Brighton Secondary College would like to congratulate Madeline Cook Year 7 who has been chosen to receive the 2018 Victoria School Sport Award for Football (Soccer). The award will be presented at the MCG on March 14th.  

Madeline began playing soccer at the age of 5 for co-ed teams at Brighton Soccer Club where she was known to the boys as “The Sporty Girl”.

After two seasons at Brighton, Madeline moved to Ottawa, Canada where she played in an all girl’s league. Madeline achieved the golden boot for her team.

During the winter of 2014, Madeline participated in an international soccer camp in London, Ontario.

Returning to Australia in December of 2015, Madeline joined the Sandringham Soccer Club.  Coached by Sven Samild, her Under 11 girls team went undefeated.  During the 2016 season Madeline was chosen to represent Sandringham in the Caruana Cup, The Brighton Girls Tournament and the Castlefield Cup.  Her teams came first in each of these competitions.

Her Sandringham 2017 under 12 team came first in the Kangaroo League. Madeline achieved the Kangaroo League golden boot.  Madeline was chosen to represent Sandringham in the 2017 Caruana and Castlefield Cups.  Her teams achieved second and first respectively.

Madeline played her 2018 season in the Under 12 Squad at Bayside United FC, a Women’s National Premier League team.  She had a very successful season at Bayside and was the high scorer for the team and twice named Player of the Week.

After extensive trials, Madeline was chosen to participate in the 2018 Victoria School Sport Girls Under 13 Team. She competed in the week long National SSV tournament in Sydney in September of 2018.

Madeline also plays Futsal and was chosen for the Futsal Federation Victoria State Girls Under 14 Squad which participated in the New Zealand National Youth Futsal Championships in Palmerston North, NZ ,13-15 July 2018.

Madeline was selected to represent Victoria State in the National Futsal Tournament held in Sydney in January of 2019.

Madeline is currently Striker for South Melbourne FC, a Women’s National Premier League Team.  Madeline is in the 7th grade at Brighton Secondary College.

Madeline wants to continue her soccer career and is exploring all of her options.

The Year 12’s spent three days at Phillip Island for a Study Camp. The students had the opportunity to conquer their fears, work together with their peers and make bonds with friends both new and old, as well as their teachers. They undertook activities adventure activities including the Giant swing, team rescue and the High ropes course. As well as presentations from Mrs Dimitropoulos from regarding Careers, Elevate Study Skills and guest speakers, Tristan Miller and Sonya Karras. The students demonstrated teamwork, resilience and respect, which has got them off to a flying start to their final year at Brighton Secondary College.

Swimming Carnival 2019

Well done to all who participated in the swimming races as well as all the carnival games on the green – another year of record attendance!

Maddy: “Without Gibbo here at Brighton Secondary, I don’t know if I would have lasted through high school. I don’t think that I would have, I think that sometimes the pressure might have gotten too much and I would have just given up.

My name is Maddy Buchner and I’m the founder and CEO of Little Dreamers Australia and today we are sitting at my high school, at Brighton Secondary College in Melbourne.

I grew up as a carer for both my brother and my mum who both have a range of chronic health conditions and allergies, and my brother has a lot of learning difficulties. So, I founded Little Dreamers to make sure that no young person grows up feeling isolated and lonely and guilty for feeling that way like I did growing up.

My favourite teacher was Karen Gibson or we used to call her Gibbo, or we still do call her Gibbo!”

Gibbo: “Wow! Does this bring back memories?”

Maddy: “Yes! When they announced school captain, I think I was sitting over there and we had to walk up and I tripped on the microphone cord.”

Gibbo: “I can’t say that you were… No, I won’t say that you were clumsy Maddy but… [laughing]”

Maddy: “She was our welfare coordinator and for me that was really important. The first year I came here my mum got sick and that was really hard for me, and I used to spend a lot of time with Gibbo in her office and it gave me an outlet that I needed when I was at school. If you think about all the gossip and all of the bullying and all of the things that happen when you’re at high school while you’re turning into the person that you’re supposed to be and having someone like Gibbo was incredibly important. I don’t think I would be half the person I am today or where I am today without someone like Gibbo at my school.

