Welcome
McKinnon Secondary College lives by its motto ‘Wisdom and Service’. We foster a love of learning and respect for diversity. We strive to nurture empathetic, creative and confident young people who are connected to our community and Indigenous heritage. We want our students to embrace opportunities for continuous improvement and accept the challenges of a complex and globalised world.
News
Junior Ensembles Concert
Congratulations to everyone who contributed to the success of the Junior Ensembles Concert held on Wednesday, 2nd July. The evening was a true celebration of musical talents, featuring outstanding performances from all Year 7 Band and Strings groups, Extension Strings, Junior Choir, and the Intermediate Stage Band. With over 200 students taking part, the concert was a showcase of our school’s musical community. For our Year 7 students, this concert marked their very first performance—a testament to their dedication, hard work, and countless hours of rehearsals and practice since the start of the year. The enthusiasm and joy shared by both the performers and the audience created an unforgettable atmosphere. Thank you to our incredible Performing Arts staff for their unwavering commitment to preparing the students for this special night. We also extend our gratitude to the AV and facilities teams for ensuring everything ran smoothly behind the scenes. Well done to all involved. It was a wonderful way to end the term! Here is a reflection from Year 7 student Daniel: Nerves and excitement echoed throughout the hall as they sat down and prepared to play their instruments. The bright lights shone down on the performers. This was the night of Wednesday 2 July, a night that the Year 7 participants of junior ensembles would never forget, as it was their first ever ensembles concert. The Year 7 Combined Concert Band commenced the event with the pieces ‘Centurion’ by Mark Williams and ‘Shine’ by Rob Grice. They were conducted by Ms Tracy Videon and Mr Paschal Lee. Even though it was their first time, they performed with enthusiasm and focus, delighting the crowd with their energetic opening pieces. Next came another level of experience, with the Year 7 Extension Strings. This group was more advanced as they had previously learned their instruments outside of school. They played the piece ‘Mamba Samba’ by Keith Sharp and was conducted by Ms Clare Bugeja. They performed with precision and dedication, showing their proficiency. After the Extension Strings, the mood shifted to the spirited voices of the Junior Singers. The talented group was directed by Ms Laura Main and they sang ‘Why We Sing’ by Greg Gilpin and ‘Roar’ by Katy Perry, arranged by Roger Emerson. Their joyful vocals harmonized throughout the hall, providing the audience with a spectacular performance. The stage was then passed on to the Year 7 Combined String Orchestra, who were conducted by Mr Michael Lee. Although it was also their first time, they performed their pieces ‘Olga Square Dance’ by Pat Legg and ‘First Scale March’ by Mark Williams with great expression and technique. To end the night, the Intermediate Stage Band, consisting of Year 10 to Year 12 students, performed ‘Shiny Stockings’ by Frank Foster, arranged by Sammy Nestico, ‘Strollin’ by Nick Mulder and ‘1-800-Got-Funk’ by Vince Gassi. They were directed by Mr Stuart Byrne and performed with great expertise and artistry. In conclusion, the students performed exceptionally well and should be incredibly proud of themselves. Many thanks to Ms Megan Papworth, Head of Performing Arts and the two Instrumental Music Managers, Ms Clare Bugeja and Mr Dmitry Serebrianik, as well as all the other Performing Arts staff for their efforts preparing students for this concert. This performance marked not only the culmination of every student’s hard work, but also the beginning of many musical journeys ahead. Daniel X, Year 7
Students Lead the Fight Against Vaping
McKinnon Secondary College is featured in the July edition of Glen Eira News for its involvement in the Fresh Take Initiative, a youth-led campaign tackling vaping. As part of a council-run program, students attended a creative workshop in May to plan, design and launch an anti-vaping campaign with support from professional designers. Year 11 student Anthe shares her reflection on the experience in the article. This workshop was the first of two, where students researched, developed and planned ideas for a creative project that aims to prevent vaping in young people. The students worked with creative mentors to learn about the facts and realities of vaping and then were guided through the creative process of designing a product. These products will be completed in the second workshop in August and will aim to not only prevent vaping in young people but also highlight the various supports in place for those trying to quit. Ms Anna BourkeAssistant Learning Area Manager for the Visual Arts Here’s a reflection of the day from one of our Year 12 Art Captains, Radhe: Attending the Fresh Take Design