Congratulations JMSS Year 12 graduates – A brilliant result

The first Year 12 students to graduate from the John Monash Science School (JMSS) are today celebrating brilliant VCE results.

Of the 204 Year 12 students, 14 achieved an ATAR higher than 99, 35 per cent received a rank higher than 95, while more than half the students achieved a rank higher than 90.

Founding Principal Peter Corkill said the result was simply amazing and a reflection of the consistent hard work invested by students and staff.

“I want to congratulate all of our Year 12 students. They have achieved brilliant results but to have half of our graduating cohort emerge with a rank of 90 or above is just fantastic. It is testament to their dedication and commitment to their education and I am just so proud of them all,” Mr Corkill said.

Mr Corkill is the founding principal of the school, Victoria’s first specialist secondary school focussed on science, mathematics and associated technologies.

Formed as a result of a unique partnership between the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) and Monash University, the school accommodates 640 students from years 10, 11 and 12.

“This is our first graduating class and we could not be happier with their success. It is proof that the vision, which started 10 years ago, has begun to bear fruit. I would like to thank and congratulate all of our staff, the many liaison academics who work with us on a regular basis, and everyone else who laid those foundations and who has worked to get us to this point. The partnership between the university and the school will continue to create opportunities for both the students at JMSS as well as the many others who are able to visit and work with us from schools across the state.”

“It is a fantastic day in the short history of our school and shows what is possible when students are passionate about learning and by working on problems in teams from the emerging fields of contemporary science,” Mr Corkill said.

Built on the south-west corner of Monash University’s Clayton campus, JMSS shares much more with Monash than land. Monash academic liaison staff in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geoscience, Mathematics, Computer Science, Geography, Medicine and Engineering have all played a key role in ensuring the curriculum hits the cutting edge of contemporary knowledge and practice.

Staff from the Faculty of Education work regularly with JMSS teachers to ensure their work is continually informed by contemporary research into best practice.

Professional relationships between the school and so many sectors of the university are strong and ongoing, and the opportunities presented to students on a daily basis are unique, challenging and motivating.