UY

SC

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Key Dates

Wednesday 25th OctoberYear 12 Celebration Day

Wednesday 1st November to Wednesday 22nd November Year 12 Exams

Thursday 2nd NovemberYear 10 Mock Interviews

Monday 20th November to Friday 24th NovemberYear 11 Exams

Monday 27th November to Friday 1st December Year 10 Exams

Year 12, 2018 Orientation

Monday 4th December to Friday 8th December Year 7 - 9 Exams

Year 11, 2018 Orientation

Monday 11th December to Friday 15th December Tasmania Tour

Tuesday 12th DecemberGrade 6 Orientation Day

Wednesday 13th DecemberEvening of Excellence UYSC Theatre 7.00pm

Friday 22nd December Last Day Term Four 12pm Finish

From the Principal's DeskWelcome Back!Welcome back to the final term of the 2017 school year. As always, this term is shaping up as another very busy one!  We welcome back Ms Katie

Feagan, Ms Melissa Martin and Ms Alison Boldiston from family leave and we are very excited to have experienced, dedicated teachers return. 

Teachers are busily preparing students for the end of year and preparations are already under way for 2018; ensuring we continue to provide an outstanding education.  Students in Years 8-11 have undertaken their course selection for 2018 and we are busily sourcing the best teachers to add to our College to ensure fantastic student outcomes. 

Some families will be moving from the area at the end of the year. If your child will not be with us in 2018, or you feel we need to know something that may impact on the College, please contact the General Office on 5967 1877.

Year 12 2017As formal classes for Year 12 draw to a close, the often stressful exam period begins.  Our dedicated Year 12s should go into this exam period with confidence in the hard work they have put in over the course of the year.  In particular, the school was open every day of the September holidays as students and staff revised and prepared for the final part of the school year.  We wish all our students good luck with their exams and encourage them to have confidence in the learning they have undertaken over the course of the year.

PaintingMany families will be aware of the work we have put into the grounds over the holidays, including more line marking.  All basketball and netball courts around the school are clearly line marked and there are a number of Physical Education baseline markings around the school to compliment the Numeracy line marking.  External areas of the school continue to be painted, most recently the undercover areas of the canteen.  External areas around the canteen and stadium entrance will be completed as the weather improves.

Scott Tully | Principal

Issue No 13 24th October 2017Newsletter |U

YSC 81- 89 Little Yarra Road, Yarra Junction

P (03) 5967 1877 F (03) 5967 2109|

S t u d e n t s o f t h e We e k ...recognising

excellence.

Year 8

For a great start at

Upper Yarra Secondary College:

ISABELLE NIGHTINGALE

Year 9

For persistent effort, attitude and work

ethic in Science:LINGLIN LONG

Year 10

For her assistance with the

Year 10 Formal:

CARLA ZEKAS

Year 11

For her hard-working attitude in Psychology and her efforts to get ahead with her work:

PHEOBE MCCARREY

For excellent use of EDROLO to help study

for the end of year Psychology Exam:

RACHAEL LEE

For showing resilience and

strength of character in challenging

circumstances:

ROSIE HELLICAR

Year 7

Year 8

Year 12

RE

SP

EC

T ·

RE

SP

ON

SIB

ILIT

Y ·

EX

CE

LL

EN

CE

· R

ES

ILIE

NC

E

For for excellent teamwork in STEM

activities :KAI HATCH

For offering support to a junior student in

need:

BILLY BLACKLER

GTAC ExcursionOn Tuesday the Year 12 Biology class went to GTAC, Gene Technology Access Centre to prepare for a SAC task. Students are immersed in the world of biotechnology as they examine case studies of positive change that have emerged through application of DNA technologies. They use models to demonstrate the processes underpinning various DNA technologies. They perform restriction digests and gel electrophoresis to determine if the gene for Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) has been successfully inserted into a plasmid. They transform E.coli cells with the recombinant plasmid vector so that they will produce GFP. They plate out their transformed E.coli samples on selective media and take these plates back to school to determine if their transformation has been successful.

