Director's Report
Daphne Clements – RIA Director
Term four has been another fabulous one for our creative and talented RIA students.
The term has been filled with excitement and authentic learning experiences with teachers, students and parents working together to achieve the best outcomes for our students.
Some of the highlights include a number of the program's Year 12 students achieving outstanding ATAR results - with RIA boasting three of the College's top five students.
Amanda Thai achieved a 99.05, taking the honours of Rowville Secondary College dux for 2016. Amanda, a keen dancer, worked consistently hard across her time at Rowville Secondary College, and deserves every success.
Dilini Wijetunga, an enthusiastic and talented musician in the RIA program, achieved an ATAR result of 92.75, with a broad range of interests spanning from music to aviation and engineering.
Meg Dunn, who the community has seen star in countless College productions, RIA Showcases and performances at presentation evenings, assemblies and the like, achieved 90.06. Meg, like Amanda and Dilini, has been an exceptional ambassador for the RIA program and the College, with incredible talent for all things theatre and drama.
We wish to congratulate Amanda, Dilini and Meg on their outstanding results, and wish all our graduating students the very best for the future.
Our Semester Two RIA Showcase concert was again a smashing success, with a full house in the PAC treated to the very best in dance, drama, music, media and visual arts.
It is a credit to the RIA program, its teachers, students and parents that the College is able to produce quality Showcase concerts time and again.
Part of what makes Rowville Secondary College so unique is the RIA program and its unrivalled quality of events and shows, and above all, the quality of the people.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all students, teachers and staff for your hard work and support of our talented young artists and a very special thank you to parents and guardians for your support of the school and the RIA program.
Thank-you to the Friends of RIA and Friends of Music for the generosity of your time and fundraising efforts. Finally a huge thank-you to Susan Thompson (RIA Creative Director) who I work closely with, for your dedication, passion, patience and brilliant organisation skills evident in the slick Showcases and RIA auditions.
I wish you all a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year break and look forward to 2017.
Amanda Thai
takes dux
honours
It simply doesn’t get any better than that to end VCE.
An elated, but relieved Amanda Thai opened her ATAR results to the news of a 99.05 score last Monday morning, topping the graduating class at Rowville Secondary College for 2016.
VCE may come as a shock to many students across Victoria, but for Rowville Secondary College’s 2016 dux Amanda Thai, her result is the product of years of healthy habits and hard work.
The Rowville Institute of the Arts student’s committed study habits throughout her secondary schooling meant she didn’t experience the shock many others might once they hit the crucial VCE years.
“I didn’t do anything different to what I’ve always been doing,” Amanda said.
“I did the work that was required of me and towards exams I did practice exams – I didn’t do anything crazy like lock myself in my room.
“Towards exams I kind of went on the philosophy that I’d rather go into my exams happy than stressed (and) I didn’t overwhelm myself.”
The former Wooranna Park Primary School student believes her strategies throughout VCE took considerable pressure off her in 2016.
“I did four Year 12 subjects this year and two last year which really helped – it took a lot of the pressure off this year – it meant I didn’t have to work on five subjects at once,” she said.
“I did two Englishes – Literature and English, and Mathematics, (and) it was good that I had Dance – it was an outlet for me.
“In Year 11, I did Psychology and Textiles.”
Amanda is thankful of all her teachers this year.
“They were really good,” she said.
“Especially Ricki Leicester – I’ve known her since Year 7 so she’s been my dance teacher for a really long time.”
“They were all really supportive and kept pushing me to do more, challenging me and provided really good feedback so I could look back on say, essays that I’d written during the year towards exams and see what I’d need to work on.”
A RIA student since year 7, Amanda couldn’t speak higher of her time in the program.
“I love RIA, it’s a really good community because everyone’s interested in artistic things and similar interests – it’s easy to find people you have things in common with,” she said.
“The program itself has grown a lot over the years and it’s better now than it was in year 7 (and) it offers students a really good opportunity to do what they love at school.”
2017 looks to be another prosperous year for the College dux, where Amanda hopes to study a Bachelor of Creative Writing at RMIT University.
A love of writing and creativity has Amanda hopeful of a career in her passion.
“That’s probably a weird thing to say because I got an ATAR of 99.05, you’d expect me to do something like engineering, medicine or law but those things never interested me,” she said.
“What interests me is being creative, that’s why I’m in RIA and I really like creative writing.”
“Ideally I want to be an author of fiction novels because I really enjoy that – but also editing would be really cool, working in a publishing house or anything to do with words and writing.”
What advice would the 2016 Rowville Secondary College dux give to future year 12 students?
Amanda believes in doing what works best for the individual.
“Be self-aware of what works for you,” she said.
“A lot of people say ‘you need to do this many practice exams’ or ‘you need to work like that’.
“That’s formulaic and it doesn’t work for everyone.
