UHS Teachers' Favourite Classes
BY ALICE HESSIAN & Aimee garner
Have you ever wondered what your teacher's favourite class is? What even makes a class memorable? We interviewed a range of teachers asking them exactly that.
A Special Thanks To:
Sarah Cashin Lena Lopez
Jack Brook Maddie Brown
Mardon Elian Luigi Scacciante
Chelsea Middleton Gordon Brown
Mardon Elian (Mr Elian)
Taught at UniHigh for 5 years
Science Teacher - Yr 7-9 and VCE Extended Investigations (EBS)
What has been their most memorable class in the past five years?
Mr Elian said that it was hard for him to choose because of how much he loved all his classes. He just couldn’t decide on his favourite, but he generally enjoys teaching the year 8 cohort. He loves that they can be energetic but also appreciates their diligence and ability to engage with schoolwork. He “loves when they relate science to the real world and can bounce ideas off each other.”
Notable Memory?
The best memories can sometimes be from the worst times. Even though travelling between Trinity and Unihigh was painful and annoying, he enjoyed creating fun lessons that distracted from all the chaotic things that were happening around them.
He also noted that while it’s sad watching his junior classes grow up, it also comes with immense pride in knowing that they’re finding their own way in the world, whether it be university or a different path. Sometimes when he randomly runs into his former students, it’s really refreshing to talk with them and see how their lives have transformed after high school.
Maddie Brown (Ms Brown)
Taught at UniHigh since 2021
Triple Threat Teacher - PE, Dance, Drama and Theatre Studies
What has been their most memorable class in the past two years?
Miss Brown loved her year nine dance class and theatre studies class (both from 2022). She had never taught either subject before and these classes really pushed her out of her comfort zone. It worked out great because she met some awesome people who made her teaching experience that much more enjoyable.
Notable Memory?
A notable memory for Ms Brown was directing last year's school musical, “Shrek: The Musical”. Again doing something she’d never done before but she absolutely killed it. “It was a special thing to see so many people enjoy themselves performing.” It was such a unique experience but it must’ve felt so incredible to facilitate so many kids’ theatre skills. She could watch students from all year levels elevate each other and bond over their shared passion for performing.
Luigi Scacciante (Mr Scac)
Taught at UniHigh since 2003
English Teacher - Yr 7 and Yr 11 English (but has previously taught all year levels)
What has been their most memorable class in the past five years?
An absolute highlight of Mr Scac’s career was teaching his year 12 English class of 2020. As his daughter was a part of the cohort, it made connecting with students so much easier as he knew a lot of them already or had taught them in the past. This definitely would’ve been such a good class to teach especially with covid ravaging the world that year.
Notable Memory?
In Mr Scac’s early teaching days he was also a footy fiend. Not to say he isn’t anymore, but back when he used to play he was shocked to see one of his year 12 students playing on a rival team. As any good teacher would do, Mr Scac always talked smack about him. When the student’s teammates offered to bash Mr Scac to defend his honour, he would just casually reply, “Nah, that’s okay. That’s my teacher.
Chelsea Middleton (Ms Middleton)
Taught at UniHigh for 10 years
Science/Geography Teacher - VCE Psychology and Yr 7/9 Geography
What has been their most memorable class in the past four years?
Ms Middleton - notable for her crazy stories from travelling around the world - most enjoys teaching groups that feel cohesive and connected to each other. It’s far nicer to teach a class of students that lift each other up as a collective. Year 12s are always a prime example. Often they’ll strive for vastly different things but they’re so much more in tune with each other than younger year levels that teaching them is such a different experience. Running into them after they graduate is the coolest thing, especially learning where they’re at and what they’ve been up to.
Notable Memory?
We’ll set the scene a few years ago, way back when we had computer labs. One particular student was getting progressively more frustrated with his computer. He was getting increasingly angry until, out of the absolute blue, he headbutted the screen. HARD. The table’s shaking, everyone’s shocked and confused and of course Ms Middleton’s obliged to take the kid outside and have a chat. They sit down and everyone inside is trying not to laugh, including the kid. The conversation goes a little like this:
“Are you okay? What happened there?”
