Alba Newsletter – October 2025

Fashion Awards Australia and Australian Gown of the Year Schools’ Competition

Congratulations to all those involved in the recent Fashion Awards.

It was again a very successful event for the College, winning the John Carringbold Cup for top design school from the seven schools who made the final. As the competition was cancelled in 2024, students were able to enter garments made in 2024.

Other winners:

Well done to all the winners and all those who entered garments.

A special thank you to Mr Nick D’Aglas and Mr Michael Bowen for their work in teaching the students and supporting their creativity.

Congratulations

A big congratulations to Brandon Cvetanoski of Year 10.

Brandon won first place in the boys 16-Year-Old Triple Jump at the SSV State Championship. He also won first place again in the U17 Boys Triple Jump at the All-Schools State Championship. He jumped a distance of 14.59m at SSV and 14.04m at the All-Schools and will compete in the All-Schools Nationals coming up in December.

Well done, Brandon!

Year 12 Graduation and Awards Evening

The College was delighted to host our annual Graduation and Awards Ceremony for the Class of 2025. It was a wonderful evening held at Flemington Racecourse, filled with music, joy, and heartfelt speeches celebrating the achievements and journey of our Year 12 students.

Our guest speaker, former student Achol Arok, shared her inspiring story of success, from her time at St Albans Secondary College to her current role as a journalist for The Daily Aus.

A special congratulations to our major award recipients:

• Ampol All Rounder Award – Luke Downing
• ADF STEM Innovators Award – Quynh Anh (Jessica) Pham
• Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Award – Haily Le
• VET Excellence Award – Vuk Vujatovic
• VCE Vocational Major (VM) Excellence Award – Vanessa Ngo
• VCE Academic Excellence Award (Dux) – Ricardo Vom

The full list of subject award recipients can be found later in this newsletter.

We congratulate all VCE and VCE-VM students of the Class of 2025 on their outstanding accomplishments. We wish them every success in their future pathways. To those students undertaking exams over the coming weeks , we know you will give your best effort and continue to make us proud.

A heartfelt thank you to the Senior Sub School Team for their exceptional organisation of this event, and to all staff who volunteered their time to support our students on this memorable occasion.

Big Day In

 It was a pleasure to welcome Year 6 students from our feeder primary schools to St Albans Secondary College for our annual Big Day In.

The Big Day In is an important part of our transition calendar, providing a wonderful opportunity for our future Year 7 students to experience life at the College and to learn more about our programs and values with a focus on student wellbeing.

Throughout the day, students took part in a variety of engaging activities within their 2026 House groups, helping them to make new friends, connect with staff, and begin to feel part of the
St Albans community. The energy and enthusiasm they brought made the day a great success, and we look forward to welcoming them back as members of the College next year.

A special thank you to the Wellbeing and Transitions Teams for their outstanding organisation and support in making this event such a positive and memorable experience for our incoming students.

Exams

The upcoming exam period is an important time for students to demonstrate their learning and prepare for future studies. Year 11 exams begin on the 5^th November and Years 9 & 10 on the 19^th November.

Attendance at all exams is compulsory, and a medical certificate must be provided if your child is absent due to illness.

We ask that all students follow the exam expectations carefully to ensure fairness and a focused environment. This includes arriving on time, being prepared with the correct materials, and following staff instructions throughout the exam period. Detailed exam expectations have been outlined at assemblies and will be posted on COMPASS.

At home, you can support your child by helping them maintain a regular study routine, providing a quiet space to revise, ensuring they get plenty of rest, and encouraging a balanced, positive approach to exam preparation.

Whole School Assembly

It was wonderful to be able to celebrate our Year 12 cohort and wish them well as a whole school community on their last day on Monday 20 October. Each Whole School Assembly held is an important part of our school calendar and this assembly provided a valuable opportunity to farewell the Year 12 cohort, and it was also an opportunity to celebrate some individual student achievements, announce the House Cup winner as well as appreciate music from a number of our student bands.

The assembly included rituals such as a welcome to country by a Wurundjeri Elder and the handing over to the next group of leaders. Both outgoing School Captains Minthu Huynh and Ricardo Vom, and incoming School Captains Stephanie Truong and Josephine Mai addressed the school community and it was clear that both sets of leaders felt a sense of pride in their school. The rest of the school student leadership team for 2026 were also welcomed; Mitchell Cauchi, Angelina Huynh, Tina Le, Tamara Penaia Te’o, Richard To, and Lachlan Tran.

Andrei Andrion, Dorinna Malopito from Year 7 responded to the leaders and congratulated and thanked the Year 12 cohort on behalf of Year 7 and the rest of the student body.

Summary of Awards given out at the Whole School Assembly*:

*Please see the article on the Year 12 Graduation for a summary of the awards given to Year 12 on that evening.

This year we introduced some new scholarships for Academic Achievement at both Year 8 and Year 10 for students entering Years 9 and 11 respectively at the College.

The recipients of these awards were:

Student Recognition Prize

The student recognition Prize is awarded at the end of each year to a student from each Sub School who exemplifies the school values of Respect, Integrity, Leadership and Excellence; this includes having over 90% attendance, always behaving respectfully to other students and staff and in accordance with expectations including always being punctual.  The students who were drawn from the pool of those eligible for each Sub School are:

• Junior Sub School – Kim Ho 7E
• Middle Sub school – Benjamin Cooper 9B
• Senior Sub School – Dayyan Waqar 11G

These students each received an iPad as a prize. Well done to all the students who were in the draw for the Student Recognition Prize.

The Crocker House Cup

The Crocker House Cup was awarded to the winning House, Rosewall.  Well done to Rosewall and all the students who were recognised or received awards. We also thank and congratulate our Facilities and Music Teams who worked behind the scenes to ensure the effective set up and presentation for this assembly, well done to all involved. Thank you to our special guests and all the student speakers and musicians.

Class of 2025

Congratulations to our class of 2025, we wish you all the best for your upcoming exams or interviews and placements and look forward to hearing about your accomplishments beyond school.  Each of you will forever be part of the St Albans Secondary College community and we hope to see many of you return as part of our alumni program.

Office Hours

8:15am to 4:15pm

Compass Communication

Any important information will be sent to parents and families via the Compass News Feed.  Parents are asked to ensure that they have access to Compass.

General Office Payments

Preferred method of payment for School Events and Curriculum Contributions is via the Compass school management system.  Parents will log in to this system using their allocated unique User ID and a temporary password.  Payments can be made through the Action Centre from the home screen.  Please contact the General Office on 9366 2555 should you need further information.

ID Cards

Students are reminded that they require their ID cards with them when they present to the front office.

