Year Seven-Nine
Coaching Parade Campus
Leadership Update
As we move further into the term, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible way so many of our students are showing up each day — ready to learn, ready to contribute, and ready to represent our school with pride.
Ready to Learn — In Full School Uniform
It has been wonderful to see so many students arriving in full school uniform and wearing it with pride. Presentation matters — not just because it reflects our school standards, but because it sets the tone for learning. When students arrive in correct uniform, they are signalling that they are organised, prepared, and ready to engage.
Thank you to our families for supporting this expectation. If your child is ever out of uniform for any reason, we kindly ask that they bring a note from home explaining the reason. This allows us to support them appropriately and ensures a smooth start to the day.
On Time and Ready to Go
We are also noticing and celebrating the strong number of students arriving before 8:45am and settling into class promptly. Starting the day calmly and on time makes a significant difference to learning and wellbeing.
A gentle reminder that after 8:50am, students will need to sign in at the General Office before heading to class. Thank you for your continued support in helping students arrive on time and ready for the day ahead.
Introducing Our 2026 Student Leaders
We are incredibly proud to introduce our Student Leaders for 2026. These students have already demonstrated responsibility, initiative, and a commitment to our school values. We are excited to see the positive impact they will make across our community.
Year 7 Leaders
Yash Rathore
Chait Sharma
Dhruva Sharma
Meera Jingo
Kyra Kahui-ariki
Mikayla Armstrong
Sean Rabai
Reaka Wasu
Juntong (Monie) Mao
Year 8 Leaders
Ayaana Bhardwaj
Naurah Burki
Sanvi Porwal
Anaya Bansal
Yousuf Salman
Aarav Gandhi
Aarya Mahat
Shayaan Mansoor
Year 9 Leaders
School Captains
Cibe Chen
Rishaan Singh
Vice Captains
Kyra Smith
Aaron Oyunga
Student Leaders
Mehad Rehman
Swaraj Pawar
Chrisma Adjetey
Devansh Bansal
Lizzie Owen
Joshitha Allu
We congratulate each of these students and thank them for stepping forward to lead with courage, integrity, and kindness. Leadership at our school is about action — modelling positive behaviour, supporting peers, and contributing to a strong, respectful community.
Thank you to our families for your ongoing partnership. Together, we continue to build a school culture where students are proud, prepared and ready to thrive.
Year 9 Café Students Visit Code Black
Our Year 9 Café students recently had the exciting opportunity to visit Code Black Coffee Roasters to complete a basic barista course.
During the visit, students were given a guided tour of the roasting facility, where they learned about the journey from raw coffee beans to the creation of different blends. They were able to observe the roasting process firsthand and gain insight into how variables such as temperature and timing influence flavour profiles.
Following the tour, students participated in practical barista training. They developed their understanding of espresso extraction, including the importance of timing, grind size, and adjusting coffee dose to ensure the correct amount of water passes through the blend. Students also practised preparing a range of popular coffee styles, including lattes, cappuccinos and flat whites.
A key takeaway from the experience was the importance of milk texturing and its impact on the overall quality of a coffee. Students discovered that achieving the correct texture and consistency can be the difference between an average coffee and an excellent one.
This hands-on experience provided valuable industry insight and practical skills, further enhancing the students’ understanding of hospitality and café operations.
Humanities
Year 7
This term in Year Seven Humanities, students have been exploring the important concepts of identity and community, how both can change over time and how we are connected global citizens.
Throughout the unit, students have reflected on questions such as: Who am I? How do our communities influence us? How are communities changing? How are we all connected? They have examined how factors such as family, culture, friendships, experiences, and media, can influence both personal identity and the development of communities. Students have also considered how change can be positive, challenging, or gradual— and how individuals play an important role in shaping the communities they belong to.
For the remainder of the term, Year Seven students, will begin learning about the origins of government in Australia and the key values that underpin our democratic system. This includes understanding concepts such as fairness, equality, representation, freedom, and the rule of law.
Students will explore how Australia’s system of government developed, why democracy is important, and how citizens can actively participate in their community. This learning will help students connect their understanding of identity and community to a broader national context, recognising their role as informed and active citizens.
We look forward to seeing students continue to develop their critical thinking, reflection skills, and understanding of how individuals and communities shape the world around them.
Year 8
This term in Year 8 Humanities, students have been exploring the concept of identity and how personal identity connects to what it means to be Australian. Throughout the unit, students examined different perspectives that contribute to Australia’s national identity, including the viewpoints of First Nations peoples and migrant communities. As part of their learning, students created an identity map where they used symbols, images, and words to represent what they believe contributes to Australian identity.
Students have also recently completed their first individual project, where they selected three common Australian themes and represented them using a medium that best suited their interests and strengths. Students submitted a variety of creative responses, including websites, triramas, dioramas, physical models, poems, Minecraft builds, digital information sheets, and posters. In the coming weeks, students will begin our next topic, which will focus on Australian laws and how laws are created.
Year 9
Over the past few weeks in Year Nine Humanities, students have been exploring the foundations of Australia’s democratic and legal system, focusing on power, rights, and justice. They examined how democracy works in practice, the importance of respectful debate and freedom of expression, and how disagreement can strengthen society when managed thoughtfully.
Students investigated how Australia is governed, including the role of the Constitution, referendums, the double majority, the High Court, and the Australian Electoral Commission. Through simulations and role-plays, they explored federalism, the separation of powers, and how laws are created, challenged, and applied.
A key focus in upcoming weeks will be justice within the legal system, including balancing the rights of the accused and victims. Using the Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton case as a real-world example, students will analyse how media, public opinion, and legal safeguards influence justice.
Finally, students will shift to global citizenship, investigating contemporary injustices and presenting their own inquiry projects.
Throughout the unit, they have strengthened their critical thinking, research, and communication skills with the goal of developing their ability to be active and informed citizens.
Music
Exciting News from the Music Department!
We’re off to an incredible start this year, with all bands from last year continuing and a new band formation to accommodate the unprecedented interest we’ve received! It’s clear that our students are more excited than ever about music, and we can’t wait to see their talents grow even further.
Band Program Growth
Our band program has expanded significantly. We’re thrilled to announce that in response to overwhelming interest, we’ve added a brand-new band alongside the continuing groups from last year. These bands are already hard at work, rehearsing and preparing for exciting performances throughout the year. The energy in our rehearsals has been amazing, and we can’t wait for everyone to see the progress our talented students will make.
Instrumental Lessons: A Record-Breaking Year!
This year has brought unprecedented interest in instrumental lessons, with more students than ever signing up for one-on-one lessons. Our Year 7 students have kicked off their musical journeys with a bang, and their progress has been remarkable. It’s inspiring to see them developing both their technical skills and their love for music so quickly. Keep an eye out for these rising stars!
Aligning with VCE: The Future of Music Education
In the classroom, our music program is evolving to align with the changes in VCE music curriculum. This year, we’re embracing the shift in focus, which now not only emphasises practical musicianship but also the ever-changing soundscape of music worldwide. Students will have the opportunity to explore more than just traditional instruments — they will venture into electronic music creation, real-time performance, and music production.
By incorporating these skills into our program, we’re providing students with the tools they need to thrive in the rapidly changing world of music. Whether through using digital audio workstations (DAWs) or electronic instruments, students will be exposed to the creative and technical side of electronic music. Our goal is to inspire students to become the music creators of tomorrow, confident in both traditional and modern music-making techniques.
We are incredibly proud of the progress made so far this year and can’t wait to see where the rest of the term takes us. Keep up the fantastic work, and thank you to all students for their dedication and enthusiasm. Let’s make 2026 a year full of musical achievements!
