Luther College

What a fun way to finish the week!

This year’s Staff vs Year 12 Netball Match brought plenty of energy and friendly competition to the gym at lunchtime today. With Captains Harvey and Callum providing live commentary, music setting the atmosphere, and a large crowd cheering from the sidelines, the stage was set for an exciting contest.

The standard of play was impressive, with both teams giving it their all in a fast-paced and highly competitive game. Despite a determined challenge from the Year 12s, the staff team held their nerve to confidently claim the win!

On a chilly winter’s day, there was no shortage of action to keep everyone warm. It was a fantastic way to celebrate community, connection, and a little healthy rivalry.

Congratulations to all of our students who recently competed in the Victorian Secondary Schools Challenge, representing the College with determination, teamwork and pride throughout the tournament.

There were some fantastic performances across all age groups, with our Development U15 Boys crowned Division 2 Champions and progressing through to Finalists Day coming up at the State Basketball Centre on 16 June.

Our U17 Boys and U19 Girls both advanced through to their Grand Finals after outstanding tournament campaigns, while several other teams reached the semi-final stage and competed strongly throughout the day.

Across the competition, students demonstrated resilience, sportsmanship and great energy, representing the College with excellence both on and off the court.

A special thank you to all staff and coaches involved in preparing and supporting our students in the lead up to the competition and throughout the day. Your time, encouragement and commitment continue to provide incredible opportunities for our students to grow, compete and thrive.

Over the past two weeks, our annual House Public Speaking Competition has inspired, entertained and challenged our thinking, as students across every year level stepped forward to represent their House with confidence, creativity and conviction.

From Year 7 students bravely stepping onto the stage for the very first time, to our Year 12 speakers delivering their final speeches after years of proudly representing their Houses, the competition showcased an impressive range of talent, confidence and growth across every year level.

This year’s format brought an exciting twist, with students from each House and year level drawing their speech topics from a hat during a special lunchtime session. The result? Every audience experienced a completely different set of ideas, arguments and perspectives, making each competition unique, engaging and thought-provoking.

Students explored a wide range of contemporary and thought-provoking topics, including whether “Being an influencer is over-rated”, how “AI teaches students how to cheat and stops us learning”, and whether “Students would learn more if they could learn from home two days a week”. Other speakers tackled broader social questions such as “Technology has made us more connected online but more lonely in real life” and even debated whether “Billionaires should not exist”.

Beyond the speakers themselves, students also took on important House leadership roles behind the scenes - brainstorming ideas, writing, editing and supporting one another throughout the process.

Across every House, students delivered strong, well-researched speeches, dynamic partnerships and highly engaging presentations that captivated audiences and sparked meaningful discussion.

Congratulations to all students involved for the courage, preparation and passion they brought to this year’s competition.

This week, we were delighted to welcome back basketball sensation and Class of 2016 Alumni Kiera Rowe.

Kiera returned to Luther on Wednesday to connect with and inspire a group of Middle Years students through an active session in the gym, followed by a healthy breakfast and conversation. The session was designed to bring young female students together in a warm and supportive environment, with a focus on wellbeing, nutrition, confidence and leadership. Students invited had consistently demonstrated enthusiasm and effort, supported their teammates, worked hard, and made positive contributions to our community.

Opportunities like this play an important role in encouraging students to remain involved in sport and physical activity - and who better to share that message than Kiera herself!

After leaving Luther in Year 11 to pursue her basketball dream at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Kiera went on to represent Australia on the world stage, competing in international tournaments and playing in the WNBL. She is a shining example of what dedication, resilience, and the courage to back yourself can achieve.

We are incredibly proud of everything Kiera has accomplished and so grateful that she continues to stay connected with the Luther College community.

Congratulations to our EISM Athletics Team on an outstanding performance at Monday’s Division 1 Carnival held at Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park!

With a 6am start and students arriving at school before sunrise, our athletes embraced the day with incredible energy, determination and school spirit. Luther students delivered exceptional performances across both track and field events, with the College finishing an outstanding 3rd overall while also taking home:

• U14 Boys Division Champions

• Boys Overall Aggregate Trophy

We celebrated multiple individual winners across all age groups, with several students claiming victories in more than one event. These fantastic achievements, combined with the efforts of every athlete and the willingness of students to step into events at the last minute, contributed to a hugely successful day for Luther.

A special congratulations to the following students on breaking EISM records:

• Brandon: U14 Boys Long Jump, breaking the 2021 record by 4cm

• Ruby: U16 Girls Discus, breaking the 2022 record by an incredible 4.66m

• Isaac, Brandon, Howen and Will: U14 Boys 4 x 100m Relay, breaking the long-standing 2014 record by 0.4 seconds

Thank you to all students, staff and supporters who contributed to such a successful day. Congratulations to everyone on a fantastic carnival!

As the colder months begin to settle in, the College will soon be launching a winter clothing drive in support of the Maroondah Shelter Winter Appeal.

