2018 COMMUNITY REPORT

6 KEILOR CAMPUS REPORT We know that the 13 years of a child’s schooling are pivotal in how their lives will develop. During these 13 years students have the opportunity to learn a host of subjects, play with their friends, participate in a huge range of curricular and co-curricular programs, and form relationships with other members of the team. The range of opportunities are enormous and many College students use those opportunities to great advantage. A few years ago,AFLW went from being a fringe sport to mainstream.The broader community view changed from‘it’s a male sport’ to being inclusive for all.A large number of our girls love playing football and, in addition to its use by the College, our forthcoming oval development at Keilor Campus is proposed to be made available for women’s community football. During the year, a community grant application for the oval development was led by Myah Newton of Year 10, who plays for the College and in the local competition.This was a fabulous initiative by a student who thinks outside the square. I look forward to the day when Performing Arts activities such as the musical and choirs also have gender balance and that all students taking music lessons have a go at being in an ensemble.The outcome of being in music ensembles can be seen at many events during the year. In June, for example, we were treated to another entertaining evening ‘Out of the Blue’, which showcased our rock bands inYears 5-13 (a band from the class of 2017, included). Our students are wonderfully talented and there is clear unity between the younger and older performers.This was best outlined by Old Collegian MarcusWherrett’s commentary about how his band started at ‘Out of the Blue’ four years ago and now play at venues in the Melbourne music scene; he gave great encouragement to all musicians to carry their craft beyond school.They began as novices but were prepared to have a go and the outcome speaks for itself. I also enjoy seeing students challenging themselves to participate in service-based activities, such as the Sunshine Harvester program and the tour to Chibobo. Both provide significant support to others and every student that participates is a better person for taking part – not because of the nobility of their actions, but because they see the role that they can play in communities and that gives them a greater sense of self- worth.