Year 7 - 9 Community
August 2025
Year 7-8
Welcome to Semester 2!
For our Year 8 students this begins the final part of their schooling journey at their junior campus. Transition has already begun with students beginning to think about their elective choices for Year 9. This is an exciting time that can also be challenging for some students. If your young person is feeling anxious or you have questions about next year please reach out to your campus 7/8 teachers.
Curriculum Program Report
Year 7 students have all received their 2025 NAPLAN results. Please take time to have a look at these and see your child’s mentor teacher if you have any questions.
In English this term all students are exploring a class novel. Students have been involved in meaningful conversations about the text and justifying their opinions by using evidence from the text. Students will be writing TEEL essays where they explore either a theme or a specific character’s development.
In Maths students are involved in a mix of explicit teaching of maths concepts, exploration of individual maths modules at their individual level and the application of problem solving strategies in LES lessons. Take some time to look at your child’s maths test results so far this year on Math Pathways.
In Humanities students are investigating the liveability of different places around the world, the factors that impact how liveable somewhere is and how we can improve these factors. By the end of the term the students will have been on a walking tour of Melbourne to look at the liveability of our state’s capital.
Our Year 7 students have the opportunity to attend camp at Coastal Forest Lodge, Anglesea in Week 7. Wexford and Tallis are attending September 1-3, Hendy and Peacock September 3-5. This is always a magnificent experience for students so we’re looking forward to this time away.
In the book Wonder by R.J Palacio there is evidently an abundance of bullying shown. The first main signs of bullying occur when Julian, on page 25, says to August during their school tour, “These are chairs, those are bunsen burners, this is a gross science poster, this is chalk and this is the eraser.” This only stops once Charlotte stops him saying that he probably already knew what an eraser was. This is the start of a large amount of bullying targeted at August. This is bullying by definition because Julian, the bully is deliberately targeting August in a negative way to intentionally make him feel bad for himself. This is just one of the many instances where R.J Palacio depicts bullying within Wonder.
Bullying is once again shown by the author when Jack Will decides to go behind his back and makes very offensive comments behind his back. On page 77 Jack says, referring to August’s appearance, while talking to Julian and his friends, “And I really think… if I looked like him, seriously, I think that I’d kill myself.” Just as the first piece of evidence shows, this piece also shows a serious case of bullying where Jack Will makes August feel poorly when he overhears the comments made about him. This also makes him lose his trust in Jack Will since he thought they were friends. This evidence is part of the large number of bullying incidents in Wonder.
Bully is depicted yet again in the story later on in the book. This is shown when Summer hands August a list of people who are on Jack’s side, Julian’s side and neutral. This happens on page 177. It becomes clear that Julian and his friend group heavily dislike August and they want to bully him. When there are people choosing sides it usually ends in a huge fight as a result of bullying or consistent harassment. This is the lead up to the fight and it is clear bullying. Bullying is shown by all of these pieces of evidence and R.J Palacio has clearly expressed bullying throughout the story.
By Lucas M, Peacock Year 8 student
Wonder Plot Diagram
| Overall Plot Diagram |
Exposition- August is starting mainstream school.
Conflict- August is bullied by his classmates.
Rising Action- August makes a friend in Summer, August is betrayed by Jack Will, August has concerns about going to school
Climax- August and other students from his school had a fight with students from another school.
Falling Action- The students stop bullying August and he has lots of friends.
Resolution- August wins the Henry Ward Beecher Award for demonstrating kindness, friendship and courage.
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Jack Will’s rude comments about August Plot Diagram |
Exposition: - Jack Will is self-conscious because he is friends with August who is seen as an unpopular person in the school and thus negatively influences Jack Will’s confidence and self-esteem.
Conflict: Jack will starts speaking negatively about August behind his back to other people, unknowingly overhearing and thus this causes their friendship to start deteriorating.
Rising Action- Tension between Jack Will and August starts rising and the two stop speaking temporarily. This makes an uncomfortable moment in Science class as the duo both attempt to ignore each other.
Climax- Jack Will is given a hint from Summer as to why he and August have stopped being friends. Eventually, Jack Will understands what he said to upset August and the two attempt to make up.
Falling Action- August and Jack WIll email each other and start having conversations again. Jack apologises and the two make up.
Resolution: Jack Will and August become friends again and become closer over time and hang out with each other more. |
Daisy’s Death Plot Diagram
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Exposition - August’s dad got Daisy from a homeless man.
Conflict - Daisy is dying / sick.
Rising Action- Mum took Daisy to the vet.
Climax - Daisy gets put down.
Falling Action - The Pullman family collect all of Daisy’s toys.
Resolution - August and his family adopt a new dog that they named Bear because he looked like a little bear cub.
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Via’s Performance Plot Diagram
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Exposition - The intro to the drama class, as well as the relationship between Via and Justin.
Conflict - The problem was that Miranda got the part Via was hoping for.
Rising Action- Miranda acted sick so that Via could play her part. Miranda didn’t want to perform because there was no-one there to watch her.
Climax - The climax was the actual play where Via performed in front of the crowd, which included August and his parents. After the play was the standing ovation.
Falling Action- Miranda and Via reconnect and Miranda and Via become friends again.
Resolution- Via feels seen by her parents and feels their love and support.
|
Jana McElhinney
Year 7-8 Community Leader
Mathew Potter
Assistant Principal - Hendy Campus
Year 7-9 SoL Leader
Year 9
Over the past few weeks, our Year 9 students have been busy diving into exciting programs that are all about exploring their future pathways and learning in hands-on, engaging ways!
Interschool Sports Success
Our Year 9s have also been hitting the court and field with full energy in a range of Interschool Sports, including netball, hockey, and badminton. A special shout-out goes to our badminton team, who absolutely dominated the competition, defeating every other school on the day! Many of our Year 9 students proudly represented the school in the A team, who are now through to the next round of competition. An incredible effort by everyone involved, both on and off the court!
Morrisby Assessments & Career Interviews
Our Year 9s have been working through the Morrisby Assessments — an interactive careers program designed to help students better understand their strengths, interests, and possible future career options. Following the assessments, students participated in individual interviews to reflect on their results and talk through potential pathways, from trades to university degrees. It’s been amazing to see so many students thinking big about their futures and starting to plan what direction they want to head in during and after school.
Geelong Tertiary Program – TAFE Taster at The Gordon
To support these career conversations, students have also been taking part in the Geelong Tertiary Program at The Gordon TAFE. This program has given our Year 9s the opportunity to try out a range of hands-on courses — from hospitality to construction, beauty to automotive. Not only have students learned new practical skills, but they’ve also had a heap of fun working in real TAFE settings and getting a real taste of life beyond the classroom. The excitement and energy each week has been fantastic!
Next Stop: Werribee Zoo!
Coming up next, students will be heading off on an awesome excursion to Werribee Open Range Zoo! This isn’t just a day out, it’s a chance for our students to apply their Humanities knowledge about biomes in a real-world setting. From grasslands to savannahs, they’ll explore different ecosystems and gain a deeper understanding of how animals and environments are connected. It’s set to be an unforgettable learning experience (and a lot of fun too!).
We’re so proud of the way our Year 9 students have thrown themselves into these opportunities, and we can’t wait to see where these experiences take them next.
The Year 9 Team
Ben Cooper
Year 9 Community Leader