Setting goals and achieving their dreams
Haileybury Pangea students combine success in their studies with success in many other intriguing arenas of life.
For students at Haileybury Pangea, no two days are ever the same as they balance online classes and assignments with pursuing their passions. Whether that passion involves becoming an Olympic snowboarder, a technology boffin, an accomplished zoologist or a talented basketballer, Haileybury Pangea students are aiming high.
All creatures great and small
Camille (Year 10) discovered who’s who in the zoo as part of an interesting initiative called the Zoos Victoria Youth Leadership Program. As part of the program, Camille researched the work being done by Parks Victoria at Haining Farm in the Don Valley to protect the Leadbeater’s Possum. Haining Farm is a repurposed farm that is exploring new ways of supporting nature conservation.
Camille also completed an individual youth leadership project that centred around the successful conservation efforts of a re-purposed golf course near her home.
“Volunteers plant native flowers and rehabilitate native animals there so they can recreate an environment of 60,000 years ago,” Camille explains, adding that encouraging young people to take part in conservation is key now and into the future.
Tiarni (Year 10) is also a keen conservationist and zoologist who completed the Zoos Victoria Youth Leadership program last year and then earned a work placement at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast. She has also done a farm guardianship program in the Dandenongs and is an RSPCA volunteer.
“The thing I enjoyed most about the Zoos Victoria Youth Leadership Program was being able to expand my knowledge of my leadership skills and to learn about how staff run the zoo and take care of the animals,” says Tiarni.
“At Australia Zoo, a highlight was going behind the scenes to work in close proximity to different animals. I also loved talking to the staff about what they did to get a job at the zoo and I got a lot of insights into the public and private zoo sectors.
“Once I graduate from Haileybury Pangea I hope to study zoology or conservation and I’m interested in ethology – the study of animal behaviour. I’m also considering completing a research internship in Costa Rica after Year 12”Tiarni (Year 10)
The Winter Olympian
The world’s wintry slopes are a second home to Haileybury Pangea student, Milo (Year 10). Milo began skiing when he was three and switched to snowboarding at the age of eight. He has since been part of Snow Australia’s Emerging Talent Program and won championship titles in Australia and the US.
The elite snowboarder competes around the globe and most recently represented Australia at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea, which attracted 1,800 competitors aged 15 to 18.
“It was an incredible experience and a once-in-a-lifetime event. I was extremely fortunate to be the sole competitor for Australia in the Snowboard Slopestyle Men’s competition, with the field consisting of the 20 best under-18s in the world. The competition was fierce!”Milo (Year 10)
“Highlights of the event were being in the Olympic Village and the competition venues and I took part in the Opening Ceremony as part of the Australian parade and saw the lighting of the Olympic torch.”
Milo is now busy practicing for upcoming snowboarding competitions.
“It doesn’t matter which sport you compete it, to make it to the highest level you have to be fully prepared and ready to take on all the challenges and responsibilities required to make it to the highest level of competition in the world,” he says.
Girls in the Tech Crew
Emily (Year 11) has a head for technology and is a key member of Haileybury Pangea’s Tech Crew, created by Digital Learning Leader, Geoff Orton. Along with Jasmine (Year 11), Emily is a founding member of the tech crew that helps Haileybury Pangea students with their digital literacy questions.
Emily and Jasmine have also recently developed cyber safety modules for students.
“Our most exciting project has been forming a curriculum for students that educates them on the world of social media and online behaviours and that will take place in Term 3. On top of that, we do a lot of behind the scenes work for the School Captain and Year Level Representatives, such as editing videos and creating PowerPoints,” says Jasmine.
“We’ve gained a lot of knowledge about media creation and navigating different software, and helping to create content for students to bring their visions to life is incredibly rewarding.”
“Jasmine and I are avid gamers and we both have fathers who work in the tech field, which is likely where our initial interest in technology and computer software started,” says Emily.
“Attending an online school has also increased our interest in how the software that we use day-to-day works. It seems now that every job has a technological aspect, so the knowledge we are learning will be incredibly valuable, regardless of our career choices later”Emily (Year 11)
Emily and Jasmine are also both Year Level Representatives who run weekly catch-ups for their cohort and organise events that bring students together, such as the Push Up Challenge and National Reconciliation Week. They are also hoping to launch a gaming or book club in Term 3.
Hot off the press
Felix (Year 6) is one of a group of enterprising and creative students who launched The Pangean, the Haileybury Pangea magazine designed by students, for students. Developed as part of the Curious Minds program, the magazine has become a popular part of school life with its mix of articles, drawings, student and teacher profiles and tips on how to make the most of studying online.
Felix is also a Year 6 Leader who is at the forefront of coming up with interesting ways to connect students and create a sense of community.
“During Term 2 we kicked off our Music Pathways and Thrive programs and became awesome directors by creating movies and we developed games based on social enterprises,” says Felix.
“It has also been great to attend lunchtime catch-ups with other students and to chat and do activities together, like playing Pictionary or playing a GIMKIT video game made Vihaan in Year 7. That was a lot of fun.”
A slam dunk for Leo
Leo (Year 5) is following in the skilful footsteps of his father on the basketball court. Leo’s dad played high-level college basketball at Texas A&M University and he’s passed a love of the fast-moving sport on to his son. It seems father and son also share plenty of talent on court.
Leo began playing basketball three years ago at the age of eight and now plays for Frankston Blues Under-12s. The team was recently crowned the best Under-12 team in Australia after winning the National Junior Classic. The tournament includes the top 16 teams in Australia and Frankston Blues won the grand final by an impressive 20 points.
Leo was named Most Valuable Player (MVP).
“I never really realised I was good at basketball. I just picked a basketball up one day and thought it was fun and, as time went on, I started to train a lot with my Dad. I now train five hours a day every day of the week,” says Leo.
“I really want to play NBA and NBL one day – I don’t care what team I play for, as long as I make it!”
With so many amazing and diverse students at Haileybury Pangea, there’s always plenty happening and exciting achievements to share. We can’t wait to see what our brilliant students achieve in the next half of the year. Stay tuned!