It was the students last time at GTAC before they prepare for their exams, they were rewarded with a GTAC badge and were surprisingly excited. All students should be congratulated for the efforts, behaviour and thanking the presenters for their assistance.

Marcus Cook | Biology

''I learnt... That CaCl2 is used make the outside of the bacteria positive to allow the negatively charged plasmids to enter the broken cell membrane.

I enjoyed... Dropping small tubes of DNA and solution onto the ground after being in centrifuge.

Overall... I really enjoyed the last time I was going to be at GTAC and very much going to miss waking up really early to get to Lilydale station then catching a train all the way to an amazing scientific place called GTAC.

Harry Bray 11B

I learnt... That arabinose sugar is necessary for the glo protein to work.

I enjoyed... Watching the band at Melbourne Uni.

Overall... It was a good day and no one got left behind at the train station.

Chelsea Leermakers 12A

I learnt... about gel electrophoresis! How DNA is prepared for the procedure and how to read the result.

I enjoyed... Pipetting.

Overall...I enjoyed the final GTAC experience by being able to drive to the station allowing me to have more seep and concentrate greater.

Patrik Hay 12A

I learnt... That the men that discovered to use the pGLO protein to better visualise certain genes won a Nobel prize for their efforts.

I enjoyed... Seeing the results of the pGLO protein in the agarose gel after gel electrophoresis.

Overall... It was a wonderful day and it will definitely be one of the highlights of my high school experience.''

Maddison Horsley 12A

Year 10 Formal 2017The Year 10 Formal

was a great success again this year. Over sixty students in

their evening formal gowns and suits arrived at the impressive Sky High venue on the top of Mount Dandenong. 14 staff were also in attendance to enjoy the occasion. The students looked amazing in their finery and it was difficult to believe that these were the same people we see every day in school uniform. This gala occasion gave us a glimpse of the wonderful young adults our students will soon become. A very big thankyou to the members of the planning committee, Max Geddes, Tara Mataele, Brydie Francis, Amy Knight, Madeline Bennett, Monique Lee, Briani McGuigan, Grace Bray, Billie Mills, Jamiee Brabazon-Hooper, Livinia Mace and Carla Zekas and to Ms Denise Muir who was our official photographer.

Debbie Morrish Year 10 Team, Formal Coordinator

‘’Formal was an amazing night, it was a great chance for us all to get dressed up and have a

fun night. The venue was Sky High, which was at the top of Mt Dandenong, and it had the most incredible view. It was a clear night so we could see all the beautiful lights from the balcony. After dinner and dessert, which was nice, a lot of us went onto the dance floor and ended up dancing for most of the night. It was great to see so many of us were having such a great time at Formal. My favourite part of the night would have to be the dancing and hanging out with my friends.’’

Jamiee Brabazon-Hooper 10D

‘’The Year 10 Formal was on the last Thursday of Term 3. It was such a blast! The

majority of the Year 10s turned up in a limo with their friends and everyone looked amazing. When I arrived with my friends the sun was just setting over the city, so there was a rush to get photos with each other. It was such a great night for everyone. The majority were on the dancefloor all night and even some teachers were dancing. I can’t wait for Deb next year now.’’

Grace Bray 10B

VCAL Art Exhibition The VCAL students organised and ran an art exhibition on the 30th of August to celebrate the work of UYSC students in the StreetShot Competition. They created the advertising, organised catering by the VET Hospitality students, communicated with the art staff to select the works and also hung the work. They worked well as a team and the opening night was a great success.

VCAL Supporting Each OtherYear 11 and 12 VCAL students just completed two days of Peer Support Training delivered by Road Trauma Support Services and sponsored by the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

Mental Health Week Celebration

Headspace Day To kick off Mental Health Week (08/10 – 14/10) we started our first day of Term 4 celebrating ‘Headspace Day’ in partnership with Headspace Knox who spent the whole day at our school raising mental health awareness and building a profile at our school.

As part of celebrating this day, we asked students to write down what they do to help them feel better when they are not in a good headspace.