Project, I wasn't really expecting to feel moved whilst walking into Glen Eira Town Hall, but boy was I wrong. What I'd thought to be a simple youth focused design event, had progressively turned into something much much more: a showcase of raw talent, honest storytelling, and the kind of community connection we don’t often stop to notice nowadays. Hosting a variety of schools, McKinnon Secondary College was one which were selected to attend, with a variety of Art, Visual Communication Design, and Health students. In attending the expo, we hoped to plan for a design idea that will promote good health and wellbeing in the VicHealth-funded project. The project ultimately encouraged students to develop and deliver creative campaigns to raise awareness and come up with solutions to educate and support their peers to reject vaping. One moment that stuck with me was an anecdote about one of the host’s battles with rejecting vaping, and the struggles that it brought upon their life. This story of resilience allowed me and other students to recognise and de-stigmatise the battle of addiction and help promote wellbeing and healthy recovery for struggling individuals. Ultimately, the best part about the design expo was the feeling that every single voice within the room was welcome and heard. It wasn’t about perfection. It was about expression. I personally really appreciated the experience. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet new people, students from neighbouring schools and creative designers, all convening to address integral issues which impact us young people as a whole was extremely fulfilling. From Tie-Dying T-Shirts and munching on pizza and muffins, to designing and illustrating ideas for our design campaigns, the experience was able to support me greatly in understanding the creative design process. The mentorship and the opportunities that this initiative by The City of Glen Eira and The City of Stonnington have opened up for students, have helped liberate not only me, but other students in progressing in their design journey, unveiling and uplifting the newest generation of Australia’s designers. This opportunity wasn’t just a design initiative for youth, it’s a reminder that young people within contemporary Australia still have something to say. And more importantly, that we’re finally being given the space to say it. Radhe, Year 12Senior Media Capta
Myth and Fable Reenactments
During the final week of the term, we did something different in Year 9 English. We split into groups, and we were given a myth or fable that we had to act out to the class. Every group would act and at the end the class would decide which performance was the best and that group then performed in front of four Year 9 English classes. My group got the Greek fable, The Honest Woodcutter. In the fable, a woodcutter accidentally throws his axe into a river. The god Mercury then appears and pulls a gold and silver axe out of the river. The woodcutter turns down both as they weren’t his. Impressed by the man’s honesty, the god Mercury rewards him with all three axes. As a group, we had to work together to write a script and assign roles. We also had to be creative in turning the fable into a play, making it interesting and engaging while still getting the story and message across. Overall, it was fun and a nice way to end the term. Joshua, Year 9 Student
Sport News
SMR CROSS COUNTRY On Wednesday 25 June, 40 McKinnon students represented McKinnon at Ballam Park as part of the SMR Cross Country event. These students braved cold, wet and windy conditions to compete. There were some exceptional performances on the day, and we are pleased to announce the following students who have qualified for the State Finals: Students Qualified for State FinalsLayn S (11th) in 17-20 GirlsLuka S (10th) in 17-20 BoysOlin B (5th) in 16 GirlsKiara M (9th) in 15 GirlsSophie A (2nd) in 14 GirlsThe 14 Boys Team of Zavier M (2nd), Luca S (12th), Matvey R (9th) and Aiden K (34th)Magdalena U (10th) in 12-13 GirlsFlynn W (5th) in 12-13 BoysGood Luck to these students who will be running against the best runners in the state on Thursday 24 July at Yarra Valley Racing Track. Alice Breidahl Cross Country Coordinator
Premier’s VCE Awards
The Premier’s VCE Awards celebrated some of Victoria’s highest-achieving VCE students from the Class of 2024. We’re proud to share that three McKinnon students were recognised for their exceptional academic achievements: Jiatong Wei for Top All-Round VCE High Achiever and Specialist Maths. Special thanks to Jiatong’s maths teacher, Mrs Emma Mullane James Werbik for Economics. Special thanks to James’ Economics teacher, Mr David Graham Isabella Chang Wollmann for Portuguese undertaken at Victorian School of Languages (Absent) Congratulations to Jiatong, James and Isabella on this outstanding recognition of their hard work and dedication in their final year of schooling. Thank you to Ms Kellie Felmingham and Mr David Graham for attending the event to celebrate these achievements.
