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

Key Dates, Times & Reminders