Middle School

Overview of Term 1 

Article by Matt Hill, Co-Deputy Head of Middle School 

Term 1 has proved a vibrant and rewarding start to the year for our Middle School community. The term has been defined by new beginnings, positive relationships and the personal growth of our students as they have embraced new challenges and opportunities. 

Our year began with Orientation Week, setting a strong foundation for 2026. Students quickly settled into new routines, formed connections with peers and teachers and demonstrated a willingness to engage with their learning. A highlight was the Smoking Ceremony that Year 5 took part in, grounding students' place in country and highlighting the importance of environmental consciousness. 

All students in Year 8 took part in a Humanities excursion to Williamstown to study the management of coastal landscapes. Fieldwork provides students with contextualised hands-on learning that deepens understanding of concepts covered in the classroom. 

We celebrated Harmony Week, with students enjoying the vibrant lunchtime festivities organised by our Student Representative Council. This provided a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate the cultural diversity within our College community, with students coming together to share in activities that reflected a range of backgrounds and traditions.

A highlight of the term was the Year 8 Camp to Phillip Island. This experience provided students with opportunities to step outside their comfort zones, build resilience, and strengthen friendships. Whether through outdoor challenges or shared experiences at Penguin Parade, students demonstrated persistence and teamwork, reflecting our values of excellence and community.

During the term, our students showed admirable resilience during the disrupted NAPLAN testing period. Despite unexpected interruptions, they approached the situation with maturity and adaptability, demonstrating a strong commitment to their learning. 

The first round of ACS and 5/6 Sport competitions has been another standout feature of the term. Students have represented the College with enthusiasm, determination, and sportsmanship. It has been wonderful to see participation across all levels, with students striving for excellence while showing respect for teammates, coaches, and opponents alike. 

Lastly, a highlight for me. I was lucky enough to make the acquaintance of Overnewton’s entry into the scarecrow competition at Melbourne Flower and Garden Show last weekend. I had seen it under construction some time ago in the 6/7 building but had not seen the finished product. The Victoria Melaleuca made from recycled materials conveyed a strong message of sustainability. I was so proud of the efforts of the students who put this together. 

We are excited to launch the 2026 Middle School Clubs Timetable, which will be fully operational in Term 2. Students will receive more info in the first assembly of the new term.  

As we conclude Term 1, we acknowledge the growth our students have made not only academically, but socially and emotionally. We look forward to building on this strong start in Term 2.  

GRIP Leadership Conference  

Article by Ava and Liam, Middle School Captains 

Last week, the Middle School Student Executive team attended the GRIP Student Leadership Conference. GRIP is a meeting in which many other schools all come together to speak and listen about leadership. At this conference our team and many others did several activities such as workshops and the loud noises activities. 

The workshops we did were:

What makes a school event successful? 

How to improve my public speaking.

Getting a new idea off the ground. 

It was a very valuable day that taught us about improving ideas, public speaking, believing in others, and overall leadership qualities. 

We were also very lucky to speak to Deakin university about programs for our age and our future. It was an amazing experience that was educational but also fun. This event is one that we will remember for a long time, we are so thankful to have had the opportunity to go to this conference. We look forward to hearing about the leaders who do it next year!