Year 12 Trivia Night
Over 250 Year 12 students converged on the McKinnon Rd Hall last Friday evening, dressed in all manner of costumes ranging from the Mean Girls of Christmas, a table of Mr Worldwides, a gang of Prison Escapees and extras from the Bob the Builder TV show for the annual Year 12 Trivia Night. In a nail-biting finish, a push-up challenge was required to crown the victors! Congratulations to the Year 12 Trivia committee for their time and effort in organising and running an incredible event combining dancing, games, live music and even some trivia too! Over $3000 was raised for State Schools Relief, a fantastic result for a fantastic cause! Special thanks to Ormond Ice Creamery and the Interact Club for catering on the evening, as well as Major Sponsors Miss Ruby Cafe, plus Dolce House and Hoyts (and Mr Hunt's lemon tree) for prizes! Daniel BlackmoreYear 12 Student Manager
Year 7 History Museum Morning
Year 7 History students have completed their unit on the Ancient World, with classes exploring different ancient civilisations (Ancient China, Ancient Greece, the Indus Valley Civilisation, and Ancient Rome). To conclude our unit, students had the opportunity to create a museum exhibit on an artefact from their ancient civilisation and share their findings with other Year 7 History students and teachers during our Museum Morning on Thursday 19 June. Our Year 7 History classes have since reflected on the Museum Morning and have begun to connect their history learning to broader skills like collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. Although our semester together is coming to an end, we hope that their interest and passion continue when they return to their history studies in Year 8! The Year 7 History Team Here are some student reflections: The Museum Morning was a spectacular event with lots of knowledge found. I loved talking to other students who came to my exhibit, giving them extra knowledge and a greater understanding of our exhibit and Ancient Rome. I really enjoyed painting the stand for our models to sit on and making a fantastic canva poster. I loved the Indus Valley coffin because all the members had a deep understanding of this artefact which was a massive homemade wood coffin with old brush strokes and a skeleton bringing the artefact some character. Jensen, Year 7 In the process of the Museum Exhibit Task, I enjoyed making the poster about Ancient Romans diets, as I found out so much more information on what they ate. Did you know that they ate roasted peacock? On the Museum Morning, I loved seeing what everyone's artefact looked like and what research they gathered. My favourite exhibit I saw was the Ancient Roman colosseum filled with lego characters! It showed someone fighting a cheetah and I liked that there was lots of effort put into the making of it. Kylie, Year 7 I enjoyed the Museum Exhibit Task because I could come up and discuss things with my partner/friend, Jaden. I enjoyed that we were able to make artefacts and labels on our own, letting us do what we wanted. I enjoyed the Museum Morning because I could learn things from different civilisations. I was also able to compare our exhibit to other exhibits, and to see how the other groups did differently from ours and how we could improve on. My favourite exhibit was the Ancient Roman artefact of Neptune's statue. It was very detailed and explained specifically in the label. Tak, Year 7 In the Museum Exhibit Task, I really enjoyed researching and learning more about Ancient Rome. I also enjoyed building our artefact the catapult. In the Museum Morning I really enjoyed looking at everyone's artefacts that they made. It was very interesting to see the different artefacts from the different civilisations. My favourite exhibit was definitely Gabriel and Anthony's bread exhibit; they had a bread doll that was selling the bread and a lovely piece of homemade bread that I really wanted to eat.Cormac, Year 7 The Museum Exhibit Task was certainly the best task of the entire semester, walking around and learning about all the civilisations and artefacts. The morning was a highlight of this term and maybe even this year. Designing and planning of what we were going to make was definitely my favourite part as I loved making adjustments and editing to perfect the idea I had in my head. My favourite exhibit I saw this morning was Angie and Melinda’s scale colosseum as it featured our very own Miss Aneil as the brave fighter facing a fearsome camel.April, Year 7 I really enjoyed working with my partner Christian, designing the label and the poster, and choosing the different models to make along with just learning a lot about religion in Ancient Greece. I enjoyed the fact that I was able to tell other people about our research, and I also enjoyed being able to see what other people made and learn about different places than just Ancient Greece. My favourite exhibit that I saw was the Great Wall of China. It was made out of tape, popsicle sticks, clay and lego figurines, and I'm sure it took them a long time to make. Danny, Year 7
East Campus Ensembles Concert
Congratulations to all the students who took part in the East Campus Ensembles Concert on Thursday 19 June in the gymnasium at East. The energy levels were high, as were all the performances by each ensemble. Thank you to students and the directors/conductors involved in the Year 8 Strings, Year 8 Bands, Keenan Strings, Ovenden Band, World Music Ensemble, East Choir, Years 8 & 9 Percussion Ensembles and the Junior Stage Band. What a fantastic way to end the semester! Thank you to the Media Audio Visual team for their continued support in ensuring that the events are recorded for posterity and that all groups look and sound fabulous. Thanks also to the fantastic facilities team who are there to help with set up for these events. A special thanks to Ms Papworth for all her work, as this was her last concert as Head of Performing Arts. On behalf of the whole school we thank Ms Papworth for her outstanding leadership of the Performing Arts area for over 15 years.
