Aerobics
Students in Years 7 – 12 are welcome to participate in this before or after school activity which is held in the school hall. School Aerobics is a blend of dance and aerobics where the students learn a routine which displays fitness, flexibility and strength. They compete in state competitions twice a year.
All Schools Cross Country and All Schools Road Relays
Open to students from Years 7 – 12, the road relays are held in May in Bundoora and the cross country in June at Albert Park. This is the State Championship for schools cross country, where students from Frankston High School compete against all schools, including those in the private sector.
Artfest
Students from Years 7 – 12 are invited to participate in Artfest which is held in Semester 2. The exhibition officially opens on the second Tuesday in November and runs for the entire week.
Artfest is a celebration of student achievement across all the visual arts studio areas at Frankston High School. The exhibition showcases to the community, the diverse range of opportunities offered to our students from Years 7 – 12. A clear focus on the learning outcomes is evident through the broad range of visual diaries available, which records the art-making process. The vast range of major artworks on display highlight the extraordinary range of creative pursuits offered to our students. To recognize and celebrate some of the amazing achievements of our art students, awards are presented on the night. These awards acknowledge and celebrate individual creative achievements in the Visual Arts.
Australian Maths Competition
All students from Years 7 – 8 and all students from Accelerated Maths classes in Years 9 – 10 are involved in this competition. In addition, any students from Years 9 – 12 who would like to compete in the Australian Maths Competition are welcome to do so.
The Australian Maths Competition is held in Term 3 during school hours.
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club runs from 8.00am – 8.40am three days a week in both Semester 1 and Semester 2 and is open to students from all year levels. Students from Years 7 – 10 meet at the Mud Hut on 7 – 10 Campus and Years 11 – 12 meet on the VCE Campus. Breakfast Club is a valuable program we are able to offer students, giving them the opportunity to start their day with a good breakfast in a caring and nurturing environment.
Central OZ and Top End Tour
For many Year 11 students, a highlight of their year is the 16 day coach/camping tour to Central and Northern Australia in September. It is a unique cultural experience creating some amazing sights and experiences for students who return home with wonderful memories that will remain with them forever.
The ‘Central Oz’ itinerary includes all the major attractions of the area such as Uluru, Standley Chasm, King’s Canyon and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). The ‘Top End’ includes the Devil’s Marbles, Mataranka, Katherine Gorge, Kakadu, Litchfield National Park and Darwin before returning by air to Melbourne.
Chess Club
Open to students in Years 11 and 12, Chess Club meets during lunchtime throughout the year on the 7-10 Campus.
Chess Club provides social and competition chess. In addition, the club provides structured activities such as chess tournaments, chess lessons and other coaching, and participation in interschool and intraschool events such as the local Chess Battle an interschool competition at Mornington Secondary College.
Computer Club
Computer Club is open to students in Years 7 – 12 one lunchtime a week. It is a place for people who love computing and computers to get together and learn from each other. Coding, gaming, multimedia, design and much more are on offer. Computer Club is also a great place to come along and get some computer assistance.
Debating and Public Speaking
DAV JSP Junior Debating is a friendly skills development competition for students in Years 7 and 8.
DAV Public Speaking Competition is for students in Years 7 – 9.
DAV Schools Competition is typically for students in Years 9 – 12 however advanced Year 8 students can also participate.
VCAA Plain English Competition is for students doing VCE.
The JSP competition is held in Terms 3 – 4
The DAV Competition is run in Terms 1 – 3
The DAV Public Speaking is held in Terms 2 – 3
VCAA Plain English Competition is held in May/June.
The JSP competition location varies and is run on a Thursday night (4 nights over the season).
The DAV Schools competition is usually held on a Tuesday night at Toorak College in Mt Eliza (5 nights over the season). The two public speaking competitions run as an excursion on a school day.
The Debating and Public Speaking program gives students the opportunity to develop their skills and compete against other schools. Beginning in Year 7 and 8, students can learn the skills of debating such as how a debate is structured, speaker rules and how the debate is judged and participate in three ‘friendly’ debates as part of the DAV’s JSP program.
Middle and Senior School students can participate in the DAV’s Secondary Schools’ Competition where there are five debates in total over the season which take place on Tuesday evenings over Terms 1 – 3.
There are various opportunities for students to participate in public speaking competitions such as the DAV’s Junior Public Speaking competition and the VCAA Plain English Award.
Debutante Ball
The Debutante Ball is one of the highlights of Year 11. The debutantes and their partners must be current students of Frankston High School.
Students interested in participating are invited to a meeting in November where they will receive information and details on what is expected of them and the cost of participation. Dance lessons begin in February and continue through till May. Students who wish to participate are required to attend all of these lessons.
