Hello Preshil community,

Welcome to the final edition of the Preshil Weekly for Term Two, 2025.

A powerful reflection of who we are as a school came to life this week through our Winter Solstice celebration. A beautiful convergence of community, creativity, and connection.

The Winter Solstice holds special meaning for me. It reaches beyond the traditional, transactional model of education, where students are enrolled, fees are paid, and learning is something done to them. At Preshil, we turn that model on its head. Our approach is reciprocal.

It’s a partnership between our young people, educators, and the broader community to co-create an environment where young people feel safe to explore, supported to grow, and free to be adventurous and courageous in their thinking and expression. It is through this shared meshwork – of those who stand beside and behind our young people – that their authentic growth is made possible.

The Solstice celebration is not a performance, but a lived expression of who we are. It is a chance to come together and share space through song, music, art, creativity, and connection, those profoundly human acts that make our school unique. Each of our young people arrives as themselves and is celebrated for being exactly who they are. That is what it means to be at Preshil.

This special event encapsulates what happens every day in our classrooms and learning spaces. It is not an isolated moment, but a reflection of our everyday practice and deeply rooted in our educational philosophy and cultural purpose.

As we close a rich, diverse, and meaningful term, we want to acknowledge and thank our extraordinary educators for the passion and purpose they bring to their work each day. Their contributions shape the vibrant, nurturing learning environment that defines the Preshil experience.

To our families and community, we wish you a restful and joyful winter break. May it bring the renewal you need, and we look forward to welcoming you back for a wonderful Semester Two.

Warmly,

Aaron Mackinnon
Principal

Winter Solstice
Last night we held the annual Preshil Winter Solstice. Rehearsals paid off with performances by the ensemble enhancing the mood of the evening. Later in the evening, lanterns created by students were lit and meandered their way through the school grounds.

Whether you joined the celebration, volunteered, or couldn’t make it this time—Take 2 minutes to share your thoughts in our community survey and help shape future events! https://forms.gle/DYuwF9xhBQ5Wip1E9

Central Australia Camp
The Year 9 students and accompanying staff have returned from their trip to central Australia. The trip included John sharing the local Pitjantjatjara language, completing the biggest hike of the trip at Kings Canyon, and a quiet evening at Yulara where students admired the Field of Light.

Other highlights include cooking roo tails, making damper bread, finding witchetty grubs, a guided tour of Uluru, visiting Kata Tjuṯa, and the penultimate morning of the trip – a sunrise camel ride.

Cooking Activities Program
Last week in our Cooking Activities Program, students showcased their creativity and teamwork in the kitchen. In this student-led initiative, teams plan, prepare, and lead each session independently, building confidence, collaboration, and practical skills along the way.

One group led with a delicious homemade pasta Napoli, while the other treated us to irresistible chocolate brownies. A truly rewarding and hands-on learning experience for all involved!

Student-Run Car Wash Business Hits the Preshil Grounds
Students in the Graphic Design Vertical Academic Elective this semester have been diving into the world of logo design, branding, and how marketing can drive business success.

Year 10 students Curtis, Leevi, Sammy, and Archie have teamed up to launch their own car washing business right here at Preshil. As part of their project, they’ve designed a logo, created a website, printed branded t-shirts, and—most impressively—have begun offering car washing services to staff and even the school buses… all for a fee, of course.

Alongside the creative and hands-on work, the group has explored key business concepts such as cost structures, revenue models, and budgeting for expenses. They’ve taken on the challenge with enthusiasm and professionalism.

We’re incredibly proud of our young entrepreneurs and hope to see the initiative continue into Semester 2. The next step? Opening up their services to the wider parent community.

Watch this space!

Pentaque
This week the year 10 French students played a game of pétanque, a French bocci/bowls equivalent. Mathilde (our French exchange student) was showing us all how to play. After a very competitive match, Mathilde took the lead in the first half of the game, however the winner of the day was Isla.

Tournament of the Minds
In last week’s TOM session children worked in teams to develop a script based on a prompt. They were asked to create costume pieces out of butcher’s paper and newspaper.

Arlington visit State Library
This week some of the Arlington students have taken part in the State Library of Victoria Book Bash. The State Library hosted online sessions with some amazing authors (Anh Do, Sally Rippin and Amelia Mellor) who shared some of their writing strategies and guided the students in the creation of characters and story ideas.

A few quotes from the students experience are: “It was very inspiring, he is so creative.” Frank. “I really enjoyed reading Anh Do’s books when I was younger, so it was cool hearing how he came up with the ideas.” Sam. “I think it’s cool how I got to see some parts of the process, where he got his ideas from and what his thinking was.” Leon.

Chess
Chess is running and open to all year levels. Chess is a fantastic mind game that stimulates the brain development and ways of thinking. Join Leonid on Thursdays from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Learn more and fill out this form.

Winter Health Update
As the winter season progresses, we want to remind everyone of the importance of prioritising your health and well-being. If you’re feeling unwell, please take the necessary time to rest and recover. Your health and wellbeing is our top priority.

If you test positive for COVID-19, please stay home until you return a negative test result, and your symptoms have resolved. This helps protect your colleagues, our students and the broader Preshil community, and prevents the spread of the virus.

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to keeping our workplace safe and healthy. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Stay safe, warm and take care.

Preshil Careers Hub
Discover everything you need to make a successful transition through high school and into the ‘real world’. Sign up to receive our Pathways & Careers Newsletters, access the latest guides on life and money management, work experience opportunities, and parent resources. You can also connect with the Careers and Pathways Team for personalised support. Click the link below for more information on Preshil’s Careers Hub.

Preshil Careers Hub

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