Secondary School News

Dear Families,

It is presently another busy term of teaching and learning across the secondary school with students engaging in a range of activities inside and outside of the classroom. Year 7 students are working towards completing their first learning task for the term, Year 8 students have just presented their Personal Project, Year 9 mainstream are planning their Community Project, which requires them to identify a need in a community and provide service as action, and Year 10 have recently had their Senior Pathway Interviews where they presented their digital Portfolio to panel members and discussed subject selection for next year! Not to mention, students have also participated in interschool sport, competitions, enhancement opportunities and planning for the school production! Well done to all students involved! 🙂

Just a reminder about Book Week which runs Monday August 24 to August 28.

The official theme this year is ‘Symphony of Stories’. Across the college there will be various activities to celebrate books and everything reading. Dress-up Day will be on Wednesday 26th August and this is not just for primary children. Many secondary teachers will again be dressing up, and we encourage students to also

wear a costume that reflects a book, author, or idea related to reading. The Doll’s House is an added feature for Book Week celebrations this year with a librarian from Collingwood Community Library visiting to read to our younger students inside the tiny house.

The Great Book Swap will take place in the school library on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 August. Please visit the library to support this cause by swapping a gold coin for a book to raise money for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Children's Book Council Of Australia and Dymocks Excursion

Year 7 mainstream students recently visited Dymocks Melbourne bookstore to choose a book from the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) shortlist for 2026. Every year CBCA runs the Book of the Year Awards to celebrate great Australian authors and children's books. There are 6 categories with 6 books shortlisted for each, including picture story books.

It was wonderful to see students engage in this activity and have the opportunity to explore the bookstore. Allowing students to choose their own book from the list meant that students could match their interest to the themes which often leads to intrinsic motivation to read and a more pleasurable reading experience.

Next week during Book week, the winner from the shortlisted books will be announced - students and I are looking forward to seeing which books receive the awards!

We also visited the State Library to have a quick look around this impressive pfacility that provides public access to millions of reference books and digital e-resources, and has amazing iconic study spaces!

It is definitely the month for reading!

Collingwood College is participating in the MS Readathon challenge and families are encouraged to set a reading goal this month and sign up.Children from Year Prep to Year 10 can participate with parent/carer consent.

‘MS Readathon is Australia's most-loved reading challenge, inspiring young minds for nearly half a century while making a massive impact for MS support and research. Readers and their families raise funds to support families in Australia impacted by MS and neurological conditions.’

The MS Readthon can be the perfect opportunity to re-engage with books and set new reading routines and habits whilst raising money for a worthy cause to support families and individuals impacted by multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological conditions.

Join the Collingwood College page after you have registered. It is not too late to participate. Use this link and follow the prompts. https://www.msreadathon.org.au/fundraisers/collingwoodcollege

Author visit

We were very fortunate to have author Francesca De Tores (Francesca Haig) present to Year 7 on the writing process and research required for writing Historical Fiction. Students learned of tips on where to locate resources and how to explore original sources, in addition to planning strategies such as finding out information on the Big and Small History (what was happening) at that time.

Students and teachers gained a great deal of knowledge from this organised event and we are grateful to Fransesca for sharing her time with us.

Student Reflections:

‘Francesca said that research is very important’

‘I learnt that Francesca is an author of great books and that one of her books is about pirates’

‘I learnt that to make a historical fiction book, you must learn what words they used back then, for example Sire means King and that you can google as a first option and then find better sources. You need to find out about things like where people were born and what they did’

‘I found out that you have to research thoroughly about the single details that happened in the time period..that means the climate, way of life and how they spoke during that time. All the research that happens can come in different forms like reading, websites, and sometimes pictures and advertisements.’

Year 7 mainstream students will later write their own historical fiction responses later in the term. Watch this space for published work.

Yalinguth Project

Year 8 mainstream students have started the Yalinguth Project which is an interdisciplinary unit across Individuals and Societies (Humanities) and Language and Literature (English) in partnership with Yalinguth (a First Nations audio app and guided tour of the local area).

Students have undertaken workshops delivered by Yalinguth educators and experienced the local area through a guided tour to learn of local indigenous histories and events that link to content studied in class. Students also had the opportunity to visit Charcoal Lane for a Q&A with a local Elder. A video of the project will be produced and screened at the school next term and will complement the completed student extended-reflections of knowledge gained from their experiences.