The Debutante Balll is held at The International in Brighton and tickets to this event are available for purchase by friends and family.
Digital Learning Support (DLS)
DLS is open to students in Years 7 – 12. We usually meet once a month and train once per term.
Our Digital Learning Support students are those students who love technology in all forms and also love helping people. These students can be called upon at any time by peers or teachers to provide ICT assistance directly within the classroom.
Eco Team
Students from all year levels are invited to join the Eco Team. This group meets on lunchtime a week throughout the year.
Eco Team students are passionate about making a difference environmentally and alerting others to the reasons why environmental change is necessary. There are many areas of focus, and these change from year to year depending on the interests held by members.
Recently, students conducted an investigation into micro-plastics at Frankston beach, hosted a movie night premiering the film ‘Baykeepers’ and presented at the Frankston High School Parents and Friends Association meeting. There is a key focus on environmental leadership and what it takes ‘to be the change you want to see in the world’. Eco Team members also conduct environmental audits of the school, develop strategies to help deal with environmental concerns in and out of the school, form relationships with outside environmental organisations (like the Frankston Environmental Friends Network) and present at school assemblies about environmental issues. Overall, it is a group of students with drive and initiative that are not afraid to tackle the big future issues head on!
Fitness Club
Frankston High School Fitness Club is open on Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes for all students in Years 7 – 12 in the Weight Training Room. Fitness Club is a friendly team orientated club which is designed to give our students the opportunity to improve their overall fitness, health and wellbeing, in a positive and motivating environment. The sessions are supervised but the emphasis is on group training with older students assisting our younger students with their training, technique and gym safety. Frankston High School students take ownership of their own fitness room and of their own personal and group training.
Great Victorian Bike Ride
Students from Years 7 – 10 are invited to participate in the Great Vic Bike Ride. The ride is held over 9 days and runs over the last week of November and first week of December. This activity is very demanding and involves riding for 9 days and camping. Students ride during the day and camp with up to 5,000 people for the evenings. In preparation, students participate in months of training rides and will cover up to 1,000km.
The key benefits for our students are:
• Improved self-confidence, resilience and personal development.
• Improved teamwork skills from working in groups.
• Practical bicycle maintenance skills.
• Better physical fitness from preparing for and undertaking the ride.
• Improved mental and emotional health outcomes through physical fitness and activity.
• Heightened spatial awareness skills from riding and communicating in groups.
• Exposure to greater social diversity by mixing with a large group of students from others schools and the general public.
• An awareness of many different parts of Victoria.
Homework Club
Homework Club runs from 3.30pm – 4.30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday and is open to all year levels all year in the JRC. Homework Club welcomes all students wot complete homework in the safe environment of the library. This club offers teacher assistance and access to information resources on the shelf and online.
Hosting Overseas Students
We have sister schools in both France and Japan and receive regular, short visits to our school from students from these sister schools. Home hosting enriches the language learnt in class and offers an insight into the real lives and cultures from around the world.
Frankston High School also has a sister school in Letsibogo, South Africa. Our exchange program allows us to bring a Year 11 student out to Frankston High School each year. If you are interested in hosting or would like more information on this very rewarding experience, please contact Anne Thomson on 0409 835 541.
HPV (Human Powered Vehicle)
Students from Years 7 – 12 are welcome to be part of the HPV Team. There are three 6 hour races which are held on weekends in February, April and November. Training is at school from 3:30 – 4:30pm and at Casey Fields on Sundays prior to events. The races are held at Casey Fields and Knox.
The HPV program provides an opportunity for schools and communities to work and learn together. It is a fun program with real world challenges and offers students opportunities to explore and address vehicle design, driving skills and vehicle safety issues. In addition, it provides an opportunity for students to be part of a team effort comprised of both girls and boys.
ICT Student Leadership
Offered to students in Years 7 – 12, ICT Student Leadership meets in the JRC once a month and trains once per term. Students involved assist to develop our culture of digital excellence and innovation in teaching and learning, cyber safe practices, positive digital citizenship and footprints. Students assist with decision making, policy development, school events and initiatives.
inTune Vocal Group
Students from Years 7 – 12 are invited to join inTune. This vocal group meets one lunchtime a week in the Music Centre. Students across all year levels with an interest in singing, join together to rehearse songs for performance. The vocal group’s repertoire is largely drawn from the contemporary genre and performed in two to three part harmony. Group members are encouraged to contribute their ideas in song selection for performance. The inTune vocal group is also responsible for performing the National Anthem and School Song at school assemblies and special events when required.
