INTERNATIONALSTUDENT NEWSLETTER

Congratulations to all the students for passing their VCE, particularly as international students. As such, these students manage their studies in an environment away from the immediate support of family, often overcoming homesickness and language difficulties. Their experiences of living in a different culture while improving their English and completing their VCE have been rich and rewarding for all involved in their studies.

Every year more than 3000 international students choose to study at Victorian government schools andin 2014 five international students successfully completed their VCE at Brunswick Secondary Collegewith two achieving ATAR scores above 90. Here’s a little bit about our international stars:

Syed Shabeeh Haider Raza (Shabeeh)Shabeeh joined Brunswick Secondary in 2013 from Pakistan to complete his Year 11 and Year 12 years with us. Shabeeh’s positive attitude helped him make friends quickly which helped the adjustment into the new school environ-ment and his popularity also earned him the role of Interna-tional Student Captain in 2014. Shabeeh was a wonderful role model for all students, as he worked well with all students. Shabeeh’s subject interests lay in the accounting and busi-ness management field and his disciplined approach earned him an ATAR of 93.4.

Taejine Song (John)John has followed in the footsteps of his older brother who studied at Brunswick a few years ago and has been an exemplar student for all students at Brunswick Secondary College, but especially to international students. John moved to Melbourne from Korea and started from Year 7 and has balanced his academic studies with extra-curricular com-mitments, and used all possible supports within the school to achieve a high academic standard. John’s interests were spread over maths, sciences and economics and legal studies over year 11 and 12 and his dedicated approach awarded him an ATAR of 98.3.

We extend our congratulations to Gary Mao, who has been nominated and shortlisted as a finalist for the 2014 International Student Com-munity Engagement Award. Gary has consistently demonstrated his commitment to his community since arriving at Brunswick Second-ary College. He is always looking for opportunities to represent both local and international students.Gary is an active member of the Oxygen Project - a Youth Access project in the City of Moreland designed to give young people a voice in regards to youth spaces and services. In 2014, he attended the International Student Forum and also attended the Victorian State School Constitutional Convention - and hopes to attend the national convention to be held in Canberra next year. In 2015, Gary will serve as BSC International Student Captain, working alongside the other SRC members to encourage and champion student participation within the school.

Apart from his studies, Gary is involved in a number of college co-curricular activities. His participation in the basketball and tennis clubs has allowed him to socialise with students across the year levels and to promote connection and understanding between international and local students as well as the wider community. Gary demonstrates positivity, leadership and respect for others and endeavours to make a difference with all his interactions. It is these qualities above all that make him a worthy nominee for the 2014 International Student Community Engagement Award. The winners of the International Student awards will be announced at a formal ceremony in April. Good luck, Gary!

Ki Yeon Kim and Anne Siciliano (ISC) attended an ‘Evening of Korean Culture’ at the Hamer Hall. It showcased Korean fashion, music and dance and was made more special by the fact that many Korean War veterans were recognized by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea for their part in the Korean War.“In the first part there was Hanbok fashion show, with Korean king and queen’s dresses, next was traditional Korean wedding dresses and many different kinds of dresses after that.Next they showed ‘Dondollariyo’, ‘Korean Folksong Medley’, and songs by group COREYAH. Their songs were beautiful, and the lead singer’s voice was interesting. This was followed by ‘Mega Drum’, played by ‘Kwangaeto Samulnori’, which was very exciting. But, more exciting was ‘Hippy Hippy’. It was a B-boy program dancing k-pop dance and b-boy dance. When they danced my body tried dancing too. What was a fantastic show was now an amazing show! This was followed by ‘Pangut’, which is the Korean traditional instrument, but with a funnier thing - they put on ‘Sangmo’ (long ribbon on their hat) on their head and spin around in the air and they jumped around. It was very amazing.The final stage, b-boy and Kwangaeto Samulnori had a battle dance. It showed past and future’s dance and music. The whole night, and especially this last performance will stay for a long time in my memory. Ki Yeon Kim 10C

There have been many events where our International Students have showcased their talents along with the rest of the school, wowing us with dancing, singing and music. Diya Ahuja gave an exciting Bollywood dance to help her win the Rising Star Award, whilst Ki Yeon Kim and Nishita Malakar performed beautifully at the Clocktower Concert, and Kyle Tran gave a wonderful performance at this year’s whole school production, ‘High School Musical’. Thank-you also to Ki Yeon Kim, Shukun (Christina) Yang, Yuxin (Silvie) and Diem Huong (Emily) Pham who gave a beautiful fan dance as part of Year 7 Orientation.