Lost or Damaged Id Cards

• go the ‘Organisation’ menu (grid icon)
• select ‘Identity Cards’.
• in the ‘Orders’ section, click ‘Individual Orders’.
• complete the details to order the card

A payment will be required when placing your order.

When the card arrives, it will need to be activated.  Follow the steps below to activiate the card.

• go the ‘Organisation’ menu (grid icon)
• select ‘Identity Cards’
• click on ‘Individual Activation’
• complete the information on the screen to activate the card.

The office will no longer be taking payment for replacement cards.  Please contact the office on 9366 2555 if you have any queries.

Student Lunches at the General Office

Families are advised that the General Office is unable to accept lunches for student collection.  Please discuss and prepare for a different course of action with your child, should they forget to bring their lunch to school.

If your child has forgotten their lunch at home, parents can leave money in an envelope for their student to collect at the office.  The canteen has an array of choices for your child to purchase their lunch.

College Expectations 

Attendance, Uniform, Punctuality  

We greatly appreciate the support we receive from parents to make sure that your child attends school regularly and punctually, is in full uniform, and is well prepared for all classes with books and equipment.

Attendance  

Students must have a minimum of 90% attendance in all classes at each year level.

Uniform 

Full uniform must be worn to and from school, at school and on all school excursions, including interschool sports.

Punctuality  

Students are expected to be punctual at the start of each day and for all classes. Any student who is late more than 4 times will have a Friday detention from 3:20pm to 5:20pm.

Sustainable School Shop

The Sustainable School Shop website is available to purchase and/or sell second-hand uniforms and used textbooks.

Parents can log in or register at any time at www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au

When selling items, click the Sell Uniforms button and follow the prompts. Assistance is given to construct your “For Sale” ads including a pricing guide.

To see the ads for items currently on sale or to obtain the seller details, you will need to log-in to the Sustainable School Shop website, click the blue Stocktake button and then click the item you need. Buyers contact the seller directly.

Sellers are asked to delist For Sale Ads as items sell.

Student Absence 

Parents and guardians are now able to leave student absence messages directly with the relevant Sub School.

Follow the telephone prompts to be connected to the Sub School needed.

• Wait for the beep before leaving a message
• State who you are, eg:  I am the parent of ……..  and clearly state your child’s name and home group
• Clearly state the reason for your child’s absence and how long they will be absent for

Please ensure that your message is audible (not on speaker phone) and there is no background noise.

Camps, Sports, Events Fund (CSEF)

Parents with a valid Health Care Card may be eligible to apply for the CSEF.  The CSEF is a yearly payment for each child in the family attending our College.  This payment is to assist with the cost of Camps, Sports and Excursions for your child to attend.

Applications for the 2025 CSEF are now closed.

State School Relief (SSR)

Should you have a valid Health Care Card and require assistance to purchase school uniform and/or school shoes; you may be eligible for SSR. Health Care Card holders with students enrolled in the VCE VM program may also be eligible for assistance with the purchase of personal protective gear. Please enquire at the General Office.

Tuesday, 28 October 2025

All Day – Yr 12 VCAA Exams Start
07:45AM – 03:00PM Year 10 History Melbourne Holocaust Museum #3
08:00AM – 03:30PM WMR Intermediate Boys Table Tennis
08:35AM – 03:30PM Year 9 ADVANCE Melbourne Zoo Excursion
08:35AM – 03:30PM Australian African Student Conference
08:45AM – 04:00PM Year 10 History Melbourne Holocaust Museum #4
08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 7&8 – ABCN STEM Innovators
11:00AM – 12:40PM Year 10 MYLNS PAT Testing Catch-Up
11:00AM – 11:50AM CPR Ambassador Program Yr 7-9 Session 1
12:40PM – 01:30PM IN Hobbies Club – D12
01:30PM – 03:10PM Year 10 MYLNS PAT Testing Catch-Up

Wednesday, 29 October 2025

08:15AM – 03:15PM YR 9A, 9E, 9G & 9J – Marine Discovery Centre
08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 8A Strathbogie Camp 2025
12:40PM – 01:00PM Times Table Training Club

Thursday, 30 October 2025

08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 8A Strathbogie Camp
08:15AM – 03:30PM WMR YR 8 Girls Table Tennis
08:30AM – 03:00PM WMR YR 8 Boys Basketball
09:45AM – 03:45PM 9B & 9F Marine Discovery Centre
11:00AM – 11:50AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 4
03:30PM – 05:00PM Badminton After School Sessions

Friday, 31 October 2025

All Day – Yr 11 Last Day of Classes
08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 8A Strathbogie Camp 2025
08:30AM – 04:00PM Yr 7 & 8 – STEM EDGE 2025
08:35AM – 03:10PM VAKA Pasifika – Student leadership Program
09:00AM – 03:15PM YR 9H, 9I & 9K – Marine Discovery Centre
09:45AM – 10:35AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 5
12:40PM – 01:00PM Times Table Training Club
12:40PM – 01:30PM First Nations Lunchtime Group

Monday, 3 November 2025

All Day – Curriculum Day (Student Free Day)

Tuesday, 4 November 2025

All Day – Melbourne Cup Public Holiday (Student Free Day)

Wednesday, 5 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 Exams Start
All day Yr 11 VM/VPC Work Placement
08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 8C Strathbogie Camp 2025
08:55AM – 10:35AM Yr 11 Art Making and Exhibiting Exam
08:55AM – 10:05AM Yr 11 Maths Methods Exam 1
11:00AM – 12:40PM Yr 11 Accounting Exam
11:00AM – 12:40PM Yr 11 Bridging EAL Exam
12:40PM – 01:00PM Times Table Training Club
01:30PM – 03:10PM Yr 11 Psychology Exam

Thursday, 6 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 VM/VPC Work Placement
08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 8C Strathbogie Camp
08:00AM – 03:30PM WMR Year 7 Girls Softball
08:00AM – 03:30PM WMR Year 7 Boys Baseball
08:00AM – 03:30PM Year 8 Girls WMR Tennis
08:55AM – 10:35AM Yr 11 Health and Human Development Exam
11:00AM – 12:40PM Yr 11 Physical Education Exam
11:00AM – 12:40PM Yr 11 Vietnamese Exam
11:00AM – 11:50AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 4
01:30PM – 03:10PM Yr 11 Maths Methods Exam 2
03:30PM – 04:30PM Badminton After School Session

Friday, 7 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 VM/VPC Work Placement
08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 8C Strathbogie Camp
08:00AM – 03:30PM Yr 8 Girls WMR Finals Softball
08:55AM – 11:05PM Yr 11 English Exam
08:55AM – 11:05AM Yr 11 EAL Exam
09:45AM – 10:35AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 5
12:40PM – 01:00PM Times Table Training Club
12:40PM – 01:30PM First Nations Lunchtime Group
01:30PM – 03:10PM Yr 11 Economics Exam
01:30PM – 03:10PM Yr 11 Visual Communication Exam

