After School VCE English Club

After school VCE English Club has started!! We meet every Tuesday after school in S7 at 2:24 PM.

We work on anything related to VCE English. Our VCE teachers are there to help and provide us with valuable feedback.

Any VCE English student is welcome to come along.

We hope to see you there!

Free FHS Library

We have established a free library of donated books for students to take. Students are encouraged to bring their own well read books and leave them for other students to also enjoy. Donated books are identified by a green sticker and the collection is located in the Classroom area of the Library.

Homework Club

Homework Club has started at FHS. We meet every Wednesday after school to work on classwork or homework.

All students are welcome and encouraged to attend! It is a great way to get some homework done in a supportive, calm and inviting environment.

Homework Club meets on Wednesdays in S11 from 2:45 PM until 4:00 PM!

Hope to see you all there!

Japanese Club

We have an exciting announcement about a new club at Fairhills. Finally Japanese Club (日本部)is starting.

Japanese Club is a place where you can be a curious, creative and confident learner about all things Japanese culture and language.

We are particularly looking for anyone with skills in anything Japanese, so please if you have a skill contact Winstone sensei at jessica.winstone@education.vic.gov.au. Parents very welcome to come share Japanese cultural or language skills if you have them!

However, to come to Japanese Club you don’t need anything but enthusiasm.

The first Japanese Club will run on Thursday May 15 at lunchtime in M03. After that it will run every second Thursday.

楽しみにしています！See you there！

Successful alumni comes to visit

It’s always awesome when past students come to visit. It’s even more awesome when they have become more successful than the teacher who taught them.

A while ago Nick, a past student of mine dropped in to visit. He’s been working overseas, but took the time on a trip back home to come and see me.

Being the Japanese teacher I am, I asked if he’d been using the Japanese he learned up until 12 and beyond. Nick was one of the few students in the State who studied University Enhancement Japanese. So he did first year uni when he was in Year 12.

Here’s what he said:

Since graduating from university in 2012 with a major in electrical engineering, I have worked all around the world, including Australia, Germany, and Malaysia. My Japanese language studies have come in handy in nearly every company I have worked for.

In my current company, which designs and manufactures industrial equipment, part of my responsibility is handling the Japanese market. This involves frequent contact with both our reseller and customers in Japan — meaning lots of emails and calls in Japanese!

Studying Japanese in high school and continuing it at university was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It has opened many doors for me both professionally and personally.

Staff PD Day Recap: Supporting Students with ADHD

On May 22, our dedicated staff participated in a collaborative Professional Development (PD) day focused on Supporting Students with ADHD. With increased awareness around neurodiversity, this day provided valuable insights and practical strategies for creating inclusive learning environments.

Instead of traditional lectures, staff formed self-directed research teams to explore various subtopics related to ADHD. Key areas they investigated were:

• How Does ADHD Work? – Staff learned about different types of ADHD and the roles of the prefrontal cortex and executive function networks.
• Executive Function & Learning – Teams looked into how challenges such as planning difficulties, impulse control, and working memory affect classroom performance.
• Myths vs. Facts – This topic sparked conversations about stigma and misconceptions, emphasising the importance of language and assumptions in shaping student identities and support access.
• Underdiagnosis of Females with ADHD – Staff researched the emotional impacts of masking and perfectionism, highlighting the risks associated with unrecognised symptoms.
• ADHD & Technology – Teams explored the effects of technology on students with ADHD, discussing both its potential benefits and drawbacks.
• Classroom Adjustments & Strength-Based Approaches – Strategies for incorporating strengths in teaching were also shared.

We believe that the knowledge gained will enhance our support for all students, particularly those with ADHD.

U17 Boys VSSC

The U17 Boys Basketball Team delivered an amazing performance at the recent Victorian Secondary School Challenge, finishing the day with two strong wins and one hard-fought draw.

Throughout the tournament, the team displayed excellent teamwork, determination, and competitive spirit. Their defensive pressure and offence kept them in every contest, and they played with intensity and pride in every game.

Despite going undefeated, the boys narrowly missed out on progressing to the finals due to percentage—an unfortunate outcome that doesn’t reflect the quality of their performance on the day. Each player contributed to the team’s success, and their resilience and effort were second to none.

The team should be incredibly proud of their achievements and the way they represented Fairhills High School.

