Junior and Middle and Senior Level Leaders Report

Beginning Term 3 :

Year 7 and 8 Leader Report

Year 7 Update – Building Great Habits for a Strong Finish to the Year

As we move further into Term 3, it was fantastic to gather our Year 7 students for our recent year level assembly. The assembly celebrated the many positive things happening across the cohort while also reminding students of the routines and habits that will help them finish the year successfully.

Students enjoyed a range of activities including tie races, attendance celebrations, and HRRRT Point Awards. We also recognised students who have demonstrated outstanding attendance and those who have consistently modelled our school values through earning HRRRT certificates.

A major focus of the assembly was resilience, particularly the confidence to build positive relationships with others. We spoke about how resilience isn't just about bouncing back from setbacks—it is also about having the courage to introduce yourself to someone new, ask for help, admit mistakes and continue trying even when something feels uncomfortable. Students participated in a Social Resilience Challenge that encouraged them to step outside their comfort zone by introducing themselves to other students, reinforcing that confidence grows through practice. Over the coming weeks in our Year 7 Mentor Program, we will continue developing these important social skills by encouraging students to broaden their friendship groups, build their social confidence and strengthen their sense of belonging within our school community.

We also celebrated the wonderful way our Year 7 students are taking pride in their environment. Our locker bays have become increasingly tidy and organised, showing that students are taking greater responsibility for their shared spaces.

Developing Strong Learning Routines

As the weather becomes colder, it is common for routines to slip a little. Term 3 is an excellent time for families to help students establish consistent habits that will set them up for success during the remainder of the year.

Parents can support their child by checking that they:

Bring all required learning materials to school each day.
Plug their laptop in every afternoon so it arrives at school fully charged.
Organise their school bag each evening.
Maintain one exercise book for each subject.

Having one dedicated workbook for each subject is particularly important. As students prepare for end-of-year examinations, organised notes make revision significantly easier and reduce unnecessary stress.

Looking Ahead to End-of-Year Exams

Although examinations may still seem some time away, developing good study habits now will make a significant difference later in the year.

A reminder to families that Year 7 end-of-year examinations assess the learning completed during Semester 2 only. Students are not required to revise Semester 1 content for these examinations. Maintaining organised books, completing classwork and establishing positive homework routines now will place students in an excellent position as assessment season approaches.

Thank you to all of our Year 7 families for your continued support. The partnership between home and school plays an important role in helping our students develop the organisation, resilience, and confidence they need to thrive throughout secondary school.

Grant Bowman – Year 7 Leader

Year 8

Year 8 students have made a fantastic start to Term 3, with plenty happening both in and out of the classroom.

We have seen many of our students preparing for the upcoming school production later this month, demonstrating commitment, creativity and teamwork as they work towards the performance.

Our Year 8 students have also continued to achieve strongly in sport. Our Year 8 Boys Soccer team progressed through to the regional competition, while several of our students represented the school at the State Cross Country Championships. These achievements are a wonderful reflection of the dedication, perseverance and commitment shown by our students.

Curiosity Quest

Most recently, Year 8 students participated in our three-day Curiosity Quest experience. The program provided students with a range of opportunities to step outside their comfort zones, challenge themselves and develop skills that extend well beyond the classroom.

Across the three days, students participated in:

An inspiring keynote and workshops with Eric Agyeman, exploring resilience, mindset and the power of words.
A collaborative Art Mural project, where students worked together to create a lasting piece celebrating creativity and connection.
A Circus Skills Workshop, encouraging students to challenge themselves, persevere and have fun while learning new skills.
Creative activities at Chadstone, encouraging collaboration, innovation and problem-solving.
An unforgettable day at Werribee Open Range Zoo, where students connected with nature and explored wildlife conservation.
Team-building challenges, hands-on learning experiences and opportunities to strengthen friendships while developing confidence and resilience.

Throughout the program, we were incredibly proud to see students supporting one another, trying new things and demonstrating our school values of High Expectations, Responsibility, Respect, Resilience and Teamwork.

We also recently welcomed parents and carers to our Parent Keynote with Eric Agyeman. The evening provided families with an opportunity to hear the same powerful messages students explored throughout Curiosity Quest and consider practical strategies to continue these conversations at home. We thank all families who attended and contributed to such a positive evening.

Looking Ahead to Term 4

The learning doesn't stop here! Students still have two exciting workshops to look forward to in Term 4 as we continue to build on the skills and experiences developed throughout Curiosity Quest.

Public Speaking Workshop – building confidence in communication, presentation and expressing ideas clearly.
STOMP Dance Company Workshop – an energetic and interactive session focused on teamwork, creativity, confidence and performance.

