Principal’s Report
Welcome back from term break
We hope everyone enjoyed a restful and refreshing term break. It has been wonderful, as always, to see students return with such enthusiasm, energy, and focus. The school has quickly come alive again with learning, laughter, and a strong sense of purpose as we begin the new term together.
There is much to share in this edition of the newsletter — from outstanding student achievements to inspiring community contributions, and moments of reflection, including the recent State Funeral honouring Old Boy Brian Dixon, a distinguished figure in both sport and public life.
Celebrating Academic Excellence
Keshav Named ICAS All-Stars Champion!
We are incredibly proud to share that Keshav (Year 10) has been awarded the prestigious ICAS All-Stars Award for 2025 – one of the highest academic honours in the country!
Keshav has been named State Year Level Champion – Senior VIC Year 10, placing him at the very top of Victoria’s high-achieving students across multiple academic disciplines. This incredible accomplishment also comes with a $500 prize and national recognition as one of Australia’s most capable and versatile academic minds.
The ICAS All-Stars competition is a rigorous, multi-domain assessment that challenges students across English, Mathematics, Science, reasoning, digital literacy, and general knowledge. Only the very best from each state are awarded this honour.
Keshav’s achievement is a testament to his curiosity, discipline, and love of learning. It also reflects the dedicated support of our teachers and the vibrant culture of academic excellence at our school.
Congratulations, Keshav! You inspire all of us to aim high, stay curious, and give our best in all we do.
Premier’s VCE Awards 2025 – Melbourne High Students Recognised
The Premier’s VCE Awards ceremony was held on Wednesday 2 July 2025 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event celebrated the exceptional achievements of Victorian students. A total of 339 awards, including 23 Top All-Round VCE High Achiever awards, recognised the exceptional dedication and hard work of 315 students during the 2024 VCE.
The Top All-Round VCE High Achiever award to students who have achieved study scores of 46 or higher in at least 5 VCE studies. Scored VET studies are included in the count of studies.
A total of 23 students were recognised as Top All-Round VCE High Achievers across Victoria, including two from Melbourne High School:
- Nathan Wong and Patrick Phan
The individual study award recipients from Melbourne High School were
- Andy Bao (Biology) – current Year 12
- Oliver Downing (Chemistry) – Current Year 12
- Rohan Green (English)
- Sean Teerapakawong (Japanese Second Language)
- Yiyu Chen (Music Inquiry)
- Zhanyi Li (Chinese Second Language, Eastern Chinese Language School)
We congratulate all our award recipients for their dedication, talent, and outstanding results.
Melbourne High Students Shine at the 2025 International Biology Olympiad
Two of Melbourne High School’s brightest young scientists, Matthew Wu and Oliver Downing, have returned from the 2025 International Biology Olympiad (IBO) in the Philippines — not just with medals, but with memories, friendships, and a place in Australia’s scientific story.
In a competition involving the finest biology students from over 70 countries, Matthew and Oliver helped Team Australia rise to the top — bringing home:
- Gold Medal – Matthew Wu
- Silver Medal – Oliver Downing
They stood shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best — and stood tall.
Matthew Wu: Discovery, Dedication, and a Gold
Matthew Wu delivered a truly outstanding performance, earning a gold medal and confirming his place among the top biology students in the world.
Initially drawn to the Olympiads by a friendly sibling rivalry, Matthew quickly forged his own path. His passion for biology — particularly its molecular mysteries — found fertile ground at ASO Summer School, where he honed his skills using tools like PCR and gel electrophoresis.
Balanced, determined, and endlessly curious, Matthew brings the same intensity to water polo as he does to the lab. With aspirations in medicine, he embodies the values of science: precision, compassion, and purpose.
“The highlight of Summer School was using real lab-grade equipment — it made the science real. Now I know I want to combine research with helping people.”
Oliver’s Reflection: Science, Spirit, and a Silver Medal
“Last night, I won a silver medal for Australia at the International Biology Olympiad! I’m about to hop on a plane in Manila to return home after a rollercoaster week.”
For Oliver, this wasn’t just a competition — it was a celebration of science and humanity. After years of dedication through the Australian Science Olympiad (ASO) and Junior Science Olympiad (JSO) programs, Oliver finally stood on the international stage, solving problems in biodiversity, physiology, and microbiology — and finding joy in the unexpected.
“Our gruelling exams included analysing bacterial cultures, dissecting a fish, and diagnosing a heart problem. But my favourite part has been meeting other ambitious students from around the world. I’ve certainly become more self-aware. After speaking to the American team, I quickly learned to call my footwear flip-flops, not thongs!”
Amid the science, there was wonder:
“Did you know the critically endangered Philippine eagle has a wingspan of up to 2.5 metres – the largest in the world?”
With humour, humility, and insight beyond his years, Oliver offered this closing reflection:
“It’s said that travel is the language of peace. In our interconnected world, I’m incredibly grateful to have made friends across the globe. I really value the people I’ve met and look forward to staying in touch.”
Together with teammates Gina Chen (gold) and Aidan Chan (bronze), Oliver and Matthew lifted Australia to a leading position at the 2025 IBO. But more than medals, they brought home perspective, pride, and possibility.
