Specialists
Secondary 7/8 Term 4
Digital Tech
Secondary 7/8B, D, E & F really enjoyed making their stop motion movies in Term 4. They planned, filmed and edited short movies using interesting backgrounds and plasticine. Students added special effects including sound and titles. They shared their movies with each other and discussed the importance of asking permission before taking or sharing images and videos. The students also create a learning portfolio in PowerPoint and had fun giving instructions to robots.
It was a fantastic term for the 7/8s!
Music
Term 4 Reflection
Term 4 has been an exciting and productive time in the music room, with pupils across all year levels engaging in a mix of practical skills, creativity and collaboration. From exploring improvisation and song writing to working with digital technologies and performing as bands, students have had plenty of opportunities to improve their musical abilities and confidence.
Years 7 and 8 continued to build their skills on keyboards, guitars, drums, bass and vocals. They applied theory concepts such as melody, rhythm and harmony through practical tasks and explored improvisation and composition using both instruments and digital tools. Pupils had more choice in the songs they worked on, which made rehearsals engaging and enjoyable. Playing together as a band helped everyone develop independence and confidence, and the progress this term was clear.
Looking Ahead
It’s been fantastic to see pupils across all year levels developing their musical skills and exploring new ways to create and perform. A special mention goes to our Secondary Bands, whose commitment to regular practice and live performances has been outstanding.
Highlights this term included the Community Concert and the Years 9/10 Showcase, where their hard work and growing confidence really shone through. Their ability to perform as tight, well-rehearsed ensembles was impressive and a credit to their dedication.
Next year, we’ll continue building on these foundations with even more opportunities for creativity, collaboration and performance.
Well done to all students for their effort and enthusiasm this term!
PE
This term, students enjoyed taking part in fitness testing and an introduction to cricket. Students tried their best to learn new skills and practise them during game-based situations. Students enjoyed participating in the Cricket Victoria clinics, where they worked together to complete movement challenges and games with and against their peers.
Selected students from Upper Primary and Secondary 7/8 participated in the Variety Abilities Unleashed program which was supported by Banyule Council. Students enjoyed participating in athletics, bocce, dance and bike riding with specialised coaches from their respective sports. It was a fun day out at NETS Stadium with many students going home happy with a showbag of information about how they connect with local sports in their communities.
Some students qualified for the School Sport Victoria State Track and Field Championships, where they competed in 100m, 200m, 800m, Shot Put and Long Jump events. Students participated to their best, with some excellent results on the day.
Basketball Victoria also hosted the Endeavor Cup State Championships, with Concord entering a Division A and Girls team. The girls worked hard all day, finishing 4th overall. The Division A team finished undefeated, claiming the State title after a close game in the Grand Final against Officer School.
Social Competencies
This term, the Year 7/8 program encouraged student engagement in learning about the potential physical and mental health challenges that individuals may face when navigating puberty. They explored a variety of strategies to support their own physical and mental health and by far the most popular strategies among the cohort were, listening to music, taking a walk, playing a sport or finding quiet a space to relax.
Consent and what it looks like in different relationships was the highlight of this term. Students practised consent in everyday situations and learned how to communicate boundaries clearly and respectfully. To deepen their understanding, students participated in some capacity to created, acted in, and recorded role plays that demonstrated consent in action. These short clips were then shared with peers, providing peer‑to‑peer learning opportunities.
The term came to a close with students making connections between their classroom learning and to their real life. They used interoception body scan to identify what their own body was signalling to them, what emotion they were feeling and then identified tools that support their self‑regulation. Fidgets became a popular choice, with students designing, trialling, and documenting the effectiveness of their chosen items.
I am so proud of the thoughtful participation of the Year 7 and 8 students and look forward to continuing to build on these foundations of health, consent, and self‑awareness in future learning.
Visual Arts Highlights
Term 4 saw students exploring a range of creative projects that developed technical skills and artistic expression across all year levels. Our space has been filled with colour, individuality and excitement! Already looking forward to another year of creative exploration and artistic success!
Students in Years 7/8 designed and constructed 3D chip packets inspired by pop art. They focused on scale, colour, and form while problem-solving during construction (certainly trickier than expected). This task required planning and precision to ensure stability and visual impact. The results showcase their ability to combine design thinking with practical skills; many students also included textured paper chips spilling out.
Creative Media
In Term 4, Secondary 7/8A, 7/8E, 7/8G and 7/8H were introduced to the basics of puppetry through hands-on creativity and play. We began by experimenting with craft materials to design and build our own puppets, then learned how movement, voice, and sound bring a character to life. Students improvised puppet shows, performed short skits, and even recorded their own “puppet news” interviews. The term was all about creativity, collaboration, and furthering performance skills developed earlier in the year.
Food Tech
What a cracking year in Food Tech!
The students in Secondary 7/8 have been learning how to substitute unhealthy food for healthy options. The program is designed to give students a variety of choices that are inclusive to all cultural and dietary needs. Students are encouraged to make personal choices and can choose to exclude toppings they may dislike. We encourage all students to make all meals, however they do not have to eat it.
The healthy breakfast option was to make porridge with honey and banana, our healthy lunch was a wrap with lettuce, cheese, tomato and ham. Mini pizza’s made from muffins with a variety of toppings was a huge hit and the healthy snack was a granola cup consisting of granola, vanilla yoghurt, topped with strawberries and sliced banana.
Students worked hard on their visual board and discussions to demonstrate their understanding of healthy choices. We hope the students take these ideas home and continue to make healthy choices. Next year, the students will be learning about the five food groups and the importance of eating nutritious foods.
Science
Students in Secondary 7/8B, 7/8C, 7/8D and 7/8F have explored concepts of Bernoulli's Principal, osmosis, density, physical change, states of matter and how plant cells work.
Weekly demonstrations and experiments this term have included Floating Table Tennis Ball, Walking Water, Gummy Bear Osmosis, Observing Xylem in Celery, Rainbow Jelly beans and Coke and Mentos.
In week 8, all Secondary 7/8 students were treated to a Mad Science Show run by Lisa from Mad About Science. The 60 minute show was jam-packed with exciting demonstrations with giant smoke vortex rings, static electricity using a Van der Graaff Generator, levitating beach balls, flying toilet paper and flour fireballs. The show was a great way to celebrate a fantastic year of science learning!
