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December 13, 2024 | News
13th December 2024
From The Principal
Dear Parents, Carers, and Students
This final newsletter report is written on the day that the 2024 VCE results were announced, and it has been a pleasure to see how many of our Year 12 students came to school to share their good news with their teachers and spend time with their peers. There is a more detailed report of our VCE results in this newsletter.
Our Years 7 to 9 Activities Week started with excursions to Funfields and Melbourne Zoo and continued with the ‘Activities Week Extravaganza’ organised by Mr Swan and created by our amazing staff. Activities included Golf Pro Clinic, Bus Loop Op Shop Hop, Sausage Sensations, Stage Stars, Classic Camera Creations, Science and Sparkle and Festive Baking Bonanza. There were many more! Our students have had lots of fun to round off their year.
We also had a very successful Orientation Day to welcome our 2025 Year 7 students. They were able to meet their Home Group teachers and get a taste of the way the high school timetable works. Thanks to Ms Gunter, our Junior Years Learning Community Leader, for organising such happy and inclusive event. A highlight for me was hearing, at the end of the day, one of our new students announcing to the assembly how many new friends they had made.
Next week, we celebrate Presentation Night, a much-anticipated occasion in our school calendar. It is a time to acknowledge the achievements of our students, and for those receiving awards, it is a moment to celebrate their hard work, growth and accomplishments this year. Presentation Night is also a reminder of the collective efforts of our entire school community. Our dedicated teachers and education support staff receive great joy in witnessing the personal and academic growth of our students.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our parents and carers, for entrusting us with the education of your children. The support you provide at home and in the community is invaluable, and we recognise the vital role you play in the success of our students and enabling Kyneton High School to thrive.
A special mention must also go to our Year Level Leaders, who play a pivotal role in supporting students throughout their educational journey. They work tirelessly to ensure that students remain connected to their learning, navigate challenges, and achieve their personal best. Please join me in thanking the 2024 Year Level Leaders for their exceptional care and guidance:
– James Turnbull – Year 7
– Geoff Comben – Year 8
– Megan DeMoel – Year 9
– Dave Romer – Year 10
– Alicia French – Year 11
– Rebecca Wallace – Year 12
Thank you to everyone in our school community for your contribution to the growth and successes at Kyneton High School this year.
Best wishes for a safe, happy and relaxing Christmas and New Year.
Ana Rees
Principal
Orientation Day
On Tuesday, we welcomed our 2025 Year 7s to Kyneton High School! All 140 of them! We started the day with an assembly. The students were welcomed by Ms Rees, our school captains, Mr Turnbull and our school mascot Reggie who is always a crowd favourite.
Students were then allocated into their homegroups and were whisked away by their fabulous Homegroup teachers. Ms Ford, Mr Andrea, Bu Kiky, Ms Arlow, Mr Holden and Ms Smillie were absolutely delighted with their students and can’t wait for next year.
For periods 3 and 4, students then had some wonderful subject classes that were fun, engaging and educational. For period 5, students participated in a variety of sport activities.
I would like to say a massive thank you to all the staff that put in so much work behind the scenes to make this day run so smoothly. All of our teachers, wellbeing staff and ES staff were so kind, helpful and encouraging to our new students. Thank you all so much for your dedication and enthusiasm. It really was a wonderful day and we are all looking forward to a wonderful 2025 with this cohort.
Cassie Gunter
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Activities Week
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We are so proud of our class of 2024.
Our Year 12 pathways include scored and unscored VCE, many school based apprentices and a 100% VCE-Vocational Major completion!
The school Dux is Olivia Hedge with an ATAR of 97.05!
The Dux Proximus is Cameron Egan with an ATAR of 92.95!
25% of our students achieved ATARs over 80, placing them in the top 20% of the state. 44% of our students achieved ATARs over 70, placing them in the top 30% of the state. Our VCE median study score is 27!
The vast majority of scored students have achieved the results they needed to be offered a place in their chosen course. This is a cohort of hopeful Engineers, Nurses and allied health practitioners, Lawyers, Psychologists, Teachers, Sport Scientists, Writers and Designers and our first Doctor in a while!