We are immensely proud of these two Melbourne High School students — not only for their academic achievements, but for the integrity, enthusiasm, and thoughtfulness with which they embraced this opportunity. They have not only represented Australia but embodied the very best of our school spirit.
Congratulations, Oliver and Matthew — you’ve inspired a generation. Here’s to your future discoveries, and the journeys still to come.
Student Leader Shines at YMCA Youth Parliament
Over the holidays, Taihan (Year 11) represented our school with distinction at the YMCA Victoria Youth Parliament — a prestigious civic leadership program that empowers young people to engage with real-world policy making.
As part of the Maribyrnong Youth Advisory Committee, Taihan co-authored and successfully passed a bill aimed at improving accessibility to non-car centric transport. The program mirrors real parliamentary processes, with debate and voting taking place across two houses — just like in the Victorian Parliament.
- Taihan’s leadership stood out:
- He was elected Chamber Leader by his peers,
- Then went on to be elected Victorian Youth Premier and Leader of Government in the Legislative Assembly — a truly remarkable honour.
His passion and poise also earned him the spotlight in the media, with interviews on both 9 News and the Parliament of Victoria’s official channels:
Taihan and his team also presented their bill to Maribyrnong City Council and State MP for Footscray, Katie Hall, advocating for more accessible and sustainable transport options in Victoria.
Congratulations, Taihan! Your leadership, passion for advocacy, and willingness to make a difference inspire us all. Programs like these show how young voices can shape the future — and we hope your story motivates other students to get involved and lead with purpose.
Leadership Update: A Second Term for Dr. Mordini
We are pleased to announce that the Department of Education has renewed Dr Tony Mordini’s contract as Principal of Melbourne High School.
Dr Mordini signed the contract on 21 July 2025, officially commencing a second term in the role.
He is committed to working closely with students, staff, and the wider community to continue building a positive, inclusive, and dynamic school community. Dr Mordini looks forward to leading Melbourne High School through its next chapter of growth, innovation, and opportunity.
Breakfast Club Launches at MHS – Every Thursday in the Library
We’re pleased to announce the launch of the Melbourne High School Breakfast Club, part of the School Breakfast Clubs Program delivered by Foodbank Victoria in partnership with the Victorian Government.
This program operates in over 1,000 state schools and ensures students can start their day with a full stomach, ready to engage, learn, and thrive. Our thanks go to Acting Assistant Principal Robert Sette for organising this invaluable initiative, which supports student wellbeing and strengthens our school community.
MHS Breakfast Club Details
- When: Every Thursday morning from 7:30am
- Where: The Library
- Who: All students are welcome. Teachers, staff, and parents are also encouraged to attend and connect over breakfast.
In addition to breakfast, the program offers:
- Ready-to-eat lunches available at the Wellbeing Centre for students who come to school without lunches.
Research and school experience show that shared breakfasts support:
- Improved student engagement and concentration
- Stronger student-staff relationships
- Greater social connection among students
Strategic Update: Expanded Access to VCE Subjects for Year 10 Students
As part of our ongoing commitment to academic excellence and personalised learning pathways, we are pleased to share a preliminary outcome from our Curriculum Review. Launched in October 2024, this review engaged students, families, staff and external experts, and has been informed by leading educational research.
From 2026, Year 10 students (currently Year 9) will have the opportunity to enrol in one VCE Unit 1/2 subject, initially offered within the Arts and Humanities. This initiative supports high-ability students seeking academic challenge and early exposure to the rigours of senior secondary study.
To ensure student wellbeing and learning remain central, Dr Steve Mason, our data analyst, will monitor student progress across the 2026–2028 cohorts. His longitudinal research will shape future refinements to the program.
Further information, including subject offerings and application procedures, will be provided shortly.
Honouring a Melbourne High Old Boy: The Honourable Brian James Dixon Farewelled at State Funeral
On Friday 25 July, the State Funeral for The Honourable Brian James Dixon was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral service.
Brian Dixon was not only a five-time Melbourne Football Club premiership player and trailblazing politician, but also a proud alumnus of Melbourne High School. Among his many contributions to public life were his roles in launching the Life. Be in it campaign and pioneering mandatory seatbelt legislation.
The Unicorn Choir, conducted by Mr Angus Grant, was invited to perform both the Australian National Anthem and the School Song, Honour the Work, at the service. Their heartfelt performance honoured Brian Dixon’s lifelong connection to Melbourne High School and added dignity and resonance to a farewell attended by family, dignitaries, and members of the broader community.
We extend our sincere thanks to Mr Grant and to the members of the Unicorn Choir for representing the School with such grace and distinction.
For those who were unable to watch the service live, please click the provided link to view the full livestream, where you can also enjoy the Unicorn Choir’s moving performance.
Video of the Honorable Brian Dixon’s Service (Unicorn Choir) – time stamp for the Unicorn Choir: 5m:40sec & 47m:20sec.
May the weeks ahead be filled with curiosity, connection, and courage. The kind that helps each student rise to meet their potential.