International Student Achievements

Evening of Korean Culture

International Student Awards

Performing Arts Events

Afriena AzharAfriena has studied at Brunswick Secondary since 2010 and has praised the supportive environment of the school. Afriena moved to Melbourne from Malaysia and her highlights include the friends she has made here, attending the Year 12 Formal and especially the homework clubs that she attended as part of the Co-Curricula Program, particulalry the Maths Help classes. Afriena’s study interests were in the biological sciences and maths. Afriena looks forward to her tertiary studies in Melbourne next year. Well done Afriena.

Shujun Liu (Julia)Julia is originally from China and started with the Brunswick English Language Centre and in 2011 before moving into Year 10 at Brunswick Secondary, and made friends very quickly within the cohort. Julia’s main interests were in the business field and the design and technology field. Julia is still considering her options for her courses next year, and hopes to continue her stud-ies in Melbourne, with in the design field. Congratulations on passing your VCE and good luck in 2015!

Jinyeop OhJinyeop also started with the Brunswick English Language Centre in 2011, from Korea and with a strong maths/science focus, and in his final year his subject interests were in the maths and languages (Korean) field. Like many of the Year 12 students Jinyeop praised the help of teachers outside of class hours, in co-curricular classes which helped him to pass his VCE. Congratulations on passing your VCE!

Congratulations to the following students who received excellent results by the end of semester one. These students received work practices of 3.9 or above from a total of 4.

• Shabeeh Raza• Taejine (John) Song• Thi Minh Anh Phan• Xinyi (Helen) Zhu• Nishita Malakar• Sabin Bhandari

And for semester two, the following received work practices of 3.9 and above• Xinyi Zhu (Helen)• Thi Minh Anh Phan• Shukun Yang (Christina)• Diem Huong Pham (Emily)• Long Tran (Kyle)• Nishita Malakar

With a special congratulations to Xinyi Zhu (Helen) and Thi Minh Phan who achieved PERFECT work practices over the year. Congratulations to all on such a wonderful achievement.

Schools’ State Constitutional Convention

Collingwood Children’s Farm

Gary Mao and Peng He were elected to represent Brunswick Secondary College in a student led Parliamentary forum which debated whether Australia was in a budget crisis. The event was held in the formal Victorian Parliament and was attended by over 50 Victorian students. Both Peng and Gary enjoyed it so much they have decided to apply for the National Convention to be held in the Old Parliament House in Canberra next year. Good luck!

In November students went on an excursion to the Collingwood Children’s Farm and Abbotsford Convent. It was a great day where student had an introduction to some of the farm practices, including milking cows and feeding goats. Students also had the opportunity to examine bee hives, care for guinea pigs, feed sheep and explore the workings of a city farm:“On one of the day, the year 7,8,9 EAL classes went to the Collingwood Farm. The excursion was a very interesting and fun experience. Many of the animals were very cute and adorable. The farm area was very big, with many activities to do: from milking the cow to holding the adorable guinea pigs, from the black pigs to the beautiful pea-cocks, which showed its colours many time. Overall it was a wonderful day, I would recommend it to the younger years. Kyle Tran 8K

International Student Welcome and International Student Forum

This year our International Student Captain Shabeeh Raza attended a welcome event hosted by the International Education Division and presented by the Hon. State Minister for Education, Martin Dixon, while our incoming 2015 International Student Captain, Gary Mao attended an International Student Forum which focussed on how to further build relationships between local and international students.

Gary was then offered the privilege of presenting the key recom-mendations to Mr Richard Bolt, Secretary of DEECD, Dr Sonia Sharp, Deputy Secretary and Ms Sue Christophers, Executive Director of the International Education Division. These events are important as they create connections with other students and extend students in language skills beyond the classroom.