What's new at our Melbourne campus
High School students win top awards
PHAN Anh Thu wins Caltex All Rounder Award
The High School Program continues with students achieving academic Excellence at the completion of their 2009 studies.
In its 23rd year the Caltex Best All Rounder Award is one of the most prestigious Australian Schools Awards, each year the award is conferred on final year students around the country, acknowledging their all round contributions to their schools and communities.
The Award recognises students whose achievements span a number of areas including academic achievement, conduct, leadership and community contributions. This Year the award goes to a Year 11 High School student who academically has achieved excellent results in every subject studied. We would like to congratulate PHAN Anh Thu (Katie) who is a perfect example of a brilliant all rounder and a truly fitting recipient of the Caltex Best All rounder Award
Two of our current Year 11 students, Connie Weng Weng Ko and Meichen Zhang have also been accepted into the Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program, an academic enrichment program for high achieving students, run by The University of Melbourne. Taylors College Melbourne have had students accepted into the program at each year from the program's inception.
Congratulations to our high achieving students in The High School Program in 2009.
Dianne Fabiyanic (Associate Dean High School) with Connie Weng Weng Ko and Meichen Zhang who have been accepted into the Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program (University of Melbourne)
Taylors College Principals visit China
A team from Taylors travelled through China recently, visiting agents, parents and potential students.
The first week of this trip was largely dedicated to visiting agents with a view of highlighting customer service and added value provided by Taylors at all campuses. The emphasis was on High School and also on promoting Auckland and Perth.
The second phase was the intensive parent interviews for all representatives from the Taylors campuses.
This annual event was expertly hosted by our Deputy Director of Student Recruitment (China) for Taylors, Pam Shih, ably supported by staff at each of our Regional Offices from Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and Shenyang.
In total eleven cities were visited by members of the team and there were visits to over twenty key agents across China.
Approximately 350 parent interviews were held and at least 40 potential students were counselled.
Dinner Dance
On Friday 8th August was the eagerly anticipated MUFY/Year 12 Taylors Formal 'The Black and White Ball' at San Remo Ballroom in North Carlton. The week before, all staff had come to work dressed in black and white to inspire the students and make them even more keen for the big night to arrive.
The big day finally came, and there was an air of excitement while drinks and yummy canapés were served on arrival. Students and staff in beautiful and elegant dresses and handsome suits were very happy to see each other in a completely new light.
This year there were two professional caricature artists working hard for four hours drawing black and white portraits of individuals and couples. They were so popular! The student entertainment this year consisted of Tiffany and Lauren, each singing and playing guitar, and Changke and Sehsen singing a beautiful love song duet. They were all so wonderful and the audience cheered them enthusiastically.
After main course and dessert, dancing was on for young and old. The DJ Bianca was amazing. She knew exactly what music people wanted. Carene Lim and Tran Hoang Trung were overwhelmingly voted the best dancing couple. They danced like magic together at the Michael Jackson Dance Off. The staff picked Aureo and Yanie, the King and Queen of the Ball. They looked lovely in their crowns when receiving their awards.
After such a fun evening, everyone received an engraved champagne flute with handmade chocolates and a black and white die inside, home to dream about the amazing evening and looking forward to next year already.
Year 10 Camp at Lyrebird Park
Year 10 students at Taylors College Melbourne campus have just completed a very successful camp at Lyrebird Park in the south east of Victoria.
The activities began almost as soon as the students unloaded their luggage, with a game of tug of war. The students were having fun but little did they know they were also learning about strategy and working together. The ongoing theme for the camp was to teach them to persevere, to be their best as well as learn leadership and teamwork skills. The skills taught will be useful in many challenges that the students will face throughout their lives
Many students found themselves tested physically and mentally by the tasks put before them such as the trust fall and the low ropes course. With the support of the camp instructors who emphasised building on strengths and trust amongst the group the students eagerly accepted the challenges to overcome their doubts.
As a result they became a more focused group who readily took on more difficult tasks as the days went on, even the indoor rock climbing wall and jumping off a 10 foot pole to ring a bell. Then of course the call went out to the teachers to see if they would do the climbing wall and jump off the pole. With the dare set who could refuse! As one the teachers I completed the climbing wall to a resounding applause from the students.
As well as learning to appreciate their strengths and the support each other they also were able to see their teachers in a whole new light. All too soon the four days came to an end with many students saying they wish they could go again.
