Teaching & Learning
Poetry
During the course of the past 2 terms, the Year 8’s have explored poetry, and looked at many different forms and varieties of poetry, including reading different sets of poems by famous poets such as Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Dickson and Slyvia Plath. We did our own collection of poems and capped the unit off with a poetry analysis of our own choice. This unit encouraged us to express ourselves in a new and challenging way and showed that poetry can be fun, serious or anything in between!
Rioli by Archie
Also of the fastest in the game
Steaming through the midfield like a train
Dominated back in 2017
Not anymore it’s not the same
Once the best small forward kicking goal after goal
Including 3 in the 2017 prelim
Not anymore no, now we condole
Back defending, no more goals
Just kidding on that one
He kicks more than big guys
Whether it’s outside 50
Or on the run
Untitled by Nameera
Untitled by Roman
I’m half of myself.
Two quarters of he who will,
Three-sixths of desire
And a whole of what was
I’m half of myself
Two quarters of he who did
Three sixths of what should have
And a whole of what can be.
I’m not who will or who did
I’m divided
What was and what can be.
I’m not what I should be,
I’ll be who I want to be
Now I’m here in the in-between
Eulogy to a Lost Boy by Anonymous
Yesterday I attended a funeral.
I was the only one there.
Wether or not anyone else knew,
They did not seem to care.
I knew not where I was going,
As I walked in a daze-
Through the empty streets,
And my internal haze.
And then I found myself in that graveyard,
It was such a familiar place.
Where lay buried all the memories
I had tried so hard to erase.
At my steady approach
They emerge from the ground.
Those remnants of another age-
Trying so hard to be found.
Despite my inhibitions
I try to reach them through the bars
To those snippets of utopia,
Reduced to ugly scars.
It can’t continue,
The living in two parts.
With my body in the present,
And in the past my heart.
So I started digging
And what a kingly tomb was made.
Its tall arches and belfries
Standing where children once played.
In the coffin I placed the poor boy’s hopes and dreams.
And with giving one final nod
I left that graveyard
Leaving them alone with God.
And whether they end up in heaven or hell;
It gives me solace to know
That they will still carry that spark of hope
To warm them wherever they go.
Fireworks by Ruby M
A symphony of notes burst across the sky like fireworks
Warmth grows beneath my ribs
For now, what’s left of me still lives
Soon, beneath the heat,
My bones will crack
Past the point of no return,
Unable to go back
When I turn to ash,
And then to dust
Where do I go then?
A wandering soul,
A lost mind
Forever traversing
The firework-lit sky
Basketball by Brendan
In the court where dreams take flight
Beneath the hoop embrace so tight
Players dance with ball in hand
A symphony of skill like a mesmerizing band
Dribbles echo a rhythmic beat
And sneakers squeak and hearts compete
Passion bounces a fiery glow
On this court where legends grow
From three-point arcs the archers aim
Their hopes and goals one single flame
With every swish the crowd erupts
In the game of basketball courage flares up
Fast breaks and alley-oops a dazzling show
A ballet of motion a fierce tempo
Teamwork and artistry a seamless blend
In the world of basketball a saga without end
Reflection by Ruby T
A foggy morning,
A freezing lake
Sitting on the damp pier
The breeze feels like ice.
Looking at your reflection
Faded and blurry
Where is everyone?
Where is the life?
Looking around to try and find answers
To the questions that are unknown
The sound of rushing water is loud
But you are still alone
And the sound of quietness itself,
Is louder than ever before.
Somewhere in the Middle by Lucas P
The cold winter air and the clouds in the skies
The escaping lights illuminates beauty to my eyes
Beautiful sights contrast with the cold I despise
And in the middle of it all is where my peace lies
In the middle of the cold rain and calming breeze
Or in the middle of cold water and tall long trees
In the middle of the best and the middle of the worst
For you cannot have beauty without the lack it first
We need cold rain to love warm embrace
We need to see the worst before we see it’s grace
I wouldn’t love it here if it was always great
The beauty through the cold exhibits the error of my hate
A Matildas Poem by Olive M
A sea of green and gold
With voices so bold
Cheering for your team
Seeing how loud you can scream
Watching the ball hit the net
Knowing your dad lost the bet
This is the best sport
On and off the court
My favorite player is Hayley Raso
The way she plays is like Piccaso
Creative but yet very effective
She's a good person, very connective
I also like Sam kerr
Shes so fast she's a blur
She gets lots of goals
She's got a good soul
The best corner kicker is Cooney-cross
She's an absolute boss
Go matildas
Your going to kill this
Untitled by Hana R
Seasons come and go
But my feelings will always show
My feelings of being wronged
And hurt for so long
How I was affected to a detrimental point
But you went on
Not a sorry, my mistake or remorseful comment was said
And the effect of your actions replayed in my head
How alone, sad and angry I was
To see you living on and having fun
My tears and dismay weren't worth the time we shared
For all the agonizing pain I beared
To cause someone to lose themselves
This might come across as exaggeration
But not to me
Because I want you to see
My point of view, my point of life
The life that I live due to this strife
I live to improve to excel to move
On from the hurt and all the wrong
All I need is recognition
so my life can go on.
