Koonung Secondary College Newsletter

Middle Years  News

Term 3 Recap

As Term 3 comes to a close, I wish to thank each member of the Koonung community for their contributions to our programs and development this term. The Middle School Team has been incredibly proud of the way students have conducted themselves this term, and the ways in which they have participated in the Middle School Programs. I commend each student, and wish them a restful break. Please take the time to relax and reconnect with your family and friends away from the school setting. In this article, please find a recap of the Term that was, with highlights of some of the major programs from the second half of the Term. We are looking forward to an equally exciting Term 4!

 

Welcome Katrina!

It gives me great pleasure to welcome Katrina Pumpa to the Middle School team. Katrina has been a long-standing member of the Koonung community, and has worked in a variety of roles within the school, including Coordinator for the Program for Students with Disabilities, Careers Support and Administration.

Katrina brings a wealth of experience and expertise with her to the role of Middle School Administrator, and has already dived into the waters of Middle School and transition, communicating with many of our current and future families. We are very excited to see what Katrina will achieve within this space.

 

School for Student Leadership

Please see below, a student reflection on his experiences at the School for Student Leadership:

I had the amazing privilege of going to the School for Student Leadership (SSL) with Millie, Lucas, Xavier, Griffin, and Hazel. There are 4 campuses around Victoria, and I went to the Snowy River Campus. I had the most amazing time at the SSL and I don’t regret going there at all. I have made lifelong memories with my new friends and I will cherish these forever. At the SSL, we develop 9 values that add to your identity. We also get to spend a lot of time outdoors and it has been really valuable to me. From the SSL I have built so much more confidence, more than I could imagine. I have also developed my skills as a team player and I learnt how to be a helpful person within a group. 

My highlights of the camp would be becoming more confident when public speaking. It is such a supportive place and it helps to build confidence in yourself. Another highlight of mine would be making new friends and doing activities with them such as surfing. The school offers so many opportunities to build yourself in many different ways and it involves both indoor and outdoor learning. This school is a life-changing experience and it’s special. I think all of us had an excellent time there and it was truly exceptional. I suggest to Year 8s to sign up because this is truly a life-changing opportunity and you won’t experience anything like it ever again.

Andersen Kristanto, 9G

Raise

Congratulations to the RAISE class of 2024! Ms Sens, Ms Natsis and I have been incredibly impressed with the growth you have all shown this year. Well done on your application to this program, and to your own self-development journeys!

Please see the RAISE article in the Student Engagement section for more information.

 

Alumni – Thanks to Will Philipp!

Thank you to Will Philipp, who attended the recent Year 8 and 9 assemblies, to share his journey since graduating from Koonung in 2015.

Will, who is currently working alongside the Koonung Arts faculty as part of the Artists in Schools Program, was able to share his career path from Koonung student to full time photographer with the students, sharing his highlights from the past 9 years.

Thank you to Will, for taking the time to share you knowledge and expertise with our cohorts, and for inspiring them to look for career opportunities and pathways that motivate them to achieve their best!

 

Year 8 Leadership Day

On Tuesday 10 September, Koonung ran the inaugural Year 8 Leadership Day. This day, facilitated by the team from yLead, was designed to inspire our Year 8 students, and to push them to consider what leadership truly is. Across the day, each student participated in five workshops, each looking at developing a different skill related to leadership. Please see the student reflection below:

On Leadership Day, the Year 8 students had the unique opportunity to step out of the classroom and dive into a day dedicated to leadership, personal growth, and fun! Instead of their usual lessons, they participated in dynamic workshops and activities run by the energetic team from yLead.

The day was filled with engaging challenges designed to help students develop their leadership skills, such as teamwork, communication, and resilience. Whether they were working together to solve creative problems or reflecting on the qualities that make a great leader, each activity inspired confidence and leadership potential in every student.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the day was being able to connect and collaborate with other students who we don’t normally work with. We built new friendships and strengthened our existing friendships. The positive energy and enthusiasm from the yLead team was infectious, creating an atmosphere where everyone felt motivated to step up and contribute.

It was a day of growth, reflection, and lots of fun, and it left many students eager to take on more leadership roles in the future.

Terence Chen, 8D

 

Celebrating success

On 19 September, the whole Middle School assembly took place. With a keynote address from Koonung alumnus Jack Stewart, this celebration of student achievement has become something that many Middle School students look forward to.

The recipients of the Excellence Through Endeavour awards have been selected based off their conduct and application to school life across Term 3, including their demonstration of the school values. Congratulations to the following recipients:

 

Year 7

  • KAITLYN ONG
  • ANIKA FOX
  • KUGAN MADHAVEN
  • JALEN YONG
  • SHANELLE HENG

Year 8

  • ULAN JAYANTI
  • EMMA LE
  • ETHAN HARLAN
  • ETHAN SIOMOS
  • LUCY CROOKS

Year 9

  • XIN LYNN ONG
  • CAMERON TOLLIDAY
  • IZZY SORRENSON
  • IVANA LI

 

Mat Delaney

Head of Middle School

 

Middle School Team

The 2024 Middle School team is your primary contact for you regarding any  matters relating to your child in Years 7-9. 

  • Mat Delaney – Head of Middle School
  • Katrina Pumpa – Middle Years Administrator
  • Lauren Hughes – Year 7 Coordinator
  • Nikita Natsis – Year 8 Coordinator
  • Stuart Kofoed – Year 9 Coordinator
  • Owen Lovelace-Tozer – Middle Years Support