In The Classroom

Year 9 Journalism: Our students host a real press conference

Year 9 Journalism students recently did something not many students get to do. They hosted a press conference online with NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing.

Before the session, students researched and planned their SES-themed news reports. Topics included finding lost bushwalkers, the mental and physical demands on SES volunteers, and how communities prepare for natural disasters.

On the day, our student journalists introduced themselves, asked their questions and took notes. Then came the part every journalist knows well: turning a page of handwritten notes into a full article.

They'll use these skills long after school. But the best part was watching each student's confidence grow along the way.

In their own words:

These things are great opportunities because we get to figure out stuff we've never seen before.  Amira

I see why journalists ask so many questions, because some people don't give direct answers, so you have to ask more questions to dissect and find out what you need to know.  Umar

Even though asking questions to someone you don't know can be hard, the answers you get from them will really help your article. Gopika

Interviewing someone so important gave me nerves, yet I couldn't stop asking questions. The thrill of wanting to was more important to me than being nervous. Zainab

The press conference was a new and exciting experience for me, although I was very nervous. Commissioner Wassing was very inviting and friendly. Alina

Year 9 English Literature

As part of our Year 9 Literature unit, students explored speculative fiction: stories that ask, “What if?” and imagine how our world could be different. We looked at how writers use setting, characters, conflict and imagined possibilities to explore ideas about people and society.

Students then planned, drafted and refined their own speculative stories. Along the way, they worked on creating interesting characters, building tension, developing their plots and using language to bring their ideas to life. I am incredibly proud of the creativity, effort and persistence they showed throughout this process. These stories are a wonderful reflection of their individual voices and the ideas they wanted to explore. Writing gives us the power to imagine, question and reshape the world around us. - M. Lilo

We are proud to feature the work of Year 9 Literature students Aanvi SAMREDDY 9B, Adeen HASAN 9G and Hala BALTAJI 9B who have generously agreed to share their speculative stories with our school community.

Yr 9 SEPEP Summary 

Winning Teams:

9B & 9J – The GOATS  

Not pictured: Salar and Manreet 9J

9A & 9C – The Lakers 

9D & 9I - Goal Diggers 

Team list: Mohamed, Afnan, Malikah, Alicia, Ava, Aydin, Mahina 9D

9E & 9F – Sweepers

Team List: Ahmad, Hendrix, Prabhnoor, Roba, Amira, Noor, Anasa

9G & 9H – Pass and Furious

Student Recounts:

During our netball SEPEP unit, our team Barnyard Cheesy Tuck had a strong performance and finished 3rd overall. We were leading the competition for multiple weeks, showing that we were consistent and worked well as a team. Personally, I was strong in defence, where I was able to put pressure on opponents and occasionally get blocks. However, towards the end of the unit we lost an important game against The Lakers, which changed our final position. Overall, the unit was enjoyable and helped me improve my teamwork, communication and defensive skills.

- Aryaan 9A

The SEPEP unit this term was an interesting experience. To be in one team the whole term was weird since normally in P.E we just decide teams when we're playing a game, but making a team name, a personality, warmups, strategies, etc, was actually a fun experience. Being part of the Barnyard Cheesy Tuck. was probably my favorite part of the overall unit, because our team worked well together and it was fun to work together. We made warmups like Bibble Ibble Pop that made the warmups funny and a really nice experience. Overall, I enjoyed the SEPEP unit more than I thought I would. 

- Haaniyah 9A

SEPEP was a great experience where we got to work on a sport for a full term with a set team. This helped build skills and teamwork we wouldn’t have built in the regular 5-week units. My team, the Barnyard cheesy tuck.s, started off strong, but as other teams developed their skills, we lost our games and didn’t make it to the finals. However, morale was high and we had developed good teamwork within the group, making the experience enjoyable and full of anticipation.

- Hareem 9A

The tournament SEPEP Netball hosted in Brinbeal, 2026. Primarily focused and revolved around leadership skills and gameplay, we were assigned to Host and create our own team, by doing tasks such as Handling player management, Hosting warmups and other further requirements required for a team to function. We played our matches against other teams following the same rules in brinbeal, and we all tried our best to reach our potential by handling different roles (umpire, coach) off field, and (GS, GA GK, GD) on field. We were bound by a leaderboard, where the top 4 teams will play the final 2 matches, resulting in the consideration of the best team overall. Overall, the unit was unique and something special, it was a fun assessment which required an input from all of us, and this is what made it different from other units.

