Acting Assistant Principal Report

Year 7 and 8/Support

Year 7 and 8

Term 3 has been an eventful and rewarding one for our Year 7 and 8 students at Parkdale Secondary College, with a strong sense of community shining through in everything we do. 

Our Year 8s rose to the challenge during the three-day Engagement Program, expertly organised by Year Level Leader, Dale Towler and supported by Year Level Co-ordinators, Maria Koumoundouros and Michael Georgatsos. This program encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones, try new activities, and collaborate with peers they had not worked with before. These experiences are invaluable as they prepare for their transition into Year 9, where new class groupings and the CONNECT Program await.

Adding to the excitement of the term, our Year 7 and 8 students showcased their talents in our College Musical, School of Rock. After months of rehearsals and preparation since February (both on stage and behind the scenes), their hard work culminated in four dazzling performances that impressed our community and highlighted the depth of creativity and teamwork throughout our school community.  

As I am writing this report, we are eagerly preparing for our Junior Academic Breakfast on Thursday 21st August, where we will proudly recognise students who have received ‘Strive’ or ‘Achieve’ awards. I would like to sincerely thank our dedicated teachers and support staff, whose ongoing commitment and encouragement has fostered their growth throughout the year. 

We look forward to re-connecting with all families of Year 7 and 8 students during our Parent Teacher Interviews next week (Monday 25th August). These meetings provide a valuable opportunity to receive feedback on your child’s progress and to discuss key areas for future growth.

Our focus now shifts to planning for 2026, and I would like to thank our Year 8 students and their families for completing their subject selections for Year 9. This important step enables the College to begin preparing and planning effectively for the year ahead.

Year 7 ( Emily Payne – Year Level Leader)

The Year 7s have had a fantastic start to Term 3 and are working hard in all classes. We have been particularly impressed by some of their recent achievements, including our students who took part in our fabulous school production ‘School of Rock’, as well as Eden Benton, who ran a particularly strong race at the State Cross Country event, finishing 3km in 13:14. We look forward to celebrating more wonderful achievements as our students finish their first year of high school. 

Year 8

Term 3 started with the Year 8 students taking part in the Engagement Program. This consisted of 3 days of activities that were aimed to challenge, extend and have a little fun along the way. Student favourites were Bubble Soccer, Virtual Reality, Amazing Race, Circus, and our Pancake Challenge. We were very proud of the level of engagement, participation, and skill levels from all students. We were fortunate with the weather and even managed to have sunshine along the way.