“Some people, they need to study more because that’s the way they absorb the information properly.
“But some people, if they work too much on the information it becomes stale and they don’t have an interest in it anymore.
“Be self-aware of how you best learn and apply that to Year 12 so you don’t break yourself trying to work with someone else’s strategies.”
Friends and family created a helpful support network for Amanda, of which she is truly grateful.
“My friends were wonderful, they support me all the time and they’re all really intelligent too so we complement each other,” she said.
“It’s been really good to have them there, we always support each other and we’re all creative.
“My family’s always been supportive – they’ve always said to do what you love, not what we want you to do.”
Amanda says that while you must remain focused in Year 12, you shouldn’t give up doing what you love in your spare time.
“Last year I did so many extra-curricular activities, production, dance competitions, and that kind of tired me out at the end,” she said.
“I did stop a bit of dancing (this year) but not altogether, otherwise I wouldn’t have an outlet, (and) I didn’t stop reading books either – I read all the time.
“Don’t give up what you love, and don’t feel like you have to sacrifice absolutely everything to do Year 12 – you can still have a social life.
“You need to keep doing what you love, otherwise you’ll go crazy if you spend all your time doing school-work and by exam time you’ll be burnt out.”
Amanda Thai’s journey at Rowville Secondary College is one she will look back on fondly as she embarks on the next chapter of her life.
“I don’t think I would have got the same experience if I’d went to a different high school,” she said.
“Especially because of RIA, I wouldn’t have met the same people, I wouldn’t have had the same community experience.
“It was really influential in making me who I am.”
Dilini Wijetunga soars to 92.75
Hard work, persistence, and perseverance pays off.
For Dilini Wijetunga, there has been no truer philosophy this year as the 18-year-old opened her ATAR results to reveal her score of 92.75.
With an unwavering passion for music and a broad interest in aviation and engineering, the sky is the limit for the former Heany Park Primary School student.
“It (Year 12) was pretty tough,” Dilini said.
“There were times when I thought I wasn’t sure if it was going to pay off, but if you keep working you can trust that the worst that can happen isn’t too bad.
“I did spent quite a bit of time studying. I’d get home and it’d be usually at least an hour of each (subject).
“I don’t think you necessarily completely have to throw away everything and throw yourself in.
“I think taking a break when you need it is very important and often works better than working when you’re tired.”
Dilini’s passion in music saw her awarded the College’s coveted music scholarship this year.
She believes music provided her with a much-needed outlet among her other subjects.
“I’m so glad I was able to do music,” she said.
“It was nice to have that one subject where it didn’t feel like I was studying.
“If you have a passion and it’s a subject, go for it.
“I was still practicing piano at least two hours every day. Leading up to exams, it would be up to three hours a day.
“It was more of an outlet than anything else. When I needed a break, it was great to do something physical.”
Maths Methods, Physics and Literature were among Dilini’s other subjects in 2016.
“I was lucky that my teachers were really good and very understanding,” she said.
“They were all really supportive, and I’m pretty sure I annoyed them quite a bit just asking questions, stressing over this and that, (but) they’d always be so patient.”
Enrolled in the RIA program from Year 7, Dilini will miss performing in the biannual RIA Showcase event, and admits watching semester two’s show was a bit emotional.
She has also enjoyed watching the evolution of the RIA program.
“The music program and the RIA program have been amazing,” she said.
“I wasn’t part of the last Showcase but I came to watch and I thought I’m going to miss it so much.
“It’s like a family. I joined from year 7, but at that point (the program) wasn’t completely formed.
“It’s great to see how much it’s improved and developed.
“One of the most important people there would be (College Principal) Ms Kennedy, she really changed it for the better.”
A diverse range of interests, from music to aviation, all with limitless potential has Dilini excited for 2017, in what promises to be another busy year for the 18-year-old.
“I reckon I’m going to be pretty busy next year,” she said.
“What I put down at the top of my university preferences was Engineering and Arts as a double degree at Monash University.
“I’m hoping to specialise in aerospace engineering, and what I also did this year as a VET subject was aviation, so I’ve got my private pilot licence.
“I’m hoping to pursue that as a career – maybe an aviation engineer, but we’ll see where it takes me.
“On the other hand, I love music quite a bit. That’s definitely not something I want to let go of – I see potential for a career on that path as well.
“I want to make sure I’m as prepared as possible.”
Looking back in five, 10, 20 years and beyond, Dilini says her time at Rowville Secondary College will always resonate positively.
“(It was) definitely a positive experience, I’m very glad I actually came here, I think it allowed me to develop a lot, not only as a student but as a person as well with all the different people you meet here,” she said.
“It’s really great that we have the Sports Academy, Arts, Maths & Science Academy and General Excellence because you get exposed to a lot more people.
