Term One of 2018 has flown by and, in the Middle School, each week has been jam packed with learning as well as extra-curricular activities such excursions, incursions, inter-school sport and entire school sports days including swimming and athletics days. Once again the students of the Middle School have taken up the opportunities that Mordialloc College affords them.

Year 7

The Year 7s have made a fantastic start to the school year. Early on this term the vast majority of Year 7 students made their way to Trafalgar East to spend three days at The Summit Camp. Most of the students had to face some of their fears, including heights, in activities like the Giant Swing, High Wire, Leap of Faith, Tash’s Ladder, Sky Bridge and the Summit Window which is 21 metres above the ground. Other students were challenged through walking on a bed of nails or holding a python. While at camp all of the students participated in an event known as the Monster Challenge, where activity groups worked as a team to complete an obstacle race, a smaller version of Tough Mudder. All students became drenched and covered in mud but this activity was definitely a highlight for many of them. Back at school the Year 7s have been showing a fantastic attitude towards all of their subjects, which was demonstrated by 58 individuals receiving certificates for their efforts this term.

Year 8

The Year 8s have also had a positive start to the 2018 school year. They have made the move to the Enquiry Zone and have settled well into their new environment. As part of the Surf ‘n Turf project all Year 8 students attended an excursion to Cape Schanck to collect field work evidence relating to the landscapes and land forms that were observed

The Year 8 students also participated in an incursion where a group came to put on a production called “Show Some Respect” which, as the name suggests, was designed to educate students about respecting each other and treating each other the way that they would like to be treated.

Throughout the term the Year 8 students have been participating in a weekly inter school sports competition against other local schools in baseball, softball, volleyball, tennis and cricket. Everyone who has participated has represented the school to a very high level.

Next term the Year 8s have their camp to Phillip Island to look forward to. This camp will be taking place from the 2 to 4 May.

Year 9

Our Year 9 students have also had a jam packed term. The MEX 2.0 program is well under way with one group of students having already completed their city experience and another group having completed their community placements.

Earlier this term the Year 9 cohort undertook a General Achievement Test (GAT) in order practice their exam technique to prepare all of the students for upcoming exams. Like the Year 7 cohort, our Year 9 students will also be completing NAPLAN early next term.

The students in the Advance program have taken part in their first camp and the students undertaking the Year 9 Outdoor Ed class have gone on their first excursion for the year and are eagerly awaiting their camp next term.

Primary School Visits

Over the last three weeks a core group of twelve Year 7 students along with a range of student leaders and Year 7 volunteers have visited 15 local primary schools as part of Mordialloc College’s transition program. All students involved did a fantastic job promoting the school and talking about their personal transition from primary school to secondary college. A special thank you to the following students whose efforts made the visits such a success: Cooper Smith, Jada Thomas, Maggie Huber, Benjamin Curtin, Kirra Childs, Will Wade, Jeremy Thai Chan, Ethan Brech, Charlotte Borkowski, Jasmine Cane, Amelia Davidson, Jye Holloway, Strong Sirachantanakorn, Celina Lum, Spenser Halse, Alex Hutchins, Meike Berg, Emmerson Shankie, Sabrina Berg, Annie Ea, Matthew Wade, Will Smith, Holly MacMillan, Dilara Isikli, Bailey Bocksette and Naena Good-Jackson.

Middle School Awards

On Monday 26 March Years 7, 8 and 9 congregated in the Learning Centre to attend the middle school assembly. During this assembly 164 middle school students were recognised for their hard work and dedication to their studies throughout the term. Of the 164 students who were recognised, 41 students received two or more awards. The students who achieved this feat were: Abigail Brown, Andres Moreno, Annabelle Stacey, Ashleigh McCulloch, Beau Cardona, Bradley Combe, Bridget Arden, Chloe Gibbon, Christopher Castro, Declan Carroll, Edward Lamaro, Elisa Sarsini, Ella Bourne, Fasika Abera, Hannah Grieve, Heather Bartell, Isabel Agar-Wilson, James Walsh, Jordan Westrup, Kiani Wilkin, Lachlan Stacey, Lara Batten, Lauren Hunt, Lawrence Vlahos, Maggie Huber, Meike Berg, Mikayla Coxhell, Millie Cardona, Monty Millwood, JJ Sirachantanakorn, Noah Crowe, Poppy Collison, Rhianne Blavo, Ronan Askew, Rose Patel, Taylah Lewis, Thomas Toth, Timothy Whitford, Thomas Graves, Vika Vasilenko, Willow Howard-Smith and Yigit Yilmaz.

Congratulations to all of the students who were awarded certificates. Hopefully next term even more students will be nominated for certificates to recognise their hard work in Term 2.

Daniel Williams

Director of Middle School

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