Whole School News
WHOLE SCHOOL NEWS - including WURUN CAMPUS
Celebrating Excellence in the Arts at Wurun Senior Campus
Dear Families,
It is with great pride that I share some wonderful news from our Arts Department. Our student, Ben Burton, has been selected to present his artwork in the prestigious Top Arts exhibition. He joins Thomas Hill who was selected into Top Talks as part of VCAA’s Season of Excellence.
This is a significant achievement that places Ben’s work amongst the best in the state. Furthermore, we wish to congratulate Nile Lee and Max Harding, who were also shortlisted for Top Arts. Their recognition is a testament to the incredible standard of creativity and technical skill being nurtured within our school.
Since Wurun Senior Campus opened its doors in 2022, 18 of our students have been shortlisted for the Season of Excellence across a diverse range of categories, including Top Arts, Top Screen, Top Design, Top Acts, and Top Talks.
These results do not happen in isolation. They are the fruit of the foundational work begun at Collingwood College and Fitzroy High School. By the time students reach Wurun, they have already developed the discipline and vision required to produce work of this calibre. This continuity of education allows our students to explore a vast landscape of creative possibilities as they transition into their senior years.
It is a profound honour to work alongside such a dedicated team of creative educators who help our students navigate these complex projects. We see every exhibition and performance not just as an end point, but as a catalyst that inspires the next cohort to imagine what they might create.
We look forward to seeing the creative work our students produce throughout the remainder of the year.
Top Arts 2026 runs from 13 Mar – 19 Jul, at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Fed Square. Entry is free, and I encourage you all to go and see the amazing things the students of 2025 created.
Warm regards,
Travis McKenzie on behalf of the Arts and Technology Learning Area
Swimming Carnival 2026
The Collingwood-Fitzroy swimming carnival on Feb 6 was a big success and a historical moment. The event marked the first time our school has combined with Fitzroy High School to co-host a sporting carnival. The work, energy, and enthusiasm of both schools' staff and students, plus a warm and sunny day, made for a really fun and positive event.House spirit has been reawoken, and there was plenty of cheering, participation in novelty and competitive events (for house points) and some great house-colour outfits. As a proud Wattle House member, I can say that we'll be back to avenge the 5 points Blue Gum beat us by on the day!
BLUE GUM - in conjunction with FHS, most house points on the day
WATTLE - best prep, posters, & chant
BANKSIA- best result in competitive swimming
EUCALYPT - best costumes
Congratulations to our Collingwood winners and second place-getters on the day, who will compete at divisional championships on March 3rd (rescheduled due to rain).
Nicola Smith
Careers Teacher and Pathways Practitioner
Email: nicola.smith@education.vic.gov.au
Welcoming Our First Short-Term Students from South Korea
Earlier this term, Collingwood College welcomed our first group of short-term students from South Korea. As this was our first experience running this type of program, it came with plenty of anticipation — and, admittedly, a few sleepless nights wondering about all the “what-if” scenarios that could arise.
Thankfully, those concerns quickly gave way to a very positive experience, thanks to the incredible teachers, staff, students and wider community who helped make our visitors feel welcome. From the moment they arrived, our Korean students were met with kindness, curiosity and generosity from their peers. Many of them shared how much they appreciated the friendly atmosphere at Collingwood College and how quickly they felt part of the school community.
Recently, the hosting agency completed a feedback survey with participating families, and we are pleased to share that the responses have been overwhelmingly positive.
Feedback from Families
Overall, most families rated their child’s school experience 4 out of 5 stars, with two families awarding a full 5-star rating. Parents highlighted the welcoming environment, engaging teachers, and the unique opportunity to experience learning within an Australian school setting.
Some reflections shared by families included:
- “The school's open and free-spirited atmosphere was very comfortable. We appreciated having both Main and Steiner streams available. The teachers generally conducted lessons well.”
- “The teachers were very enthusiastic and easy to understand. Three weeks felt too short — Melbourne left the best memories of the whole trip!”
- “It was a great opportunity to experience an authentic Australian local school.”
- “It was wonderful to experience Australian primary school life for three weeks. Next time we'd love to stay even longer!”
- “It was our first schooling experience and we were satisfied overall.”
A Successful First Program
Overall, the program can be considered a success. Several families have already expressed interest in returning, and some are even considering submitting full enrolment applications in the future.
While the feedback is very encouraging, it has also provided valuable insights for both the school and the agency. We will continue to reflect on the experience and refine our processes, systems and communication as we prepare for future programs.
Looking Ahead
Interest in the program continues to grow. As of now, ten students are awaiting interviews, and enquiries for the Term 3 intake continue to come in.
We will continue to follow the capacity guidelines set by school leadership and ensure that placements are only offered where class capacity allows. Once enrolments become clearer, teachers whose classes may be involved will be contacted directly.
Thank You
A sincere thank you to the entire Collingwood College community — our teachers, staff, students and families — for helping make this first program such a positive and welcoming experience. The warmth and openness shown by our students in particular made a lasting impression on our Korean visitors. Their friendliness, willingness to include others, and genuine curiosity helped ensure that our guests felt comfortable and supported during their time here.
