Junior School News 

Year 7 Welcome and Camp

Year 7 students are just weeks away from completing their very first term at Patterson River Secondary College and what a start it has been! From the moment they arrived on Day 1, backpacks full and nerves buzzing, they’ve hit the ground running. 

They’ve quickly mastered the art of organising lockers (even when the locks fight back!), remembered their PE uniforms and settled into homework routines. In just a short time, they’ve learned the layout of the school, bonded with new classmates and are confidently remembering the names of their teachers. 

One of the biggest highlights of the term was the highly anticipated Year 7 Camp to Phillip Island. The entire cohort spent three unforgettable days and two nights at the beautiful CYC in Cowes. The camp offered the perfect blend of adventure, challenge and fun. Students pushed themselves on the giant swing, soared down the flying fox, bounced across trampolines and conquered the rock wall, just to name a few activities. A sunny afternoon at the beach brought friendly competition, with 7D and 7G proudly emerging as the tug‑of‑war champions. 

As Term 1 draws to a close, it’s clear that our Year 7 students are growing more confident and comfortable each day. They should be incredibly proud of how well they’ve adapted to secondary school life and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings! 

Ms Ackland,

Year 7 Program Leader

Year 9 Learning for Life 

The start of the year in Learning for Life has certainly been busy and productive. Our Year 9 Mentor teachers have been working closely with their classes to establish strong, positive routines that support effective learning. 

We have placed a clear focus on students arriving on time, entering classrooms in a calm and orderly manner, wearing full school uniform and bringing the correct materials to each lesson. Students are required to bring their charged laptop, student planner, Learning for Life workbook and pencil case to every class. By consistently embedding these routines, we are creating a positive learning environment that sets our Year 9 students up for a successful and confident year ahead. 

In Learning for Life this term, our focus has been on exploring the world around us. Students have participated in activities that encouraged them to reflect on the living conditions of people across the globe and consider how fortunate they are to live in Australia. They have explored our school value of persistence and reflected on how this value connects to their own lives. Students examined the story of Saroo Brierley and analysed how he developed persistence through significant life challenges.  

Last week, students watched the documentary Sherpa and used class time to analyse the voices, experiences and risks faced by the Sherpa community on Mount Everest. As part of their assessment for this unit, students will write a creative persuasive response to an issue raised in Sherpa. They will write from the perspective of a stakeholder and articulate their viewpoint, including the ramifications and impacts on themselves, their family and their community. To do this successfully, students will need to thoughtfully develop and use persuasive language and sustain a clear persona. 

In the coming weeks, Year 9 students are looking forward to attending their first Year 9 Experience, a walking tour and city orientation. During this week, we will also welcome Toolbox Education for a wellbeing incursion. Toolbox Education is an Australian organisation that delivers evidence-based mental health and wellbeing workshops. These interactive, highly facilitated sessions include follow-up lesson resources to reinforce skills such as emotional regulation, conflict resolution and challenging unhelpful thinking patterns.  

We look forward to seeing how the Year 9's further progress throughout the year.

Mrs Kate Adams 

Year 9 Program Leader