are good examples. This talented team reflects the excellence of French football. Our group really enjoyed this project. We think the French national team is a model of sports excellence.   Amirali, Morgan and OscarYear 9 French

Last week we recognised and celebrated National Reconciliation week which is recognised on 27 May - 3 June each year. This is an important time to reflect on our indigenous heritage.  The theme for Reconciliation Week this year was “Now, more than ever” reminding us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will and must continue. It is a time all Australians can learn about our first nations peoples' histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.Wear It Yellow DayAs a part of our commitment to building understanding and respect for First Nations peoples, the McKinnon community came together during Reconciliation Week to participate in the Wear It Yellow/Red/Black Day campaign. This event, where students and staff wore a splash of red, yellow or black and brought a gold coin donation for the not-for-profit organisation Children’s Ground, raised awareness and much-needed funds for Indigenous communities. The event was supported by our student led Interact Club, who held a festive and very successful BBQ fundraiser at lunchtime on both campuses.  At the end of the week, I was very pleased to be able to announce that these joint efforts meant we raised over $3000 for Children’s Ground. Through Children’s Ground, our money will contribute to creating long-term change for at-risk Indigenous children, their families and communities.  Thank you to Ms Emily Condell, the Global Youth Forum, our Student Councils and the entire McKinnon community for supporting this important cause.  Michael KanPrincipal

Our German Exchange group returned from our stay at our sister-school in central Germany at the end of April. Friendships were established that promise to last a long time, and at the farewell party before the end of our stay it was wonderful to talk with many happy German families whose children were the partners of our McKinnon students. Our students expanded their German vocabulary and experienced family life in Germany and were warmly integrated into family and community activities. Our student Isabella Petroulis, Year 10 said of her German exchange partner: "We got along straight away and it was so crazy to see her in person after only seeing each other online for months." Lucy Green, Year 10 reported before our return to Australia that she believes "our experience in Germany will last a lifetime".  Our students made presentations in classes at our sister-school, booked by several teachers, so that the local students could learn (including via hands-on activities) about aspects of Australian life and culture directly from our students. The PE teachers at our sister-school were impressed with the way our students ran the introductory sessions on AFL football! We have a good foundation for the return visit to McKinnon SC by those German exchange partners in September 2024. During a three-day trip to Berlin organised by our teacher counterparts at the sister-school, our students learned more about German history from a visit to a museum about life in the former GDR, and they visited the Bundestag and saw the large chamber where internationally significant matters are decided in the German federal parliament. Our students also had the opportunity to chat with and ask questions of a federal parliamentarian who did a superb job of explaining political matters and challenges at a level suitable for our students.  Our students took part in an evening of local folk-dancing practice! We experienced evidence of the long-term friendship results that our exchange program has engendered when a German woman who participated in our exchange program 20 years ago (when she was a student at our sister-school) contacted us while we were there. She told us of her ongoing friendship with her former McKinnon SC exchange partner, and of other former exchange partners who still have reunion visits in Germany or in Australia. You can read introductory information about the German Exchange at this link. David NuttingGerman Teacher

On the evening of the Tuesday 21 May, the Senior Ensembles Concert delivered an unforgettable performance that captivated and inspired the audience. The event showcased the extraordinary talents and hard work of our senior musicians, culminating in a night filled with musical brilliance and emotional depth. The concert opened with a stunning rendition of the ‘Wedding March’ from a midsummer night’s dream’, setting a high standard for the evening. Conducted by Tracy Videon, The Orchestra’s precision and harmony were immediately evident, drawing the audience into a world of musical excellence. Each piece that followed highlighted the versatility and skill of our senior performers. A rendition of ‘Pinball Wizard’ by the ‘Who’ proved to be a crowd favourite.  The Senior Percussion ensemble, directed by Sergei Golovko, brought a dynamic and powerful interpretation of ‘Mambo Jumbo’, leaving the audience in awe of their technical prowess and emotive expression. The Senior Choir delivered a moving performance of ‘Crazy’ accompanied by Elvis Leung on piano, with their voices blending seamlessly to create a rich and textured sound that resonated throughout the hall.  The concert concluded with a breathtaking performance by the Senior Stage Band. There were a number of students taking solos throughout the three pieces performed. ‘Picasso’ featured Louie Allen on Flugelhorn. An outstanding performance. The senior band brought the evening to a triumphant close.  The dedication and passion of our senior musicians were evident in every note, showcasing their journey and growth over the years. Their ability to convey profound emotion and connect with the audience is a testament to their hard work and the guidance of their talented instrumental and classroom music teachers.  Congratulations to all the performers, instrumental music staff, Music staff, sound and lighting directors, and everyone involved in making this night a resounding success. The Senior Ensembles have set a high bar for future performances, and we eagerly anticipate next year’s concert. Bravo to our senior musicians for an evening of unforgettable music and inspiring performances! Ben BrowneActing Head of the Performing Arts

One Day Schools Cup for Years 7 and 8 (10 May at MSAC) What an exciting day for the Year 7 Volleyball Squad, playing their first indoor tournament for the year!  A positive experience of teamwork for all, some wins, some losses but the true McK spirit was evident all day. The day was run well with Volleyball Victoria supplying referees and duty, so the Years 7 & 8 students made the most of the tournament with more gameplay and an opportunity to cheer on other teams.  Well done to the Year 7 Girls Blue team for getting a Bronze medal. Big thanks go to Rob Kentera for coaching them prior to the tournament and on the day.  The Year 8s had a mixture of teams with experienced players as well as teams playing volleyball for the first time. Year 8 Boys Blue team and the Year 8 Girls Blue team both won a Gold medal - amazing work!  Thanks to the teachers/coaches: Liam Adlington, Ellie Adler and James Bridges. We really value our student coaches’ time and efforts on the day so each team could have a coach. A big thank you to: Sophie Kay, Jayvier Yang, Kynan Enwright, Andreja Horvat and Braden Fischer. INTERMEDIATE GIRLS VOLLEYBALL STATE FINALThe Intermediate Girls Volleyball played in the State Final on Wednesday 15th May. In our pool we lost to Eltham and beat the two country teams to make the semi final. We lost a close match to Kew in the third set by 2 points, therefore finished equal third in the State.  Well done on playing some excellent volleyball ladies!  Sandy HopeCoach