“As a kid, I was pretty shy and awkward, so coming to Rowville actually really helped me in that sense – I have a lot more confidence.”
On the home front, Dilini couldn’t be more thankful for the support of her parents.
“As much as they’ve supported me, they’ve never pushed me too much,” she said.
“It was always ‘we’ll help you as much as you want us to help you’, and ‘you tell us what your goals are and we’ll help you in terms of that’ – it was great, they never overdid it.”
Working hard, perseverance and persistence is the advice Dilini would give to future Year 12 students.
“Do subjects that you love, doesn’t matter if they’re marked up or marked down, or even if you feel like you’re not quite as good as you think you are,” she said.
“There’s a sort of assumption in a few other schools I’ve noticed, talking to other people who did music, that if you play piano, you have to be at a certain level.
“I wasn’t at that specific level that was mentioned. But working hard, I managed to get a very good score that I was happy with.
“Don’t worry about how you feel you’re supposed to be, keep working, and take a break when you need it.”
Meg Dunn produces 90.06 masterpiece
THE Rowville Secondary College community has been left spellbound on countless occasions.
At RIA Showcase, the College production, at presentation evenings, at assemblies – you name it.
Rowville Institute of the Arts student Meg Dunn’s undeniable stage talent has enthralled sell-out theatre-going crowds for years, and last Monday, Meg produced another masterpiece.
The 18-year-old is on cloud-nine after receiving her ATAR score of 90.06.
“It’s been a really good year,” Meg Dunn said.
“I’ve heard a lot of people get really stressed about Year 12 and all their subjects.
“I picked subjects that I really enjoyed doing, so I liked coming to school and I liked hanging out with my friends (and) I didn’t stress myself out.”
A hectic schedule in 2016 filled with rehearsals and shows provided a healthy balance to the rigours of the demanding Year 12 VCE year.
“I think that I balanced it out really well – I do lots of extra-curricular activities as well so it was me coming home, doing some work, and then going off to a rehearsal or for a show outside of school,” Meg said.
“I wasn’t someone who locked themselves in their room for six hours a day because I think that’s pretty ridiculous.
“But I did work hard when I was here (at school) and when I was at home.”
Her journey at the College and in RIA is one she will forever cherish, along with the teachers that celebrated her love of all things theatre.
“It was amazing – when I was first came to the school RIA was a new thing,” Meg said.
“I think the people and the course as well when you’re surrounded by like-minded people, lots of my friends have gone to other schools and they hated it because there’s mean people.
“We all think the same and we all like the same thing (in RIA).”
Meg strongly advises future Year 12 students not to buy in to the social class battle when endeavouring to do well.
“Don’t get sucked into the private school-public school battle,” she said.
“They don’t have better teachers at private schools and they don’t have better teachers at public schools.
“It’s how hard you work as an individual that will get you those marks – that’s what I did, I just worked really hard.”
One would struggle to find anyone who looks more at home on stage in front of a pulsating crowd than Meg Dunn.
She has grown up with her family-owned theatre company, Nuworks Theatre, and hopes to continue her passion in 2017.
“I’ve auditioned for NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) and VCA (Victorian College of the Arts) and got a call-back for both, and currently I’m on the waiting list for VCA, so I made it through the call-back so I’m just waiting until January to hear if I’m in,” Meg said.
“Not many people do get in the first year out of high school, so if I don’t get in, I’m planning to have a gap year and go on a theatre tour with my family’s theatre company and perform plays overseas.
“The theatre has always been what I’ve loved doing, so having (my family’s theatre company) in the background of Year 12 has been great too.
“This school has given me opportunities to do so much theatre as well.”
Meg admits she will miss the RIA Showcase concerts and the College productions, where she has had a lead role in the past three years.
“They were my favourite,” she said.
“I didn’t actually get involved in productions until Year 10, because I was really nervous about singing – I hated singing in front of people.
“But then when I auditioned in Year 10, I got a lead role in Hairspray, then Beauty & The Beast, then Legally Blonde.
“They’re so much fun.”
The community aspect of the College and the RIA program has forged bonds between Meg and her classmates over the journey, which created a beneficial support network on her way to 90.06.
“All of my friends were amazing,” Meg said.
“I’ve been friends with my group since Year 7, also eventually everyone in RIA started becoming best friends.
“By the end of Year 10, all of RIA were sitting together in the café. My four (best) friends in particular, they’re incredible, and they’re all so intelligent in their own way, I love them.
“They supported me through the whole year and I’d like to think I supported them as well.”
And her proud parents supported her every step of the way.
“My mum and my dad didn’t force me to do maths in Year 11 and 12 – they didn’t force me to do subjects I didn’t want to do,” Meg said.
“They’re the best.”
Production 2017 announced
Following on from the smashing success of 2016’s College production of Legally Blonde, productions coordinators Julia Duke and Kacey Hocking are buzzing with excitement off the back of the announcement of 2017’s show.