Monday, 10 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 VM/VPC Work Placement
08:55AM – 10:35AM Yr 11 Chemistry Exam
11:00AM – 12:40PM Yr 11 Business Management Exam
11:00AM – 12:10PM Yr 11 Specialist Maths Exam 1
01:30PM – 03:10PM Yr 11 Biology Exam

Tuesday, 11 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 VM/VPC Work Placement
08:55AM – 10:35AM Yr 11 Applied Computing Exam
08:55AM – 10:35AM Yr 11 Japanese Exam
08:55AM – 03:10PM YR 9 – National Gallery Victoria- International
11:00AM – 12:40PM Yr 11 Food Studies Exam
11:00AM – 112:40PM Yr 11 Physics Exam
11:50AM – 12:40PM CPR Ambassador Program Yr 7-9 Session 1
12:40PM – 01:30PM IN Hobbies Club – D12
01:30PM – 02:40PM General Maths Exam

Wednesday, 12 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 Exams Last Day
08:55AM – 10:35AM Yr 11 Legal Studies Exam
08:55AM – 10:35AM Yr 11 Specialist Maths Exam 2
08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 9 Advance – Lorne Dukes Award Camp
11:00AM – 12:40PM Yr 11 General Maths Exam 2
12:40PM – 01:00PM Times Table Training Club
01:30PM – 03:10PM Yr 11 Modern History Exam
01:30PM – 03:40PM Yr 11 Italian Exam

Thursday, 13 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 into Yr 12 VCE Orientation
07:30AM – 03:30PM Yr 7 Girls State Finals Softball
07:30AM – 03:30PM Yr 8 Girls State Finals Softball
08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 9 Advance – Lorne Dukes Award Camp
08:30AM – 05:00PM Yr 11 VET Music – Making a Music Demo
11:00AM – 11:50AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 4
02:15PM – 03:00PM Grade 6 Information session
03:30PM – 05:00PM Badminton After School Sessions

Friday, 14 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 into Yr 12 VCE Orientation
08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 9 Advance – Lorne Dukes Award Camp
09:45AM – 10:35AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 5
12:40PM – 01:00PM Times Table Training Club
12:40PM – 01:30PM First Nations Lunchtime group

Monday, 17 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 into Yr 12 VM Orientation
09:45AM – 10:35AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 5
08:55AM – 03:10PM Year 8G Strathbogie Camp

Tuesday, 18 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 into Yr 12 VCE Orientation
All Day – Yr 11 into Yr 12 VM Orientation
All Day – VET Orientation
All Day – Yr 10 Last Day of Classes
08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 8G Strathbogie Camp
09:45AM – 10:35AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 5
12:40PM – 01:30PM IN Hobbies Club – D12

Wednesday, 19 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 into Yr 12 VCE Orientation
All Day – Yr 11 into Yr 12 VM Orientation
All Day – Yr 10 Exams Start
All Day – Yr 12 VCAA Exams Finish
All Day – Yr 9 Sem 2 Exams Start (Core Subjects Only)
07:30AM – 03:30PM Yr 7 Boys State Finals Baseball
08:55AM – 03:10PM Yr 8G Strathbogie Camp
09:45AM – 10:35AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 5
12:40PM – 01:00PM Times Table Training Club

Thursday, 20 November 2025

All Day – Teaching Staff PP Day (Student Free)
All Day – Yr 11 into Yr 12 VCE Orientation
All Day – Yr 9 Sem 2 Exams (Core Subjects Only)
09:45AM – 10:35AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 5
03:30PM – 05:00PM Badminton After School Sessions

Friday, 21 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 into Yr 12 VCE Orientation
All Day – Yr 9 Sem 2 Exams (Core Subjects Only)
08:55AM – 03:10PM 65,000 Years’ exhibition Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne
09:45AM – 10:35AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 5
12:40PM – 01:00PM Times Table Training Club
12:40PM – 01:30PM First Nations Lunchtime group
06:00PM – 11:00PM YR 12 – Valedictory Dinner

Monday, 24 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 into Yr 12 VCE Orientation

Tuesday, 25 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 into Yr 12 VCE Orientation
08:55AM – 03:10PM YR 9 – National Gallery Victoria- International
12:40PM – 01:30PM IN Hobbies Club – D12
01:30PM – 03:10PM KIOSC Incursion – Sustainability Using AI – Session 1
06:00PM – 07:45PM Grade 6 Parent Welcome Evening (Gym)

Wednesday, 26 November 2025

All Day – Yr 11 into Yr 12 VCE Orientation
All Day – Yr 10 – Exams Last Day
12:40PM – 01:00PM Times Table Training Club
01:30PM – 03:10PM KIOSC Incursion – Sustainability using AI – Session 2

Thursday, 27 November 2025

All Day – Yr 12 VCE – Orientation Last Day
All Day – Yr 11 into Yr 12 VCE Orientation
All Day – Yr 11 VCE – Orientation Starts
All Day – Yr 11 Last Day (Dismissal)
All Day – Yr 10 into Yr 11 VM Orientation
All Day – Yr 10 into Yr 11 VCE Orientation

Friday, 28 November 2025

All Day – Yr 10 into Yr 11 VM Orientation
All Day – Yr 10 into Yr 11 VCE Orientation
12:40PM – 01:00PM Times Table Training Club
12:40PM – 01:30PM First Nations Lunchtime Group

Saturday, 29 November 2025

All Day – Japan Study Tour Departs (Return Saturday, 13 December 2025)

Monday, 1 December 2025

All Day – Report Writing Day (Student Free)

Tuesday, 2 December 2025

All Day – Yr 10 into Yr 11 VCE Orientation
All Day – Yr 10 into 11 Transition Interviews
08:55AM – 03:10PM Grade 6 Pre-Orientation Day
12:40PM – 01:30PM IN Hobbies Club – D12

Wednesday, 3 December 2025

All Day – Yr 10 into Yr 11 VCE Orientation
All Day – Yr 10 into 11 Transition Interviews
12:40PM – 01:00PM Times Table Training Club

Thursday, 4 December 2025

All Day – Yr 10 into Yr 11 VCE Orientation
All Day – Yr 10 into 11 Transition Interviews
All Day – Yr 11 – Orientation Last Day
11:00AM – 11:50AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 4
11:00AM – 12:40PM Bioeyes+ Incursion 4 December – Session 1
01:30PM – 03:10PM Bioeyes+ Incursion 4 December – Session 2

