Middle School

Mental Health Week

The inaugural ‘Academy Mental Health Week’ took place this year between the 4 - 8 August 2025.  Amongst a full program of recess and lunchtime activities, including movies, meditation and mindfulness, Year 8 and 9 students were fortunate enough to attend a talk and workshop from Kat Gurcillo. 

Kat has an amazing story to tell - a serious and life-changing accident that left her overseas and in hospital for months on end.  Her experiences have given her the tools to help students to step into their power, strength and vulnerability. 

Kat delivered a talk and workshop activities for the girls focusing on the topics of friendship, communication and resilience.   The activities saw the girls up and out of their seats, collaboration between Year 8 and Year 9 students and some positive goal setting for the term ahead.

The students were enthusiastic and engaged throughout the session and left feeling positive and happy - a perfect cherry on top of the Mental Health Week cake!

Ms Jessica New

Mary Glowrey Museum

The Year 9 Religious Education class from Melba recently visited the Mary Glowrey Museum, where they explored the inspiring life and work of Dr Mary Glowrey, a pioneering Australian doctor and religious sister.  Students learned about her vocation as both a medical professional and a member of the Catholic Church, dedicating her life to serving the poor and sick in India.  Through interactive displays and guided discussions, they gained a deeper understanding of her commitment to faith, social justice, and compassionate care, reflecting on how her legacy continues to influence the Church’s mission today.

Ms Natalie Patuto

Teacher

Macbeth

On Thursday,  14 August, Academy was excited to welcome Complete Works Productions for a live performance of Macbeth.  This special event brought Shakespeare’s words to life, helping our Year 10 English students engage with the play in an interactive and memorable way. 

The performance set the stage for our upcoming study, supporting students’ understanding of the story before we explore the intricacies of its characters, themes and plot in detail.

DAV Debating

The final round of the DAV Debating season took place on Wednesday evening, 13 August, at Haileybury City Campus in West Melbourne.  With several teams in finals contention, the debaters competed courageously. 

The Year 10 C-Grade team comprising of Alice Moffat, Sophie Teo, Michaela Xenoyiannakis lost by one point in a fierce contest – congratulations to Michaela in claiming Best Speaker.  The Year 10’s competed in all their debates and narrowly missed finals; they are to be commended on a great season in which their debating talents soared to greater heights. 

The Year 9’s represented by Ruby Mills, Charlotte Jones, Isabelle Naidoo and Hannah Carton have been a shining light all season and finished in the top four in standings, with three wins, sadly missing out on finals by one spot.  They won their final debate arguing in favour of the Census and Isabelle Naidoo was awarded Best Speaker.  Well done to the D-Grade team in their debut season, who will no doubt be even hungrier for greater success next year. 

Mr Stefan Odachowski

English Learning Leader

Science of Energy in Reactions

Our Year 10 Science students have been diving into the fascinating world of chemical reactions, with a focus on exothermic and endothermic processes.  These reactions reveal how energy is involved when chemical bonds are broken and reformed.

Students discovered that in exothermic reactions, energy is released to the surroundings, often in the form of heat or light.  Common examples include burning fuels or fireworks. 

On the other hand, endothermic reactions absorb energy from their surroundings, causing a noticeable cooling effect — as seen when dissolving certain salts in water or during photosynthesis.

Through practical experiments, students observed temperature changes, recorded data and analysed whether the reactions they conducted released or absorbed energy.  This hands-on learning helped them to understand how the breaking and reforming of bonds is closely linked to energy transfer.

The investigations not only deepened students’ knowledge of chemistry, but also highlighted the importance of energy changes in everyday life, from cooking food to the operation of rechargeable batteries.

Dr Bryce Dermody