Wurrin News - Year 8

Transition into Year 9

Bairnsdale Secondary College’s 2026 Headstart Program begins Monday 1st December 2025 for all Years 7, 8 and 9 students. From this date, students will move into their 2026 classes, with new teachers, classrooms and subjects, allowing them to start the new year already settled and ready to learn.

Students will have cleaned out their lockers today and should have taken the entire contents of their lockers home. Students will receive their new timetables and new lockers during session 1 Monday 1st December. Please support your student by ensuring they bring home important items and bring the correct equipment ready for Headstart on Monday morning. We suggest one book for each subject, pens, pencils and a laptop.

A Year 8 Assembly was held on Thursday 27th November to mark the transition to Year 9 and inform students what the next few weeks will look like.

For any questions or support, please contact the Year 8 Hub on 5150 4800 or email wurrin@bairnsdalesc.vic.edu.au

Empowering Young Leaders: Four Students Selected for the Alpine School Leadership Program

Our school is thrilled to announce that we have been allocated four positions at the School for Student Leadership (SSL) Alpine School Campus for 2026. Located in Dinner Plain in the Victorian Alps, this unique residential program offers Year 9 students the chance to develop their leadership, teamwork, and community action skills through an immersive one-term experience.

Throughout the program, students take part in a diverse range of activities tailored to the alpine environment. In summer, they may experience white-water rafting, mountain biking, hiking, and swimming, while winter offers opportunities for cross-country skiing. Year-round, students engage in personal development sessions, community service projects, and work on a Community Learning Project (CLP) that they will bring back to benefit our school community.

Students are selected through a formal application and interview process, and we are proud to support the next group of young leaders as they take on this incredible opportunity. Let’s wish our applicants the very best as they prepare for this exciting journey!

Sweet Science – 8J Makes Ice Cream

Students in 8J took their science lesson to the next level by making their own ice cream. Through this tasty experiment, they explored states of matter and temperature change while having a deliciously fun time.

Lighting Up Learning – Energy Transformations in Science

In science, students have been investigating how energy can be transformed and transferred. As part of their studies, they created their own filament lightbulbs and compared their energy efficiency to modern LEDs. This hands-on activity helped students understand why LED lighting is a more sustainable choice.

Keeping the Heat In – Insulation Investigations

Students tested a range of insulation techniques to find out which materials best reduce heat loss. They examined how different barriers slow the transfer of heat, linking their findings to real-world applications in energy-efficient living.

Students conducted an investigation into the effectiveness of double glazing and its impact on heat loss. Students discussed how this simple, yet powerful design feature is used in modern homes to improve energy efficiency and create more comfortable living environments

Farewell Fun in the Sun

8A spent a special afternoon celebrating their classmate’s last day by heading outdoors to enjoy the sunshine together. It was a warm and joyful way to send him off, filled with laughter, connection and plenty of good energy.

End of Year 8 Reflection

As Year 8 draws to a close, we take this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the significant achievements of our Year 8 cohort. Throughout the year, students have demonstrated resilience, maturity and a growing commitment to being the best versions of themselves. Their willingness to engage, collaborate and challenge themselves has been evident across all areas of school life, and the Hub Team extends its sincere congratulations to every student for their continued effort and progress.

While we conclude this chapter of their journey, it is by no means a farewell. The Hub Team is pleased to continue working alongside this cohort as they transition into Year 9. We look forward to supporting their development further as they build upon the strong foundations established throughout 2025. It has been a privilege to guide them this year, and we remain confident that they will continue to flourish as they move into the next stage of their secondary education.

 -  Belinda Anderson, Lauren Madeley, Josie Rycks and Amy Robertson

Fortnightly Reminders 

Attendance Matters

Every day counts! We’re encouraging all students to make the most of Term 4 by attending every day and staying connected with their learning.

Daily attendance is important for all children and young people to succeed in education and to ensure they do not fall behind both socially and developmentally. 

School participation maximises life opportunities for children and young people by providing them with education and support networks. School helps people to develop important skills, knowledge and values that set them up for further learning and participation in their community.

Recording absences 

For absences, a parent must provide an explanation on each occasion to the school. Parents should notify the College of absences by:

• Adding the attendance record directly into Compass
• Phoning the Administration Office

Please reach out for further guidance if needed. We`re always happy to help.

College Uniform Expectations

As always, most of our students continue to wear the correct school uniform.

We kindly ask all families to ensure that students are in full school uniform each day. We are still completing large orders of uniform. If you need any support in sourcing uniform items, please don’t hesitate to contact Amy in the Year 8 Hub. 

Students who arrive at school out of uniform will be provided with the appropriate items and expected to wear them during the school day.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

For your reference, the uniform policy and price list are included below as well as examples of correct uniform.

Phones at School: What You Need to Know

In accordance with the Department of Education Mobile Phones Policy, students must not use their mobile phones at Bairnsdale Secondary College during school hours, including Break 1 and 2, unless an exemption has been granted by the Principal. 

Students may need to bring a personal mobile phone to school, for example if travelling independently to and from school. If students bring a mobile phone to school they must be switched off and stored securely in their locker all day, including Break 1 and 2. Mobile phones are considered valuable items and are brought to the school at the owner’s risk. 

For further information the BSC Mobile Phones Policy is located on the College website.