Student Reflections

Highlights of Design and Technologies Week (19 to 22 May)

Our annual Design and Technologies Week was a vibrant celebration of creativity, culture, and community. Each day offered students the chance to engage in hands-on experiences across textiles and food technologies, with activities that were fun, educational, and full of colour!

• Monday 19 May – Tie-Dye in the Textiles Room

The week kicked off in style as students gathered in the Textiles Room for a lively tie-dye workshop. With the support of Ms Cresp, Mrs Russo, Ms Vaughan and our Design and Technologies Leaders, students selected scrunchies, bags or socks to transform with bold and bright dyes. Laughter and creativity filled the room as students experimented with colour combinations, proudly sharing their masterpieces with friends. For younger students, it was a fun introduction to the possibilities of textile design and a sneak peek into the Year 9 curriculum.

• Tuesday 20 May – Animal Cookie Decorating in the Kitchen

Tuesday turned sweet with a fun and delicious cookie decorating activity. A variety of chocolates and lollies were laid out for students to create animal-themed (or wildly imaginative monster!) cookies. This was a particularly exciting experience for Year 7 students, who haven’t yet participated in Food Tech. The room buzzed with creativity and laughter as students designed, decorated and then devoured or saved their edible art.

• Wednesday 21 May – Raffia Friendship Bracelets

Wednesday’s focus returned to the textiles room for a meaningful and cultural experience – raffia bracelet making using a traditional indigenous yarning technique. Shared with Ms Cresp by an indigenous woman, this activity encouraged mindfulness, conversation and connection. As students wove and knotted their bracelets, they reflected on friendship and community, learning that textiles can be both expressive and deeply symbolic. It was a beautiful reminder of the power of shared stories and hands-on learning.

• Thursday, 22 May – Rice Paper Rolls and Fruit Platters

The week wrapped up on a fresh and nourishing note with a delicious lunch prepared by our wonderful Food Tech staff. Students enjoyed healthy rice paper rolls filled with crisp vegetables, chicken and noodles – perfect bite-sized meals that demonstrated how easy nutritious eating can be. Afterwards, colourful fruit platters were served outside, providing a refreshing treat and a moment to reflect on the week’s highlights with friends. The smiles and chatter said it all – students deeply appreciated the care and hospitality behind the food.

It was a week to remember! Design and Technologies Week reminded us how creativity, culture and collaboration come together to shape meaningful learning. From dyeing and decorating to crafting and cooking, our students explored, expressed and engaged with new skills – and had a fantastic time doing it!

Augustina Malic and Scarlett Leeds

Design and Technologies Leaders

Year 7 Textiles

In Textiles this term, we have been exploring different techniques on the sewing machine and in embroidery. We covered zigzag, straight, chain, feather, fly, ‘lazy-daisy’, back stitch and more.

The aim was to create a reading pillow, decorated with our chosen initial which was then hand embroidered with decorative stiches of our own choice. It produced some amazing and unique designs.

I thoroughly enjoyed this project and, after forgetting to put down the foot several times, I was very happy with the end result. I would highly recommend Textiles!

Elsie Purcell-Hammer

Year 7

Year 9 Visual Communication Design

This term in Year 9 Visual Communication Design, we have been doing some awesome projects that developed our creativity and design skills.

Earlier in the term we worked on a pattern design using sea imagery and painted it with gouache to give it an even flat colour. We also designed a deck chair in an isometric three-dimensional drawing format and applied our patterns to it.

This has been a great way to use what we have learnt and see each other’s unique ideas. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the subject has to offer!

Mienge Smit

Year 9

Year 10 Art

During Term 1 in Year 10 Art, we have been completing our ceramic pieces as our first art piece of the elective. After visiting the NGV at the beginning of term and experiencing Yayoi Kusama’s incredible works and installations firsthand, we were all inspired and eager to create a ceramic piece, under the brief of combining something ‘absurd with real’. The design process was extremely extensive and in depth, and we had the opportunity to experiment and apply different clay techniques that we had learnt in previous years, including slab and pinch pots. Once we got the hang of it, we were ready to start creating our ceramics, following mind maps, theme research, artist analysis, sketching and designing, and many creative ideas that had been refined into one. 

While creating my piece, I was constantly inspired by Kusama’s own themes and concepts, her most popular being the idea of ‘infinity.’ With both her unique art style and structural lens in mind, the class has been able to create some truly amazing and professional ceramics. My favourite thing about the concept of ‘absurd with real’ is that even though everybody in the class received the same guidelines, we have all been able to create and sculpt something entirely different from one another. We can’t wait to share our ceramics with you at the Art and Fashion Show!