Maddy to Gibbo: “You walk into a room and you’re like a ray of sunshine and you can’t be sad when Gibbo is around. And you can’t… Nothing seems too big and I think that that’s part of your caring nature in that you care for every student as if they were your own child and I think that that’s really special.

Gibbo to Maddy: “Thank you! I am glad that comes across because you really do. I mean, I don’t think kids understand sometimes that as teachers we really do care. We really do care, and it is like they’re your own little kids and you’re watching them grow up, and that’s been one of the great things about being at this school for such a long time and seeing kids come in at Year 7 and going out at Year 12. It’s incredible.”

Maddy: “I don’t think the realises the impact that she has on students’ lives and I think it’s really important that she knows how special she is and how instrumental she is in creating and shaping the young people that come through Brighton Secondary College. I honestly don’t think that I would have achieved what I did through high school let alone achieved what I have since high school if I didn’t have someone like Gibbo throughout high school.”

CLICK HERE to find out more about Little Dreamers – Creating an International community where every young carer feels supported, valued and empowered.

FROM THE HONORABLE JAMES MERLINO MP

DEPUTY PREMIER
MINISTER FOR EDUCATION

“The Victorian Global Learning Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements of international students and to recognise schools and homestay families for their contribution to global learning and engagement.

The students, schools and homestay families … are leading the way in global engagement, better connecting us to the world and strengthening our cultural and linguistic diversity.

I am sure that they will continue to develop as leaders and role models for global learning, and go on to excel in their future education and careers.”

MASUMI NOTO

YEAR 11 SPORT ACHIEVEMENT COMMENDATION AWARD

Masumi is a passionate footy player at Brighton Secondary College. In her home country of Japan, Masumi represented her school and local community in soccer. Since coming to Australia, Masumi has wholeheartedly embraced the Australian Football League (AFL) where she has learnt a new game and new skills. Masumi has a demonstrated work ethic, always attending training sessions with the St. Peter’s Under-18 Youth Girls Team and volunteering her free time to coach younger students. Masumi has recently been selected by the Sandringham Dragons Girls’ TAC Program where she can continue to pursue her passion as a standout AFL player. Masumi has also played in the futsal team, represented Brighton Secondary College in the district javelin competition and has achieve academic success in all her subjects.

“TO KEEP PLAYING SPORTS WAS ONE OF MY AIMS IN COMING TO AUSTRALIA, AND I AM PROUD OF MYSELF THAT I ACHIEVED THAT. ON TOP OF THAT, THE DISCOVERY OF AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL IS A SUPER BONUS FOR ME.”

View Andia’s interview with the Department of Education and Training Victoria

SCRIPT

[Andia Latifi Meybodi] “I consider myself very lucky to be at Brighton Secondary College because Brighton Secondary is a school where giving something back to the community is really encouraged and that really satisfies me.”

[Travis Dangstorp, Assistant International Student Manager] “Andia is a really empathetic, respectful and intelligent young woman. She is always willing to voice her opinion but listen carefully to the opinion of others. Over the last year or so Andia has been involved in variety of activities. She initiated the mural which was a program that she decided would help to bring the school community together. She initiated the asylum seeker resource centre food drive during Christmas. She also participated in the mentor program which is primarily aimed at helping younger students both socially and academically; and she is also International Student Captain.”

[Andia Latifi Meybodi] “Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world and is one of the most accepting places. Being in Victoria has helped me realise the passion that I have for writing, it’s helped me build the confidence to express myself in my own words. It’s a tool for me to be able to bring awareness to the issues that are important to me like refugees, women’s rights and in general human rights. It’s also a way for me to be able to reach people’s hearts and make them feel the emotions I feel about these issues.”