It is moments like these that truly reflect what makes Collingwood College such a special and inclusive place to belong.
Felicia PEH
Leading TeacherEAL and International Operations
EAL and Mandarin Chinese Teacher
Lunar New Year
Over the past two weeks, our school has been joyfully celebrating Lunar New Year, welcoming the Year of the Horse with a variety of engaging cultural activities across year levels.
Our primary students embraced the festive spirit by creating traditional red envelopes (红包hóng bāo) and received small gifts during the New Years Season. Through these hands-on activities, they learned about the meaning of good fortune, kindness, and sharing during this special time of the year.
Students’ handmade envelop for the year of horse
5/6A New Year Celebration with Handmade Envelopes
5/6B New Year Celebration with Hand Made Red Envelope
In the secondary school, students explored Chinese culture in creative and interactive ways. They designed colourful lanterns, symbolising hope and celebration. They also created a special horse-head craft using Chinese characters, combining language learning with artistic expression.
Year 8 Head of Horse Decoration
Year 7 and Year 8 Lanterns Decoration
Year 7 Research Project about Spring Festival – Chinese Lunar New Year 2026
One of the highlights of our celebrations was learning to play mahjong. Middle school students were introduced to the basic rules and strategies of this traditional game, while our VCE students enjoyed playing together, sharing delicious food, and deepening their understanding of Chinese culture through meaningful social interaction.
Year 9 students learning Mahjong VCE Year 11 and Year 12 New Year Celebration
VCE background learners played Mahjong VCE Year 11 and Year 12 New Year Celebrations
We are also excited to announce that we launched a Mahjong Club at school. This new club will provide students with the opportunity to continue learning the game, develop strategic thinking skills, and experience the joy of this important cultural tradition.
It has been wonderful to see students across all year levels engaging so enthusiastically in the celebrations. We look forward to continuing to share rich cultural experiences with our school community throughout the year.
Warm regards,
The Languages Department
French Newsletter T1 2026
French 5 and 6 Steiner:
We have been learning the lyrics and drawing a translation of the French classic “L’enfant et l’oiseau” – within the context of Steiner Education, the standard of singing is excellent and students are adeptly unpacking the literary beauty.
French Year 7
Having mastered basic greetings, asking name and age, our learners have branched into birthdays with the numbers 1-30, days of the week and months of the year. This is where the fun begins with board games, random dice and lotto. We are gearing up for the first learning task, with students pretending to meet each other for the first time. It is a spoken role play that requires repeated practice and precise enunciation, to build fluency.
Ask your kids, “What day do you practise your languages?” To this end, encourage them to login to their Education Perfect accounts.
French Year 8
C’est la mode! We are learning clothing this term with a summative assessment where they pretend to be fashion blogger. There will be huge variation in the detail and outcome of these projects, but it is an opportunity for the kids to be creative and start to express themselves.
Melbourne’s Little Paris:
There are several French owned businesses around Degraves Street, where you might have chance to practice your French:
https://www.lemonandbutter.com.au/
https://www.roulegalette.com.au/
In addition, do not forget the Alliance Francaise Film Festival:
https://www.affrenchfilmfestival.org/
I would encourage all families to consider Franch as interest the family can share. I intend to run parent lessons through the Winter Terms to co-inside with the market, to help you support your kids. This opportunity to retrieve, expand and renew your own French not only provides your kids with an amazing example, but also provides motivation for this challenging but rewarding journey.
https://www.afmelbourne.com.au/
This the only French language school in Melbourne to offer official French Government Certified Language Certifications (DELF and DALF) which supports working and student visas. These certifications allow undergraduate and post-graduate entry into French Universities all over the world (I did a course online through the University of Martinique) at prices WAY below Australian Universities…
Moana Kerr,
French Teacher
Steiner Education at CC
The 2026 school year is back in full swing, and it’s wonderful to welcome our new Year 7 students to the secondary school, and to welcome back both new and familiar faces to years 8 to 10. This year, I’ve assumed the role of Steiner Leader alongside my colleague Kate Schmeiszl in the primary school. For over 25 years the Collingwood College Steiner stream developed with the support of families, leadership, staff and the community. With continued support and the designation of a leadership role, our Steiner program will continue to play an important part in the Collingwood College education journey.
There are many essential elements involved in the work of Steiner education. The following provide an overview of the primary Steiner stream at Collingwood College:
The Class Teacher:
Central to the Steiner approach in the Primary School is the role of the Class Teacher. Typically, each cohort has a Class Teacher who remains with the class for the duration of their Primary Schooling (and sometimes into Secondary School). This is to foster continuity and support over many years of development, based on commitment, care for the students and forming close connections with parents/guardians. Circumstances sometimes dictate whether a Class Teacher is able to commit to the full cycle of 6-8 years with the same class community.