Friday, 5 December 2025

All Day – Yr 10 Last Day (Dismissal)
09:45AM – 10:35AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 5
11:00AM – 12:40PM Yr 10 Assembly
12:40PM – 01:00PM Times Table Training Club
12:40PM – 01:30PM First Nations Lunchtime group
06:30PM – 11:00PM Yr 10 Formal
06:30PM – 11:00PM Year 10 Formal

Monday, 8 December 2025

08:55AM – 03:00PM VHAP Masterclass

Tuesday, 9 December 2025

08:55AM – 03:10PM Grade 6 Orientation Day
12:40PM – 01:30PM IN Hobbies Club – D12

Wednesday, 10 December 2025

12:40PM – 01:00PM Times Table Training Club

Thursday, 11 December 2025

11:00AM – 11:50AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 4

Friday, 12 December 2025

All Day – Yr 9 – Last Day of Classes
09:45AM – 10:35AM Emotional Regulation Skills Group 5
11:00AM – 12:40PM Yr 9 Assembly
12:40PM – 01:00PM Times Table Training Club
12:40PM – 01:30PM First Nations Lunchtime group

Saturday, 13 December 2025

All Day – Japan Study Tour Returns

Congratulations to all the Junior Sub School students for continuing to put in an excellent effort and being engaged and challenged by their work.  It is crucial that this is maintained all the way through to the end of the year.  Many teachers will be running significant assessment tasks over the next few weeks and we would like to see that all students reach the peak of their academic potential.  This will be reflected in their final Semester Reports and set the students up for a successful 2026.

We would like to acknowledge Andrei Andrino and Dorinna Malopito for the effort that they put into preparing for their speech at the Whole School Assembly.  The students were assured and confident in front of a big audience.  Andrei and Dorinna wished the Year 12 cohort all the best with their final exams on behalf of the Year 7 students.  Whilst Year 12 may seem like a long way off for our Year 7 students, it is amazing how quickly the time flies by and before long it will be our Year 7s sitting on the special chairs, dressed up as frogs and ninjas!

Later in Term 4 the Junior Sub School students will receive additional information regarding safe online behaviour and the new regulatory regime for social media.  Recently we have seen some concerning behaviour in this space, so additional guidance would be welcome.  We ask that parents also familiarise themselves with the changes that are coming to social media regulations and work with their young people to get the best outcomes.

Click here to find out more information on social media age restriction bans.

Our new Year 7 class of 2026 recently paid a visit to St Albans Secondary College for the Big Day In.  The students played games and ran through some team building activities, all organised by our Well Being team.  There were lots of nervous students in attendance, but this important day is another step on their transition from primary school to secondary school.  The behaviour was excellent and so as a sub-school we look forward to welcoming them to our school in January 2026.

Mr Craig Moore – Junior Sub School Leader

As we embark on the last term of 2025 it is a time to reflect on the year and to provide an update on recent events. The whole school assembly was held on the Monday of Week 3, and our Year 10 students feature prominently in the awards handed out. We have academic scholarship awards; future leaders awards and recognition for those displaying excellence in STEM. While the assembly focussed on our graduating group of Year 12 students it was hard to miss all the Year 10 students making the long walk up to the front of the school to receive their awards. A real credit to their hard work and consistent effort this year.

Term 4 has already held several events and opportunities for students including the Melbourne University GTAC excursion, a visit to the Melbourne Holocaust Museum and the Year 9 cohort travelling down to Queenscliff to visit the Marine Discovery Centre.

GTAC Excursion

Recently our Year 10 Forensic Science classes attended a full day visit to GTAC (Gene Technology Access Centre). The day involved students investigating a wildlife crime using forensic evidence such as DNA, bullet casings, blood patterns and fibre types. They worked in small groups and then came together to solve the crime and determine a suitable punishment. It was a very enjoyable day for all involved and showed students the link between classroom work and the practical applications of it.

Holocaust Museum

Our Year 10 History students visited the Melbourne Holocaust Museum as part of their study of World War II. The students conducted themselves very well and given the sensitive nature of the environment showed respect for staff and volunteers. It was an eye-opening experience for the students and like the GTAC excursion showed students the link between classroom work and the importance of historical understanding in the real world.

Marine Discovery Centre

Our excursions aren’t all for Year 10’s with the Year 9 cohort all attending the Marine Discovery Centre in Queenscliff. After a long bus ride down the students were able to conduct some fieldwork and undertake a variety of marine activities to broaden their understanding of both science and geography. The students have been learning all about this in the classroom so to have some valuable fieldwork experience to bring back with them was well worth the bus ride.

Students are currently completing work which will be reflected on the next round of Progress Reports. These will be available soon and we will endeavour to follow up any concerns and celebrate a whole host of successes. We remind all Middle School students to continue to be proactive in their learning, arrive to class on time with their equipment and finish the year of strong.

The Year 10 Formal will be held on Friday 5 December. We encourage those wanting to attend to provide payment and consent through the Compass app.

The Middle School would like to welcome our school community back to term 4 and let’s all continue to work together to make the most of the time we have left in 2025.

Mr Owen McIntyre – Middle Sub School Leader | Maths

Term 4 has started as a very busy term, with our Year 12 students celebrating some significant milestone events.

VCE VM Interviews

On Monday, 13 October, Tuesday 14 October and Wednesday 15 October 2025, the Year 12 VCE VM students had their portfolio interviews where they showcased their projects, and work completed in the VCE VM program, work placement and VET. The students spoke about the skills, knowledge and experiences gained through the VCE VM program and their plans for 2026. The interviews were a wonderful celebration of their personal and academic growth, and their contributions to the community.

Last Day of Classes & Year 12 Awards Evening

Year 12 students finished classes on Friday 17 October at 11:50am. Students were dismissed to prepare for their Year 12 Awards Evening, which was held at The Atrium, Flemington Racecourse in Flemington.

Our 2025 Awards Evening was a joyous occasion, with a full house of students, families, friends and teachers, coming together in a celebration of the College’s culture of success and life-long learning. Our Guest Speaker was Achol Arok– a distinguished journalist and proud alumna of St Albans Secondary College’s Class of 2018. Achol is currently a reporter at The Daily Aus, one of Australia’s fastest-growing youth media organisations, where she helps make complex news stories accessible and engaging for young audiences. After completing a Bachelor of Media and Communications at La Trobe University, Achol began her career with the ABC before earning a coveted cadetship at SBS. Her speech was powerful and inspirational. Her key message of “To get something you’ve never had, you need to do something you’ve never done” challenged the graduates to think outside the box and take reasonable risks to grow into the best version of themselves. We thank Achol for travelling from Sydney to Melbourne for our event and for volunteering her time to address our school community. We look forward to continuing to work with Achol in the future.

