Year 12 English Revision Lecture

With the approaching end of year exams firmly in sight, recently our Year 12 VCE English students invited Wimmera Lutheran College students to join them in participating in exam revision lectures with educational expert Kirstin Bourne. Covering all aspects of the upcoming English exam, students came away with much to think about and strategies to assist them in revising and preparing for the exam on 27 October.

Thank you to Mrs Dooling for organising this valuable opportunity for our students.

National Science Week

Embracing this year’s National Science Week theme, Seeds of Science: Nurturing Knowledge for All, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr Cassandra Walker to St Brigid’s College.

Dr Walker spoke with students about the importance of preserving plant genetic diversity and explained the vital role of the Australian Grains Genebank, including its connection with the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway (AKA the Doomsday Vault)

Students also had the opportunity to examine and compare a fascinating range of seeds brought along by Dr Walker, providing an engaging, hands-on learning experience.

Throughout the week, students have also participated in a variety of science quizzes, some of which have been created by our VCE Agriculture and Horticulture students. These activities provided further opportunities for students to expand their scientific knowledge and celebrate the important role science plays in our everyday lives.

We sincerely thank Dr Walker for sharing her expertise and inspiring our students.

Year 8 Camp

Last week our Year 8 students embraced all the fun and adventure on their camp to Roses Gap. From abseiling, to rafting, and braving the giant swing and so much more, students showed great teamwork, resilience and courage throughout the three days.

Thank you to Mr McDonald, Mr Chand, Ms Harley, Ms Fischer and Ms Griffiths for your organisation and providing a memorable camp for our students.

Celebrating English Week!

What a week we have had celebrating all things books and English! The week started with our Homeroom quiz where students were tasked with the job of matching the staff member to their favourite book. Lunchtimes throughout the week saw various activities including the famous 'On Your Box' impromptu speaking competition, a book cover and title designing competition, and 'book tasting' complete with popcorn.

The week culminated in the highly anticipated Book Hurl on the oval (we promise no books were harmed in the process of this activity

English Week Winners:

- On Your Box Impromptu Speeches - Sophie McEldrew (Year 8)

- Dania Vinay (Year 8)

- Chloe Sherson (Year 10)

- Book Cover and Title Competition - Ava Hausler (Year 7), Marnie Toet (Year 7)

- Book Hurl - Daniel Bee (Year 7), Patrick Lynch (Year 7), Abbie Williams (Year 12), Mia Rees (Year 12)

- Homeroom Quiz - K3 and M3

Thank you to all students who participated throughout the week, and to our staff for creating wonderful opportunities for our students to enjoy English Week.

Student Online Safety and Respectful Relationships

We are incredibly grateful to Teilah Rabone, Leading Senior Constable from the Wimmera Proactive Policing Unit, for delivering highly engaging and informative sessions to our students.

Our Year 7 and 8 students participated in important discussions around online safety, including the risks associated with social media and random friend requests, encouraging them to stop and think before engaging online. Students also learned about topics such as gaming and grooming, sextortion, scams and how to identify them, intimate images and the law, cyberbullying, and where to seek help and support when needed.

Our Year 9 and 10 students explored issues surrounding Respectful Relationships, including toxic relationships, modern dating and the influence of AI, deepfakes, common misconceptions, myths and facts about relationships, family dynamics, and family violence. These sessions provided students with valuable knowledge and practical strategies to help them navigate the challenges young people face today.

We are extremely fortunate to have someone with Teilah’s expertise, professionalism, and genuine commitment to young people working with our students. Her presentations not only provide critical information but also help strengthen positive relationships between our school community and local police. The knowledge, awareness, and support she offers are invaluable, and we greatly appreciate the time she invests in educating and empowering our students. Thank you, Teilah, for making such a positive impact on our school community.

Active in our Community

As part of our weekly Year 9 Community Service Program, the crew have been volunteering at Vinnies (with three visits so far) and Ss Michael and John's Primary School, working with Prep and Year 1/2 students.

At Vinnies, students have assembled new furniture and other items donated by Amazon, dressed shop mannequins, sorted and priced stock, served customers at the point of sale, and gained valuable insight into how the organisation operates. The students absolutely love their time there!

At SMJ, students have been supporting younger children in the classroom by assisting with various activities and responsibilities, as well as playing with the students during lunchtime. We are looking forward to returning again this Friday.

Through these community partnerships, students are developing confidence, social and communication skills, and employability capabilities, while making a meaningful contribution to the local community. Students are also creating individual portfolios to document their learning and experiences.

Next term, students will embark on a passion project, allowing them to apply the skills they have developed through their community engagement and pursue an area of personal interest while continuing to make a positive impact.

Hands On Learning!

The Hands on Learning (HoL) Cafe Crew have been so busy this term we can hardly believe it’s nearly time for school holidays!

We welcomed two new crew members to the team this term. We are excited to now have seven students participating in Hands on Learning Cafe every Thursday.

One of the four pillars of Hands on Learning is ‘A chance to give back’ and involves students learning about community connections and their individual roles within the community. During Week 4 the HoL Cafe Crew teamed up with the SRC to make and sell soup, raising money for Vinnies. In Week 9 we will be selling cupcakes to raise money for RUOK Day.

Hedgehog, hot chocolates and sausage rolls have been regular items on the menu this term, with our now famous hedgehog selling out sixty pieces in just twenty minutes!! All money earned from recess and lunch sales goes back into buying equipment and ingredients for the HoL program.

The HoL Cafe Crew have been getting out in the garden on the few sunny days we’ve had, digging fruit and veggie scraps into the ground to condition the soil for a herb garden to be planted in Spring. The Crew are planning on using their profits to buy a worm farm and portable garden beds to start planting once the weather warms up.

We are looking forward to a productive last few weeks of Term 3 and an even busier Term 4!

Year 10 Drivers Education

On Monday and Tuesday this week our Year 10 students travelled to Charlton to take part in valuable driver education. Students learned about driving safely, road safety, and road rules in both manual and automatic cars. The program was a positive experience for everyone, whether they had driven a car before or were driving for the very first time.

Thank you to Mrs Fitzgerald, Mrs Huisman, and Mrs McIntyre for accompanying the students.

LSO Appreciation Week!

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Learning Support Officers, whose patience, kindness and dedication help every student feel known, supported and valued. Our college wouldn't be the same without you!

Fathers Day Breakfast

This morning we held our second Father's Day Breakfast in The Well - one year since our new cafe space opened with the same event last year! It was a pleasure to welcome students and their families and to come together to celebrate our College community. Thank you to the fathers, grandfathers, and role models; your presence and partnership are deeply valued, and we are grateful for the effort you made to attend!

Thank you to our wonderful staff and Hands on Learning students who prepared and served a delicious breakfast!

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