Kind regards,

Lori Michael

Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning

Languages Program

So Proud! Our Year 7 Students Shine at the CLTAV State Chinese Reading Competition

Dear School Community,

We are absolutely thrilled to share a very special and historic milestone with you! On the evening of Monday, August 10, 2026, our school made a proud return to the prestigious Chinese Language Teachers’ Association of Victoria (CLTAV) Year 7 Reading Awards at the University of Melbourne. Held at the Carrillo Gantner Theatre inside the Sidney Myer Asia Centre, this was our very first time participating since the pandemic, and our hearts are overflowing with pride for our brave Year 7 representatives: Sumeya IDRIS, Millie RANGIWAHIA, Sasha BELL, Max NORTH, Chris ISAAC CHOL, Messyah RAHIMI.

The Ultimate "Unseen" Challenge

This highly competitive state-wide event is strictly for "non-background" students who do not speak Chinese at home and have never lived in a Chinese-speaking environment. The challenge was immense: our students were not allowed to prepare a text in advance. Instead, they were given an unseen passage about the topic "我的家" (My Family) written in Pinyin and characters, with only 10 minutes to prepare on the night before standing completely alone on stage!

In front of an audience of over 100 students and teachers from various Victorian schools, they had to read for over a full minute. They were judged rigorously on pronunciation, tonal accuracy, fluency, phrasing, and delivery. To stand confidently under those lights and tackle words they hadn't even learned in class yet was an incredible feat. Your language teachers are incredibly proud of your bravery and dedication!

Celebrating Every Achievement

Before heading out, our message to the team was simple: "Enjoy the process and have fun." They did exactly that, and their hard work truly paid off against top competition! A special congratulations goes to Chris, who received an Encouragement Award (鼓励奖) for an outstanding performance. We are also delighted to share that all of our participating students were recognized with certificates and lovely participation prizes for their wonderful efforts.

Chris ISAAC CHOL, who received an Encouragement Award

Overcoming Fear and Expanding Horizons

Beyond the awards, the true victory was personal growth. Our students successfully conquered their stage fright, stepped out of their comfort zones, and expanded their horizons. By attending, they got to witness the incredible passion for Chinese language learning across Victoria and see the impressive skills of peers from other schools. We have no doubt that this experience will inspire them, and we believe they will go from strength to strength on their language-learning journey!

Warmest regards,

The Languages Team

Performances Abound for 8C

As winter transitions into spring, the 8C Steiner class experienced transitioning and growth, too. This has been a big term of performance for students with both the class play and the presentation of their individual Year 8 Projects.

The class play was our first Main Lesson this term and always proves a fun opportunity to learn outside of the classroom. Developing on our learning of the Industrial Revolution, the class performed an abridged tale of Charles Dickens’ classic Oliver Twist. We faced many challenges with this play. Firstly, time was an issue. We only had four weeks of Main Lesson time to rehearse our lines, learn a song, and move with conviction of multiple characters. Given our Theatre renovation and third floor roof works, the space was also a challenge. We performed our play from the Eurythmy room, which was transformed into a theatre overnight all thanks to many helping hands in our Collingwood staffroom. Despite the difficulties, the famous line of show business applies: The show must go on! And it did. The class performed with confidence and humour, and best of all, they supported one another to achieve their shared goal of a successful performance of Oliver Twist.

Just a few weeks after the play, the family members and friends of 8C gathered in the Library to learn about the 8 passion projects. The Year 8 Projects are a longstanding tradition at Collingwood College, and they enable students to more deeply explore their individual interests whilst working with mentors in our community. Over many months the students developed their ideas and budgets, met with mentors, and refined their chosen skills. Most of the projects involved making and baking (lofted bed, cupcakes and brownies, bagpipe reeds, a ceramic chess set, a recipe collection) but students may also develop their knowledge, like learning a language or performing a dance piece. Regardless of the project’s destination, the magic is in the journey. Students were frequently reminded that the project may change, challenge may (and will!) arise, and to celebrate the small milestones. On the night, everyone shared unique projects. The students spoke eloquently and clearly, and they used photos, videos and live modelling to demonstrate their process. These projects allowed students to develop their personal interests, critical and creative thinking, and help connect them in meaningful ways to the wider world.

