Middle Years  News

Welcome to 2025!

On behalf of the Middle School team, I would like to welcome all Koonung families to the 2025 school year. 

We are very excited to have your child join us for the 2025 school year, which has already started in a very lively and engaging way. Over the past few weeks, we have seen all students return to school, including our new Year 7 cohort (who will complete their High School journeys in the year 2030!), Year 9 commence their Live Life learning, the first of our Connect Days for 2025, the School for Student Leadership students start their adventures in Marlo, new subjects, new opportunities and a whole lot more to come this year.

Please take the time to read the newsletter, the College website and Compass to ensure that they are aware of what is happening within our community.

For any issues, or students who need additional supports, please remind them that help can be found in A Block. Our dedicated team of coordinators is here to support students with any issues, or even just to have a chat.

Welcome to the Class of 2030

On Wednesday 29 January, we welcomed over 200 new Year 7s to the school with an assembly, before guiding students to their lockers (in the new Year 7 Locker Bay) and classes to begin their journeys at Koonung. There were many nervous and excited faces as they met their classmates and teachers and settled into Koonung life. 

A huge thank you to our Year 8 and 10 Peer Mentors who were present on the day to assist students navigating their way around the school, help students with their locks, answer any of their questions, and for just being a friendly face.

The Middle School team would like to extend a thank you to the wonderful and supportive members of the Parents and Friends Association who were present to welcome the Year 7 parents with tea, coffee and refreshments.

Introducing the Middle School Team

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to the 2025 Middle School team. The Coordination team will be the primary contact for you regarding any your child at Koonung.

• Mat Delaney – Head of Middle School

• Katrina Pumpa – Middle Years Administrator

• Lauren Hughes – Year 7 Coordinator

• Claire Murray – Year 8 Coordinator

• Stuart Kofoed – Year 9 Coordinator

• Owen Lovelace-Tozer – Middle Years Coordinator

• Jordan Dunn – Middle Years Coordinator

Please make contact via email or phone call, should you have any questions, queries or discussion points regarding your child at Koonung in 2025.

School for Student Leadership

To start off the 2025 academic year, Koonung is once again fortunate enough to have six students taking part in the program at the School for Student Leadership. Emily Fredrickson, Zi Liu, Jun Mieu, Gabriel Patino Portela, Millie Porcaro and Theo Vlahakis are currently attending the Marlo campus of the School for Student Leadership (AKA SSL). The SSL is a school where a limited number of students from multiple schools are selected to go away from home and school for a whole term to strengthen their leadership skills. 

Student participation in this program has been supported by the Rotary Club of Mont Albert and Surrey Hills. This year, attending students have been fortunate to receive a donation from the Whitehorse Farmers Market, which is run in conjunction with five other Rotary Clubs and the Whitehorse Rotaract Club, to contribute towards the fees for attendance. We are very grateful to the ongoing partnership and support provided to Koonung and our students by the MASH Rotary Club.

Year 7 Connect Day

Thursday 6 February saw our Year 7 cohort participate in their first Connect Day workshop. The Connect Days, organised by Ms Kate O’Keefe (Social and Emotional Leader) are an opportunity for students to explore and deepen their connection to Koonung and to each other.

The Year 7 day saw students participating in a range of workshops, focusing on their transition to Koonung and setting students up for success this year. Students met the Wellbeing team and learnt about their roles, built strong peer connections (facilitated by the Peer Mentor team), started their preparations for Year 7 Camp, set up their devices, before finishing the day with their first Sport Ed session in their groups.

It was a great day for the students, and the first of many special Koonung memories for the Year 7s.

Introducing your 2025 Middle Years Captains 

The Middle School Captaincy role is an integral role to our Middle School program, and the selected Captains represent the voice and views of the Middle Years students in the wider school sphere. It gives to great pleasure to welcome and congratulate the 2025 Middle Years Captains – Rachel Go, Moksha Iyer, Jun Mieu and Tiana Nguyen. We’re very excited to see what you will achieve in this space!

Mat Delaney 

Head of Middle School

Year 7 Connect Day

Last week, Year 7 students were able to participate in their first Connect Day, a day designed to assist with students emotional and social learning, with a focus on helping students feel settled, supported, and excited about their high school journey.

It was a busy day, packed with engaging activities designed to help students connect with their peers, get to know their new environment, and feel confident as they begin this exciting chapter. The activities they undertook included:

Introduction to the Wellbeing Team: Students met the friendly faces of our Wellbeing Team, who explained the services they offer and when students might visit them—whether for support with friendships, managing stress, or just needing someone to talk to. This session highlighted the importance of looking after both mental and emotional health throughout high school.

Collaboration with Year 10 Mentors: Year 10 Peer Mentors ran a session on collaborating with peers, including trivia designed to connect students with staff, strategies and games to promote building friendships. Student agency was also promoted and used to drive their learning.

IT at Koonung: In the Information Technology session, students learned how to use the school’s digital platforms effectively. They were introduced to essential tools for learning, how to access and use emails, and the importance of using technology responsibly.

‘Camp Ready’ Assembly: The day also featured an assembly focused on preparing students for their upcoming Year 7 Camp. Students learned about what to expect, how to get ready, and the adventure awaiting them.

Sport Education: Students participated in Sport Ed, engaging in physical activities that encouraged teamwork and movement. This session was a great reminder of the importance of staying active and balanced during busy school days.

We hope our Year 7 students enjoyed their first Connect Day. We are excited to continue with these throughout the year. 

Kate O’Keefe

Social and Emotional Learning Leader