- Harprabh 9B

Team Sai

My team was far superior to those around it filled me with a sense of pride to see the plant I had been cultivating blooming into a full grown tree its branches pristine as I grew alongside it I gave it sunlight and water and measured its growth I was always there during the hard times and the happy times truly a netball season we won’t forget or at least I will not forget as I was the one who made this team what it was I breathed life into a lifeless doll creating a team that was unrivalled against its peers(except the #1 team) I moulded the clay of the morale of the team so they would become an unstoppable force I was the one who created the team yet I had to see it fall apart losing to a team we had considered easy an enemy with a blade so unforeseen we had been stabbed in the back while we were weak without our arm(Adam) and our brains(Jaiz) we were slaughtered at our weakest just like that the tree I had been dedicating my life to had shrivelled and withered I held my creation dear to my chest as the life and soul drained from its body, the colour of its face. Gone. In one game one moment the thing I had dedicated my heart and soul to had departed this world. I stood alone with none to mourn with.  Also I was the best goalkeeper of the season 

- Sai 9B

In summary of our Term 3 SEPEP, my team, Leaves., had gameplay that was awful, but we’re getting there. We only won 1 game, but that was a big achievement for us because that was our first win. Our team had effectively planned all of our warm-ups to target our weak spots. Our team had many struggles, but we improved a lot compared to our first game. We struggled to win many points against The Goats, and the most points we had against them was 1 point. However, that one point we won was still a lot for us, because it took a lot of effort to get that point.  

- Aanvi 9B

Year 8 Spanish - Food

Unit 3 of Year 8 Spanish was ‘Food’. Students explored the topic of food and dining while consolidating previously learned Spanish language structures. Students developed their ability to express opinions about food, learn how to order food in a restaurant and recommend dishes to others. Finally, they completed the ‘Food Truck’ project in which they had to pick a Spanish-speaking country and create a menu and a 3D food truck, they then presented it in front of the class.

It was fantastic to see students applying the knowledge they had learned since Year 7, including speaking Spanish fluently.

During the Food Truck Project, we got to learn about the various countries which speak Spanish throughout the world.  We got to choose one of these countries and design a food truck which showcases the countries' traditional dishes.  We got to collaborate our ideas in a pair and together contribute into our final design which we showcased at the end of the project. -Menara & Gurneet 8I

The food truck project was really fun and helped us learn a lot. We learned about different cultures and foods people eat around the world. Working together taught us how to cooperate and share ideas. Our favourite part was designing the food truck and being creative. Overall, it was a fun projected that we really enjoyed learning. - Hafza, Deborah E. & Hooriya 8I. 

Me and Charlotte enjoyed making our food trucks and researching about Dominican Republic. We had fun presenting and setting up the food trucks. We hope to do more projects like these again next term! - Uzma & Charlotte 8I

While my partner and I developed the cultural food truck, we created more than a beautiful menu and cardboard vehicle. We explored Chile’s cultural corners, its thriving traditions, and the broad range of local food options. This project deepened our understanding of Chile, greatly expanded our thinking, and improved our spoken Spanish skills. - Somil & Aryan 8I

The food truck project was a very fun project. My partner, Mohamed, and I got to make our own food trucks and feature food from our chosen country, Costa Rica. We both had a great time presenting our projects to the class, explaining our chosen foods, and sharing some fun facts about Costa Rica. - Akaash & Mohamed 8I

My partner and I created a Spanish‑themed truck for our school project. We used Spain’s bright red and yellow colours and added euro symbols to show its connection to Spanish culture. We worked together and designed a creative Spain inspired food truck that represents Spain in a nice way. - Deborah A. & Afsheen 8I

As it was fun and in joy the capacity of happiness could never stop it felt like I was designing a real Mexican restaurant however there was a time to get wrong information, but we still made it right. It was very fun and curious for us to get information and build.- Heath 8F

During this project my partners and I had a lot of fun exploring different dishes, drinks and snacks and liked building the truck and constructing the menu. - Samreet 8F

This is out Spanish inspired and themed poster, we have included many delicious dishes that will bring you back to Spain and its amazing culture. During the making of this menu and foodtruck me and my partners had a lot of fun discovering the types of dishes Spanish people ate. - Samara 8F

In my opinion I felt like I was in the country and making the food at the restaurant for myself or other people and it was a nice fun activity which I had a great time doing this activity because it was enjoyable and I had fun. - Elijah 8F

I felt happy to express my wonderful drawing colourfull artistic skills. I helped with the truck's design and problem solving in the process of our presentation. I learnt the foods I should try in Spain and the fun facts of the country. - Suhani 8F