Rosemary White
Year 8 Fashion & Design
Lots of fun creating embroidered Christmas decorations in fashion and design!
Joanne Murray
Summer Soirée
Thursday 28th November saw the school hall filled to the brim with parents, teachers, friends and students ready to enjoy, for the first time, a second Music Soirée for the year!
And show them they did. We had everything from tuba soloists to drama monologues and singing groups, and everything in between. There was the marimba ensemble as usual, belting out a tune, and several smaller rock bands getting more confident with their stage presentation and skill set.
A big thank you to all the parents who have encouraged and supported their child to practice and participate in the instrumental program this year, both financially and emotionally. I hope you were rewarded with the smiles on the students faces at the completion of their performance, and camaraderie that was shown on stage!
Special acknowledgement needs to be made of our young student MC’s for the night, Miranda and Arkie, who did a great job co-ordinating and announcing under pressure of a changing program. And of course there was a cameo performance by our very own staff band, who closed the night with a bang.
The Instrumental Staff have worked so hard to build the program to a point where we now have a plethora of performers in the wings waiting to perform. With the senior students all departed, it was the juniors chance to show their skills.
It was so pleasing to see the growth and improvement especially in the Year 7 band, and comments were made about how lovely it is to see them learning and enjoying their instruments that they knew nothing about at the start of the year.
With an infux of new Year 7’s ready to arrive next year, this group will now form the ‘senior core’ of the instrumental program. We look forward to exciting new adventures and offerings that next year brings to the KHS Music Program!
Juli Robinson
Photos & videos: Faye Zollia
Some moments from the show
Year 9 Science
2025 Year 9 Science students started exploring the nervous system during Begin 2025.
These are photos of students investigating how chicken wings work, which are surprisingly similar to human arms on the inside.
After this activity students then designed and built a prosthetic hand.
Kat Ford
Year 8 Science
Mission to Mars
One of the highlights was designing parachutes to ensure a gentle landing for a simulated Mars lander. Students crafted their parachutes from materials like plastic bags, string, and tape, considering the impact of surface area, weight, and air resistance. They tested their prototypes by dropping them from heights, refining their designs until they achieved the perfect balance of stability and descent speed.
To simulate the challenges of surviving Mars’ harsh environment, students created heat shields capable of protecting chocolate from the sun’s heat. Using materials like foil, cardboard, and fabric, they tested their shields under direct sunlight, carefully measuring how well their designs maintained the chocolate’s integrity.
As we wrap up another exciting and productive year at Kyneton High School, our Year 8 students have taken a giant leap into the future with their incredible “Mission to Mars” STEM unit. Designed to challenge creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork, the unit saw students dive into a series of hands-on projects that were as educational as they were exhilarating.
The “Mission to Mars” program gave students a taste of real-world problem-solving, drawing on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to tackle the challenges of interplanetary exploration. Using household materials, students embraced the spirit of innovation while following a structured design process that included identifying the problem, brainstorming solutions, prototyping, testing, and refining their designs. Their enthusiasm and dedication were evident at every step.
Another engaging activity involved building soda straw rockets to explore the principles of aerodynamics and propulsion. Armed with just straws, paper, tape, and a lot of ingenuity, students experimented with rocket shapes and launch techniques. They analyzed their results, adjusting designs to maximize flight distance and accuracy.
Throughout the unit, students worked hard, demonstrating resilience and creativity in every task. They should be incredibly proud of their accomplishments. These activities not only deepened their understanding of STEM principles but also highlighted the value of persistence, collaboration, and iterative problem-solving—skills that will serve them well in the years to come.
As we close the book on 2024, we want to congratulate our Year 8 students
for their tremendous effort and enthusiasm.
Their dedication to their “Mission to Mars”
has shown that the sky is not the limit—it’s just the beginning.
Here’s to a bright future and many more
STEM adventures at Kyneton High School!
Jayden Andrea
And They’ve Raced!
