Year 9/10

Year 9

The Year 9 students have had an incredibly busy and rewarding Term 3, full of excitement, challenges, and wonderful opportunities for growth. Earlier this term, students took part in their course counselling and carefully selected subjects for their future learning pathways. It has been fantastic to see so many of them not only show maturity in their choices but also earn the chance to accelerate into a VET or VCE subject. 

This is a truly outstanding achievement that highlights their hard work, determination, and consistent attendance throughout the school year. At CESC, we are committed to building a strong sense of community among our Year 9 students, while also fostering a school culture of high expectations, ambition, and encouragement. Semester 2 has already brought a burst of energy to classrooms, with students settling into their new electives and exploring fresh possibilities that will broaden their skills and fuel their interests for the future.

One of the standout highlights of the term has been the most recent City Experience adventures, where students explored the dynamic Queen Victoria Market and the bustling Melbourne Central. They were able to immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere, noticing the wonderful contrast between lively market stalls filled with character and the polished, high‑end shops of the CBD. For their P2S classes, students analysed and compared advertising strategies in these very different settings, gaining real‑world understanding in a fun, hands‑on environment. It was inspiring to watch their confidence and independence shine through—especially since this was their third trip into the city. Many students now feel so comfortable navigating Melbourne that they confidently give directions when one group has a small mix‑up while exiting Melbourne Central, showing just how far they have come. Seeing them laugh, problem‑solve, and step outside their comfort zones made the day both educational and memorable.

As we look ahead to the rest of the semester, we want to encourage all our students to keep striving for their personal goals and to continue meeting attendance expectations. We ask that everyone aim to stay under 20 days absent for the academic year, so they can make the most of every learning opportunity still to come. With so much enthusiasm, resilience, and school spirit shining through in Term 3, we are excited to see what our amazing Year 9 students achieve next!

—Kevin McCall, Year 9 Level Leader, CESC

Chinese Cultural Immersion Day 

On August 12th, the Year 9 Mandarin students participated in the 2025 Chinese Cultural Day at Box Hill Town Hall. The event attracted thousands of students from schools across Victoria and showcased a wide range of engaging activities.

Each student received a Culture Day Gift Pack and took part in 13 cultural workshops, including lantern making, opera mask painting, Chinese-style notepad crafting, classical poetry woodblock printing, tea culture appreciation, lacquer fan decorating, collaborative Chinese calligraphy, traditional costume experience, beaded bracelet making, the pitch-pot game, shuttlecock kicking, dragon and lion dance, and a Chinese culture quiz.

In addition, students enjoyed a series of vibrant live performances.

Blue Edge Program

Our Year 8 and 9 students recently had the amazing opportunity to take part in a Blue Edge workshop with members of the Public Order Response Team. The session was a fantastic mix of fun, teamwork, and learning, giving students the chance to build resilience, communication, and leadership skills outside the classroom.  

The officers shared their experiences and worked alongside students in activities that encouraged problem‑solving and collaboration. It was a great way for our young people to gain insight into the importance of teamwork and community connection—while also having plenty of laughs along the way.  

A big thank you to the Public Order Response Team for taking the time to inspire and support our students through this engaging program.  

Year 10 

Year 10 has been a jam- packed Term 3 so far. Students have been exposed to a lot of information about careers and pathway options and have now completed their course counselling for their 2026 pathway. It has been pleasing to see so many Year 10 students take their course counselling seriously and put thought into their future goals and aspirations. Teachers are reporting that the Year 10’s have matured in the second half of the year and are participating in class activities and interacting with their peers more readily – a great start to Term 3! 😊 

Excursions and Activities

Year 10 students have participated in a range of activities so far in Term 3:

• 5/8 - Outdoor Education - Cape Woolamai Hike 
• 15/8 - The Standout Basketball Tournament is being supported by the VACAP initiative. The tournament is for students of African heritage between Years 7-12 both males and females. The aim of the tournament is to provide young people with positive community engagement, allow young people to network, build positive relationships and also celebrate the students sporting achievements. The tournament is fully funded by the VACAP initiative therefore there is no cost to CESC or the families involved. 
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Uniform

Uniform is generally good across the cohort. Please remember that students cannot have air pods at school. If your child needs a uniform item but there are financial issues, please contact the Year 10 team and we will organise a voucher. 

Teresa Hayes - Year 10 Leader 

Amanda Finlay – Year 10 Assistant Leader

Blake Murray   - Year 10 Assistant LeaderYear 10 Biology 

Year 10 Biology

In Year 10 Science, students have begun their Introduction to Biology unit by exploring the structure of DNA. To bring this concept to life, they used lollies of four different colours to represent the bases and constructed their own edible models of the DNA double helix. This hands-on activity not only made the classroom colourful and engaging, but also helped students develop a deeper understanding of how DNA stores genetic information. It was a fun and memorable way to start their journey into the world of genetics.