Year 7 - 9 Community

Year 7 - 8

Student Update

On Monday the 21st, the school leaders had the amazing opportunity to go and help out with children's week celebration at the Korayn Birralee Centre. The leaders volunteered to work at stations/activities to support the event. Each leader had their own responsibilities, some of these jobs included stress ball making, welcoming the community and many more. Seeing all the smiles everywhere and helping the community with this amazing event was really heart-warming to see. All of the leaders did a great job volunteering and working together. 

Every three weeks on a Friday, the school leaders go to the kindergarten to help the teachers with the younger children and to have fun with them. When we arrive, we get  into smaller groups and head to the classrooms and play with the kids or read to them. It is always a blast to see the smiles on their faces when we enter the classroom. Many of these kids have made amazing memories with our school leaders. Everybody including the kids, school leaders and teachers are always looking forward to our sessions. 

Zainab Wali Zada 

Wexford Campus

Curriculum Update

Maths

This term in Maths, students and teachers are building their experience and confidence with the Launch, Explore, Summarise (LES) problem-solving approach. During the Launch stage, a mathematical situation, often a story, is introduced, and students brainstorm strategies they might use. The Explore stage begins with 5 minutes where students tackle the task individually. After this time, they can choose to continue working on their own or collaborate with peers. The teacher checks in with students, offering support or extensions as needed. Finally, the Summarise stage allows students to share their discoveries, which can happen during the lesson or at its conclusion.

English

In English, all Year 7/8 students are studying a movie as their text. They are analyzing characters, themes, and film techniques while learning to explain their interpretations using evidence. Students are enjoying the opportunity to explore how the director conveys their message.

Humanities

All students are participating in the Banqer program, which helps them develop financial literacy skills. They have opened bank accounts, secured jobs, selected superannuation funds, and created budgets. Additionally, they have written CVs and applied to live in a share house. Their final project will involve applying for a job and participating in a panel interview. These activities connect to real-life skills that may be valuable as they prepare to enter the workforce.

INCURSIONS & EXCURSIONS

There will be an incursion with Dream City this term. Students will have a range of experiences related to a variety of careers such as neonatal nurse, robotic engineer and sports scientist.

IMPORTANT DATES 

*Year 8 Graduation is on November 28th at the Croatian Community Centre starting at 6pm. This is a wonderful occasion to celebrate our students as they graduate from their junior campus and prepare for their move to our Goldsworthy campus. We are really looking forward to seeing students, families and staff coming together for this special event.

*The Year 7/8 Campus Celebration Day is on December 13th. All students will enjoy a roast lunch and dessert as well as a range of fun activities to celebrate such a successful year.

*On December 17th all students will head to Torquay for a day at the beach. Students can choose to join in with activities like volleyball, soccer, cricket, building sand castles or going for a walk. No students will be allowed in the water. 

Year 9

Student Update

The Year 9’s have been currently learning about creative writing and its features during English, particularly looking into dystopian text as well as having to create our own fictional story with that genre. Students have also been learning about space astronomy during Science, the life cycle of stars and the different theories about our solar system and universe. Humanities has been beneficial when studying about business and economics, gathering information about the Australian and global economy, financial sector, factors of production, and so much more. 

The highlight of this term for me has been Visual Arts. Despite not being exceptional in doing art, I enjoy the creative and freedom side of it. We are currently doing our creative practice, meaning we have to create an art piece based off of a theme. My choices were Nostalgia, Childhood, Autophobia, and A Night Out, and I liked how I was able to do whatever I desired for my final assessment. ( Thank you Mr. A ) 

Our time at Deakin was very beneficial and eye-opening. We have been learning about employability skills, mainly focusing on our communication skills when visited on campus. The students from the DEAP (Deakin Engagement and Access program) helped us prepare questions when interviewing volunteers, taught us the do’s and don’ts when having conversations, and shared their experience at Deakin. They were extremely welcoming and made us feel comfortable about university, especially towards the people who aren’t fond of the idea of it. The students gave us meaningful advice and answered questions about our further education, overall having an amazing experience at Deakin University. 

 

Criscelle Ocampo

Goldsworthy Campus

Curriculum Update

In Year 9, our students engaged with a dynamic curriculum that fostered critical thinking and creativity across key subjects. In Humanities, they explored the realms of business and economics, gaining valuable insights into how economic principles influence societal decisions and market dynamics. Simultaneously, in Maths, students focused on 3D shapes and chance, enhancing their spatial reasoning and understanding of probability through practical applications. These subjects intertwined to help students appreciate the complexities of financial literacy and the mathematical foundations that underpin real-world scenarios.

The exploration continued in English, where the theme of dystopia prompted deep discussions about societal structures and ethics, encouraging students to analyze and critique various narratives. In Science, the study of space sparked wonder and curiosity, as students investigated celestial bodies and phenomena, fostering a greater understanding of our universe. Together, these subjects provided a holistic educational experience, equipping our students with essential skills and a well-rounded perspective as they prepare for their academic journey ahead.

In Year 9, we continued our collaboration with The Geelong Tertiary Futures Program. Our students are currently engaging with online modules designed to earn them a Certificate I in Employability Skills, which they completed during mentor classes.

We have strengthened our partnership with Deakin University, who hosted workshops focused on essential employability skills. One particularly impactful activity involved groups constructing cup towers without verbal communication, emphasising the importance of non-verbal interaction. We also had the opportunity to visit Deakin, where students formulated meaningful questions for professionals who generously volunteered their time to meet with us.

As we progress through this term, we remain committed to enhancing our students' employability skills in preparation for their transition to Year 10 and beyond!

Mathew Potter

Acting Campus Principal 

Hendy Campus