Our House Captains led Chapel this morning, speaking thoughtfully about the challenges many members of our community face during winter. As part of their presentation, they took on a vlog challenge at Savers in Ringwood, where they had just $15 to put together a complete winter outfit. While Lach and Alistair made some practical choices, Ollie’s Hawaiian-inspired shirt may not offer quite enough warmth for the season ahead!

In the coming weeks, we invite families to begin collecting items such as windcheaters, pants, new underwear and socks to support the Appeal.

Further information about the Appeal and donation details will be shared via OMNIA in the coming weeks.

It’s a wrap!

Six sold out shows, standing ovations, happy tears, unforgettable performances and so many special moments - our College production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid has been nothing short of spectacular.

A huge congratulations to our outstanding students, whose talent, commitment, courage and passion lit up the stage each time. From the cast and crew to the orchestra and backstage teams, students embraced every challenge and created a production filled with energy, heart and unforgettable moments.

A very special thank you to Ms Kate Amey, whose vision, creativity and direction throughout the entire journey was incredible. Her passion, leadership and commitment helped shape a truly magical production and an unforgettable experience for our students and audiences alike.

Thank you also to our staff, volunteers, families and wider community for the countless hours of support and encouragement that helped bring this show to life.
And to our audiences, thank you for cheering loudly, supporting wholeheartedly and making every performance so special.

What a journey. What a show.

Last week, our ASPIRE students enjoyed two inspiring opportunities focused on learning, reflection and personal growth through sessions with guest presenters and industry professionals.

Following Thursday’s Mother’s Day Breakfast, students participated in a special presentation and workshop with Samantha Gash. Drawing on her experiences as an endurance athlete, social impact entrepreneur and global advocate, Samantha shared powerful insights into resilience, adaptability and sustainable endurance.

Students were encouraged to recognise that “the finishing line is the easiest part of the story to photograph,” with much of growth and success shaped by the unseen challenges, setbacks and persistence along the way. Samantha also challenged students to identify areas where they may not yet feel confident, and to recognise the importance of building strong teams and support networks that help fill gaps and strengthen success.

Her reflections on self-belief and resilience particularly resonated with students, reminding them to be kind to themselves, listen to their inner voice and understand that setbacks are not always failure - sometimes they are simply a “not now.” Students were encouraged to embrace obstacles as opportunities to pivot, adapt and discover new pathways forward when things do not go to plan.

On Friday, they also worked alongside guests from Monash University Business School, including psychologist Dr Martin Boult. Throughout the sessions, Middle Years students were invited to think introspectively about their own motivations and develop strategies to strengthen their growth mindset when faced with challenges and obstacles. Senior ASPIRE students reflected on the ways they have continued to develop their talents, attributes and habits of mind, and how these skills can support future growth and success.

We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing partnership we share with Monash University Business School and thank both Dr Martin Boult and Samantha Gash for inspiring and challenging our students through these meaningful learning experiences.

There was a wonderful warmth and energy across the College yesterday as students, mums and grandmothers gathered for our annual Mother’s Day Breakfast, despite the wet and wintry weather outside, celebrating the mothers and mother figures who play such an important role in our lives and community.

We were privileged to hear from inspiring guest speaker Samantha Gash - endurance athlete, social impact entrepreneur, founder of Her Trails, World Vision Goodwill Ambassador and mother - whose story of resilience, courage and purpose deeply resonated with everybody.

Drawing on her remarkable experiences running across some of the world’s harshest environments, Samantha shared powerful reflections about identity, purpose and the stories we tell ourselves. She encouraged students and mothers alike to consider their own “secret power” - the qualities that make each person unique - and reminded us that growth often comes when we are willing to challenge old narratives, embrace uncertainty and step bravely into new spaces.

Her message about resilience, meaningful effort and finding purpose in both the visible and unseen moments was particularly powerful. Samantha spoke about the importance of the work done “in the shadows” - the choices we make when no one is watching - and the way these moments quietly shape character, strength and who we become.

She also reflected on the importance of slowing down, finding intentional space to reset, and having the courage to ask, “why not?” rather than focusing on barriers or limitations.

Thank you, Samantha, for sharing your honesty, vulnerability and wisdom with our community, and for inspiring us to embrace challenge, purpose and resilience at all stages of life.

Thank you also to the many students who assisted throughout the morning with serving guests and supporting the barista service, along with College Captains Harvey and Helena for their involvement and leadership during the event.

As we look ahead to Mother’s Day on Sunday, we extend our heartfelt thanks and best wishes to all mothers, grandmothers and mother figures in our community. We hope you enjoy a wonderful and well-deserved celebration with family and loved ones.

Nelson takes it out!

After finishing a close second to Yarra last year, Nelson turned the tables, claiming a well deserved victory and taking out the House Athletics title. It was a brilliant effort across all year levels, with strong participation, determination, and outstanding team spirit on display throughout the day.

Yarra House competed strongly once again to secure second place, making for an exciting and closely contested carnival.

Final Results:

1st – Nelson
2nd – Yarra
3rd – Warran
4th – Birt
5th – Cheong
6th – Wicklow

Congratulations to all students who competed and contributed to such a positive and energetic day. A special shoutout to Nelson House on an outstanding achievement!