We also heard a presentation from Headspace talking about the types of support they do. Sep (headspace clinician) is also commencing at our school to provide further support to our students.

‘World Mental Health Day – 10 October – Mental Health Australia is calling on the nation to further reduce stigma and promise to see mental health in a more positive light’.

‘We have to see mental health, and mental wealth, not through stereo-types, but through the eyes of a family member or close friend, and through the eyes of those in our community who don’t have the support they need’. (http://1010.org.au/do-you-see-what-i-see/)

Wellbeing Team

Ten Tips for Better Mental Health1. Build Confidence - identify your

abilities and weaknesses together, accept them, build on them and do the best you can with what you have.

2. Accept Compliments - many of us have difficulty accepting kindness from others but we all need to remember the positive in our lives when times get tough.

3. Make Time for Family and Friends - these relationships need to be nurtured; if taken for granted they will dwindle and not be there to share life's joys and sorrows.

4. Give and Accept Support - friends and family relationships thrive when they are "put to the test." Just as you seek help when you are having a tough time, a friend or family member might come to you in their time of need.

5. Create a Meaningful Budget - financial problems are big causes of stress, especially in today's economy. Over-spending on our "wants" instead of our "needs" can compound money worries. Writing down where you money is going helps you keep a closer eye on your finances.

6. Volunteer - being involved in community gives a sense of purpose and satisfaction that paid work

cannot. Find a local organization where your life skills can be put to good use.

7. Manage Stress - we all have stressors in our lives but learning how to deal with them when they threaten to overwhelm us will help to maintain our mental health.

8. Find Strength in Numbers - sharing a problem with others who have had similar experiences may help you find a solution and will make you feel less isolated. Even talking about situation with people who have not experienced what you are going through is a good way to gain outside perspective.

9. Identify and Deal with Moods - we all need to find safe and constructive ways to express our feelings of anger, sadness, joy and fear. Channelling your emotions creatively is a wonderful way to work off excess feelings. Writing (keeping a journal), painting, dancing, making crafts, etc. are all good ways to help deal with emotions.

10. Learn to Be at Peace with Yourself - get to know who you are, what makes you really happy and learn to balance what you can and cannot change about yourself.

(Source: http://www.mhww.org/strategies.html)

RMIT Scholarships On Thursday 14 September a number of successful RMIT scholarship winners attended an award ceremony in the city. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Student Scholarship Program is designed to assist young people to achieve their full potential, get the support they need to stay engaged in education and complete years 11 and 12.

The Student Scholarship Program is administered by Kids Under Cover on behalf of the department and provides each student with $1100 for items such as text books, computer equipment, public transport, or other specialist equipment. The scholarships recognise the effort students put into attending and engaging with their place of learning.

The following students were successful in their applications for the scholarship Tahlia Lilly, Ethan Griffiths, Jarrad McDonald-Jones, Rick Cahill-McCarthy, Tiffany Oliver, Jamin Hamnett, Coen Larpent, Brianna Hamnett, Natalie Ball, Cody Dunn, Olivia Pert, Crystal Stevens, Bailey Kelly, Lachlan Thompson , Kiewa Walker, Tyler Brewster- Reed and Will McGann.

A highlight of the award ceremony was the key note speaker, Thanakon Mon-Aphai. Thanakon was our school captain at UYSC in 2016, but we always called him by his nick name of Tuew. Tuew was asked to speak at the ceremony as he was a recipiant of the scholarship when he was in Year 12. Tuew was asked to speak about his time at school and how the scholarship helped him. He has kindly allowed us to print his emotional and moving speech.

Tracey Shallcross

Student Scholarship Speech 2017Hello everyone, my name is Thanakon Mon-Aphai. Like the students here today, I was a

recipient of this truly helpful scholarship last year.

I was born in Thailand. Like many families there, my family had a hard time financially. So much so, that many of my family members could not attend or keep attending high

school. To us, going to university was out of the question. Despite this, my mother found a way to get both her children to finish high school in a better country and allow me to be the first person in my family to attend university. However, this has not been an easy journey for any of us.

