Middle School

SHARRON FRAME 

Acting Head of Middle School

Most social media platforms require users to be 13 years or more in age. In fact, they are prohibited from allowing children under 13 to create accounts without the consent of their parents or legal guardians, because it is illegal to collect or store the personal information of children under 13. Yet despite this condition, the number of users under 13 continues to increase, and in tandem, increases in the incidence of on-line bullying. Children are quite capable in their use of technology. We encourage them to learn coding, develop skills in the use of software and new hardware. But are they equipped to deal with the negative side of technology? Do they understand the impact on another when they post nasty, mean and cruel comments? Do they understand the ramifications for the inappropriate use of images?

Adults are role models tasked with ensuring the safety of our children, but do you really understand how it works? Do you actually know what your child is doing? Do you know what they are posting, who they are communicating with, what they are sending to each other?

Bullying via the use of social media is just not the responsibility of schools. We cover it each year, and yet it continues to be prolific. We are partners in the education of your children with you, but the majority of all incidents happen outside school, on devices in the family home. So, let me ask, what are you doing to help stop it?

Camp Reflection

Year 7 Camp ran seamlessly at the end of Term 3. Students engaged in a myriad of activities and had the opportunity to further develop and strengthen their friendships. Here are some student highlights from camp:

This year, Year 7s went to Merricks Lodge on the Mornington Peninsula. It was a very enjoyable and quite productive camp. Some of my favourite activities there were: mountain biking, initiatives and the Merricks Race.

Some things I developed at camp were: building my team work skills, learning how to ride a bike, and being responsible for my own belongings. Other really fun activities included: the walk on the beach and the camp out.

At the camp out, we had to use our skills to pitch a tent, cook a lovely dinner and pack it up before night fall. Overall it was a great experience, and I am looking forward to next year’s camp.

- Prnav A 7A

Community Expo

As part of their pastoral program and their focus on Community Service during Term 3, our Year 7 students will be presenting their work in our inaugural Community Expo, on Friday November 1st from 3:20-4:00pm, and you are kindly invited to attend.

The purpose of the Community Expo is for students to share with the School Community some of the areas of need they addressed, and how they went about it. The focus is not on the product, but on the skills they gained and how they worked together.

Service has a great focus in the MYP, but also ties in with our Orthodox Christian Values, and the notion of servant leadership. It is not a coincidence that our expo is on the Feast of our Parton Sts. Kosmas and Damian, who also served their communities. 

Market Afternoon

As part of their Economics unit, Year 6 students are busily preparing for their Market Afternoon stalls. This is a culmination of their learning, and will be followed by a reflection on their successes, and areas for further development. Please come and support our Year 6 students on November the 15th from 3:20pm-4:00pm. We look forward to seeing you all there. Proceeds raised will go to charities or organisations of the students' choice.

Year 8 Camp - Snowy River

Our Year 8 cohort had a wonderful time away at Karoonda Park in the Snowy River region of East Gippsland, Victoria. We began the week by visiting Buchan Caves, and went on a tour of the famous caves which was both incredibly educational, and incredibly exciting.

The Tuesday was undoubtedly a highlight of the week, with each group experiencing some amazing activities that included: horse-riding, an initiatives course, indoor rock-climbing, a low-ropes course, frisbee golf, a huge flying fox and also abseiling. By the end of the day, it would be an understatement to say that our students were physically exhausted.

The Wednesday was our orienteering day of hiking. There were five teams, and each student had to contribute with directions to ensure that they safely made it to the top of the mountain. Ms Tsalas’s group got lost very early, and had to work doubly hard as a team to find the important clues that would lead them to the top. Mr Costello’s team were well led by Tom, Senuka and Joshua, and made a flying start, only to get completely lost at the 5th clue which put them well behind the other groups. Mr Sexton’s group flew up to the top, and we wonder if they received any help from their teacher, as he has completed this hike many times.

The Thursday was undoubtedly the highlight of the whole week. It was the day of rafting down the Snowy River, and it was a glorious day with warm sunshine; a day that I am sure our students will cherish for many years to come.

All of our campers are to be commended for going out of their comfort zone, and enthusiastically getting involved in what are very challenging activities. For their positivity and outstanding attitudes, a special mention goes to the following students: Chloe, Phoenix, Noah, Mary, Senuka, Joshua, Duncan, Sienna, Lilliana, Elena and Ollie.

The Power of Positivity: Marie McLeod

On Tuesday the 15th of October we had a Year 8/9 presentation, on the ‘Power of Positivity.’ This was delivered by Marie McLeod, who is the founder and director of PoPsy (Positive Psychology). It was an outstanding presentation and a great morning, that helped to reinforce the School’s message about remaining positive, even under trying circumstances.

The key take away messages for our students included:

• Having an attitude of gatitude (keeping a gratitude journal).
• Acts of kindness change the hard-wiring in our brain to produce positive emotions.
• Focus on the positives, eliminate the negatives.

It was an empowering message for both staff and students, and we are thankful for the experience.

The Power of Positive Music: Year 9 Song Contest

Following on from the momentum from our positivity workshop, the Year 9 students wrote and performed a song that projects happiness. This term in Language and Literature, the Year 9s are analysing how happiness and positivity are presented in the media. We are analysing different news stories, articles, blogs, a film, and also the role that positive music plays. The aim of the unit is for each student to be able to effectively identify differing aspects such as author, text-type, source, title, visual-material, context, contention and successful language devices.

With this in mind, our classes analysed many different songs with positive messages, and then each class co-wrote their own song. On Monday 21st October, each class performed their song in front of the year level. We had guest judges who scored each performance out of 30, with 10 points for the dance routine, 10 points for the lyrics, and 10 points for how happy the song was.

It was an incredibly close contest with 9B winning by 1 point with their happy song, ‘The Truth’. A special mention goes to the leaders of each class, Thomas Georgakopoulos, Toni Stathopoulos, Finn Short and Paul Apos, all doing tremendous work leading their respective teams.