Report from Hailee Donovan & To’Ivao Colquhoun
The Energy Breakthrough was an amazing experience. We set off on Thursday the 21st of November and arrived in Maryborough that evening, hit by the heat we would have to endure over the weekend.
We all helped set up camp and prepared dinner, settling in for the upcoming weekend. Friday was an earlier start, and we all did our own thing; some working on
presentations, some working on trikes, and others polishing up for scrutineering
and presentations. It was a long process with some of us underestimating what it took, as it was the first time for the majority of team members, but we got there in the end.
We had two teams, Disco Chicken and Speed Turkey, the newbies were paired up with the experienced members for working in speeches and also talking about racing strategies. It was nice to talk to people we wouldn’t usually talk to. Though we had some setbacks with the trikes, it helped us know where we need to improve for next year.
It was stressful at times, but with some friends it was easier to push through.
Friday night the reality of it all set in as we had our test ride and set up
the marquees for the pits. Saturday morning the camp site was a buzz with
excitement and nerves, looking at all the schools we were all in the same boat,
unaware of what the next 24 hrs was going to truly involve.
The race started with both teams side by side in 51st and 52nd
position on the grid. The heat was tough, but we were blessed with some rain
later that night, although the humidity tested us all. We all worked together
supporting each other and helping out with rider changes whenever possible.
We were lucky enough to have our ex-KHS teacher Ms Cox in the neighbouring pit to help support Ms DeMoel when required. With the rain slowing down overnight, we were able to finish the race in slightly better weather conditions, and the teams have already spoken about ways we can improve the trikes for next year’s races.
We would definitely do it next year as it was so fun and a great experience.
Scenes from the track
Thankyou to our 2024 race sponsors!
PLATINUM SPONSOR
ASP Solutions
GOLD SPONSORS
Crane Aid
Elston Electrics
Kyneton Rotary
Kyneton Electrics
Kyneton on Riverside
Palmer Stevens Rennick
Simplex Insurance
Springs Medical
SILVER SPONSORS
Eaglehawk Hire
Kyneton Shoe Shop
Watts Fresh
1300 Clean Drain
Central Highlands Motor Inn
Kyneton RSL
BRONZE SPONSORS
Kosmac & Clemens
Kyneton Bushland Resort
Malmsbury General Store
Showcasing Kyneton High’s finest essayists
Modern History
Essay: Rocco Di Maggio
The anti-apartheid movement employed various non-violent measures with great success, before eventually resorting to violence. However, the most crucial components to the downfall of the apartheid regime were international pressure and internal political division. The most significant organisation in the anti-apartheid movement, the African
National Conference or ANC, initiated the successful Defiance
Campaign of 1952 using non-violent tactics. Another influential establishment, the South African Students’ Organisation or SASO resisted apartheid peacefully through welfare and the instigation of the Soweto Uprising. However, despite the eventual shift to violence it was international condemnation, sanctions and internal political
division that caused the collapse of apartheid.
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On the 6th of April 1952, white South Africans celebrated the tercentenary of the arrival of Dutch settlers on the Cape. On the same day, the ANC encouraged black South Africans to abstain from celebrations. Rallies were held by the ANC and affiliated organisations in what was called a ‘National Day of Defiance’. In one such rally, Professor Z. K. Matthews stated only black South Africans could “rid themselves of… economic exploitation and social degradation”. This statement spurred further resistance, and, on the 26th of June 1952, the ANC launched the Defiance Campaign. Black South Africans were encouraged to peacefully resist apartheid laws by travelling without pass books and using ‘white only’ amenities and public transport. The campaign was a resounding success, with ANC memberships increasing from around 7000 at the start of the campaign to over 100,000 by the end of the campaign in early 1953. When reflecting on the Defiance Campaign, historian Jon Soske referred to it as an incredible victory. Soske also praised the Defiance Campaign for laying the groundwork for future resistance. The ANC’s Defiance Campaign was one of the most significant non-violent anti-apartheid actions in the history of the movement.