In 2004 my mother, brother and I moved from Thailand to Australia to live with a new father. We went from a second world, lower class country home to a first world middle class home. Here my brother and I did very well academically despite some of the problems we faced at home. Because of our situation we did not tell anyone of what we were going through. Being a generally shy person it wasn’t strange for me to not talk about myself. I was just the quiet achiever at school that got along with everyone. What I kept secret from everyone was a big hindrance to most of the things I did.

I just pushed through it and did as well as I could. I barely missed days of school because I really enjoyed it and mum was proud of my academic achievements. Then near the end of Year10 something happened. The police got involved. The extra things it made me deal became too much at times. Without the school helping me at every turn down that road, I don’t think I could’ve made it through it like I did. I am truly grateful for all their help.

My high school was Upper Yarra Secondary College, which is out in the Yarra Valley, well over an hour from here. Some of my teachers are here today as well as a number of students who are receiving the scholarships today. Without the school's help I would definitely not have been able to experience some great achievements. They have always been providing opportunities for the students to get extra experience during their time at high school. For me this was having scholarships available that allowed me to experience new things and gain knowledge that would help shape my future. My teachers gave me the opportunity to apply for the Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars, Spark Engineering Scholarship at Melbourne University, DOXA Cadetship and this DHHS student scholarship. I was lucky enough to be accepted into all of these. They all assisted me get to where I am now. Some scholarships gave me extra knowledge on how to survive university, and what I should be doing during my time there to get the most out of the experience. These scholarships were all a huge help in allowing me to finish school and continue on to university.

After my situation had been sorted my family was back to just my mother, brother and me. This put a strain on us financially again. Receiving this DHS scholarship really helped us when I was about to start Year 12. It was like having a big weight getting taken off our shoulders. Not having to worry about fees and schoolbooks for my last year of high school was incredibly helpful. More time could be spent on doing my best. Even allowing me to take on the role of School Captain, which was a great honour. Even though it was the hardest year of high school it was definitely my favourite. With some hard work and the schools help I was able to be the first person in my family to attend university. After the anticipating wait it was a great feeling when I got the email that I was accepted into a course. I didn’t have a gap year and got straight into my further education.

I have been studying Engineering at Swinburne University of Technology. As a first year I have not started studying a specific field yet, but I have had my eyes on becoming a Civil Engineer for quite some time. By becoming this I will be able to help people with my work. Civil engineering ranges from building roads to making travelling easier, or creating buildings to provide a range of benefits to society. This can be a space to live, be educated in or a place to work. I look forward to becoming a Civil Engineer because I can help others in a field that I am passionate about, just like the people who have helped me and my family in their work.

I cherish all the opportunities and help that the people in my life have given me. It would be incredible if my story is able to impact your life in a positive way. No matter where you have gone or what you are going through, there are better days ahead. Getting help can make those days come faster. Remember to do your best and congratulations on receiving this scholarship. Thank you all for listening.

Thanakon Mon-Aphai College Captain 2016

Jeans for Genes Day -

We raised $300!

Duke of Edinburgh participants and interested UYSC students(14 + years ) have the opportunity to

participate in a Rotary Humanitarian project and travel to Cambodia next year, December 2018.

We will be travelling with World of Difference and students will be continuing Rotary projects in local

Cambodian schools, villages and orphanages started by students in 2014 and 2016.

The trip includes visits to the 2,500 hectare Phnom Tamao Zoo, the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh, the

famous Angkor Wat Temples and many other sites. The trip is planned for 2nd - 14th December 2018.

12 DAYS OF HUMANITARIAN AND ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES IN CAMBODIA!

INTERESTED?

Interested? Please contact the College on 5967 1877 or Miss Foley foley.bronwen.b@edumail.vic.gov.au

for an expression of interest form.

CAMBODIA INFORMATION

EVENINGTuesday 10th

October 6.00pm UYSC Library

$3799

Deposit $400

UPPER YARRA SECONDARY COLLEGE CAMBODIA TOUR 2018

ONLY 6 PLACES LEFT!

