Middle Years  News

Another term comes to a close.....

I would like to start by congratulating all Middle School students on a successful term, and a highly successful first semester in 2024. It has been fantastic to see all students embracing all elements of Koonung life, from the Talent Quest, assemblies, presentations, excursions, RAISE program, REACH workshops, Morrisby profiling, and the Athletics Carnival. 

Year 9 students have even started their planning for 2025, gaining some vital information to help them decide their courses for next year.

I wish all Koonung families a restful midyear break. When we return in Term 3, there will be a new timetable in place. All families should ensure they log onto Compass the night before to make sure that students are prepared for the first day.

Year 8 Connections

Ms Natsis and the Middle Years Team are currently in the process of organising some programs for our Year 8 cohort, to run across Terms 3 and 4, with a focus on connections and team building. Further information will be provided in the lead up to these events. The Year 8s will also undertake Mental Health First Aid training in Term 3. Further information regarding this program is available via Compass.

School for Student Leadership

Next term, six Koonung students will attend the School for Student Leadership – Griffin Connell, Xavier Connell, Millie Ferdowsian, Lucas Itami, Hazel Kan and Andersen Kristanto. This program is designed to develop student leadership skills and capacities, while participating in a wide range of activities to push students beyond their comfort zones. 

We are also starting to plan our involvement for 2025. Information regarding the application process for current Year 8 students (Year 9 2025) will be made available via Compass in Term 4.

Celebrating success

In Week 8, the Year Level Coordinators ran assemblies with their cohorts to touch base, and to celebrate their development across the term so far. It’s highly affirming to us as the Middle School Team that Koonung students consistently display the College’s values, as exemplified through their behaviours in the classroom and the yard. The high number of students who receive SWPBS “green posts” and subsequent award certificates has made us incredibly proud of the young people under our care.

Additionally, on 28 June, the second whole Middle School assembly took place. With a keynote address from Koonung alumnus Daniel Pooley, this assembly has become a moment for the Middle School to all come together and celebrate their learning and achievements across the Term. 

The recipients of the Excellence Through Endeavour awards have been selected based off their conduct and application to school life across Term 2, including their demonstration of the school values. Congratulations to the following recipients:

Year 7

• Hazel Hills
• Constance Lam
• Uki Nasu
• William Sheehan
• Alexia Vassiliades

Year 8

• Barsin Alinaghian
• Sally Elliott
• Timothy McGregor
• Nathan Smith
• Remy White

Year 9

• Riley Gangell
• Emily Nash
• Kinly Patralis
• Vinh Phan
• Perrin Smith

Mat Delaney

Head of Middle School

Middle School Team

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

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

Year 7D English 

As part of our study of Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream, students were asked to sketch characters from the play, predicting what they might look like. Here are some lovely depictions of Hermia, Titania and Puck drawn by 7D students, Connie, Susie, Jenna, Alyssa, Lucy and Maya.

A Midsummer Night's Dream Poetry 

As part of our study of Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 7D have been completing a writing task focusing on ABAB rhythm and the sonnet structure of quatrains and couplets. Here is a small collection of our pieces focusing on either the love stories of the 4 Athenian’s or Nick Bottom’s surreal transition.

More than just a mere Midsummer Night’s Dream

By Alyssa Lau

The lords only child, whose beauty is famed

Hermia, named the fairest in Athens

Concealed by shadows, many men do claim

That her comely looks does draw their passions

When she is denied of her true loves hand

By moon, through the woods did the lovers flee

Away to where law and love can't be banned

Where the lovers would finally be free

But one must be naïve to believe that

The course of true love ever did run smooth

For one person to overhear their chat

Could spell the end of their limited youth

For when across the sky fly pretty doves

The strings of fate forever bound true love

From Start I Perceived a Gingerly Mood

Cody Wang

From start I perceived a gingerly mood

I ruled the theatre with some words unknown

Then a harsh fairy with a heart too crude

Coerced me into the ass head alone

Woeful, it daunted my upset workmates

To myself it was contempt with reason

Howbeit Titania aroused no hate

Her gleaming words really showed some treason

I sighed, days of audaciousness were gone

The merriments, joy would never be same

Now scorn in my face had never withdrawn

Then, surely, a human I felt no shame

Just my ordinary, arrogant self

That with endearment the play has a stealth

Lovers Lost, Confused and Blinded by Love

By Kaitlyn Ong

In a moonlit wood, shadows danced and played,

Four lost lovers wandered, blinded by love.

A magical flower, burning bright like jade,

With fragrant, scented blooms like a dove

Demetrius, once cold, desired something fun,

For fair Hermia, he swore loyalty.

Lysander's faith, once pledged to the fair one,

To Helena, feeling the urge to flee.

Confusion arose, affections tricked,

As gentle whispers turned into jealous rage.

Oberon's spell, turned friendship to conflict,

Ridiculing them on this forest stage.

Yet when the early sun rose the next day,

All seemed like a dream from far away.

There the Athenians Sleep in Such Peace 

By Mira Zhang

There the Athenians sleep in such peace,

Hearts have been healed and broken yet anew.

Let me fix the chaos that I have caused,

and help these Athenians restore peace.

Lysander, you should be Hermia's man,

Helena is not such a grace for you.

Release your love on this tormented soul,

and return to the one that loves you so.

Demetrius, your love does lie right here,

So stay with the fair maiden Helena.

Now the gentlemen shall argue no more,

For their hearts are now with a fair lady.

Here comes Theseus with Egeus now,

I must now go, the trouble is over

The Tragedies of Love Which Must be Faced

By Viraaj Satyepriye

The tragedies of love which must be faced,

Cause extreme pain, suffering and hatred.

But for true affection to be chased,

Love must obviously be related.

The bond shared between the fairer woman,

And Lysander, her dear lover,

Would be broken by another young man,

He makes horrid Helena a sucker.

But after Puck squeezes the magic juice,

Onto Lysander’s pure eyes of heart,

His feelings for Hermia are abused,

And his love for Helena is like art.

So Puck must do something to save the love,

And so he must put true doting, above.

Lauren Hughes

English, Humanities and SEE@K teacher 

Middle School Coordinator - Year 7