As we reach the end of Term 2, it’s a perfect moment to pause and reflect on the depth and quality of learning that has taken place at Epping Secondary College—not only within our classrooms but far beyond them. This term, our students have participated in a rich array of cocurricular excursions and community-based learning activities that have provided powerful, real-world connections to their curriculum.

These experiences are at the heart of our approach to applied learning—where students engage in learning that is active, purposeful, and deeply connected to the world they are preparing to enter.

Learning Through Lived Experience: The Big Issue

One of the highlights of this term was the Year 12 VM Personal Development Skills excursion to The Big Issue Classroom in Melbourne. Students were given the opportunity to engage directly with individuals who have lived experience of homelessness, poverty, and disadvantage.

Listening to these personal stories firsthand brought a level of authenticity and empathy that no textbook could replicate. The experience not only supported key curriculum outcomes in social justice, civics, and community engagement but also challenged students to reflect on their own values, biases, and roles as future contributors to a fairer society.

Innovation and Future Thinking: Whittlesea Tech School

Our partnership with Whittlesea Tech School continued to flourish this term, with Tech Ambassador students involved in immersive programs that explored interactive digital technologies, including game design and programming. These sessions nurtured creativity, problem-solving, and collaborative thinking—skills that are increasingly vital in a rapidly evolving digital world. Students worked in teams to design playable game environments that responded to a user problem, linking directly to capabilities in systems thinking, communication, and project-based learning.

Enterprise and Environment: Business Management Fair and Ocean Awareness

Our Year 11 Business Management students demonstrated creativity and commercial thinking during their Market Fair, where they planned, marketed, and sold a range of student-led products. They used real data and feedback to evaluate their success, offering a practical lens into what it means to run a small business. Our Year 9 students’ excursion to Sea Life Aquarium tied directly into their work in environmental sustainability in Year 9 Science.

Pathways in Action: Mainfreight Industry Tour

For many of our Year 11 VM students, the Mainfreight Industry Tour provided an eye-opening experience into real-world logistics and transport operations. Through this tour, students gained insights into potential career pathways, workplace expectations, and employer expectations around safety, teamwork, and communication. The visit reinforced the value of transferable skills and the importance of showing initiative in any professional setting.

Year 9 Media - Film Making Excursion

On Tuesday 10th June, the Year 9 Media students along with their Media teacher, Bianca Walker attended ACMI for an intensive filmmaking workshop. This hands-on experience helped them develop their filmmaking skills, including storyboarding, cinematography and editing. The students worked collaboratively and interpreted a screenplay and explore narrative, genre, and visual storytelling concepts.

Key activities included.

Understanding the phases of film production and creative roles
Consider tropes, codes and conventions of different genres
Producing a storyboard and shot list from a script
Filming and editing their films with ACMI staff support

Overall, this workshop was a fantastic learning experience, and they achieved so much this semester. Their films will be shown at the Art Exhibition at the end of the year, stay tuned!

These experiences don’t happen in isolation. They are the result of careful planning, passionate educators, committed community partners, and the trust and support of our families. We want to sincerely thank our teachers and education support staff for making these opportunities happen. Your effort behind the scenes—organising logistics, scaffolding learning, and building relationships—is what brings applied learning to life. To our families and carers, thank you for recognising the importance of learning outside the classroom. Your encouragement, support and belief in the value of these programs allow our students to grow not only as learners but as people.

As we look towards Semester 2, we are excited to build on this momentum.

More excursions, workshops, and community projects are planned, and we remain committed to providing inclusive, purposeful, and transformative learning experiences for all students.

We are incredibly proud of the way our students have embraced these opportunities and look forward to continuing our work together in preparing them for life beyond school.

Kristen Healey & Rosa Neri

Acting Assistant Principal

Teaching and Learning

Epping Secondary College

Epping Secondary College Newsletter

Respect, Resilience and Care

Issue 2 · 24 Jun 2025

In this issue