Grand Reunion 2025 Invitation
The 2025 Grand Reunion bookings are now open! The Grand Reunion will encompass ex-students and staff of McKinnon from the following years: 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1995, 2005, 2015, 2020. Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/DBJNZ Please help spread the word to friends, family members and schoolmates to ensure we have up to date contact information so they don’t miss out on their invitation. You can update contact information here. Partners and friends are welcome. Drinks at bar prices and finger food including hot fresh pizza will be available. Reunion information:Date: Saturday 25th October, 2025Time: 6:00pm - School Tour 6:30pm - Reunion begins 8:00pm - Class photosWhere: McKinnon Secondary College McKinnon Road campus 291a McKinnon Road, McKinnon 3204Dress: Smart CasualCost: $30 each Please note: If you are from the Class of 1960 (65 years since graduating) or the Class of 1975 (50 years since graduating), you will receive an emailed invitation to attend your special Principal’s Afternoon Tea, also held on Saturday, 25 October. To ensure you receive this email, please update your current details here. We hope you can join us for a fantastic night!
McKinnonNEWS Issue 8
Stay connected with school life at McKinnon! Our latest newsletter is packed with student and staff articles from each Key Learning Area. You’ll also find updates from the Principal and Assistant Principals, along with school news and important dates to remember. It’s the best way to catch up on all the wonderful things that have been happening across our school community over the past two weeks.
Senior Ensembles Concert
The Senior Ensembles Concert was held on Wednesday 28th May at the Assembly Hall. The concert featured performances by all Senior Core Ensembles, as well as Senior Singers, Senior Percussion Ensemble and Senior Stage Band, with over 170 students performing in total. The event was a wonderful celebration of hard work and determination by some of the most accomplished musicians in the McKinnon community, culminating in a very enjoyable and entertaining evening. Thank you to Clare Bugeja for overseeing the organisation of the concert, the AV and facilities teams, ensemble directors and all music staff.