Sophie Chapman

Year 10

VCE Visual Communication Design Excursion

On Friday 9 May, VCE Year 11 and 12 students headed to the Melbourne Museum to attend the Top Designs Exhibition which represents the VCE Season of Excellence. This exhibition promotes outstanding student work in various disciplines such as: Top Talks, Top Screen, Top Arts, Top Class and Top Scribe.

Prior to the viewing, we had the chance to grab lunch at Melbourne Central, which was a nice way to have a feel of the city atmosphere. Afterwards, we made our way to the Museum and were greeted by a diverse range of student works displayed across various fields of creativity and design.

The exhibition displayed works from areas such as Visual Communication Design, Product Design and Technologies, Media, Theatre Studies, Systems Engineering, and VCE VET programs. Every display represented the students’ technical skills, originality, and creative solutions to practical and human-centered design problems.

In essence, one of the things that most inspired me was that every project interpreted the brief differently. Whether through digital media, physical prototyping, or interactive storytelling, every project carried its own message and purpose. The students’ presentation of their projects was incredible and left me motivated to think outside the box and creatively about my own design work.

It was both an eye-opening and encouraging experience. It gave me some insights into the level of excellence expectancy in VCE.

Sia Sequel

Year 11

Year 12 Media – Top Screen Excursion

Last Thursday the Year 12 Media class had the opportunity to attend ACMI to watch Top Screen, a program presented as part of the VCE Season of Excellence that showcases the work of Victorian VCE Media students. The screening featured a selection of 13 media products, created by students from 2024. These works spanned a range of genres and styles, including short films, animations and documentaries. Watching these products provided our class with inspiration as we work towards developing our own final productions.

After Top Screen, we went through the NGV for further inspiration for our products. This helped people planning to choose photography or print products. Some of the work we saw included the NGV architecture commission, Lee Bul’s ‘Untitled’, Yayoi Kusama’s polka dot pumpkin and various other artworks through the international section of the NGV. 

This excursion was very engaging for our class and a great opportunity for us to see media work and visual art in a professional context. It will help us to build our own creativity to produce our own inspiring pieces.

Chelsea Sheppard

Year 12: Visual Arts Leader

Year 11 Food Studies Students Explore Greek Culture in Oakleigh

Earlier this month, our Year 11 Food Studies students enjoyed an enriching cultural excursion to Oakleigh, where they experienced the vibrant world of Greek cuisine and tradition. The students have been studying the patterns of migration to Australia and the influence of immigrants on Australian food tastes and consumption. The highlight of the trip was a delicious lunch at Mythos, a renowned Greek restaurant, known for its authentic flavours and warm hospitality.

Students had the opportunity to sample traditional dishes such as souvlaki, spanakopita, saganaki and dolmades, gaining firsthand insight into the ingredients, cooking methods, and cultural significance behind Greek food. Beyond the meal, the group explored the Oakleigh shopping precinct, engaging with local businesses and observing how Greek culture is preserved and celebrated in the community.

This excursion not only deepened students’ understanding of the Mediterranean diet and its health benefits but also emphasised the strong connections between food, heritage and identity. It was a truly memorable experience that brought classroom learning to life in the most delicious way!

Christine Vaughan

Teacher: Year 11 Food Studies

Year 11 Media

At the end of Term 1, Unit 1 and 2 Media students embarked on an inspiring excursion to Melbourne’s vibrant CBD, immersing themselves in the creative pulse of the city. Their journey began at ACMI (the Australian Centre for the Moving Image), where they explored a range of exhibitions designed to spark imagination and support their Area of Study 2 assessment which involves producing their very own magazines.

The day kicked off with The Story of the Moving Image, a captivating exhibit tracing the evolution of screen culture across time and global traditions. From interactive video games and iconic film sets to legendary costumes and props, students engaged with the rich history of visual storytelling – a crucial context for a generation raised on digital streaming.

Next, students entered The Future and Other Fictions, a world premiere exhibition exclusive to ACMI. This bold, visually stunning showcase featured speculative costumes and artworks envisioning the worlds of tomorrow. Highlights included experimenting with forced perspective within a futuristic set and designing their own imaginative sci-fi movie posters.

Armed with photographic composition techniques developed in Area of Study 1, students then ventured into Melbourne’s iconic laneways and arcades. Surrounded by striking street art and urban textures, they captured a series of dynamic images to bring their creative visions to life.

Emma Cairns and Olivia Stott

Teachers: Year 11 Media

Christine Vaughan

Learning Leader: Visual Arts, Design and Technology