The school captains Minhthu Huynh and Ricardo Vom shared memorable moments of their secondary school journey and best wishes for the class of 2025. The student leadership team prepared an engaging presentation of the students’ secondary school journey, which was shared with the audience. International student, Stella Nguyen, spoke from the heart about the strength, kinship and sense of belonging she found through the St Albans Secondary College community.

We were also treated to a breathtaking piano solo performed by Binh Vo, and musical performances from the talented Fani Reupena and Tiana Stepanovski, and uplifting music from our Year 12 VET Music band and Carnation. We would like to thank Mr. James Orchard for managing the music performances and supporting the students to put on such a beautiful showcase of their musical talents.

Many students were recognised for their academic achievements, and/or contribution to the school and wider community.

The major award recipients were:

• Jessica Pham – ADF Future Innovators Award – in recognition of Jessica’s passion for science and mathematics, and strong skills in STEM based subjects. Jessica will receive a certificate and a prize of $550 awarded through the ADF.
• Haily Le – Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork Award – for her leadership and teamwork, as well as demonstrating strong values of respect and kindness. Haily will receive a certificate and a prize of $550 awarded through the ADF.
• Luke Downing – Ampol All Rounder – for his exceptional contributions of leadership, service and community, positive attitude and exemplary personal conduct both in and out of the classroom. Luke received an award pack with a medallion, a certificate, and a letter from Ampol’s Managing Director and CEO. Luke has also been shortlisted for the State Ampol Award.
• Vuk Vujatovic – VET Excellence Award – for his commitment, positive work ethic and practical skills in his VET course, Certificate II in Automotive.
• Ricardo Vom – VCE Excellence Award – prestigious award for exceptional and consistent results in all his subjects, strong work ethic, leadership and dedication to his studies.
• Vanessa Ngo – VCE VM Excellence Award – prestigious award for her leadership, teamwork and significant contributions to the VCE VM program.

Students who received subject awards at the evening include:

Congratulations to all our award winners!

We would also like to sincerely thank all staff who assisted at the evening for their exemplary leadership, and for everyone who made our Awards Evening a success.

Year 12 Awards Evening Photographs

If families would like to purchase professional photographs from the evening, please scan the QR code from the flyer below. Images prices are as follows:

• 1 image $16
• 3 images $45
• 5 images $65
• 8 images $96

If you have any difficulty purchasing the photographs, please don’t hesitate to contact us or Field of View photography.

School Captains

The Senior Sub School would also like to thank the School Captains for all their work and leadership during the year. They were exceptional in their role, and it has been a pleasure working with them. We would also like to congratulate Stephanie Truong and Josephine Mai on their appointment as school captains in 2026. We look forward to working closely with them and all the students in the student leadership team next year.

Whole School Assembly & Year 12 Celebration Day

Students dressed in fancy attire for their Celebration Day event on Monday 20 October 2025. Students paraded into the whole school assembly and listened to speeches and many well wishes from the school community. After the assembly the students continued their celebrations in Nindethana and took photos in the photo booth.

The Senior Sub School would like to thank the Year 12 students for their excellent behaviour during the end-of-year celebrations and wishes the class of 2025 all the best with their upcoming exams and all their future endeavours.

Year 11 VCE VM – The Smith Family Work Inspiration Program

On Wednesday 22 October and Friday 24 October, a selected group of Year 11 students had a chance to look behind the scenes at the opportunities in the hospitality, aviation, logistics and construction industries. Students attended Hilton Hotel, Melbourne Airport, Australian Defence Force, Symal Constructions across the two days. The students enjoyed the experience and gained an understanding about how their work related and personal skills could be transferred to a range of workplaces.

Year 12 VCE VM Fundraising

Students from St Albans Secondary College recently supported A’s Service for Rescue Kittens, a local rescue group based in St Albans. The organisation works closely with local vets and the Brimbank City Council to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home sick, stray and unwanted cats and kittens. Their efforts help remove cats from the streets, protect local wildlife, and ensure every animal receives proper care and the opportunity for a loving forever home.

To assist the volunteers who dedicate their time to caring for the cats and kittens, our students ran a fundraising barbeque, sold jelly cups and cupcakes. The funds raised were used to purchase essential products and supplies to help the rescue continue its important work.

This initiative not only provided valuable support to a local animal rescue service but also showcased our students’ compassion, teamwork and commitment to helping all members of our community – big and small.

Last Day of Year 11 Classes & Exams

Year 11 student will have their last day of Year 11 classes on Friday 21 October. Their exams will commence on Wednesday 5 November and conclude on Wednesday 12 November. We wish the Year 11 students all the best with their exams.

Year 12 VCE Orientation will start on Thursday 13 November and will run through to the Thursday 27 November 2025. Last day for Year 11 VCE students is Thursday 27 November 2025.

Year 11 VCE VM Work Placement and Orientation Program

In Work Related Skills, Year 11 VCE VM students are currently completing mock interviews and practicing their communication skills in an interview setting. Their work placement starts Wednesday 5 November to Friday 14 of November 2025, where students will be involved in an intense work experience program and taste of their future industry.

Year 12 VCE VM will have their orientation program on Monday 17, Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 of November 2025. Last day of the year for Year 11 VCE VM is Wednesday 19 of November 2025.

 Year 12 Valedictory Dinner

Students will have one last opportunity to celebrate the year with their cohort at the Year 12 Valedictory Dinner on Friday 21 November 2025. The students will be treated to an evening of dancing and dinner at Lakeside Banquet and Convention Centre. It is a strictly non-alcohol and drug-free event. If students have not purchased their tickets yet, we encourage them to do so as soon as possible. We look forward to celebrating with the students and staff and to say our final goodbyes to the class of 2025.

 We continue to wish our senior students all the best with the upcoming events!

Ms Marlene Cassar – Senior Sub School Leader

Year 7 Humanities – Ancient Egypt

The year 7 students have just completed their studies on Ancient Egypt. At the end of the unit the students we required to create an Ancient Egyptian Secondary Source. They were provided with many different choices as to what type of secondary source they would make. Below are some amazing images of what the students across the year 7 cohort were able to create.

Ms Hebah Shone – English | Humanities | VCE-VM Teacher | Assistant English Learning Area Leader 

Year 11 Biomedical Sciences Day @ UniMelb & GTAC

15 St Albans students from Year 11 Biology and Year 11 Chemistry were given the opportunity to attend an enrichment excursion, jointly hosted by GTAC in collaboration with The University of Melbourne.

Below are some of the comments that students had to say about their experience of the day.