Model UN 2025
The annual Model United Nations was held on Friday, 16 May, at the McKinnon Road campus. This year’s theme, “Combating Climate Change: Committing to Global Action”, inspired passionate and thoughtful engagement from participants. A total of 76 students from Years 9 to 12 took part, with particularly strong representation from Year 9, making it a wonderful opportunity for cross-campus connection. We were also delighted to welcome guest students from Wellington, St Leonards, Parkdale, St Bede's, OLSH, Glen Waverley, Oakleigh Grammar, Camberwell Girls, and Glen Eira College. Sincere thanks go to William Lee for his excellent coordination of the event, Lee Laskaridis for his support of the Year 9 teams, Tania Burnell for ensuring all students and guests were well catered for, and to the AV and facilities teams for their invaluable assistance. Events like this play a vital role in enriching our students’ development as global citizens, providing meaningful opportunities to build skills in public speaking, debating, negotiation, and teamwork. Their enthusiasm was outstanding, and we look forward to hosting this event again in 2026. Here’s what some of our students had to say about the day: On Friday the 16th of May a Model UN program was held in the Hall. Throughout the day my team of delegates which were representing Saudi Arabia. We attempted to represent the interests of Saudi Arabia to the best of our abilities through a speech, and through ‘backroom’ negotiations. This forced us to break out of our comfort zones and develop our public speaking skills. But more than that, we had worked as a team for weeks developing strategy and researching about a nation we initially knew very little about. This ultimately made us develop a much deeper understanding on the global reaction to climate change and moreover the inner workings of international diplomacy at the UN.Luka, Year 10 This year's topic for the Model UN was climate change. While the topic was very familiar to the majority of students, many were not aware of how important it was to discuss this problem as a global community and for all countries around the world to contribute to addressing the issue. Through the stages of debating and communicating, students were able to collaborate and support each other in structuring ideas, amendments and opinions on the Draft Resolution. Many nations welcomed differing opinions and changes, and this made the procedure of the event much smoother, unique and fun - especially for someone like me, as this was the first year I had ever attended a Model UN at McKinnon! Fortunately, I also gained many opportunities to make new friendships, talk to a diverse range of people in different year levels, and from different schools. Many of these students taught me fascinating facts and statistics about the world that I was not yet aware of. Additionally, with the help of Mr. Lee and the various comrades we made on the way, the nation I was representing, the Philippines, were guided to a successful outcome for the Draft Resolution. I am pleased to say that this was incredibly memorable for us students, and I would strongly encourage anyone to participate in next year's MUN with me too!Lynn, Year 10 On May 16th, students from ten schools gathered in the gym at the Main Campus in order to perform the Model UN. I was a member of the Mongolian delegation. Our primary objective was to present Mongolia's views on climate change as well as securing the best possible deal for Mongolian citizens through our cooperation with the 31 other countries present. I deeply enjoyed the experience as it helped instill the values of clarity, cooperation and teamwork while giving us a look inside the workings of how nations negotiate on an international stage. I would deeply recommend joining the model UN to all McKinnon students.Patrick, Year 9 On Friday, May 16th, students from our school participated in the annual Model UN alongside other schools. Each participant was assigned a country to represent, focusing on the pressing topic of climate change. As it was my first year, I was excited to work with peers I connected with while honing my public speaking and debate skills. Collaborating with my fellow delegates fostered a strong sense of camaraderie. We engaged in intense discussions about various solutions and strategies that countries could adopt to effectively combat climate change. It was inspiring to witness everyone’s dedication to finding common ground and drafting resolutions that emphasized cooperation and support, especially for developing countries facing environmental challenges. This Model UN experience wasn’t a competition, it was a combined effort to highlight the urgent need for collective action to address climate change, and I am grateful to have participated in that vital conversation.Eseosa, Year 10 This year, I had the amazing opportunity to represent Morocco at the Annual Model UN held at McKinnon Secondary College. The theme was climate change, and students from a range of schools came together to take part in realistic UN style debates and discussions. It was really interesting to learn how different countries respond to global issues, and I enjoyed working with students from different backgrounds to come up with solutions. A major highlight was having an honourable Secretary General from the Model UN community present. Their speech was inspiring and made the event feel even more real and exciting. Another bonus was that we were provided with free morning tea and lunch, which was a great treat and gave us the chance to chat with other students during the breaks. Overall, the day was a great mix of learning, teamwork, and stepping into the shoes of world leaders. I’m really glad I took part and would definitely recommend it to other students.Shreya, Year 10 As delegates, the students took on the role of representative of a country, researching their assigned nation's stance on climate change and presenting position statements that reflected national interests rather than individual views. Their task was to debate, amend, and eventually ratify a UN Resolution dealing with climate change and its global implications. The day began with a sequence of formal sessions, commencing with the reading of position statements. This was followed by moderated and unmoderated caucuses among the delegates, where they negotiated, debated, and suggested amendments to the draft resolution. Every amendment needed to be supported and carefully examined to determine if it was aligned with the policies of the country and the general objective of climate action. The experience provided an engaging insight into the areas of global relations, logical thinking, and negotiation and encouraged interaction between scholars from diverse institutions.Odella, Year 9