Lifesaving Swim Qualification
Students in Years 7 – 12 are welcome to participate in the Lifesaving Swim Qualification which is run in Semester 2 at lunchtimes in the school pool. Participants are given the opportunity to prepare for the rigours of lifesaving camp. It also provides a pre requisite for students to complete to qualify for the annual Lifesaving Camp. Students are to complete a minimum number of swims to qualify for the Lorne Camp.
Rowing
Rowing at Frankston High School has been established since 2005 and is open to all year levels.
Rowing training is held at the National Water Sports Centre at Carrum and training sessions intensify between September and April when students become involved in competition. There is normally one early morning session, Thursday’s after school and Saturday mornings. During winter, rowing is replaced by gym sessions.
The aim of the program is to give access to a sport that students would not normally be able to do. Students are encouraged to set their own targets and level of competition.
School Production
The school production is an annual event. Auditions are in November and rehearsals run from February to May with the production held in late May. Rehearsals take place after school from 3:30 – 6pm and on some Sunday’s from 10am – 1:30pm in the school hall and the Drama Room.
Past productions at Frankston High School include Hairspray, Grease, Footloose, Seussical, The Wiz and Annie. Students from all year levels are encouraged to participate and improve their skills in acting, singing and dancing. Students form positive working relationships with both staff and students from a variety of year levels and this experience is often a highlight of students’ school experiences.
Semper Squad
A before and after school training program for students in Years 7 – 12 that allows students to train in a range of sports with specialist coaches. Sports include: Athletics, swimming cross country, netball and basketball all year, AFL Terms 1 and 2 and hockey Terms 3 and 4. More information can be obtained from the school’s website and the sport Facebook page.
Student Leadership Council (SLC)
SLC is offered to students in Years 8 – 12. There are weekly meetings; Tuesday on the 7 – 10 Campus and Thursday on the VCE Campus.
Students involved in the SLC have many opportunities to improve their leadership skills and contribute to making the school a better place. Students are offered opportunities to be leaders in various programs within the school, attending excursions and enjoying leadership experiences in and out of the school. These students also decide and run events at school which help the wider community.
Study Tours to France and Japan
Students in Years 9 – 11 are invited to participate in the overseas study tours.
These tours are offered bi-annually and run for approximately two weeks (the last week of Term 3 and the first week of the September holidays).
We have sister schools in both France and Japan and we offer bi-annual visits to both of these countries with the possibility of extended stay in country and regular visits to our school from students from our sister schools. The possibility of home-hosting enriches the language learnt in class and offers an insight into the real lives and cultures from around the world.
Various other cultural activities are offered such as participating in Frankston Susono Fair and speech contests as the opportunities arise.
Surf Patrol
Students in Years 7 – 12 are welcome to participate in Surf Patrol which runs on the weekend from summer to autumn at Portsea Back Beach and other patrolled beaches. This activity is designed for students who have completed Surf Bronze or Surf Rescue Certificate and plan to attend patrols over summer. Students attending Lorne Surf Camp are expected to attend a number of patrols and fundraisers such as Portsea Swim Classic and the Pier to Perignon.
World Challenge
Offered to students from Years 10 and 11, World Challenge is offered bi-annually in Semester 2.
Students depart mid/late November, returning before Christmas. Students are on expedition for 4 weeks in a different location each time. In 2013 the expedition was to Cambodia and Thailand and 2015 it was India.
The expedition is student led, with participants taking on all the day-to-day responsibilities and managing the budget for the duration of the expedition. By planning their own itinerary and travelling to another part of the world, spending time volunteering in a developing community and trekking through challenging terrain, students come back with a different perspective on life as they ‘knew’ it and many new skills.
The expedition involves four phases:
Acclimatization – A few days are spent adapting to the culture shock caused by altitude, food terrain, climate, culture and smells. This time also enables the group of individuals to become a team as they work together, rotate leadership roles and run daily review sessions to ensure they learn from all their experiences.
Physical Challenge – While trekking in challenging terrain, the team spirit, skills learnt, sights seen and sense of achievement will be second to none. Gradually the leaders step back and empower the students to make the decisions.
Community Project – For many students this is the most rewarding phase. Students interact with the local community and give something beneficial back, putting into perspective their privileged lives.
Rest and Relaxation – The final few days are spend relaxing, time to take everything in. Each group will select a variety of activities to participate in during this time.
Writers Club
Starting mid Term 1 and continuing throughout the year on Fridays at lunchtime, the Writers Club is open to all students in Years 7 – 12.
The aim of the club is for young writers to share their ideas and passion for writing. To develop their writing skills through different creative drills and to teach students how to provide valuable and constructive feedback to others. A future aim will be to have students enter/publish pieces of their writing in various writing competitions and potentially publish their work through either traditional or new channels.
