Learning Success

Transition to High School 

Transition activities have already begun to help our incoming Year 7 students feel familiar and confident as they prepare for high school. We’ve welcomed students from several of our feeder schools for small-group taster days, giving them a glimpse into high school life and helping ease those first-day nerves. 

Over the coming weeks, our new Year Advisors - Ms Abiona and Ms May - along with the Secondary Studies Team will be visiting primary schools to meet our new students before our Orientation Day on Tuesday 2nd December. It’s an exciting time filled with anticipation, and we have a wonderful team ready to ensure every student feels supported and set for success in their new chapter. 

Year 8 Literacy & Numeracy 

Our Year 8 Literacy and Numeracy lessons are off to a great start as students dive into their final project for the year - a narrative writing challenge! Each student is developing their own story, building it lesson by lesson through the stages of beginning, rising action, climax and resolution. With stylistic examples, teacher feedback, and time to plan, draft, edit and publish, this project is a wonderful opportunity for students to put all the skills they’ve developed throughout the year into practice. 

We’ve already seen some incredible story starters - we can’t wait to share a few in our next newsletter and see how their stories unfold! 

Sensational story starters! 

It was Scarlettes' first day at Dragon Academy. She walked up the stairs towards the parapet. Her life or death. Her test. Would she be good enough to join the academy? The challenges were set and would test her courage and skill. If she succeeded, she would get everything she ever wanted - to become a rider? Failure was not an option. 

Sophie R 

‘Ring a Ding’ went the bell after Orchid unlocked the door to the patisserie shop. Oddly, the whole place was empty. Devoid of sweets and desserts. “Good day new hire”. Orchid neary fell back. ‘Huh’ she blinked as a small floating strange looking creature floated into the room  out of nowhere. ‘I am Creamy, the creature said formally with a bow. Your assistant fairy for the rest of your career here.’ The fairy then flicked through a book. ‘Your profile says your name is Orchid, right? Nice to meet you and welcome to your first day here at the Maho sweets patisserie.’  

Chiara 

Bang! Sirens rang in the air as police chased the most wanted person in Australia. Gunshots flew in the air as the suspect drove dangerously down the highway. Sam watched the chase on TV, she watched in shock as the suspect put his head out the window to look at the cops. She jumped in fright at the look of the suspect. He was in a clown mask with blood staining his clothes and teeth. Then the clown pulled out a weird looking bottle, pulling a chain off the top and making the police freeze. Boom!.  

Abigail P 

The science facility was abandoned. Jonathon, Michael and the brothers made a habit of trespassing in abandoned buildings, graffitiing the walls and just hanging about without the watchful eye of their parents. But this time things were different. As they pushed the heavy metal door aside, a strange clicking sound starts up. It looks like some sort of machine. In panic, the brothers push Jonathon and Michael towards the ticking machine. Schlurp. The are gone.   

Tim M  

Ari and Emma sit together trying to come up with games and conversation topics but no matter what they do, the dreaded feeling of nothing would not leave the room. Despite the amount of games and activities the two could play, they all felt too underwhelming, so being left with boredom and nothing left to do, they decide to go dimension hopping.  

Ali 

Library Love 

Our ongoing library revamp has brought new life (and plenty of books!) to our shelves. Along with initiatives like Staff vs Student Book Battles and creative Book Week challenges, we’ve added a wide range of new fiction titles to tempt every kind of reader - from fantasy fans to mystery lovers. 

Did you know reading has been proven to: 

•  Improve vocabulary, writing skills, and imagination 

•  Boost empathy and emotional intelligence 

•  Reduce stress and improve focus 

•  Strengthen memory and lifelong learning 

To showcase our growing collection, our team has been busy creating fun and engaging book displays throughout the year - helping students discover their next great read and reminding everyone that books can take us anywhere.