Journalism Extend Articles

House Karaoke

On Friday the 4th of March, as term 1 of 2025 came to a close, Fitzroy High School managed to set up a karaoke night (which was actually in the afternoon) for all year levels to come in and sing along to their favourite songs.  The karaoke night was a wonderful positive afternoon for everyone involved and acted as a bonding experience for friends.  This all occurred in the music room.  Almost everyone sang, some standouts would be Campbell, Jason (who were the teachers), me (of course), Audrey, Jade, Zoe, and of course Whaea, everyone else who sang all had an incredible time singing.  Some of the songs played were a Maori song that Whaea sang, which was beautiful, and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” Of course, “Wonderwall,” which was sung by Oasis, and “What Makes You Beautiful” were sung.

This activity was massively successful because it allowed everyone who wanted to sing with their friends, and for people who might not get that opportunity and also a way to get points for your house.  Now, since this is an event about singing, what would you have sung if you had the opportunity? Maybe a very niche song only you know, or a song so popular that the whole room takes out their phones to turn on their flashlights for it.

Isabel B

Year 10 Work Experience

Work experience is a program held yearly for Year 10 students across the country. At Fitzroy High School, however, it runs for two weeks instead of one. This extended period is due to our teachers and principals believing that one week alone is insufficient to gain a good understanding of working life.

So, what exactly is work experience? It’s a short-term placement in a workplace of your choice, designed to give you a taste of what it’s like to be part of the workforce. This could be at a company, a local business, an organisation, or even a school. At Fitzroy High School, work experience for Year 10 students is scheduled from June 16 to June 27, ending in ten workdays.

Students are free to choose a workplace placement based on their interests. For example, if you’re passionate about design and architecture, you might consider interning at an architecture firm. If you’re interested in health or medicine, a hospital or medical clinic could be ideal. There are countless options available, which is exciting, but it can also make choosing just one a bit of a challenge!

How do you apply? Start by researching potential workplaces. Visit their websites to see if they offer work experience opportunities for students. If no information is seen, don’t hesitate to call and ask directly. If they are open to hosting a student, you will usually need to send an email introducing yourself, introducing your interests, and explaining why you would like to do work experience with them. Some organisations may have an application form or online portal, while others might prefer direct contact through email. It’s always a good idea to apply to multiple places in case some don’t offer placements or are unable to take you. It’s also important to know that most work experience placements are unpaid. In some rare cases, a small payment may be offered, often around $5 per hour or a small daily allowance, but this is not common.

One of the best parts about work experience is the chance to build confidence and develop practical skills that aren’t always taught in the classroom. Whether it’s learning how to answer phones professionally, work as part of a team, or simply show up on time every day, these experiences help prepare you for life after school. You might even discover strengths or interests you didn’t know you had. Plus, making connections with people in the field can sometimes lead to future opportunities, like part-time jobs, mentorships, or even ideas for further study.

Overall, work experience is an exciting opportunity to explore possible career paths and get a real sense of the world beyond school. I’m really looking forward to it and hope that when your turn comes, you’ll enjoy it just as much!

Kaya E-A

Inter-school Sports

The Year 7 students participated in inter-school sports, including tennis, volleyball, and cricket.
The Year 7 students went with the FHS teachers Mitch (tennis), Campbell (volleyball), and Adrian (cricket).

The Tennis was at the National Tennis Centre. Volleyball was at Brunswick Secondary College, and Cricket was at Princes Park.

On Monday, the 31st of March, from 9:00 AM to 3:15 PM.
To represent their school in inter-school sports competitions against other schools.
Students travelled with their teacher by public transport, passing through different roads to compete against other schools. Approximately 10 people participated in the sport. They had played eight matches and successfully won 4 out of the 8. The game was good; both teams showed passion for the game, and these games were really competitive.

Sami P & Ehsan M

Lunch Time Clubs

Fitzroy High School has many clubs. What makes Fitzroy High School diverse is our clubs. Our clubs try hard to make them as inclusive, respectful and fun as possible! The clubs are the Debating Club, the Music Club, the Art Club, the Dance Club, and the Fitness Club.

Timetables

All these clubs are during lunchtime. The days for all these clubs are…

Debating club – Monday

Dance Club – Tuesday

Art Club and Music Club – Wednesday

Fitness Club- Thursday

How to join these clubs?

Joining these clubs is easy. Simply approach the teacher running the clubs and ask to sign up for them.

Why should you join these clubs?

The reason why students should join these clubs is that it’s the best way to socialise, interact, make connections and make friends. But you don’t need to do those things. You could go to these clubs by yourself and get creative! The possibilities are unless! Talking, interacting, socialising and getting to know people helps with students’ brains and mental health. Not only with students, but also with adults and elders. Also, you can join as many clubs as you want. There’s no limit to it!

