Year 7 - 9 Community

Year 7-8 Community

In Year 7/8 English, students develop strong reading and writing skills through an explicit teaching approach where teachers clearly model how to analyse texts and structure responses before students practise independently. Through modelled, shared and close reading, students learn to unpack characters by identifying their traits, motivations and relationships, and to understand how characters grow and change across a text. They will practise selecting strong evidence from the text to support their ideas. A major focus is responding to set questions using structured paragraphs, embedding relevant quotes, and clearly explaining how evidence justifies their interpretations.

In Year 7/8 Mathematics, students build strong foundational skills through explicit teaching, where teachers clearly model strategies and worked examples before students practise independently. Learning is personalised through targeted modules completed at each student’s point of need, ensuring support, extension and skill development at an appropriate pace. Problem solving is a key focus and is taught using the Launch/Explore/Summarise (LES) approach, where students are introduced to a problem, explore strategies independently or collaboratively, and then reflect on different solution methods as a class. Students also use the CHASE model (Circle, Highlight, Analyse, Solve, Explain) to approach problems in a clear, structured and logical way, helping them develop confidence, accuracy and strong mathematical reasoning skills.

In Humanities the Year 7/8 students will be studying Australian democracy and government. This unit builds students’ understanding of how Australia is governed and how citizens participate in our democratic system. This unit supports students in becoming informed, active citizens who understand how Australia is governed and how they can participate in democracy. It connects directly to real-world events and encourages critical thinking about leadership, representation, and civic responsibility.

GITTC Cooking Classes 

Over the past term, our 7/8 students have been cooking up a storm. The pictures below show our students learning to cook Quesadillas, Zucchina Slice and a Caprese Mini-Skewer Salad from Chef Christina!

Two of the Peacock student leaders Riley and Chase interviewed some of the Peacock 7/8s about their start to 2026.

What do you think about GITTC and SEED?

Sullivan likes how fun it is and how inclusive it is to alot of people who are struggling.

Sammy thinks it’s good and that it's good that we're going off school grounds.

Rylie thinks it's good but he thinks it could be better if you were able to change groups every two weeks.

Shaya thinks that it is fun.

Alexa thinks that it is fun and cool.

What are the learning differences between year 6 and year 7? 

Charlie: There's a new subjects in Science. In Maths the modules are harder than the Maths in Year 6. 

Mohammad: The teachers are more strict in a good way and that helps students learn.

David: It is easier.

Angel: Maths is easier at the moment and more fun.

Sullivan: The work is way more harder and it makes us learn more. 

Feedback about Starting Right

What is one thing you would keep from Starting Right and one you would get rid of?

Charlie: I don't like how  there's a lot of events really early into the term and I like how we got into math pretty easily.

Aqsa: I don't like athletics and would rather get into SEED sports faster.

Chase: I like how fast we got into modules, and liked how we have to do six modules,  but he doesn't like the schedules and how he is not used to, too much learning.

Harlem: I think people should stop talking so much and the teachers being nicer to students in general.

Sullivan: I like how fast we got into learning but I don't like how we have indoor brain breaks.

Bently: I like how fast we got into math modules but I don’t like athletics training.

Riley: I like using the Maths Pathways program again but I don't  like that the Year 8s have to do their bunson burner licenses again.

Riley: I like how fast we are getting into maths and I don't like athletics.

Abbas: I like how there are only 2 classes but I don’t like how slow it's been getting into learning.

Excursions

Students will travel to Melbourne to engage in a visit to the Melbourne Skydeck where they will have access to a session in the Voyager Theatre and an Edge experience. The virtual reality 'pod' chairs will take the students on an immersive journey of discovery through 16 iconic Melbourne experiences. Please refer to Xuno for when individual campuses are attending.

Year 7-12 Athletics

This year our athletics carnival will be on February 26th at Goldsworthy Reserve. Students are encouraged to wear their House colours and participate in a wide variety of athletic and novelty events.

Cross Country

This will be held on March 6th during our Friday SEED program. Students may run or walk the course.

Student Free Days

Labour Day Public Holiday - Monday 9th March

Jana McElhinney

Year 7-8 Community Leader

Year 9 Community

The start of Year 9 at Goldsworthy has been fantastic, with strong energy, engagement, and excitement across the cohort. Students have settled into the campus well and are already showing confidence and independence as they begin this important stage of their secondary schooling. 

Planning is well underway for the Year 9 camp, with an overwhelming response from families. With only 15 of the 60 available places remaining, interest has been incredibly strong and reflects students’ enthusiasm for outdoor learning, teamwork, and shared experiences beyond the classroom. House spirit has been on full display through the Downball house competition, which is now in full swing. The competition has generated friendly rivalry, high participation, and plenty of fun, helping to strengthen connections across the year level. I look forward to keeping you up to date throughout the year. 

The energy remained high for our annual Athletics Day, where house pride reached an all-time high. The sea of house colors and the roar of encouragement from the sidelines was a true highlight of the term. Whether competing on the track or cheering from the stands, the participation levels reflected the wonderful culture we are building.

Our focus then shifted to the coast for Beach Safety Day at Torquay. In the iconic setting of the Surf Coast, students engaged in vital workshops and practical sessions, gaining potentially life-saving skills. From identifying rips to understanding water safety, the day was an essential blend of education and engagement in a quintessential Victorian environment.

Keep up the great work to all families, this has been such a promising start to 2026!

Student Reflections

Last week in Year 9, we went on a hiking trip in Staughton Vale. The view at the top was amazing and definitely worth the long walk. We played different games afterward and competed for points for our house colours. The hike was pretty good; especially on the steep parts, it helped us build team work and was very fun.The next day, we did beach safety in Torquay and learned a lot. We were taught to always swim between the flags, spot rip currents, and listen carefully to the lifeguards. We also practiced what to do in an emergency. Year 9 was pretty good last week; I really enjoyed the start of this year and I can't wait to go to camp.

Charlie Gerbino - Year 9

The beginning of Year 9 has been very smooth. It is only 3 weeks in, but the teachers and other students have been really welcoming, and their content has been very interesting, which leads into the image of me below. It is from my Science class, where my group and I attempted to create a parallel circuit. Not only that, but we were given the additional extension of trying to include as many lights as we could (which I will say we did pretty well). It was a very engaging experience that I would happily do again. Everyone in my group stayed on task, and we had a lot of fun. If this is what we can expect in Year 9, its going to bean awesome year!

Brynn Jones - Year 9

Important Dates

Ben Cooper

Year 9 Community Leader