Middle Years
As Term 3 concludes, we have many things to celebrate. Our Year 7 students spent the term giving back to their community through their Kindness Project, the Year 8 students reached for the sky to achieve their Personal Best and our Year 9 students explored the City of Melbourne. A select group of Year 9 students also learnt the importance of inner focus while participating in the MAT Program.
Year 7 Kindness Project
The Kindness Project was a highlight for our Year 7s this term. We would like to thank them for the way they engaged with the project and the positive impact that they had on our local community.
Student Reflections:
For our kindness project, we donated $250 worth of food and blankets to homeless people living on the streets of Melbourne. We caught the train to Flinders Street Station on the 11th of August and walked around the city, handing out food for about 4 hours. We decided to do this because from the very start of the term we had wanted to do something different to everyone else and something that would benefit others. Some things we learnt from this experience were that you should always appreciate what you have and that it makes you feel good when you do something kind for others. Just knowing that we have put a smile on someone’s face makes us feel good. It was also very sad to know that the conditions these people live in are terrible and we loved knowing we could make it a bit better.
Jaryd H, Shelby NB & Xavier P
For my kindness project, I was in a group with four other students. We decided to volunteer at Chesterfield Farm for two days. We chose to do this because everyone in my group loved animals and we had heard of other people who had volunteered there too. After we had done the jobs and tasks that the staff had given us to do, we felt that we had helped out the staff and animals. It showed us that kindness is contagious, and that it was a great idea to help in the community.
Chrystin Gosios
Year 8 Personal Best
Congratulations to all of the Year 8 students that completed their Personal Best Projects. The presentation day earlier this term was an amazing celebration of all the outstanding efforts and achievements of the students. I was fortunate enough to observe a number of presentations and was astounded by the feats that the students were able to achieve under the guidance of their coaches.
Student Reflections:
For my Personal Best project, I wrote a short fantasy novel. I chose to do this because it’s one of my passions and I wanted to give myself a challenge in writing. Since I’m terrible at managing a short story, I wanted to see how well I could manage a novel and see if I could complete it. Over the course of this, I learnt that it takes dedication and an open mind to write a novel over a set period of time. I needed to have persistence when proof-reading the chapters and not to give up half way through. My Personal Best project taught me that it takes dedication to write a novel and that authors spend a lot of time writing and proof-reading.
Malini Waiwitwuthiwong
For my Personal Best I made an arcade cabinet. I chose to make an arcade cabinet because I wanted to get better at my woodworking and electrical/I.T. skills and to see how devices like this work. I also thought that it would be very cool to be able to say that I made an arcade machine myself. From the experience I learnt a lot, including how to use many power tools and how to cover something in vinyl. I also learnt the importance of time management as I started slowly and then had a few very busy weeks at the end of the project.
Tain Corless
Year 9 MAT Program
The MAT Life Skills Program is a values-based program that utilises martial art drills, games, metaphors and stories to communicate a particular set of values, which are in line with the core college values of respect. The small group of students that participated in the program displayed huge personal growth and were able to progress significantly by developing inner focus.
Student Reflection:
During Term 3, I participated in the MAT Program. It was great and lots of fun. I enjoyed the martial art games and activities we did. I learnt to listen to and cooperate with others. It gave me a chance to bond with other students and release the energy that I built up during the day. My favourite part of the program was the board breaking. I was able to get up to the brown board and I am proud that I was able to achieve this. It taught me how to control my emotions, respect others and communicate with others.
Max Morrison
Darren Hoogkamer
Middle Years Sub School Leader