“The Biomedical Excursion was so fun! Loved seeing human brains in the flesh. 100000/10” – Tina Le

“Being able to talk to the biomed students was very fun, it gave us more insight into the course and unimelb.” – Saige Yeo

“I highly recommend attending the biomedical excursion for anyone interested in pursuing medical or science related careers! they provide useful information regarding the many pathways you can take, as well as answering any general questions regarding university. my personal favourite moment of the day was being able to observe and learn about the various organs/body parts in the museum of anatomy. Overall, this was an incredible and interesting experience, and I hope that this encourages others to participate next year :)” – Jaeleen Duong

“The biomedicine excursion at Melbourne University was great fun. Thanks to the teachers who organised this event, and the people at the university, I was given an amazing opportunity to see and learn many new things. For example, I really enjoyed the VR Heart experience DESPITE how confusing and lowkey nauseating it was…. My favourite part was probably visiting the Anatomy and Pathology museum and being able to see all the different specimens they have and through that – learning about the evolution of humans. I really liked being able to talk to the researchers and scientists from different biomedical fields in the laboratory and getting a glimpse of what kind of things they do.  Overall, I was fully enlightened,10/10 would recommend.” – Yenthy Le

” Having the opportunity to attend the Biomedical Sciences Day excursion at GTAC and the University of Melbourne gave me the chance to deepen my understanding of human anatomy and pathology, a field I am interested in. The VR heart game developed by Melbourne University professors allowed me to explore the complex functions of the heart in an engaging, interactive, and immersive way (even though it was quite challenging to read the instructions with the VR headset on)! The highlight of the day was visiting the Harry Brookes Allen Museum of Anatomy and Pathology, which offered a rare opportunity to observe real, preserved human tissues. This was an insightful and fascinating experience, especially since the museum is not open to the general public. It felt truly special and like a once-in-a-lifetime privilege that other students and I got to experience that even many GTAC scientists have not had access to. I also enjoyed visiting the GTAC laboratory, where I learned about the different courses each scientist was studying. Overall, I found the Biomedical Sciences Day excursion both fun and incredibly insightful, and it strengthened my interest in pursuing studies related to biomedical science.” – Michelle Duong

Mr Huey Tran- Science Teacher

Year 10 Forensic Science Excursion

On Tuesday, 21 October, our Year 10 Forensic Science classes ventured to the Gene Technology and Access Centre (GTAC).

Inspired by real events, students took on the role of trainee Wildlife Officers for the Conservation Regulator. Their task was to investigate the illegal killing and dumping of numerous unidentified birds of prey in a rural Victorian town.

Working in small groups, students used research-grade microscopes and DNA technologies to investigate the case. They examined various exhibits to determine whether the birds were protected species, identify the murder weapons used, and attempt to pinpoint a prime suspect and their likely motive. A highlight for many students was analysing pollen samples using a scanning electron microscope and comparing DNA samples using gel electrophoresis.

Each group was guided by a scientist mentor, all of whom are currently undertaking PhDs at one of the many research institutes surrounding GTAC, such as the University of Melbourne, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, to name a few.

Using GTAC’s STEM Cycle of Inquiry, students began by asking questions, making predictions, planning tests, and analysing their findings. They then reflected on their results to ask new questions and continue the cycle of inquiry.

To conclude their investigation, students held a final meeting to share their findings, decide which suspect to arrest, and determine a fair punishment for the crime.

Throughout the day, all students conducted themselves in a manner that aligned with our values of Safety, Respect, and Responsibility. They were punctual in the morning and at meeting points throughout the day. While on public transport, many students demonstrated excellent etiquette by offering their seats to other members of the public.

A big thank you to the students for their exemplary conduct. Further thanks to Mr Huey Tran, Mr Sam McClure, Ms Phuong Le, and Mr Prakhar Verma for facilitating the excursion.

Mr Sam McClure – Biology | Science

Year 8 Girls Tennis – Keilor Division Champions 🎾

The Year 8 girls tennis team — Avon Huynh, Cara Ramsey, Mya Pham, Cailyn Leong, Tiffany Truong, and Alanna Quach — represented St Albans Secondary College with incredible determination and spirit at the Keilor Division Tennis Tournament.

After starting the day with a bye, the girls waited patiently for their turn to compete, but once they hit the court, there was no stopping them. Despite facing the tough challenge of playing four matches in a row with barely any breaks, they showcased outstanding skill and teamwork to defeat Springside West, Keilor Downs College, Copperfield Sydenham, and Copperfield Kings Park in dominant fashion.

Their comprehensive victories were even more impressive given the team had limited training sessions leading up to the event. The girls’ positive attitude, resilience, and sportsmanship shone throughout the day, earning them a well-deserved place in the Regional Finals in Geelong this November.

A huge congratulations to the team for their fantastic effort and for proudly representing St Albans Secondary College!

Proud Coaches – Simone Papagianopoulos and Steven Vo

Year 7 Boys Futsal – Interschool Competition at Derrimut

On Friday, October 24, 2025, our Year 7 Boys Futsal team travelled to Derrimut for the Interschool Sport Competition and put on a brilliant display of teamwork, skill, and determination.

The boys started the day in fine form, defeating Gilson College — a specialist soccer school — with an impressive 3–0 victory. Their confidence continued to grow as they comfortably overcame Springside West, leading 4–0 at halftime. This allowed for full team rotations and valuable rest for key players before the knockout stages.

Having finished top of their group — known as the “Group of Death” — with maximum points, the team faced another soccer powerhouse in Taylors Lakes. In a tense and physical semi-final, the boys fought hard to the final whistle. The match went into extra time, where our team showed grit and composure to edge out a thrilling win and advance to the grand final.

The final was a high-scoring affair, ending in a 6–7 loss. Despite falling just short, the boys can hold their heads high after an incredible run that saw them defeat two soccer-focused schools and push all the way to the last game of the day.

There were standout performances across the court:

• Mohamed Ahmed got on the scoresheet in the semi-final with a crucial finish.
• Senay was a rock in defence all day and later pushed forward in the final to score two important goals.
• Rammi dazzled opponents with his dribbling and passing, setting up countless goals for his teammates.
• Eric was relentless, scoring four goals and applying pressure on the opposition from start to finish.
• Mikias, our top scorer with nine goals, was unstoppable. He showed real composure under pressure, stepping up to take and convert a vital penalty in the semi-final — blasting a rocket into the top corner that left the goalkeeper with no chance.
• Darsh added class and intensity every time he came on, providing pressure up front and keeping defenders on edge.
• Michal and Duc (Danny) were strong and reliable when called upon, giving the team great defensive stability and energy off the bench.
• A special mention goes to Hassan Ahmed, our assistant coach, whose tactical suggestions and positive encouragement made a huge difference throughout the day.