The student anti-apartheid movement was spearheaded by SASO, an organisation that advocated for passive resistance methods. When the National Party ascended to government in 1949, they enacted several laws designed to repress the black population. One such piece of legislation was the Bantu Education Act of 1953, which among other things mandated school lessons in English and Afrikaans. When speaking on the act, head of education Minister Verwoerd stated that native children had to “learn that equality with Europeans was not for them”. This statement highlights the true intention of the legislation. SASO, founded in 1968, aimed to assist black students through welfare programs providing legal aid, health advice and financial support to black students. On 16th June 1975 SASO incited 20,000 students to peacefully march through the township of Soweto to Orlando Stadium in protest of the Bantu Education Act. The protesters were massacred, leading to 700 dead and over 1000 wounded. Whilst the Soweto uprising did not succeed in changing the Bantu Education Act, it did draw significant international condemnation of the South African government as well as support for the anti-apartheid movement. Historian Bret Stephens praised those involved for being “implacable opponents” and “exemplary victims” displaying the recognition and sympathy that the anti-apartheid movement gained after Soweto. It is obvious SASO’s non-violent methods succeeded in drawing attention to the anti-apartheid cause.
In the wake of events such as the Sharpeville massacre of March 1960 and the Soweto uprising of June 1975, anti-apartheid movements adopted more militant methods. At the same time, however, international pressure increased. Musical artists such as U2 and Peter Gabriel openly supported anti-apartheid movements at a concert in London in honour of Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday in 1988, highlighting societal attitudes to the regime. In turn, South Africa had received economic sanctions from the US, UK and 23 other countries by the late 80’s. Once F. W. de Klerk had assumed the Prime ministerial office, he realised that the economic burden and societal pressure had become intolerable. In turn, de Klerk released political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, and promised constitutional changes and a free election in 1994. Reflecting his liberal attitudes, de Klerk outlined his “Quest for peace” and a united South Africa. In the 1994 election, Nelson Mandela’s ANC party won a 62% majority and the apartheid regime was defeated. When reflecting on the final years of apartheid, prominent Yale historians concluded that the economic burden was the “final straw” for apartheid. This shows that it was a collection of economic sanctions, international condemnation and internal political change not militant tactics, that overthrew apartheid.
In conclusion, although the organisations such as the ANC and SASO successfully initiated non-violent and passive resistance methods, it was not their eventual shift to violence that overthrew apartheid. It was rather a buildup of social pressure, unbearable economic sanctions and sweeping internal political change that brought the collapse of apartheid in South Africa.
Rocco – The structure, amount of evidence, specificity and analysis in
your essay are brilliant.
A Note From The Literacy Support Team
A huge congratulations
to all the students who have attended literacy support this year. We have run several structured, systematic programs this year which follow the very strong evidence base in what works in literacy and the results are clear to see. Students (and teachers!) have worked really hard, and the results are very pleasing.
Many students have made gains of 1 to 2 years in their reading and spelling in as little as 14 weeks and will keep on making strong gains as they put their new skills into practice. We look forward to welcoming back some students so they can continue making great progress, and to welcoming new groups of students to begin working through the programs in the new year.
We wish everyone a great break and look forward to watching
students make great progress next year.
Jackie Nieuwenhuizen
Meanwhile, Out In The Carpark
Come and marvel at the sunset!
Lo—a storm is brooding near,—
All the thirsty world imploring,
In a mood akin to fear.
Like a beaker in her fingers
Holds the world the valley high,
Mountain-lipped and cañon-hearted,
To the largess of the sky.
But the sky, capricious ever,
Hides the storm unbroken still;
And the pallid, sun-born nectar
Doth the beaker brimming fill.
See the weirdly golden essence
Lurk along, the shades between,
‘Till it drowns and rolls above them
In triumphant glare of sheen.
Ruby Archer
“Storm-Sun” (1900)
Dramatic image by Faye Zollia
School Notices
Parent And Carer School Saving Bonus Code Distribution
The Victorian Government is delivering the School Saving Bonus – a one-off $400 support for government school students from Prep to Year 12 in 2025.