Jacinta D-C

A Cold Winter Morning

One morning, I walked to school with my friend Henry. It took me around four minutes to reach his house. There was a cover of mud on the bluestone laneways, which made the walk somewhat dangerous. We had barely begun walking when rain began falling on us. We were on the corner of Henry’s street and just stood there waiting for it to stop. Then Henry said, “Should I run back and grab some umbrellas for us so that we can make it to school dry?” I nodded, and he was off.

After we got the umbrellas, we were finally able to walk to school. As we walked, we saw that most of the paths were covered in water. There were leaves and mud that blocked up the gutters, and water was flowing onto the roads and paths. Because the rain had cleared, we said to ourselves, “Why not prod the leaves and mud out of the way to let the water drain easily?” So that is precisely what we did. Whenever we found a clogged gutter, we cleaned it out. One of the worst places was at Queens Parade, where the water was up into the car park. It was good to be able to assist like local heroes. At one stage, a car went by and the driver shouted out, “Thanks, good on you!” That brought a smile to my face.

Evan D

Local Legends Save Streets

My mate Evan and I were walking to school on Wednesday when, all of a sudden, it started BUCKETING rain. Evan and I made a split-second decision to sprint back to my house and grab two umbrellas.

We grabbed the brollies and shivered our way to Fitzroy High School on this freezing autumn morning. While walking, we noticed the gutters were flowing at rapid speeds, and couldn’t help to stop and admire the fluency and pace of the stream. We continued to walk along in the rain, dodging puddles and following streams, until…

We were crossing the road and noticed a drain blocked by hundreds of freshly fallen autumn leaves, creating a massive puddle blocking the road. Evan and I sprung into action and tried to see what we could do. We ended up deciding to stick the tip of our umbrellas into the pile of leaves that were covering the drain. After minutes of hacking at the drain with our umbrellas, we finally saw a whirlpool begin forming, so we gave it one last jab and then…

We saw the rainwater begin to gush down the drain, flowing rapidly, the gigantic puddle shrinking before our eyes. Oh, the satisfaction it gave Evan and I, to see our hard work pay off. A toot from a passing car, acknowledging our work, as well as a nod from a local on a stroll. Evan and I’s work here was done, just doing a simple, yet attentive act of kindness, which goes to say a lot for what FHS students would do for the community. And, shows there are still good people willing to do good for our world.

Henry T

3-Way Conferences At Fitzroy High School

Date: 28th of April 2025

Here at Fitzroy, every year during Term 2, we hold a very important meeting between students, teachers, and parents called Three-Way Conferences, where they all communicate essential information with each other and catch up to deliver important updates. And this week is special, as it’s coming up on Tuesday, the 29th of April, from 11am to 7pm.

Three-Way Conferences involve everybody at every year level, including seniors at Wurun Campus. And the teachers usually repurpose old classrooms across the Wurun Campus to make space for the conferences.

The Three-Way Conferences are very important as they help clarify issues between the three parties and are a good way of communicating the student’s academic progress and any improvements they can make.

Without three-way conferences, parents wouldn’t have a way to be informed about how their children are faring at school on a face-to-face level.

This is why Fitzroy High School is committed to delivering the best possible three-way conferences for its students and their parents, which it has held every year for many years. The three-way conferences are brief and do not consume a large portion of the day, but nonetheless are still informative and deliver the right amount of information a parent and their child would need regarding their schooling, including what they are doing well and what they should improve on. The quotes below further show the positive effects these conferences have on the Fitzroy High School community.

Bryn D. says, “I’m excited for the Three Way Conferences because I’m looking forward to the feedback I’ll receive so I can improve my character and school performance.”

Perry F.W. says, “I’m personally looking forward to clear communication between me, my parents and my teachers as it fosters good community and prosperous learning.”

Adam H. says, “It’s a nice change for subject teachers to meet with parents, guardians and students instead of mentors only; it’s a good opportunity.”

We have now completed our three-way conferences, and it is safe to say that they went well. Those in attendance received a satisfactory session with their students’ teachers or multiple teachers, depending on the number of sessions booked. However, some teachers couldn’t make it to the three-way conferences due to personal reasons, so they had to reschedule, and those will be taking place. Overall, FHS’s 2025 three-way conferences went according to plan and were as successful, if not more successful, than every other year.

Liam C

Positive Point Shop

The Positive Point Shop is where students can spend their earned positive points by demonstrating our school values: Trust, Engage, and Respect, to purchase items such as candy, toys, cards, earrings, and other goodies. You can also participate in the lucky dip, which allows only two lucky dips. Additionally, there are chocolate, a lolly bottle guessing game, and board games. Note positive points, do not carry over to the next term; it goes on at the TDU at FHS in the last week of the term.

