Education Week

Education Week 2025 - Celebration of Cultures

Monday 19th May - Friday 23rd May 

This year’s Education Week theme, Celebration of Cultures, reflected the vibrant and inclusive spirit of Pakenham Secondary College, where we embrace and explore cultural diversity throughout the year.

In English, our Year 7 students are currently studying Parvana, a novel that offers a powerful insight into life under Taliban rule in Afghanistan through the eyes of a courageous young girl. Meanwhile, Year 8 students are delving into Lion, the remarkable true story of Saroo Brierley’s journey from India to Australia and his search for identity and belonging.

Our Cultural Studies classes have also been exploring important topics such as “What it means to be Australian?”, Civics and Citizenship and learning about the First Peoples of Australia.

As part of our cultural celebrations, we’re excited to participate in the 4Cs Multicultural Showcase - Cultivating Creative Cultures with Communities. Our student-led performance will feature traditional dances from Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand and the Cook Islands. The performance will take place on the 15th of September at Bunjil Place in Narre Warren - more details will be shared closer to the event.

Last week, our Enhancement Mathematics classes took part in a University of Melbourne-led incursion which focused on Real World Mathematics and Statistics. Students explored concepts such as modular arithmetic and bijections through engaging, hands-on activities. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were excited to be part of it. The facilitators from the University of Melbourne were very impressed with our students’ enthusiasm and participation. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to see how mathematical thinking and problem-solving are used in real-world situations.

In Physical Education, Year 7 students explored traditional Indigenous games such as kabi kabi buroinjin, a fast-paced ball game from South Queensland; puldjungi, a Victorian team game of one-handed throwing and catching; and pulyugge, a keep-away game from the Murray and Lake regions of South Australia. They also enjoyed playing Korfball, a unique netball-style game originating from the Netherlands.

Our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) Club embraced the cultural theme by exploring the art of Japanese origami. Students worked together to create intricate walking origami dogs, combining creativity, precision and engineering skills. This hands-on activity not only celebrated Japanese culture but also encouraged problem-solving and teamwork, highlighting the exciting ways STEAM subjects can connect with cultural traditions.

Meanwhile, our Year 9 Science students participated in a practical brain dissection. This engaging and educational experience gave students a firsthand look at the anatomy of the brain, helping them understand its complex structure and functions. By carefully examining real specimens, students deepened their knowledge of human biology and developed important scientific skills such as observation, analysis and respectful handling of biological materials.

We had a wonderful week of learning, sharing and celebrating the richness of cultures within our school and beyond!