Middle School Report

Message from the 

Director of  Learning - Middle School

What a great to start to the term we have had in Middle School! Everyone should be commended on the way they are conducting themselves.  We have really focused on being prepared and engaging in all facets of schooling.

Even though Term 2 is a short 9-week term, we are packing in the events and activities in Middle School! The Year 9s and 10s have been on excursions to enhance their learning, participated in cross country, explored future career pathways at our Careers Expo and worked on strengthening their resilience in our wellbeing workshops. In a matter of days, we will be off on our camp to have even more unforgettable experiences and create lasting memories!

A reminder that the weather is getting cooler, and the students should now be in full winter uniform. If you have any issues with purchasing the uniform items, please reach out to your child’s Year Level Coordinator.

It was so wonderful to meet so many parents, guardians, and families at our Parent/Teacher interviews. Your involvement with your child’s education is crucial to their success. You are your child’s first and most important teacher. There are many ways that you can be involved in our school community or support your child’s education. You will find lots of helpful ideas in the below resource from the Centre for Multicultural Youth. Please feel free to reach out to us if we can assist or support in any way.

I would like to thank everyone for a great start to the term and keep up the amazing work!

Middle School Camp

This year’s camp will run from Monday 5th June to Wednesday 7th June at PGL Camp Rumbug in Foster North. All of the students who are able to attend are looking forward to the fun activities and sharing valuable experiences with their peers. If your child is unable to attend camp, they will be required at school where alternative activities have been arranged. 

Please contact your child’s YLC if you have any questions or concerns about the upcoming camp.

CSEF – Camp, Sports and Excursions Fund

As you may be aware, the Victorian Government provides a Camps, Sports, and Excursion Fund (CSEF) to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps, and sporting activities. For secondary students, this amount is $225. The cut-off date to apply for this funding in 2023 is June 23rd.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families.

For more information or to complete an application form, please speak to your child’s YLC or the front office.

Year 10 Work Experience

Year 10 students should have finalised their Work Experience placements in preparation for their Work Experience week from Monday 19th June until Friday 23rd June. Students need to return their completed ‘Work Experience Arrangement Form’ to secure their place. Employers are filling up quickly so if you haven’t arranged yours yet, you need to get in quick!

Meet the Teachers

This term, our Year 9 and 10 students are thinking about their future career pathways so we asked our Middle School teachers - What did you want to be when you grew up? Mr Ji wanted to be a lawyer 

Ms Borgonha wanted to be a nurse 

Ms Moore wanted to be an artist 

Mr Goulimis wanted to be a firefighter 

Mr Murray wanted to be a musician 

Ms Collins wanted to be a photographer 

Which ones did you guess correctly?

Classroom Corner

A snapshot of what is happening in our Middle School classrooms:

Y9&Y10 Financial Literacy 

Students did a financial case study presentation as their first assessment for Term Two. A financial case study is very crucial for financial learning because many of the situations students will meet in the future, will be based on the cases that they learned in this class. Students demonstrated their high abilities of presentation and did a great job in analysing the case as well as provide proposed solutions. Some students looked into the infringement between the companies and others investigated into some business law and financial issues happened frequently when signing a contract and renting a house. Everyone in the class finished on time and did well and all the presentations were impressive and well-designed.

I hope you enjoyed and learned well with the content so far. 

Jeffrey Ji

Financial Literacy Teacher

Year 9 Excursion to the Shrine of Remembrance 

The Year 9 students had a wonderful excursion to the Shrine of Remembrance on Friday 12th May.  The students had spent the first part of the term studying World War One and this excursion was a great opportunity to take their learning beyond the classroom.  

Thankfully, we were greeted with blue skies and a mild autumn day and a pleasant train ride into the city.

When we first arrived, the students did a short activity in the Domain Gardens and the Shrine’s Forecourt where they were able to locate the General Sir John Monash Monument and the Eternal Flame.

We were led through the Shrine by knowledgeable volunteer guides who explained the significance of various exhibits and galleries that showcased the stories and sacrifices of Australian servicemen and women.  Students were able to handle artefacts from the war and were asked to interpret their historical significance.

The students were captivated by the stories of heroism, resilience and unity which brought history to life before their eyes. The personal artefacts, interactive displays, and multimedia presentations allowed them to connect emotionally with the experiences of those who experienced the war as either soldiers or nurses.

The highlight of the excursion was undoubtedly the time spent in the Sanctuary.  This allowed our students to spend some time in quiet reflection, and a sense of remembrance filled the air.

This powerful and thought-provoking visit left a lasting impact on the minds of the students as it allowed them to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served our nation.

Beyond the historical significance, the excursion also provided an opportunity for personal growth and introspection. Our students engaged in group discussions, sharing their thoughts and reflections on the excursion. They contemplated the meaning of sacrifice, the importance of gratitude, and their own roles in building a more peaceful and inclusive future. This shared experience fostered a sense of camaraderie and unity among our students, strengthening our school community.

Ms Michelle Collins

Director of Learning Middle School 

Year 10 Global Literacy Excursion 

Melbourne Holocaust Museum

On the 9th of May, all Year 10 students travelled to the Melbourne Holocaust Museum in Elsternwick to deepen their understanding of the Holocaust. Students had been studying this dark chapter in human history in class. they had the privilege of hearing directly from a Holocaust survivor - Joe Szwarcberg.

Ms Moore

Humanities Coordinator

“I was so lucky to hear a personal story of the Holocaust survivor Joe.  It was so fascinating and heartbreaking that I almost cried. He told us about the of the terrible things that happened to him during the Holocaust in the camps. He lost his parents and brothers, and was forced to work despite starvation and exhaustion. Joe’s story was very touching and made me think about how lucky I am to have what I have right now.”

Eva Gvaramiya from 10C

“I listened to Joe’s story of survival and how it was full of determination. His story demonstrated the odds he had to beat and how luck played a part of his survival. It was a miracle. The Nazis wanted to exterminate all Jews, but Joe somehow lived to see a normal life again.”

Annie Eng from 10A

Year 9 and 10 Lit Histories Excursion Old Melbourne Gaol

On Tuesday 23rd May, the Year 9 and 10 Lit Histories students travelled back in time to put notorious Australian bushranger, Ned Kelly, on trial in the Old Magistrates Court in Melbourne. We had the opportunity to participate in this mock trial as part of the excursion to the Old Melbourne Gaol to uncover the history of Ned Kelly and Victoria’s criminal justice system. 

The day started with a tour of the Watch House which was in use from 1909 until 1994. Students were lined up by police and locked up in the cells, thankfully it was only a simulation and we were all released without charge. We then moved onto the Old Melbourne Gaol for a guided tour. The students learned about the cruel measures used to control and break the spirit of inmates. We even had the chance to see the very spot that Ned Kelly was hung for the crime of murder on 11th November 1880.

This excursion was an opportunity for students to reinforce their study of crime and punishment throughout history. Hopefully it will also help students, in their upcoming assessment, when they consider the perennial question of whether Mr Kelly was a hero or a just a criminal?

Ms Moore

Humanities Coordinator