Our young people are comfortable taking risks, like performing in a class play and presenting a new skill, because they have the support of their family and our community. We could not do this important work without you, so thank you to all the families and Collingwood staff who continue to act as the supportive base for every class. It is my hope that Class 8C will enter into their final term of the year with even more confidence and sense of self after their positive term 3 performances.

Sarah Powers

8C class teacher

Homework Club - Learning Hub

I would like to remind secondary families that Learning Hub is an excellent support available to families Yr.7-10.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3:15 - 5:15pm with qualified tutors.

Free for all families

Lori Michael

Acting Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning

Head Start Program

Get a Head Start with a School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs)

Did you know that students enrolled in VCE can do an apprenticeship or traineeship and get credit toward their senior studies? It’s a great way to get into a career while completing Year 12. SBATs earn a wage, receive specialised training and complete their schooling all at the same time. The Head Start program is here to help.

Adam Hutterer

Head Start Program

The Learner Profile

Below are a range of ways that you can promote the Learner Profile attributes at home within the family.

A simple approach is to model and recognise. Enjoy 🙂

The Learner Profile

Inquirers	We nurture our curiosity. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and value a love of life-long learning.	Encourage your child’s interests by visiting places such as the Local/State Library, Museum, NGV… Model being an inquirer: admit when you don’t know the answers to a problem or a question and seek out answers with your child Use the internet as a tool for inquiry and have conversations around reputable sites Discuss the role of inquiry in your personal and professional life
Open-Minded	We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, and those of other people. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.	Encourage your child to try new things - food, games, places, activities… Expose your child to different festivals, celebrations and traditions Encourage your child to listen for understanding Discuss issues and consider opposing points of view and reasons
Thinkers	We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.	Encourage your child to independently think of different solutions to problems Pose different real-life problems/questions to your child Ask your child questions when they are working on a problem: Do you have any ideas about how you will begin? Tell me about your thinking How could you do it differently? What do you notice and wonder?
Caring	We show empathy, compassion and respect. We act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.	Role-model the kind of behaviour you want to see in your child: helping others without being asked, being an active listener, acting in ways to show that you care… Reflect on the actions of characters in texts (prin/audio/film) Were they kind or caring? Recognise this quality in people’s actions
Knowledgeable	We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global decisions.	Encourage your child to make self/text/world connections with what they read/view. Include first language books/films. Ask your child what they are learning at school and engage in conversations about it: Why do you think that is an important thing to know about? Encourage your child to become familiar with current local/national/global events and issues
Principled	We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.	Discuss the importance of honesty/truth Talk about global issues and fairness/social justice Encourage your child to engage in team and independent sports/games Discuss the idea of norms Talk about the importance of effort over winning and being a gracious loser
Balanced	We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives - intellectual, physical and emotional - to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognise our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.	Encourage your child to participate in a wide variety of structured activities as a balance between school and leisure Discuss what you are eating with your child - is it a balanced diet? Emphasise that boredom is okay too - good for us! Put devices away Encourage your child to take timeout and go for a walk, engage with nature or read a book (Brain Breaks)
Communicators	We express ourselves confidently and creatively in different languages. We collaborate effectively, actively listening to the perspectives of other individuals or groups.	Encourage your child to stay in contact with relatives in other parts of Australia or different countries Encourage your child to explain their thinking orally or by drawing a picture Talk about what effective communication can look/sound/feel like Have family dinner-table conversations Play a game that requires a specific communication skill. e.g. Charades
Reflective	We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experiences. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.	Review your child’s report with them; talk about successes and opportunities for improvement Reflect on sport outcomes Talk about recent events/actions and what you have learned, or adjustments you would make Set goals with your child Talk about a growth mindset
Risk-takers	We approach uncertaining with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change. We see making mistakes as a natural part of the learning process.	Encourage your child to attempt new things and then reflect on it - whether they liked it and how it made them feel Discuss the difference between being a risk-taker and dangerous behaviour Recognise the learning gains that result from risk-taking and making mistakes Talk about comfort zones and the benefits of goal-setting Share your own growth stories from taking risks

Lori Michael - MYP Coordinator