Monday year 7, Tuesday year 8, Wednesday year 9, Thursday year 10, and on Friday all years for those who missed out. If you will not be here for the rest of the week, we will allow you to spend your points earlier. If you guess the amount in the bottle, you can get it on the day.

Anon

My first day of school, Year 9

I stepped through doors both wide and strange,

A quiet hallway, a world of change.

Backpack heavy, heart unsure,

wondering what I came here for.

Faces passed, some turned away,

but one kind smile lit up the day.

A seat beside me, a loud “Hi!”,

the start of something I couldn’t deny.

No books in hand,

but little things that helped me understand.

A shared joke, a name called,

the kindness is what counts the most of all.

FHS, not just a school in name,

but people who see, who feel the same.

In a world that rushes, masks and hides,

it’s rare to find warm hearts inside.

This poem is about how the FHS community is built not just on academics or rules, but on simple human kindness, connection and inclusion. More importantly, it reflects the idea that even in a world that can feel cold or indifferent, we crave and cherish moments of human connection. It reminds us that life is shaped by the smallest gestures, and the people, at their core, long to belong and be seen.

Kaya E-A

Drivers Ed

Year 9 students of Fitzroy High School will shortly be in for an enjoyable and learning experience. The METEC Driver Training program at Kilsyth. Both theory and practical driving lessons are taught on a sealed and closed 5km road circuit. It is made to allow students a secure and comfortable environment to learn the fundamentals of driving.

To prepare for this event, students have also been learning about road safety as part of their recent Connect lessons. They’ve gained key road rules, the responsibility of being a driver, and even did a practice Learner’s Permit test. It’s provided them with knowledge and confidence before they get behind the wheel.

The METEC program is a great learning experience for students to learn life skills in the real world that will benefit them. As they approach the age of getting a license to drive. This program helps them begin early to learn to be a responsible, capable driver.

Evan D

Chaos at Camp!

A Fitzroy Exclusive…

The camp itself seems to have yielded a different result than the one intended. Chaos at camp, some might say, utter chaos, the main opinion of those involved.

Most students took buses to get to the campsite, which took them roughly 3-4 hours. Some students arrived 1-2 days after the camp started, having been dropped off by their parents and guardians, which particularly took longer for those using a car.

In an interview with teacher Dylan W, he spoke of how the camp was held at Homestead Campground for 4 days. Mixed reviews from students and teachers, but there was positive feedback.

During one of our interviews, one particular year 8 student who attended the camp thought that the flying fox was excellent, despite finding it difficult to sleep due to being away from home.

The camp was located at Valley Homestead, near the Victorian Alpine High Country, which was a 3-4 hour drive from Fitzroy. They spent 4 days, from Tuesday, April 1st to Friday, the 4th of April, and many students from Year 7 and 8 attended.

Jokingly, many students in the 9- and 10-year levels expressed gratitude that the Year 7 and 8 students weren’t at school for that week. Liam C said, “It was a very welcome break”.

Although some students did not necessarily “follow” instructions most of the time, there was no dangerous behaviour. It was reported that many students were excessively loud and noisy, which severely affected sleep for both students and teachers, which is why there were many mixed reviews about the camp.

And last but not least… We talked about the food!

Unlike other camps, this camp had a very skilled kitchen staff, which included a professional chef, who unfortunately wasn’t present at the camp for 3 days until the last day when he made tacos for the students and teachers, making the camp worth a visit.

Muath A & Perry F-W

Police Incursion

On Wednesday, April 2nd, the Victoria Police paid a visit to the classrooms of Fitzroy High School, teaching crucial lessons on safety. John and Tony (the members of Victoria Police)  arrived at 9:00 am, right on time, and they took over our health class into a fun yet serious session on safe partying.

The officers, John and Tony, were seasoned police officers who had been in the workforce for decades and were nearing the end of their careers. In a sense, they didn’t just tackle criminals for a living; they went to schools like ours, educating students on issues like safe partying and being secure in general.

We started the session off by playing a game that asked you a ‘deep’ question, such as, “How do you apologise to somebody after a serious argument or disagreement?” Which we were then required to answer in front of the class. The police made sure that everyone in the class was included, and everyone was treated equally.

We then moved on to an activity where we were given a dangerous scenario in groups of 3 to 4. The scenario was that someone had been critically injured, and the attacker was on the run. The activity taught us what to do in dangerous scenarios, in this case we had to call 000, provide aid to the injured person’s aid and secure the perimeter.

We then met back together to share what we had learnt, and moved on to the final activity.

The final activity was a bit of a Q&A with the officers and a chance to try on their equipment and even have a go at using a baton.

Student Evan D said, “It was great for the police to come out here and educate us on what they do, and what we should do going forward in our late teenage years, thanks to the police and FHS for putting this on”.

Overall, this was a great experience for the Year 9 students, and we thank the Victoria Police for coming out and educating us.

Henry T