Main Lesson:
The Class Teacher facilitates the main morning lesson- typically comprising the first two hours of each day- and additional lessons in core subjects. The Main Lesson is an integral feature of the Steiner Waldorf approach. Subjects are taught within blocks of 3 to 4 weeks. All Steiner classes (from Foundation to Class Six in the Primary School) follow a Main Lesson program, in accordance with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0. This Main Lesson program continues within the secondary Steiner stream, as well. The Main Lesson aims to foster a range of varied skills and competencies across English, Mathematics, the Arts, Science, Technology and the Humanities. Meaningful connections are made across subject areas and between Main Lesson themes. The Class Teacher chooses content and materials and develops activities that meet the requirements of the Steiner Curriculum; the Victorian Curriculum; and the needs of the specific class and individual students.
The Main Lesson incorporates tasks and content which address the students' intellectual and pragmatic modes of learning. There is a strong emphasis on concrete activities that have broad application to the wider world, particularly the natural environment. There is also solid emphasis on the aesthetic/artistic modes of learning.
The first component of Main Lesson includes a morning circle. In the Primary School, this consists of movement-based activities, recitation of poems/verses related to Main Lesson content, singing/music, mental arithmetic and social/emotional check-ins to prepare students for the school day and foster a sense of connection and community. The second part of Main Lesson incorporates recall of previous material, presentation of new content and whole class discussion.The third part consists of student small-group and independent work- the practice, development and consolidation of fundamental skills.
Rhythm and Balance in Learning:
The Steiner Waldorf approach regards rhythm as a vital element of learning. Main Lessons- and the school day as a whole- are designed to establish a nutritive balance between concentration and integration, cognitive and practical tasks, movement and rest, listening and participating, observing and applying/doing. Rhythm allows repetition to occur, but with dynamism and engagement. By changing activities regularly, interest and attention can be maintained while also providing continuity and predictability. A rhythm is also observed within the whole school year through the observation of festivals/celebrations that mark seasonal changes/cycles (for example, the Winter Festival) and other significant events. The observation of seasonal festivals contributes to a sense of continuity and fosters a strong community experience.
Emphasis on sustainability and the natural environment:
There is a strong focus in Steiner Waldorf Education on cultivating respect for, and interest in, the natural environment. Steiner Teachers endeavour to incorporate natural materials into learning settings as much as possible and maintain a 'nature table' in the classroom to reflect seasonal changes. Steiner Teachers encourage outdoor learning and activities that foster exploration and engagement with the natural environment. The camps program is central to this as it encourages engagement with the natural world while also fostering independence, resilience, problem solving in a variety of settings and social-emotional development.
Secondary Steiner teachers are currently mapping our camps program, which builds upon the skills of the primary camps program to foster continued confidence, stamina, resilience, and environmental stewardship in our young people. The 7 to 9 camps journey includes surfing and day hiking in Lorne at year 7, and in year 8, students visit Wollangarra for an experience at the off-grid homestead and a multi-day hike. The hikes program culminates in the 9 Journeys program: four camps across four terms, where students venture through diverse Australian landscapes. From there, students may choose the Outdoor Education elective in year 10, as well as VCE Outdoor Education and Environmental Studies in year 11 and 12 at Wurun.
Later this term, families have an opportunity to learn more about our Steiner Education stream at the upcoming Open Night. Additionally, Collingwood College will host a Steiner Celebration Day where community members can explore the spaces, Main Lesson books, and chalkboards where our learning occurs. Each Steiner class will participate in their Class Play Main Lesson, a chance to get creative as we undergo a full theatre renovation! Classes will bring a contribution to the Mid-Winter Festival next term, and the year 8 students will showcase their Year 8 Projects at the Presentation Evening in term 3. We have a busy, yet exciting, year ahead.
With gratitude, I would like to acknowledge the ongoing support and care for our young people. Thank you for all you do to assist in the transition towards a new school year. I look forward to seeing many community members at our upcoming events and wish you a happy autumn season.
Kind regards,
Sarah Powers and Kate Schmeiszl
Parent Payment Arrangement 2026
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Collingwood College is looking forward to another great year of teaching and learning and would like to advise you of Collingwood College’s voluntary financial contributions for 2026.
Schools provide students with free instruction to fulfil the standard curriculum requirements, and we want to assure you that all contributions are voluntary. Nevertheless, the ongoing support of our families ensures that our school can offer the best possible education and support for our students.
We want to thank you for all your support, whether that’s through fundraising or volunteering your time. This has made a huge difference to our school and the programs we can offer. Within our school, this support has allowed us to upgrade teaching and learning facilities in specific learning areas, for example, our general classrooms, media laboratories, camps program, and music department.
Our subject offerings have been expanded and there is ongoing support for the work of the homework centre including information technology aid for all students.
PRIMARY MAINSTREAM
PRIMARY STEINER
SECONDARY MAINSTREAM
SECONDARY STEINER
Music Enrolment Forms
Music Enrolment Forms for 2026 are included in the enrolment package for each year level.
Forms must be handed to the office by 13 December to be offered a place in the music program.
For the Steiner Strings Program, 2026-classes 3 to 6 need to return this form to the office as soon as possible but no later than 13 December.
Any questions please contact -
Non-Strings:Emily.Wearne@education.vic.gov.au
Strings: Marguerite.Boland@education.vic.gov.au
COLLINGWOOD COLLEGE ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM
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