Women in STEM Conference

(Ecolinc extended an invitation to Year 9 & 10 girls to attend the 2017 ‘Emerging Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) for Women Program’ on Monday 16th October at Ecolinc Science & Technology Centre in Bacchus Marsh.

The day will consisted of guest speakers, a range of workshops and a ‘STEM Careers speed-dating’ session where the students will got to meet, talk with, and learn from, a range of women in the STEM fields, as well as a range of higher education providers who were able to outline career pathway opportunities and courses available for students in the STEM fields.

Marcus Cook | STEM

UYSC Connections

Yearbook/ Magazine 2017

is coming soon.

Reserve your copy

at the Business Office.

Only $10!

YEAR 10 MOCK INTERVIEW DAY THURSDAY 2nd NOVEMBER

Year 10 students have been preparing for their Mock Interviews. Students participate in a 10 minute “mock interview” where they apply for a job from their preferred industry with the aim of gaining valuable, real life skills.These have been sourced from the SEEK employment website and are relevant jobs for school leavers.

Students are required to come to their interview well groomed and in appropriate clothing for an interview i.e. no jeans, t-shirts, shorts, runners etc., face piercings removed and neat and tidy hair. Students can choose to wear these clothes for the entire day or change back into their school uniform. Suggested clothing would be slacks and shirt for boys (feel free to wear a tie/suit if you would like!) and either slacks, skirt or dress for girls with a suitable shirt/top.

Normal classes will be running on the day. A timetable is posted near the Year 10 office and on Compass. Students are required to be ready and waiting in the designated area 5 minutes prior to their scheduled interview time. They need to bring to the interview their careers portfolio folder which they have prepared in class.

This is an assessable task. If a student is absent , their interview is rescheduled. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact Tracey in the Careers Office.

Year 8 NewsGirls DayOn Wednesday the 11th of October, Year 8 girls got to attend a special day at Millwarra Primary School. The aim of the day was to connect students to each other as well as staff. Students we able to wear free dress for the day. Once we arrived at Millwarra, Ms Knowles introduced the day and explained what students would be doing.

The first thing students did was watch the movie ‘Embrace’. The movie is a documentary about body image and the importance to learning to love the body you’re in. Students really enjoyed watching the movie and afterwards discussed body image and how they feel about themselves.

Students had morning tea which was provided. After morning tea, students played some games and were challenged to create a newspaper-clothing item. Students then held a ‘Newspaper fashion parade’. This was a lot of fun.

After lunch, it was time for some pampering. Students were able to paint their nails, make lip-gloss, create a collage or decorate a cupcake. Students enjoyed the day, it was a great success and a positive way to start the term.

Boys DayOn Wednesday the 11th of October, year 8 boys attended a special day at Yarra Junction Bowls Club. The aim of the day was to connect students to each other as well as staff. Students we able to wear free dress for the day.

In the morning the boys walked down to the Bowls Club. Once there they were given a demonstration of how to play bowls, they were then able to play a few games. This was a lot of fun.

After morning tea, the Chaplains from the school and Upper Yarra area held a workshop about masculinity. This was a great chance for the boys to think about their place in the world and how they react to different situations.

Then they enjoyed a BBQ lunch. After lunch the boys were able to either play football or continue playing lawn bowls. Students very much enjoyed the day and it was a great chance to try something different and get to know each other.

On Wednesday 11th October, we went to Millgrove Community Hall with all the Year

8 girls. We watched a documentary called Embrace. After that we had a talk, we could have our nails done, decorated cupcakes and make our own lip-gloss. I want to thank everyone that organised it. It was a great day!

Tayisa Kandybko 8C

On Wednesday 11th it was National Girls Day. We made lip balm, had cupcakes and watched a documentary. They catered for us fussy eaters and I had a baked potato with cheese, bacon and sour cream what I got out of the day was “Don’t Body Shame”! Thanks everyone for such a great day.