Basketball by Ted C
Slam, slam, slam,
The ball hitting the court, as I drive down from one end to another.
A defender approaches
I look around the court
Who’s open?
I panic, my heart is pounding
I see someone’s open
I throw the ball in a panicked mess
I breathe a sigh of relief, but it’s too early for that
A defender leaps in the air…
Interception!
It’s my fault
The game’s on the line
The clock is ticking
I chase them down
Just as they’re about to score
I reach my hands out
I block the shot
We have the ball
20 seconds on the clock
Slam, slam, slam
I hear the ball against the court again
Driving again
And then I hear the ball against the rim
Clang, clang, clang
I hear the sound of the buzzer blare
Clang, clang, clang,
The ball is still bouncing around the rim
Swoosh!
We’ve won the game!
Dear Nonna by Emilia S
The key to the soul is through the eyes and through your eyes
i see
a past
present
and future
A past in which
a woman moved to another country to start over
Over to a place
who didn’t speak the same tongue
Think the same thoughts
eat the same foods
A present in which you care for a child
The daughter of your son
too irresponsible to be left home alone
A future where we grow together
both getting older
Me, smarter, kinder
You, greyer, wiser
You take my hands
Our gaze meets
Tell me something sweet
“Emilia,”
Emilia.
It's not my name
But i will change it,
For you
For a chance to be forever branded with your words
Wear it proud, like a tattoo
“Yes nonna?”
“You know I am old woman now?
I'm not going to live forever”
I know nonna
I know.
I have dreams,
Dreams where you're no longer with me
And i weep
I cry
And cry
Until i’ve created a river in my mind
And the memories of you
Flow down with the current
I could chase them all i like
But they’re gone.
And so are you. Nonna,
Ti amo in modi che nessuna lingua potrebbe esprimere,
quando te ne sarai andato non smetterò mai di cercarti.
Rope Woven by her Silk Lies by Adriana RG
On silent walks, and when reading bubbles,
I’m found wishing for what it once was.
When her apologies were empty words,
But now they’re filled with ignorant denials.
I want back what I had,
Though it isn’t much.
If every path lead to pain,
Wouldn’t you pick the lesser?
But a glance is all it takes
When she’s over there I see,
I see her beaming smiles and laughs,
Our own dull smiles can not compare.
Trying to enact change is futile.
I’m just a spider stuck in her web.
Squirming and worming to no end.
The web of her lies block out the light.
In my fantasies I stand up,
I speak up and stand tall.
But I just can’t stand her.
I wish she’d understand me.
The rope is strong when intact,
But when the threads start to snap,
There’s no going back.
I was getting tired of holding back.
I was tired of sitting back.
I can not ‘just relax’.
When the rope snaps,
I need not hold on no more.
No more fake smiles,
Fake laughs, fake promises,
Fake words, empty words.
Silk words disappear,
Let me see the other side,
Come rain or shine.
What is Australia by Winnie K
What is Australia?
It’s that lump of rocks and sand and grass,
The cool waves that crash against the gold coast.
The wombats in their burrows,
The Koalas in their trees.
Australia is a country
But what is Australia?
It’s the children in their schools.
The hot sun, as people in the street run from shadow to shadow.
The spectators at the MCG, with whistles that cut the air
Australia is a people.
But what is Australia?
It’s those stupid hats with corks to scare the bloody flies, mate.
It’s ice cream at the pool, and not enough sunscreen.
It’s parents, running around with cricket bats,
Trying to teach their kids to play.
Australia is a culture.
But what is Australia?
It’s the happy calls of “Cooee!” as friends trek through the bush.
The flies, landing on your face and arms.
The green leaves of gum trees,
Falling down, down, down—or up, in America.
Australia is my—our—home
Untitle by Michael P
Like the glistening moon,
Leading the traveller through the roads.
Like the blazing sun,
Nourishing the seed as it grows.
Paving the pathway of opportunity,
The prosperity of tomorrow.
But behind closed doors,
Drowned in misery and sorrow.