The Witches of Eastwick was announced as the 2017 production last month, which is set to hit the stage in the second week of August.
The Witches of Eastwick tells the tale of the people of the little town of Eastwick. It is a town where everyone knows everything about everyone else, and it is presided over by the indomitable Felicia Gabriel.
Bored and fed up with their small town lives, three women--Alexandra (Alex), Sukie, and Jane--share a wish for “all manner of man in one man” to rid them of the monotony that Eastwick brings. That man arrives, literally in a flash, in the devil-like form of Darryl Van Horne. Darryl teaches the women powers, which they never knew they had.
Witches of Eastwick is a musical of self-discovery as the leading women in the show learn that they are more than what society sees of them and that they have the ability to achieve their wildest dreams if they put their minds to it.
Kacey and Julia welcome all to take part, in what promises to be yet another incredible journey.
“The biggest thing that we want to push is that it’s not just a RIA event – everyone is welcome,” Kacey said.
“We really want Sports Academy, MSA, General Excellence, we want everyone to come in.
“The performing is secondary to it all. It’s the experience.
“You don’t have to have any performing experience whatsoever to be involved. But the journey of putting on a show and having that experience, it’s amazing.”
Julia Duke has extensive experience with The Witches of Eastwick, where it has something for everyone.
“I had done it a few years ago, I loved the show and loved the music,” Julia said.
“We think about our cohort when we put together a show (and) it has a really interesting ensemble, lots of little bit parts for students to get involved with, it’s got some great dance numbers, lots of harmonies for the singers as well.
“We’ve got some great character actors and actresses to bring those characters to life.”
Producing a unique show each year is a challenge Kacey and Julia thrive on. With The Witches of Eastwick containing spellbinding illusions and magic, 2017’s show looks set to dazzle.
“We always look for something a bit different as well because it’s got the magic to it as well – there’s a lot of illusions that we need to do on stage.
“It’s at a complexity but we love that challenge as well.
“I think the perception that (each year’s show is) better than the previous show, is that it’s different to the previous show.
“You can’t compare them, in a sense, it’s great in its own right.
“There’s still people that say they really loved Hairspray or they really loved Seussical, because they are so different, they appeal to different people.”
“There’s going to be some stagecraft that’s going to be pretty special – the witches in the show have to fly so we’re going to have a way of doing that, and the magical elements as well,” Julia said.
“One of the characters is a devilish sort of character, so bringing those special effects in to the show to try and portray that magical element.”
With the widespread talent of the students at the College, Kacey says The Witches of Eastwick fits the bill perfectly.
“What we do think when we choose a show is, do we have the kids that can pull it off? And yes we do - we’ve always got to keep that in mind,” she said.
“We’re always surprised during auditions,” Julia said.
“There are always kids that come out of the woodwork or have been in the ensemble for a few years that just step up and they’re right for those characters.”
Part of the production journey includes the production camp each year, where Julia and Kacey enjoy the ‘family’ element that the experience invokes.
“It’s like our favourite time of year, we love it. We love going and getting involved with the kids,” Julia said.
“You’ve got year 7s that come in or anyone having their first production experience and the other kids just envelop them and bring them into the little family – it’s awesome.”
“It’s like taking 100 kids who love what they do and want to be there 100% - they just love it,” Kacey said.
To get involved in The Witches of Eastwick, simply access the following website to book an audition date and time: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409054baead2ba5ff2-witches
Semester Two RIA Showcase
Make sure you check out all the fabulous snaps from RIA Semester Two Showcase, from student-photographer Alicia Currie and resident stalwart photographer Paul Danyluk.
CLICK HERE for Alicia Currie's gallery.
CLICK HERE for Paul Danyluk's gallery.
Home-stay opportunities
Providing home-stay accommodation for an international student offers the chance to learn about another culture and build lifelong friendships.
This is an opportunity for you to join other families who are currently hosting international students at Rowville Secondary College. Students are typically aged between 15 and 18 years of age and need accommodation ranging from a few months to up to three years.
In return for accepting a student into your home and family you will be paid a generous weekly amount for your hosting and hospitality.
Student application enquiries are increasing with interest being shown in all of our programs – in particular VCE, Sports Academy golf and cricket, RIA Dance and Drama and MSA.
For further information or to register your interest in this unique opportunity, please all Chris Rodier on 9755 4555 or email rodier.christopher.j@edumail.vic.gov.au
Performing Arts Centre Hire
Rowville's Performing Arts Centre is available to hire!
Contact Susan Thompson (Manager) on 9755 4629 or at thompson.susan.l@edumail.vic.gov.au
The PAC will provide a professional platform to deliver an outstanding result for your next event!
Visit the Facebook by clicking here, or the official website for the venue by clicking here.
