Middle School News

Year 8 Camp

From 4-6 September, Year 8 students attending 2023 Camp Rumbug embarked on an epic journey to Foster in Victoria’s rugged Gippsland. Over the course of this time I provided many updates for parents and students back home to assist them in enjoying the journey along with us. For the newsletter I have compiled these so you can get a sense of what it was like for us on Year 8 Camp this year.

Update Day 1 Afternoon

Students enjoyed a dry round of activities before the rain descended upon us just before dinner. That didn't stop a couple of interesting night activities (under cover) after a hearty meal of pasta, salad and garlic bread. The students are now preparing for bed ahead of an early morning wake up tomorrow at 6.45am. Stay tuned for further updates. Going to be a wet one tomorrow.

Update Day 2 Morning

Night one is now over and as the rain belted down onto the roof tops overnight, we woke to an amazing frosty morning with the promise of dryer weather. Toast, baked beans, hash browns and a rang of cereal, muesli and fruit was on offer for breakfast and students filled up before heading off to their first rounds of activities. Fingers crossed the weather continues to stay dry throughout the rest of the day.

Update Day 2 Afternoon

The weather turned to showers pretty soon after my earlier post and the temperature dropped significantly. But not that this could stop EDSC students pushing their boundaries and demonstrating values such as resilience and curiosity as they battled the elements. Lunch was welcomed by hungry adventurers, which included baked potatoes with more sides than a dodecahedron. I think everyone will be looking forward to an early night (hopefully) inside their warm beds. But before then we will have dinner and a night program. Stay tuned for another update later on after dinner.

Update Day 2 Evening

This afternoon's activities were wet and cold, however, students continued to enjoy the afternoon activities and night activities and did so enthusiastically, despite the poor weather. Tonight students enjoyed butter chicken, rice, flat bread and salad, followed by our night program. Students were then asked to pack the majority of their belongings ready for another early start followed by an expected departure time between 12.30pm and 1.00pm tomorrow afternoon. Please stay tuned for a final update on our departure time and ETA sometime tomorrow.

Update Day 3 Morning – Final Update

After a stunning morning and warmer, dryer conditions, we enjoyed bacon and eggs, tomato and an array of cereal, toast etc. Students were AWESOME at getting out of their cabins on time, minus a few cabins whose clean up skills required a bit of work. Bags were packed and ready and we embarked on our final activities. After chicken burgers and a final farewell and thank you to all PGL staff for making our trip as enjoyable as possible, despite the obvious challenges, EDSC students boarded their chariots home.

Justin Bond

Head of Middle School

Student Reflections

Year 8 camp was an unforgettable experience and a great break from the routine of school.

Camp Rumbug was an excellent venue, as it had great accommodation, clean facilities, good food and impressive scenery.  For me, the highlight of camp was bonding with my peers, and getting to know new people from my cohort. Working together to complete activities challenged us as a team, and finally completing them gave us a sense of achievement and camaraderie.

My favourite activity during camp was something that I had not done in previous camps - The Mud Run. Running through the wet mud with friends and getting dirty was an exhilarating experience and brought out a silly excitement in all of us. The uphill, slippery terrain made it challenging to complete the obstacle courses, as we slipped and slid throughout the course. Seeing each other covered in mud at the end of the run is a fond memory I won't forget.   

A big thank - you to our teachers who accompanied us during the camp.

by David 8J

The Year 8s were in need of a fun and an energising break as we approached the end of the term and Camp Rumbug absolutely fulfilled the brief.

From the very first day we arrived, after a lengthy bus ride through the beautiful green grasslands of South Gippsland, everyone had a smile on their face. My activity group kicked off the trip with raft building on one of the campus’s private lakes; fortunately, the girls group managed to stay afloat, however the boys were not so lucky. After a quick snack of chocolate rice crispy cakes, we moved onto the ‘mud run’ which was a blast. By the end of the day, there wasn’t any one person at camp that was not covered in mud (apart from Mr Phillips). We were treated to a delicious pasta dinner and the cohort excitedly shared our most recent endeavours. After a fun night time game called ‘Splash’, we were all ready for bed.