But alas, the gift of life is beautiful,
A worthy sacrifice in any imagination.
For he who carries the surname,
Will pass it onto generations.
Untitled by Saoirse W
On the sunburnt plains, where dreams unwind,
Beneath the Southern Cross, our hearts aligned,
With boomerang in hand and spirits high
Through dust and heat, a cricket match we play,
As kangaroos graze in the fields, they sway,
With mates and laughter, the game's delight,
In the land of Aussie sports, we take our flight.
As night descends, didgeridoo's hum,
We dance 'round the fire, spirits overcome,
With ancient stories passed on with pride,
Family and culture forever entwined.
Lachlan Gaylard and the Year 8 English Team
VCE VM
Colour Explosion
On the 4th of October, We ran a Colour Explosion and a Sausage Sizzle for the senior students of CHS (10-12). The event went really well and everybody had a great time. Many people attended the sausage sizzle outside the café at lunch time and the sales were good.=
On the 5th of October, we ran another Colour Explosion and Sausage Sizzle for the Year 7 - 9 students Colour Explosion day. We had more students than the day before, as the students in the Junior year levels were more interested in whole school events than the Years 10, 11 and 12. We were able to serve more food and drinks, as more students attend at lunchtime. The VCE VM class were more prepared for the day so the Colour Explosion and the setup for the Years 7, 8 and 9’s to run the Colour Explosion ran smoothly.
Sausage sizzle
Thursday the 5th and Friday the 6th of October the year 11 VCE VM class conducted a sausage sizzle in company of the Colour Explosion. The class figured out the amount of food needed as well as drinks and the cost of each item, according to the amount of students in the school. The class discussed prices of the food and drinks. $2 Dollars for any drink of choice $3.50 for a sausage in bread and $5 dollar combo which you get both drink and sausage in bread. On Friday though the year 11s adjusted their prices of food to suit a more affordable price range. Making the drinks $2, sausage in bread for $2.50 and $3.50 for the combo. When running the sausage sizzle through both lunch times on that Thursday and Friday the VCE VM team did a good job at working together to get the barbeque set up, cooking up the sausages, keeping the drinks iced and selling the food.
At the end of the Friday the VM class got to treat themselves to the left over cooked sausages to reward themselves for their hard work.
Colour Explosion Clean Up
After Thursday and Friday, we had to clean up on the colour stations as well as the sausage sizzle. We had to refill the colour bottles on Thursday in preparation for Friday and also wash the colour off the tables. After the whole event finished, we cleaned up the flags, tables, the barbeque space and around the school to make sure everything was neat and how it originally was.
NCAT Classes ending
We are now finished with our NCAT classes for the rest of the year. It has been an incredible journey filled with learning, challenges, and personal growth. We are looking forward to returning next year and continuing to learn through the world of trade. The year ahead holds exciting opportunities and challenges, and I am eager to apply the knowledge and skills I've acquired to real-world situations.
SBATS (School Based Apprenticeships)
A SBAT is a school based apprenticeship where students can go and work while you're still in school while getting a VCE education as well.
Myself and a few other students have had meetings with Tahnee from Headstart regarding what we want to do in the future and how we learn best. This can lead to possibly trying other work opportunities in case I do not want to do plumbing and see other jobs, also we talked about why I chose plumbing over other trades.
RIJI (Real Industry Job Interviews)
The VCE VM class went for a fake interview at Coburg Town Hall. Where we spoke to a range of people in interview settings. Prior to this we practiced with fellow students and rehearsed our questions and how we were going to act. We also dressed up for the occasion in suits and collared shirts to help with the appearance of being professional and responsible.
Lynn’s birthday
Lynette Camilleri works very closely with our class as an Education Support Worker, she has come to all of our excursions and many of our classes. This year was a special birthday for her and we wanted to show our appreciation of everything she does by making her a cake and singing her happy birthday.
English Language
On Wednesday October 10th Dr. Rikke Bundgaard-Nielsen a psycho-linguistics lecturer and researcher from the University of Melbourne came to speak to the Year 11 English Language classes about her research. She spent most of the day speaking to classes about how she got into psycho-linguistics, and fieldwork on Numbulwar, on the Gulf of Carpentaria- far north Northern Territory. We were interested in not only what she had to say but also the different weapons, artefacts and books that she brought in to show us. The information she presented us with will help us prepare for the remainder of Unit 2 in relation to language death and even next year in Unit 4. We felt very lucky to have her as a resource within our Coburg community as a parent.
Year 11 Chemistry
The Year 11 Chemistry class where given the job of determining the concentration of household vinegar through an acid base titration.
Gab Warren