Middle School Report

Message from the Director of  Learning

Middle School

 Ms Michelle Collins

As Term 2 concludes, Middle School staff and students have been reflecting on a very busy and enriching few months. Currently, our Year 10 students are on their Work Experience placements and our Year 9 students are participating in their ‘Future You’ Week activities.

These events will all help to develop their resilience, independence, and confidence.

A highlight of the term was the Middle School Camp which provided an invaluable opportunity for students to develop leadership skills and forge stronger bonds with their peers.

Additionally, the Year 10 Work Experience program allowed students to step into the professional world, gaining practical insights and hands-on experience in various industries. 

When we return in Term 3, students in both Year 9 and Year 10 will have to select their subjects for 2024. While it might seem far away, the subject selection process ensures a smooth transition into the following year. These decisions should be carefully considered and discussed with parents/guardians and subject teachers. 

Year 9 students will choose their iCreate subjects and two elective classes. Year 10 students will choose their VCE/VM subjects for their transition into Senior School. Students have already been supported in this process through events like the Careers Expo, Future You Week and the Work Experience program in Semester One. In Semester Two, we will continue to run information sessions, excursions, and workshops to assist in pathway and subject selection. 

It was wonderful to see so many students being recognised and receiving awards at our sub-school assembly and our whole school assembly. All of our students have demonstrated a strong commitment to their studies this semester and I am sure their progress and achievements will be reflected in their upcoming reports.

For all of us, this is a good time to pause, reflect, and check-in with your goals for the year. Are you putting time and effort into achieving your goals or have you let things slide a little as the cold weather sets in? For our students, taking the time to set clear and achievable goals for your learning can help you stay motivated and on track with your studies. 

We hope you have a safe and enjoyable break and we look forward to seeing you all next term!

Year 9 ‘Future You’ Week

As part of their Year 9 curriculum, students have been participating in an alternative program in Week 11 which is aimed at promoting engagement, independence, and identifying their future pathways. Students had a chance to trial some of the electives on offer in 2025, as well as participate in workshops on road safety, career planning and after school pathways. They have also had the opportunity to explore the city and be immersed in ‘real life’ learning experiences outside of the classroom. 

A big thank you to the Careers Team, the Middle School Team and all of the teachers and ES staff who supported our workshops and excursions. We would also like to thank and acknowledge Road to Zero, Kingston Youth Services and our past students for coming in to run workshops with our students. 

Year 10 Work Experience

Year 10 students are currently completing their Work Experience placements and gaining lots of practical experience. Work Experience provides a great opportunity for our students to explore career options, increase their self-confidence and develop work-related skills. Our teachers have been visiting the students in the workplaces and as you can see from the photos, the students are having a great time!

Year 9 and 10 ‘Smashed’ Alcohol and Drug Education

With a focus on the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to make healthy and safe choices, the Smashed alcohol and drug education workshop helped students to examine environments that influence health, safety, relationships and wellbeing at an individual and community level, promoting informed and responsible decision making.

More information for parents can be found at this link: https://smashedproject.com.au/parents/

Middle School Camp

Our Year 9 and 10 Middle School Camp was held earlier this term and the students had a fantastic time at Philip Island. They had the opportunity to explore the island and its natural environment over the 2 day, 1 night camp. The weather stayed fairly warm which allowed good conditions for beach walking, koala spotting and other outdoor adventures. Thanks to Mr McIntosh, Mrs Nair and Ms Smetana for leading our kids on camp and thanks to Aaron for your wonderful summary below!

From the 23rd of May, 2024 to the 24th, the Year 9 and 10 students went to camp at Phillip Island. At the beginning of camp, they did an Amazing Race around Phillip Island. The Year 9 and 10s also got to see koalas at the Koala Sanctuary and saw animals at the Churchill Island Farm. They also saw the penguin parade and had yummy burgers and fries or fish and chips. They also got a tour of the chocolate factory. The Year 9 and 10s ate lots of delicious and sweet chocolate on the last day of camp. Overall, the Year 9 and 10s had a lot of fun at camp. 

Aaron Bui, Year 9

Ms Michelle Collins

Director of Learning Middle School

Forensic Science class explores Old Melbourne Gaol

The Y9/10 Forensic Science class recently embarked on a trip to the historic Old Melbourne Gaol, where we delved into the intersection of history and criminal psychology. The visit offered a unique perspective on the social factors that shape criminal behaviour, providing valuable insights into the minds of past inmates. A highlight of the trip was retracing the final moments of the infamous outlaw Ned Kelly, from his trial to his execution. This immersive experience not only enriched our understanding of forensic science but also brought history to life.

Mr Mahmood

Science Teacher

Year 9 EAL and Bridging Class Excursion

On 14th June 2024, Year 9 EAL and Bridging classes attended an excursion at the Melbourne Museum. We went to a few different exhibitions. One exhibition that we visited was the Top Designs exhibition which shows designs created by VCE students from scratch. Some of these designs relate to technology, others are to do with fashion. Teachers wanted students to investigate how a VCE student pitched and marketed their designs, so that Year 9 students could understand the importance of persuasive writing and to see it being used in the real world. We also went to the Bugs Alive, Dinosaurs and Melbourne exhibits. All students enjoyed the excursion and represented their College with pride! Well done, Year 9s. 

Ms Fiona Bisko

Classroom Teacher

Year 9 and 10 Financial Literacy

As part of the Financial Literacy unit on budgeting, students are required to compare a store-bought product to a home-made product as well as price the ingredients. The students decided to bake Oatmeal Chocolate chip cookies with the help of Ms Read and Ms Lynette (and many thanks to them for all their support with this activity).

Students (and staff) were asked to vote which product they considered the best. It wasn’t a surprise to see that every time, the vote was in favour of the home-made biscuit. 

Mr Tickner got to vote 

(and have a taste) as well.

Many thanks to Ms Read and Ms Lynette for their support and help with this work. The students really like to see budgeting in action and they like to taste the results as well. 

Sue Stenning

Financial Literacy Teacher