“Well… I headbutted the computer, miss.” *blank stare*
*stifled giggles from inside the classroom*
“Okay… yes I saw that. We could’ve handled that differently a bit differently right?”
“Well uhh yeah…I could’ve.. not head butted the computer?” He says with a smile creeping on his face.
*talking a bit more, both trying to be serious after that random outburst before going inside*
*more laughter*
Jack Brook (Mr Brook)
Taught at UniHigh for 3 years
PE/Health teacher - Yr10 PE and VCE PE
What has been their most memorable class in the past five years?
During 2021, when the school was recovering from the fire, Mr Brook taught two year 8 classes in the Trinity Campus. Those classes were 8C1 (now 10C1) and 8J2 (now 10J2). He always enjoyed teaching them because of their loudness and expressive personalities.
Notable Memory?
Going to interschool sports with talented students and watching them thrive in things they love doing. A great example is winning the table tennis state championships in 2022. Travelling outside the school environment is always a really exciting experience, especially when you can watch students excel at activities they often don’t get to show in school.
Lena Lopez (Ms Lopez)
Taught at UniHigh for 4 years
French Teacher - Yr 7-9 and VCE French
What has been their most memorable class in the past four years?
Online learning was a truly depressing time but lucky Ms Lopez could always look forward to her year 10 class who always showed up with their cameras on. Not a single google classroom icon with a black square surrounding it. Seeing them all participating was such a relief from the deathly silence of zoom calls. She also remembers her year 10 class of 2021 (now yr 12) and bringing them croissants and watercolours at the end of the year to thank them for being such an awesome class. She also noted that 8C1 (now 10C1) were a crazy bunch of kids, a bit lively but had a great group dynamic.
Notable Memory?
She laughs in remembering a student who would always unmute himself so the whole class could hear his background noise. Upon muting him and trying to continue the lesson, he would boldly turn on his mic and accuse her in front of the whole class, “Why’d you mute me, miss? That’s so rude.” *shoutout to Noah Stella (now yr 12) for making her laugh during parent-teacher interviews*
Gordon Brown (Mr Brown)
Taught at UniHigh for 4 years
History Teacher - Junior History and VCE Modern History
What has been their most memorable class in the past four years?
Mr Brown remembers teaching 8J2 (now 10J2) who were academically super bright but also incredibly loud and crazy. He specially mentioned Zahra Graydon and Daniel Panknin as well as Isis Hollingworth from 10C1. Teaching these classes during the trinity/unihigh merge was tough, especially with covid restrictions everywhere, but these classes always managed to brighten his day a little with their completely unfiltered conversations and passionate opinions.
Notable Memory?
Everyone will judge Mr Brown after this story. He claims this habit has been bullied out of him now, but way back when he was young and naive, he openly talked about how he would take off the whole peel of a banana before eating it. One particular kid, Chloe, would not stand for this. She thought it was ridiculous. Chloe also happened to have a knack for crocheting so as a very passive-aggressive attack at Mr Brown’s eating habits, she crocheted a banana just to remind him how to properly eat food.
Sarah Cashin (Ms Cashin)
Taught at UniHigh for 7 years
Science teacher - Yr 9/10 and VCE Psychology
What has been their most memorable class in the past five years?
Ms Cashin loved teaching her 2022 year 12 psychology class. “Watching them get to know each other and seeing them grow as people and learners was amazing.” Year 12s are always hard to replace because they’re so diligent but also incredibly passionate. Sending them off at the end of the year is borderline heart-breaking but amazing knowing that they’re free to pursue any opportunities they want. She also remembers 9J3 (now 10J3) for their awesome group dynamic and enthusiasm they brought to science class.
Notable Memory?
Last year, Ms Cashin spilled water on her laptop and it completely shut off and broke. In an ironic scare, the same day she told her class that her laptop was completely broken, one of her students knocked over their own water bottle onto their friend’s computer. Thankfully it didn't break but everyone was quick to jump in and help so as to not cause Ms Cashin to relive her traumatic experience.