Middle Years 

Year Level Leader Reflection

Year 7s have had quite the transition into high school, from navigating the hilly terrain to finding different rooms, to experiencing a range of electives. We got to try apricot chocolate balls that they made in food tech and they were YUM! Learning their locker combinations has been a new to many and we have seen students nail it, proud that they have a locker they can access all by themselves.

While walking between classes and on yard duty, it is fantastic to see the students say hello and smile! What a great sign that the cohort is mixing well and enjoying the learning so far. We have seen students from different transition groups sitting outside Mason House, chatting, and laughing as well as on the lower basketball courts shooting some hoops!

It has not all been smooth sailing though, with the snap lockdown in place a month ago. The uncertainty of face-to-face learning was present and created mixed emotions for many. After coming to tread water for the first time in Term 1, the Year 7s had a challenge to quickly adapt to online learning at the College. We have received nothing but praise from teachers for how students engaged in online learning, interacting with their classes on Teams with their cameras on. It may seem like something small, though it really makes teachers jobs easier during such a tough time!

Family night last week was a brilliant opportunity to reflect on how the year has gone so far, with feedback. It was fantastic to finally meet parents face-to-face rather than on a screen. What a great feeling to be back, with Term 2 only around the corner!

Year 7 Level Leaders

-Jessica Ivankovic and Jacqui Franks

Transition into Year 7

My name’s Emily I am in 7s and I am here to tell you about my transition experience. In my class I only had two close friends in my class but a group of girls from my class came and sat with us which helped me make new friends that I did not know before this year.

After a few weeks and with a lot of help from my friends I started to find my way around the school, learn where each of my classes were. My friends and I have common interests in books and tv shows so we talk about them regularly. Highschool only got easier from there.

The classes are fun, the people are nice, and I am enjoying school. My favourite subjects so far are Textiles and Maths because the teachers are nice, and the work is fun. I thought the work would be too much but compared to primary school it seems like nothing! Transition day last year reassured me that high school is fun, not scary and there is always someone to talk to if you have a problem.

Our class gets a band program that we do each Monday. We separate into different instrument groups for the first part and then come together and learn together.

I usually buy my food from the canteen with my friends, I thought it would be like the canteens in American schools where the kids throw food at each other and bully people, but they usually line up and then leave or sit in and chat with friends.

I really wanted to be in Production this year as they’re doing one of my favourite musicals, unfortunately I couldn’t be due to other commitments but some of my friends are in it and it sound like a lot of fun. I am looking forward to camp and continuing my high school journey at Wantirna.

-Emily Sutherland 7S

FAMILY NIGHT

Tuesday the 2nd of March was the night we had family fun night, which allowed all the year 7 families to get to know other families, teachers and to just get to know the school a bit more.

The evening started off in the Orchard where we got to have some sausages and have a talk with others. After that we went to our assigned classrooms with our home group and had a chance to talk about our experience and what we think about Wantirna College. Our Homeroom Teacher then talked about some of the things we have been doing and are going to do this year. Some peer support leaders talked about their experiences too and what they have enjoyed doing here. Soon after, we got to show our families our classrooms and lockers and pretty much gave them a tour of the school and gave a brief description of how our day goes on.

At 7:00pm we met up at the Theatre and some teachers talked about their role and what they do and some upcoming events this year. Afterwards we all headed home, hopefully knowing more about our school.

-Miral Sheta 7S