These experiences will provide students with further opportunities to challenge themselves, work collaboratively and develop skills that they can use both at school and beyond.

As we move through the remainder of the year, we encourage all Year 8 students to continue applying the lessons from Curiosity Quest — particularly the importance of resilience, positive choices, teamwork and having the confidence to step outside their comfort zone.

There is still plenty to look forward to, and we are excited to see our Year 8 students continue to grow, challenge themselves and make the most of the opportunities available to them.

Thank you to our Year 8 students and families for their ongoing support. We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, courage and positive attitude our students have demonstrated so far this year.

Ashley Aylen – Year 8 Leader

Year 9 and 10 Leader Report

The beginning of Term 3 has been busy, with students settling into Semester Two and returning to their learning routines.

This is an important time for students to reflect carefully on their Semester One results and teacher feedback. Students should recognise the areas in which they performed well, while also identifying specific subjects, skills and learning habits that require further attention. Reflection is only valuable when it leads to action, and we encourage every student to establish clear and achievable goals for the remainder of the year.

Strong academic results are built through consistent effort rather than last-minute preparation. Students should regularly revise previously taught material, complete all set work and prepare thoroughly for upcoming classes and assessments. Establishing these habits now will become increasingly important as students progress into the senior years of their education.

Maintaining a high level of attendance and arriving punctually to school and every class are also essential. Missing lessons or arriving late can create gaps in learning that become increasingly difficult to address. We ask families to continue supporting students in attending every day unless they are genuinely unwell and in arriving at school ready to begin the day on time.

Students are also expected to wear the correct school uniform each day. Consistent uniform standards contribute to a sense of belonging, pride and readiness to learn. If there is a temporary issue preventing your child from meeting the uniform requirements, please contact the school so that appropriate arrangements can be discussed.

We appreciate the continued support of families in reinforcing these expectations at home. By working together, we can help students approach Semester Two with greater responsibility, organisation and confidence.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us through the school.

Bill Karakousis – Year 9 Leader

Peter Pizanias– Year 10 Leader

Year 11 and 12 Leader Report

Year 11

As we are concluding Week 5 of Term 3, I would like to congratulate our students for their hard work and efforts in our Unit 2 subjects. Please continue to take time to organise your study schedules, and be mindful that consistent revision is a key to your success.

We are looking forward to the Year 11 School Formal which is held on the 17th September. Students are encouraged to organise their tables, sign up and confirm table number with Senior School before purchasing tickets. Tickets will be available to be purchased until 4th September. Please refer to Compass notification for the link and further details about the event.

A huge thank you to the Formal Committee for organising another Bake Sale to help raise funds for the formal!

Wishing everyone a successful Term 3!

Sylvia Kotszyi – Year 11 Leader

Year 12

Getting Ready for Exams – Where to Begin

With Unit 4 well underway and students working hard towards completing their outcomes, it's a good time to start thinking about exam revision. Exams can feel like they're still a way off — but the students who do well in November are almost always the ones who started early.

Here's a simple checklist to get you going:

Pull out your VCAA Study Designs - every Key Knowledge and Key Skills dot point is fair game for your exam. Use them as your checklist.
Sort your Unit 3 notes - fill any gaps now and keep building Unit 3 and 4 notes as new content comes up. Don't let it pile up.
Find past exams - VCAA publishes them on their website for most subjects. Look at them early so you know exactly what you're working towards.
Read the Assessor Reports - Don’t skip these. They tell you exactly where students lose marks and what a strong response looks like. One of the best resources out there.
Start doing practice questions now - don't wait until you feel ready. Working through questions, making mistakes, and understanding why is where the real learning happens.
Sit at least one practice exam under real conditions - timed, handwritten, no phone, no notes. Then get it marked and act on the feedback.
Target your weak spots - it's tempting to revise what you already know. Go to the topics where you lose marks. That's where your time is best spent.
Look after yourself - sleep, food, time away from the books. These aren't extras; they're part of what makes everything else work.

A note for students not sitting exams: make sure you are keeping on top of all set coursework for your subjects. Outcomes need to be met, and falling behind on set work now makes that much harder. If you're unsure what's expected of you, check in with your subject teacher sooner rather than later.

You don't need to do it all at once. You just need to begin.

IMORTANT! PLEASE... Keep an eye out for our VCE Exam Revision poster — and over the next few mentor sessions, each checklist item will be discussed further. In the meantime, students should start making sure that they have downloaded each subject's study design.

Andrea Carmody – Year 12 Leader