Student News
'Be The Best That You Can Be'
Year 9 MAN CAVE Experience
Last month our Year 9 Boys participated in the MANCAVE workshop. We thank the support of the Monash Adolescence Unit and the WHSC Wellbeing team allowing our young men to reflect, share and embrace respectful relationships. The boys participated in activities and discussions giving them the opportunity to talk openly about their emotions, how to listen and support each other.
Mancave’s vision is to create a world in which every man has healthy relationships, realises his full potential, and contributes to his community.
We thank our boys’ honesty and response to the workshop. Quotes here of what the boys thought and photos of the day.
We are planning an opportunity for the Year 9 Girls later this year.
Miss Jacinta Wilson
Year 9 Coordinator
What we thought of the Program:
“It kept me really entertained and focused on learning.”
“They really helped a lot of us with our feelings and how we are as people.”
“Keep doing what you are doing because it really opens people up.”
“Made me open up and not want to judge a book by its cover anymore.”
“It opened my eyes more, I learnt a lot about other kids.”
“I felt really good about opening up. It really woke me up and made me more aware of how I actually feel.”
“It helped me understand what everyone is going through.”
“Amazing because I have become a lot more confident with sharing my problems with people. I could let out what has been hiding inside me for a long time and hear what other people go through.”
What we Learnt:
“Treat people better and don't judge.”
“Ask my friends if they're ok more often.
"Be more aware of other people's emotions.
” Not judge a person from their appearance.”
“Try to understand others better and treat people better."
Try to understand others better"
Share more things about myself to others.”
Middle School
REMOTE HOME GROUP
As students in the Middle School took part in Remote Home Group due to the recent lock down, we were amazed to see the number of original activities that were occurring before the school day. Logo competitions had our budding designers on task, breakfasts were eaten together online, a rich debate about how long to toast bread was contentious and then developed to focus on that controversial Aussie debate…How much Vegemite? If any at all.
The ideas grew, and as we entered an increasing number of Home Groups on screen, we revived the notion of bringing our pets to school. So many lovable creatures that help us with our wellbeing during Remote Learning attended. So fantastic that birds, dogs, cats, rabbits, puppies and even fish appeared on our screens. Teachers had some pets with challenging behaviours and we all laughed when some pets disobeyed on screen. Maybe, our students are better educators when it comes to our special friends.
Overall, these enjoyable experiences helped us feel closer together and supported our wellbeing. We welcomed our wonderful students back on Friday the 11th of June and it was lovely to see the ‘buzz’ of friendly communication. We thank all of our students for their efforts in Remote Learning.
Ms. Field
Middle School Leader
Year 8 Elevate Education Workshop
On Wednesday 12th May, the Year 8’s participated in an Elevate Education workshop for the “Study Skills Kick Start”. During this workshop, students were provided with a range of study techniques to improve their reading skills, effective note taking skills, conceptual learning techniques and independent learning.
In this very informative workshop, presenters were able to model study techniques and students were provided with the opportunity to practice and trial each study technique through a series of provided activities.
The Year 8s were very receptive to learning about and participating in activities that allowed them to practice these study techniques.
Special thanks to staff who attended and supported this event, including Ms Schuffelen, Mr Ellis, Mr Watson and Mr Lam, as well as the Year 8s for their participation and attention during this event.
"Elevate Education gave ideas of useful and effective skills to study. I have used some of these skills already for humanities. I learnt how to read a large piece of text quicker and how to get more information out of what I’m reading. I found this workshop really valuable, as I spend heaps of time re-reading and trying to get information out and I always forget the information." – Charlotte H (8A)
"We were taught to think of the purpose before reading the text. Then, we learnt to look specifically for the information that we need by skim reading through the text and reading the subtitles. The mind mapping techniques demonstrated to us were very helpful to separate information. I think what I'm going to use is using Trigger Words study technique across a few of my subjects to help me remember key information rather than writing a few sentences." – Grace C (8B)
Mrs Megan Hodgkinson
Year 8 Coordinator
Feature Articles Yr 8
Year 8's completed a Feature Article for their CAT 3 - Writing. They chose a topic from a list, spent time researching and drafting their work to produce a great final copy. Great work, Year 8.
Kellie Goebel
Yr 8 English Teacher
Year 10 Extended Experimental Investigation
Poster Display - Wednesday 19th May
As parents may be aware one of the CATs for Year 10 Science involves a student designed investigation on a topic of their choice. In the first stage students worked on planning for this task in class in the last couple of weeks of term 1 so they could be ready for the next stage, their experiments.
As part of the structure of this CAT, students completed this experimental component outside of class, with the term break giving them the perfect opportunity to stretch the boundaries of what they could do. I am sure parents were engage with their child's investigation, helping to ensure it was complete as assistants or possibly subjects!
In the final stage students put together their findings and developing their report in one of the traditional scientific formats of a poster in a mirror of what they will be required to do for one of their VCE SACs.
To celebrate the students’ efforts and reward their hard work the College held a Poster Display session on Wednesday 19th of May in the Library and L-Block during period 4. With a positive buzz of excitement Year 10 students showed and discussed their projects with the rest of their cohort plus staff. We also welcomed a number of parents who graced us with their presence, much to their children’s enjoyment, I think.
The library and L01 were quite crowded with people as we explored a range of science projects from the effect of music on learning, to making plastic from milk, the dynamics of blood spatter and the strange but fascinating Mpemba effect. When the students, parents and staff dispersed at the end of the day, all left a little more enlightened.
The posters were then left on display for the remainder of the week allowing the Year 9 students see what they had to look forwarded to next year.
Finally, let us take this opportunity to thank all parents & guardians for supporting their child’s engagement with science through this project.
Paul McGlynn
Science Teacher
Year 7 News
The year 7s had the opportunity to participate in a trickshot competition to occupy themselves during lockdown 4.0.
Trickshots ranged from virtual reality tricks to sporting trickshots, and from taking just one attempt to over 100 to get it right! Congratulations to the winners of the different categories for showing their creativity!
Best household trickshot: Amyliah P
Best sporting trickshot: Josiah F
Best trickshot involving a pet: Mia A.
Best teacher trickshot (and best VR trickshot): Mr Mello.
Remote Trivia
The year 7s participated in a remote trivia competition with our special judge, Ms Field, and tested their knowledge of topics like logos, sport, music, general knowledge and more! We ran bonus rounds where students competed to show their weirdest headwear, their best bottle flip and the tallest tower they could make out of three items. It was a great opportunity for students and staff to connect and have fun remotely – a special shout out to Nick H for hosting the event!
Congratulations to all the teams, including our team of principals Mr Smith, Mr Dixon and Ms Anderson, and to all the families who played along at home!
Winners: Our Staff! Congratulations to Ms Galli, Mr Joyce, Mr Mello, Mr Molan, Mr Patience, Ms Vogiatzoglou, Ms Wilson and Mr Yong!
Student winners:
1st place: -TMAJTK (Timothy K, Alex N, Mackenzie R-H and Travis T) -Girlies+ (Charlotte A, Jemma H, Alani M, Amyliah P and Chloe S).
2nd place: The Boys (Riley A, Tom B, Nick G and Ethan R)
3rd place: Butter (Harper K, Jacqui L, Allison L and Nick W).
Gemma McMahon
Yr 7 Coordinator