Hayley Shaw 8C

Waves… Excited to begin the adventure, I ran across the hot shining sand. The water

flowed in crystal blue waves and the smell of fresh, salt filled the air. Our boards

shimmered under the rays of the sun as we came to a sudden pause. I dropped

myself and my blue board onto the sand and sat down, ready and anxious to get the

rules over with and begin surfing.

As I walked on the hot summery sand with my board, I finally reached the ocean!

My feet touched the warm water and a shiver of freshness came over me; it was

like I had finally come across water after trekking in a desert. I placed my board on

the calm sea and started making my way to the waves.

At this point I had tried many times and still not succeeded. I was starting to lose

hope that I could actually ever surf. I felt like a bird trying to fly but falling, over

and over. But I knew that one day birds do succeed, so I tried one last time. After

this, if I failed, I was done!

I started making my way to the wave, it was the biggest wave all day. I hopped

on my board and started to stand up. I was falling slightly. I could taste the salty

water in my mouth from the many times I had fallen off. I felt my feet start to grip

the board and I started to go. I was suddenly confused. Wait, what was happening?

I hadn’t fallen off yet?

I could feel the wind blowing across my hot cheeks and through my golden, wet

hair. It felt as if I had suddenly broken free, as if I had never lived, as if my life

had been locked away for twelve years and I had finally found a key. I started to

yell “I’m doing it!’

With a smile on my face, the sound of waves softly crashing across the yellow sand,

the smell of fresh salt and the taste of success, I trudged through the ocean,

threw my board down and I then tried again.

That day was the day that I learnt that giving up wasn’t an option. There will always

be someone out there better than you but that’s not an excuse for not trying.

I’m glad I didn’t give up. If I had, I wouldn’t have known success that day in the

waves. Laura Rowan 7A

FLIPStudents in both Years 7 and 8 have been writing short stories to share their knowledge of ancient civilisations and biomes. The results have been outstanding. Here are a few excerpts:

The Terrible Terracotta WarriorsThen he also climbed into the well and

began to climb down the ladder. They

grabbed the shovels and then the farmer

who fell in the well pointed to a spot in

the wall. They started digging. After a

while they found a huge lot of face staring

back at them they looked like warriors

8,000. They were in perfect battle formation in rows weapons ready. The

weapons were made out a mix of copper,

tin and lead there were arrowheads, bow’s and all the warriors looked different. There were chariots, dancers,

animals and a cavalry of horses. It looked

like an army so they decided to keep digging to see what else they could find.

Daniel Piggott 7A

The Story Of Qin Shi HuangIn 245 BC, there was a great leader. His name is Qin Shi Huang. Strong and brave, a military instructor too. He was unstoppable. His people looked up to him, gave him food. Life was perfect for him. There was just one small issue to deal with. Scholars. The scholars were against his religion, so he decided to execute them.

“Chuck them in the pit” exclaimed Qin Shi. The scholars yelled and screamed to the peasants and other citizens:

“HELP US!” as they were forced into the pit where they will be buried alive. Qin Shi had other executions in mind. Impalement and Lingchi* were much worse than being buried alive.

“Those dirty little scholars were just small irritating parasites,” said Qin Shi to himself.

*Lingchi was a brutal way of execution. It included an executioner armed with a knife or a machete. The method was to take chunks of flesh out of a person while keeping them alive. This method was also known as “Death by A Thousand Cuts.” Harry Benson 7D

The Marvelous Migration

Bruce and Jerry had just finished their

last meal at Ocean King before they were

going to migrate to the Indian Ocean

for the winter. Sharks migrate to breed

and feed in warmer water because the

Atlantic Ocean is too cold in the winter.

They had to leave the restaurant because

they were feeling sick and dizzy because

they had been sitting down for too

long. Sharks need to move constantly to

survive. Matthew Gabbitas 8D

Cupcakes!!The Year 9/10 Food Studies participated in a cup cake decorating competition. They created some based on movie and TV characters, animals, plants and other motifs. Lots of effort and planning went into their designs and they all worked really hard.

Tracey Leicester | Food Studies