Wurrin News - Year 8

Learning Tools Sprint

As we prepare students for their next year level, it’s important that everyone is 'in class, on time, and ready for learning'. Commencing Monday 10th November, students have been participating in a Learning Tools Sprint to ensure all students arrive prepared with their own learning equipment. This includes pens, pencils, books, and laptops.

While most students are consistently ready, some still need additional support. Please help support your student with having their learning tools ready to go.

Being organised supports success in their upcoming Headstart opportunities. Let’s work together to build great learning habits!

Hub staff will visit classrooms to check readiness and offer guidance where needed. Being prepared every day ensures full participation in learning and success in our upcoming Headstart program.

Headstart 2026

Bairnsdale Secondary College’s 2026 Headstart Program begins Monday 1st December 2025 for all Years 7, 8 and 9 students. From this date, students will move into their 2026 classes, with new teachers, classrooms, and subjects, allowing them to start the new year already settled and ready to learn.

As part of this process, some core class groupings have changed due to electives and new enrolments for 2026. Students may find themselves in different core groups next year.

Headstart gives our soon-to-be Year 9 students the chance to build strong learning routines, resilience, and readiness for their senior years. Attendance during this time is essential to ensure a smooth transition.

There will be no option to change electives during Headstart.

To prepare, students will need to start tidying their lockers and locating their belongings. We will have a big clean out before moving lockers later this month. Please support your student by ensuring they bring home important items and have the correct equipment ready for Headstart.

A Year 8 Assembly will be held on Thursday 27th November to mark the transition to Year 9. For any questions or support, please contact the Year 8 Hub on 5150 4800 or email wurrin@bairnsdalesc.vic.edu.au

Further details will be sent home with your student in the coming week.

Mobile Tech School Visit

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Learning

Students created their own hydrogen fuel cells and used them to power a small LED light. This hands-on activity was a fantastic way to complement the class learning around renewable energy and deepen their understanding of how clean technologies work.

A Suprise Visitor in the Year 8 Hub

The Year 8 Hub had an unexpected guest today, a curious stick insect! Students were excited to observe the tiny visitor up close, sparking conversations. It was a fun and memorable moment that brought a little bit of nature into the space.

Baking Brilliance 

8A students are currently studying their paddock to plate unit and put their baking skills to the test this week baking little carrot cakes in Food Tech. They looked and smelled amazing. Great work guys!

Fortnightly Reminders 

Social Media Minimum Age Campaign Approaching Fast

The Australian Government is protecting young Australians at a critical stage of their development, through world-first social media age restrictions taking effect on 10 December.

It’s not a ban, it’s a delay to having accounts...

Age-restricted platforms won’t be allowed to let under-16s create or keep an account. That’s because being logged into an account increases the likelihood that they’ll be exposed to pressures and risks that can be hard to deal with. These come from social media platform design features that encourage them to spend more time on screens, while also serving up content that can harm their health and wellbeing.

The delay gives you extra time to talk about online safety and wellbeing with your child, to help them prepare for the risks and pressures of social media when they turn 16. It’s breathing space for them to build digital, social and emotional skills, and to understand the importance of reaching out for help if things go wrong.

More details about how the age restrictions will operate and other relevant information can be found on the eSafety Commissioner Social Media Age Restrictions Hub.

Attendance Matters

Every day counts! We’re encouraging all students to make the most of Term 4 by attending every day and staying connected with their learning.

Daily attendance is important for all children and young people to succeed in education and to ensure they do not fall behind both socially and developmentally. 

School participation maximises life opportunities for children and young people by providing them with education and support networks. School helps people to develop important skills, knowledge and values that set them up for further learning and participation in their community.

Recording absences 

For absences, a parent must provide an explanation on each occasion to the school. Parents should notify the College of absences by:

• Adding the attendance record directly into Compass
• Phoning the Administration Office

Please reach out for further guidance if needed. We`re always happy to help.

College Uniform Expectations

As always, most of our students continue to wear the correct school uniform.

We kindly ask all families to ensure that students are in full school uniform each day. We are still completing large orders of uniform. If you need any support in sourcing uniform items, please don’t hesitate to contact Amy in the Year 8 Hub. 

Students who arrive at school out of uniform will be provided with the appropriate items and expected to wear them during the school day.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

For your reference, the uniform policy and price list are included below as well as examples of correct uniform.

Phones at School: What You Need to Know

In accordance with the Department of Education Mobile Phones Policy, students must not use their mobile phones at Bairnsdale Secondary College during school hours, including Break 1 and 2, unless an exemption has been granted by the Principal. 

Students may need to bring a personal mobile phone to school, for example if travelling independently to and from school. If students bring a mobile phone to school they must be switched off and stored securely in their locker all day, including Break 1 and 2. Mobile phones are considered valuable items and are brought to the school at the owner’s risk. 

For further information the BSC Mobile Phones Policy is located on the College website.