Secondary Happenings
Senior Secondary House Activities Day
Amy Price & Beth Tabart, Year 12 Students
Last Thursday, senior students kicked off the year with an exciting array of activities, competing in their homegroups against peers in a series of engaging challenges. These included creating a mosaic inspired by house banners, participating in indoor gym events, and enjoying outdoor activities.
A standout favourite among many was human foosball, where students took the place of players, working together to outscore the opposing team. Creating a mosaic of each house’s mascot was a fantastic opportunity for art-inclined students to showcase their strengths, while others stepped up to lead their group to victory.
Outdoor activities, including tug-of-war, skipping rope, and a lively water-based challenge, tested students’ patience, teamwork, strength, and communication. In the gym, participants had the choice between running the gauntlet and human bowling - both of which encouraged teamwork and competitive spirit.
After these high-energy events, students gathered on the middle oval for an aerial photo of all the houses, a moment where house captains could step into their leadership roles. Throughout the day, students had plenty of opportunities to support each other from the sidelines, take on leadership roles in smaller groups, display their unique talents, and engage in friendly competition, creating an atmosphere filled with laughter.
The event fostered a powerful sense of community, bringing old friends back together and allowing new connections to form, setting a positive tone for the year ahead.
Year 7 Pre-start Day & BBQ
Hannah McRae & Nerilee Rinkquest, Acting Heads of Year 7
The Year 7's have had a terrific start to the school year! We began as a cohort on Pre-Start Day, meeting in new General Studies classes with the 2025 Peer Mentors, getting to know laptops, locks, and lockers, and then learning how to navigate all the classes and rooms around the secondary school! It’s been a lot, but our new Year 7’s have taken up the challenge to learn, seek help and engage with each new experience that has come their way. We are immensely proud of each of them.
Since that first day our new Year 7’s have attended their first House Meeting, started swimming trials for our swimming carnival and finished their first full week of classes with a celebration barbeque as a year level last Friday.
It was wonderful to see so many of our Year 7 students join their parents at the Community and Information Night last Wednesday. The students enjoyed a night of games and activities put on by the Student Leaders, while the parents found out more about supporting a child starting high school at DCC. It was a wonderful way to start our school year, coming together to partner with each family.
We have started talking about Year 7 camp (which will take place in Week 9) and also considering how we can all be kind members of our DCC community through our weekly year level assemblies and homerooms.
We are continually encourage them to Honour God, Choose to Learn, Be Kind and Take Responsibility in the classroom and school yard. These values and principles will continue to be at the forefront of our teaching and community time as we journey through Year 7 together.
Year 12 Beach Night
Nat Ayton, Head of Cuthbert House
At the end of the first week back at school, the Year 12’s ventured off to the beach to celebrate the start of their final year of school. We had amazing weather, delicious food, the music was pumping, the sunset was stunning and many of us were marvelling at the artistry of our God.
The students were able to swim in the calm, warm(ish) waters of the bay, and after eating far too many chips, some decided to fill the gaps in their stomach with ice cream! Several students joined in the mass game of beach cricket, while others simply enjoyed hanging out with friends. One of the real highlights of the night was when Grace and Ellie Gardiner (past students) came down to run a fire twirling session with us.
Our final moment on the beach saw us huddled together to take a group photo – and as we contemplated the year ahead, we were challenged to be reminded that Year 12 is bigger than tests, exams, and scores - personal and communal growth are important too.
The class of 2025 has started really well, and we look forward to watching our students flourish as the year unfolds.