Well done, boys!

U17 Girls VSSC

The U17 Girls Basketball Team recently represented Fairhills High School at the Victorian Secondary School Challenge, facing a tough pool of talented opponents across three challenging matches.

While the scoreboard didn’t reflect the effort and determination shown by the girls, the team demonstrated great spirit, teamwork, and improvement with each game. They never gave up, continued to support one another, and played with pride and resilience throughout the day.

Unfortunately, the girls missed out on finals, but this experience has helped build stronger connections on and off the court and provided valuable lessons for the team to grow from. With continued training and dedication, the future is bright for this group of athletes.

We’re proud of the way the girls represented Fairhills and look forward to seeing their development in future competitions. Well done, girls!

U19 Boys VSSC

The U19 Boys Basketball Team put in a determined and competitive performance at the recent Victorian Secondary School Challenge, going up against some strong teams in the state.

While the boys were unable to secure a win on the day, each game was decided by less than eight points, highlighting just how close and hard-fought the matches were. The team showed excellent effort, intensity, and composure under pressure, pushing every opponent right to the final buzzer.

Despite narrowly missing out on a finals spot, the group can be proud of the way they played — with heart, hustle, and a strong sense of team unity. The experience has given them a solid foundation to build on, and with a few small improvements, they are well positioned for future success.

Congratulations to all the players for their attitude, sportsmanship, and commitment throughout the day. We’re proud of your efforts and how you represented Fairhills High School.

Year 9s Take on Melbourne Zoo!

On Wednesday 18 June our Year 9 students embarked on an exciting adventure to the Melbourne Zoo, where they explored a variety of animal enclosures and soaked in the vibrant atmosphere. Leading up to the excursion, students carefully planned their route into the city and met Mr. M and the Connect teachers at Federation Square to begin their day.

Once inside the zoo, students enjoyed scenic walks, fascinating wildlife, and a well-earned hot lunch—provided they managed to keep it away from a few overly enthusiastic seagulls!

It was a fantastic day, and it’s clear our Year 9s are more than ready to take on the full city experience as we wrap up the semester.

Year 10 Students Get a Taste of Industry at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

Last week, our Year 10 students had the incredible opportunity to step into the world of large-scale manufacturing during an excursion to the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) facility in Moorabbin. This immersive experience not only gave students a behind-the-scenes look at the production of one of the world’s most iconic beverages but also challenged them to think critically about real-world logistics and safety.

Upon arrival, students were welcomed by CCEP staff and guided through the highly automated and precisely coordinated production line. The tour covered key stations, including the Filler & Blow Moulder, where plastic preforms are heated and moulded into bottles, and the Labeller, which applies product labels with incredible accuracy. Students learned that these machines can fill up to 40,000 bottles per hour!

Next, the group observed the Packing Machine, where bottles are quickly grouped into cases – some machines are capable of packing up to 400 cases per minute! At the QA Lab, students were introduced to the vital role of quality assurance, including how various product samples are tested for taste, consistency, and even caffeine content. The tour concluded with a look into Maintenance, which plays a critical role in keeping all machines running smoothly and efficiently.

In the second half of the day, students participated in the CCEP Work Experience Project – a real-world problem-solving task focusing on logistics and warehouse safety. The challenge? Finding a safe and efficient way to move heavy ingredient pallets that come in various shapes, sizes, and weights. Using photos of real ingredient deliveries, students brainstormed practical solutions, applying their knowledge of physics and design thinking to develop safe pallet transfer methods.

This eye-opening experience not only broadened students’ understanding of science, technology, and engineering in the real world, but also highlighted the importance of teamwork, safety, and innovation in industrial workplaces.

We are proud of our Year 10 students for their curiosity, professionalism, and problem-solving efforts during this valuable industry visit.

Young At Art Competition 2025

Congratulations to Milli in Year 8 for winning Second prize in the Young at Art Competition at The Hut Gallery in Ferntree Gully.
Also congratulations to Mary in Year 7 for receiving an Encouragement Award.

JUNIOR SECTION:
2nd – Millicent – Autumn Harvest.
Judge: I liked the way she composed the image with lovely detail especially in the flowers.

Encouragement Award
Mary – Flower Fields.
Judge: Although a small image, this artwork displays a strong sense of composition, colour and detail, especially in the foreground with the flowers.