From Tuesday 26 November 2024, you will receive an email from the Department of Education with your unique $400 School Saving Bonus code.
The School Saving Bonus will help families cover the cost of uniforms, textbooks, excursions, activities and more.
If you have multiple children enrolled in Victorian government schools for 2025, you will receive one School Saving Bonus code email per child. These emails might arrive on different days. Please make sure to check your spam/junk email folder.
Parents and carers can use the School Saving Bonus code in store at school-nominated suppliers. Parents and carers can also choose to access the School Saving Bonus online system, where they can allocate part or all the $400 bonus to use at school nominated-online suppliers or for school activities.
To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, visit www.vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus. A step-by-step user guide will be available on the webpage on 26 November.
If you have not received your School Saving Bonus code via email by Friday 29 November, please contact the Department of Education by emailing school.saving.bonus@education.vic.gov.au
Hi all
We at BDAC are super excited to hear from young mob on what we can do together.
Over the coming months there are heaps of school holiday activities to come along to and be together.
During this time we are also wanting to hear more from you about what activities, events and things you like to do as well as challenges faced by young mob.
We know in the past young people have told us they want more activities and a place to be together.
At BDAC we are looking at ways to make this happen and this includes up to date info to support funding submissions and planning.
Here are three things we want your help with:
1: We would love for as many young mob as possible to complete our quick quiz, follow this link.
2: We are looking for a small number of Youth Advisors (paid) who can help us with some of the school holiday activities, provide more in depth advice and get the word out about the things that are happening. Want to know more? Call Caden on 0447 149 655
3: Shout out to all young artists. As part of the Our Future, Our Way project we’re inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, aged 16–25, to create artwork for BDAC’s Our Future, Our Way project. Check out the EOI and application form for more information.
Keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming school holiday events. BDAC Youth workers and the Our Future, Our Way team will also be at these for you to chat more, ask questions and get involved.
Carter Thomas
Community Programs Manager
T: M: 0448 718 866
Fax: (03) 5406 0237
Carter.Thomas@bdac.com.au
Coming Events
| Monday December 16th | Activities Clean up the school day |
| Tuesday December 17th | Activities Presentation Night rehearsals Presentation Night 5pm and 6pm |
| Wednesday December 18th | Course counselling |
| Thursday December 19th | Course counselling |
| Friday December 20th | End of year – 1.30pm finish |
| Monday January 27th | Australia Day public holiday |
| Tuesday January 28th | Term 1 begins Statewide pupil free day |
| Wednesday January 29th | Year 7-10 Family interviews Year 11-12 Classes begin |
| Thursday January 30th | Year 7-10 Family interviews |
| Friday January 31st | Year 8-10 Family interviews |
| Monday February 3rd | Year 7-10 Classes begin |
Full & Part Time Courses
Now taking enrolments to commence October 2024, or January 2025.
Accredited courses – CII, CIII, CIV, & Diploma Courses in Dance, Dance Teaching, Musical Theatre
All standards welcome – Beginner to Advanced
Day, Night, & Saturday classes available for Part Time students
CRICOS registered for International students
For more information or to enrol:
Email us – dancefac@netspace.net.au
Call us – 03) 9429 9492
Visit our website http://www.dancefactory.com.au/
I am pleased to announce the Big Summer Read is taking place at Goldfields Libraries these summer holidays!
The Big Summer Read aims to arrest the ‘summer reading slide’ by engaging children and their families in a fun and dynamic campaign through public libraries, supported with resources such as a user-friendly website, posters, reading logs and milestone incentives. A competitive element with a statewide prize provides added incentive for participation. Distinctive state-wide branding encourages participation in the program, whether children are at home or on holidays elsewhere in Victoria.
The Big Summer Read runs from 1 December 2024 until 31 January 2025. To register and for terms and conditions please see
ncgrl.vic.gov.au/bsr
or https://readbooks.com.au/bsr
Yours sincerely,
Kaz
Library Services Officer
Woodend Library
KYNETON HIGH SCHOOL