Although the boys ran out of steam in the final moments, they showed exceptional teamwork, resilience, and school pride. Congratulations to all players on a fantastic performance and for representing the school so proudly!

Mr Jacob Marinelli – PE | House Leader | Debating Program Leader

La Dolce Vita

Early this term, as part of their unit on La Dolce Vita, Year 11 Italian students, along with Signora Bentley and Signora Morrison, had the opportunity to go and visit Il Mercato – an artisan food market in the CBD. Students were able to view Italian dishes prepared with authentic ingredients and sample regional delicacies that celebrate food, culture and community.

Mrs Piera Bentley – Italian Teacher

Y11 Psychology NGV Excursion

On 16 October, our Year 11 Psychology students recently travelled to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) to deepen their understanding of visual perception. This excursion provided a unique, real-world context for their studies, allowing students to see firsthand how psychological principles are applied in art. The central theme was understanding that what we “see” in the world and in artwork is an active construction created by our brain, not just a passive copy of the world.

Students were tasked with analysing various artworks, identifying how artists manipulate fundamental visual cues to create their intended effects. Key concepts from their VCE curriculum, such as Gestalt principles (like proximity and similarity), depth cues (including linear perspective, interposition, and texture gradient), were no longer just abstract theories in a textbook.

By examining how painters create the illusion of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional canvas, students gained a more profound appreciation for the complex processes underpinning their own sight. The excursion was a fantastic success, demonstrating the powerful intersection of art and science.

Ms Megan Wang – Psychology

Year 9 Advance Take Over Bounce!

On Tuesday 14 October, the Year 9 Advance class headed to Bounce in Essendon Fields, and let’s just say — they absolutely owned it! From the moment they walked in, the energy was sky-high (literally).

Flips, tricks, dives, and jumps — nothing was off-limits. The students showed no fear, trying everything from the dodgeball courts to the high jumps and foam pits. Some even pulled off flips that would’ve made the instructors jealous!

It wasn’t just about showing off skills though — the best part was seeing everyone cheering each other on and having a laugh together. Whether they landed perfectly or face-planted in the foam, there were smiles all around.

The staff at Bounce were super impressed with how respectful, positive, and energetic the group was — true Advance spirit on display.

By the end of the session, everyone was sweaty, tired, and smiling from ear to ear. It was an epic day out, full of fun, teamwork, and a few flips that might’ve defied physics.

Well done, Year 9 Advance — you smashed it!

Mr David Dang – Advance Program Coordinator

Student Achievement Awards – Congratulations

The following awards were presented at the Whole School Assembly held on Monday 20 October.  Congratulations to all these deserving students

• The Roger Martin Science Award
  Awarded to a Year 10 student who shows outstanding achievement in Science

Recipient: Mai Nguyen (10A)

• Dr Jozica Kutin Psychology Award
  Awarded to a Year 11 student who shows commitment and potential in Psychology

Recipient: Giahan Le (11D)

• Helen Papadimitriou English Award
  Awarded to a Year 10 student who shows outstanding growth and achievement in English

Recipient: Truc Nguyen (10D)

• The Joseph and Clare Sheen Award for Community Service
  Awarded to students for voluntary and active tasks benefitting the community

Recipients: Mitchell Cauchi (11); Phuoc Le (9C); Erica Shaw (9C)

• Australian Defence Force (ADF) Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award
  Awarded to students who demonstrate leadership and teamwork within both the school and the broader local community.

Year 12 Recipient: Haily Le (12D) – Year 12 Graduation presentation

Year 10 Recipient: Ezekiel Ong (10F)

• Australian Defence Force (ADF) Young Innovators Award
  Recognising a Year 10 student achievements in STEM

Recipient: Gia Tue (Sylvia) Ho (10G)

• Year 9 2026 Academic Scholarship Recipients (New Award)

Yuka Hong (8K)
Matilda Nguyen (8E)
Nyah Tao (8C)
Tam Tran (8C)
Lawson Vo (8B)
Catherine Vom (8A)
Teodora Zlatanovska (8A)

• Year 11 2026 Academic Scholarships Recipients (New Award)

Charmel Beltran (10B)
Sylvia Ho (10G)
Amelia Hua (10F)
Dylan Nguyen (10F)
Mai Nguyen (10A)
Ezekiel Ong (10F)
Eric Pham (10G)
Jennifer To (10F)

Ms Marion Mortimer – Science | Scholarship Program Leader

On Thursday 23 October, Year 9 students Seb Ong, Susan Ma, and Trang Ngo stepped up to present in front of Brimbank City Council members (including the Deputy Mayor), teachers, and students from other schools. What were they presenting? The culmination of 7 months of hard work in the Brimbank Young Researchers program.

The Brimbank Young Researchers Program is run by Brimbank Youth Services and aims to grow the capacity of young people to develop strong research skills, such as creating suitable research questions, carrying out data collection, and communicating findings effectively. Our students took part in 3 workshops (one each in Terms 1, 2 and 3) where they worked with lecturers and tutors from Swinburne University of Technology to building their understanding and use of these skills.

Seb, Susan, and Trang decided to investigate the impact of technology on SASC students, producing their presentation titled: ‘Trends of Social Media: Impacting Young People’s Mental Health’. In their presentation, they examined how long SASC students spend on devices, and unpacked student feedback about the impact of device use on their health, relationships, and overall wellbeing. They then provided their recommendations to the City Council on actions that can be taken in homes, schools, and the local community to support reduced time on devices and thus improve the wellbeing of young people in Brimbank.

Seb, Susan and Trang did an incredible job and are a credit to the College community!

Acknowledgements: Thank you to every student who responded to their survey – they could not have done this work with your willingness to share. Thank you also to Ms Avril Good and Ms Katie O’Connell, who each supervised students at one of the sessions.

Ms Amy Lee – Humanities | Learning Specialist Student Agency | High Ability Program Leader

Mental Health Practitioner Update

From 15 to 19 September, we celebrated Mental Health Week at St Albans Secondary College, and what an incredible week it was! Lunchtime activities were held each day focusing on movement, mindfulness, creativity and community. The activities ranged from pot decorating and planting to jewellery making, poster competitions and live band performances, creating a vibrant atmosphere of engagement and fun. We were also lucky to have Orygen youth mental health services digital team come out and share information about their new self-help mental health tools. The participation from students and staff at this this year’s activities was outstanding, as we came together to reduce stigma and raise awareness about the importance of mental health in schools.

A very heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone involved in organising these events, especially our CPR ambassadors, whose dedication, passion, and drive were invaluable. These students played a key role in the planning and execution of every event. We’d also like to extend our gratitude to Brimbank Youth Services, Headspace, Bunnings and Orygen youth services for their generous support of our students.

Congratulations to the winners of the mindfulness poster competition, and a huge thank you to all who submitted their amazing artwork – it was a tough decision, as each piece was unique and inspiring. We will be using the beautiful artwork in wellbeing soon.

It has been exciting providing Teen Mental Health First Aid training over the last two terms with Bron our school nurse to all our year 9 student’s. It has been so inspiring to see our school come together and grow our awareness around mental health. We have an incredibly strong community so together let’s continue raising awareness about the importance of mental health, support one another and find fulfilment in your hard work as we head into the final term of the year. I know our CPR Ambassadors can’t wait to start working on organizing next year’s mental health week activities!

If you would like more information on becoming a Connect Protect Respect Ambassador next year please come and see Dotti or Bron in wellbeing, we will be taking senior CPR Ambassador applications for next year this term, and junior applications will be voted on in term 1 next year. As always if you or someone you know needs support, please see your CPR Ambassador or someone in our wellbeing team.

Ms Dotti Schillinger – Mental Health Practitioner

By Pebbles Idrus – 8A

Amra Pajalic Book Launch 2025- Time Kneels Between Mountains

‘In a town where survival is a daily battle, there are those who seek justice… 

Overnight, Seka Torlak’s life as a regular teenager is upended as Srebrenica, her once peaceful town, falls under siege and she faces starvation, shelling, and sniper attacks. When desperately needed antibiotics and food disappear and are sold on the black market, Seka vows to investigate the corruption and bring the culprits to justice.

 As the war ravages Srebrenica, Seka’s resilience is tested as she navigates loss, fear, and the harsh realities of war. Yet, amidst the devastation, she finds a glimmer of hope as her relationship with Ramo blossoms from friendship to love. But as she fights for justice and love, will Seka triumph, or will the brutal war tear everything she holds dear apart?

‘Devastating descriptions of the gory consequences of war are the standout scenes here. Still, Seka experiences moments of beauty and joy, all lushly described… An assiduously researched, cleareyed depiction of genocide.’ Kirkus Review

 📚 You’re Invited to the Launch of Time Kneels Between Mountains 📚

I’m thrilled to announce that my new novel, Time Kneels Between Mountains, will be launching this weekend.  Details below:

📅 Saturday 1st November 2025🕥 2 – 4pm

📍  Hunt Club Community & Arts Centre, 775 Ballarat Road, Deer Park

💲 Entry to event, at no charge

This is going to be an event to remember:

📖 The brilliant Alice Pung will be our MC

🎤 The incredible Demet Divaroren will officially launch the book

🍰 There will be a book-themed cake and food to share

📚 Books will be available for purchase and signing

🎉 Most importantly, we’ll be celebrating the seven years of writing and research that brought this story into the world​

Come along for an evening of stories, community, and joy. Let’s mark this milestone together in the best way possible — with friends, food, and books.

RSVP: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1470101

I can’t wait to see you there!

Amra Pajalić is an award-winning author, educator, and PhD researcher of Bosnian heritage whose work explores how fiction represents the Bosnian genocide. She won the 2009 Melbourne Prize for Literature’s Civic Choice Award for her debut novel The Good Daughter, re-released as Sabiha’s Dilemma (Pishukin Press, 2022). The anthology she co-edited, Growing up Muslim in Australia (Allen and Unwin, 2014), was shortlisted for the 2015 Children’s Book Council of the year awards. Her memoir Things Nobody Knows But Me (Transit Lounge, 2019) was shortlisted for the 2020 National Biography Award. She is the author of the Sassy Saints series and the forthcoming Seka Torlak historical-mystery series, beginning with Time Kneels Between Mountains and companion essay collection that examine the legacy of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide. www.amrapajalic.com

Demet Divaroren is the award-winning author of Living on Hope Street and co-editor of the CBCA-shortlisted anthology Growing up Muslim in Australia. Her work explores multiculturalism, cross-cultural relationships, racism, injustice, and what it means to be human, with Blood Moon Bride marking her second novel.

Alice Pung is the bestselling author of the memoirs Unpolished Gem and Her Father’s Daughter, the novels Laurinda and One Hundred Days, the essay collection Close to Home, as well as the editor of the anthologies Growing Up Asian in Australia and My First Lesson. Her books have been published internationally, including in the US, UK, Italy, Germany and Indonesia.

An Evening of Inspiration: Achol Arok’s Graduation Speech

What an incredibly inspiring and moving night at the St Albans Secondary College Graduation!  The Class of 2025 received not only their well-deserved congratulations but also a truly memorable address from special guest, alumna Achol Arok. Achol, a member of the 2018 VCE graduating class, shared her journey since leaving the college, offering a powerful message of ambition and self-determination to the graduating students.

Achol, who recently celebrated her 25th birthday, openly shared the immense pressure she felt in Year 12 to choose a lifelong career, and how it was that she stumbled upon journalism during a moment of panic in the careers counselling office. This decision led her to study a Bachelor of Media and Communications with a major in Journalism at La Trobe University.

Achol’s path was far from easy. Facing parental fears, isolation, racism, sexism, and ageism, her triumph came from a crucial decision: to take the risk rather than letting those fears and barriers dictate her career. She channelled her fear into ambition, passion, and focus. This determination led to significant achievements, including:

• An internship and later a junior producer role at the ABC.
• A year-long traineeship at SBS in Sydney.
• Her current role as a reporter at The Daily Aus, a fast-growing youth media service.
• Interviewing the Prime Minister and winning an award for her reporting on the media’s impact on African Australian communities.

The most important takeaway for the graduating class was Achol’s powerful central message: what comes next is entirely up to you.

She urged students to also channel their fear into ambition, passion, and focus. This, she stressed, is what will guide them to places they never imagined. While acknowledging that no one expects them to have everything figured out yet, her core advice was to try hard, be proactive, and make something of this one life you are given. She concluded with a motivational quote:

“To get something you’ve never had, you need to do something you’ve never done.”

Achol’s speech was a compelling reminder that hard work and determination matter most, and that seeing life barriers as character-building experiences unlocks new potential. We extend our deepest thanks and praise to Achol Arok for returning to St Albans Secondary College to share her remarkable journey and wisdom!

Connect with Us

For any questions, suggestions, or if you need assistance, please feel free to reach out:

• Email: alumni@stalbanssc.vic.edu.au
• Phone: 9366 2555
• Office Hours: Tues & Wed 8:30am – 4:15pm

Ms Nicole Gurd – Alumni Program Leader