It was wonderful to wake up to the stunning view of the Wilson’s Prom and with friends by our side. Day 2 was jam-packed with a variety of activities; my group trekked to the massive flying fox, which was quite an experience. Other activities on this day included canoeing, aeroball and the giant swing. We enjoyed baked potatoes for lunch and butter chicken for dinner, finishing the day with another evening activity of trivia. The final day of camp called for beautiful weather, especially when compared to the soggy conditions of the day before. My activity group wrapped up the camp with an array of team challenges, which tested our connection as a group and made us think strategically. Finally, we completed an orienteering activity; if it were a competition, my team definitely won. 

All in all, the Year 8 Camp was a massive success, and arguably my favourite school camp yet. My favourite activity would have to be the mud run or the flying fox, as both encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone and have some fun. A big thank you to all the teachers and staff (Bree especially) for all your hard work to organise such a wonderful camp that our cohort will remember fondly.

by Siena 8J

Year 8 camp for me was an incredibly fun experience in many ways, from meeting new people to trying new things out. The camp went from Monday until Wednesday and there were many different activities. For example, on the first day of camp I had to do the mud run and at first I thought, “Oh no, eeewwwwww I’m going to have to get dirty and my hair is going to get ruined.” After doing it for about 2 minutes I thought, "Hey this is actually pretty fun!" After we had gone on the path of the mud run once, we had to split off into groups and I went with these few guys who didn’t care to get dirty and they were actually pretty fun, they pushed me further than my limit and my limbs were sore. As I went back to my cabin, I was soaked in mud, but I knew I had fun that day. The food that night was great, it was hot pasta and that really helped since my entire body was frozen and the pasta was hot and filling. Overall the food on Camp was great. 

The next day we did raft building and it was about how teamwork can help a lot with everyday activities. Even if our shoes got a little wet and our feet got numb, that didn’t mean we didn’t have a good time. On the last day, we did more team challenges that helped my group get closer together. We had to be able to trust each other and learn to listen to one another or we would fail in the challenges. We had to grip onto the poles, and believe me my hands and arms were aching badly. In my opinion, I would recommend more camps that interact with kids like this one and I think it was a really great experience. I would totally do it again.

by Eleni 8B

Camp was a very good experience for us to connect with each other. We had a lot of activities that we participated in including the mud run, the giant swing, raft building and much more. Despite the extensive amount of rain, we all pushed through. On our first day there, the fire alarm went off. It was overly chaotic, but it was a great experience for us to know what it is like in an emergency situation.

The activity I enjoyed most was the team challenges because I was able to work with other people, strengthening our communication and listening skills. Although the challenges were hard to beat, one of the important skills I learnt was to cope with disagreements. Above all else, I enjoyed staying with my cabin mates. Every morning, we would wake up at around 5:30 and play a goofy version of Uno – nicknamed “g-Uno” (goo-know). Yes teachers, we did keep relatively quiet, and we were prepared for the day. In the evening, we had a trivia session and a chance to throw water balloons at the camp staff. Overall, camp was a very memorable time and I enjoyed it a lot.

by Rylan 8L

The camp experience was one of the best, although the weather wasn't the best, I enjoyed getting to know people that I haven't had much to do with. My highlights of the camp were being in the cabins, doing the giant swing, canoeing, mud run and flying fox. 

Being in the cabins with some of my closest friends was really fun; it was fun to get ready with them and play board games when we had nothing to do and just talk together in general. The giant swing had such a great view of the river below and was very thrilling. The flying fox was so cool as you flew over the people canoeing below. The canoeing was really good; I got to sit at the back (as I was taller) and we got to find little statues in the banks. Most people didn't like the mud run (also it isn't where you just squelch through mud). I love climbing and I don't mind getting muddy and it was enjoyable to laugh as we all fell into the mud.

I was really nervous for the food, but it was actually really delicious! They always supplied a generous amount of food. My favourite meal on the camp was definitely the hash brown breakfast and when we had butter chicken and naan bread for dinner.

Overall camp was a great experience, where I got to learn new skills, climb giant hills, meet new people and enjoy the freedom!

by Jaimee 8D

Student Reflections by 8L girls

With the mix of cold weather, warm food, and fun activities with our year 8 cohort, the Camp Rumbug experience was something to remember. Spending three days in the great outdoors was filled with new adventures and discoveries.

During the day, we participated in a variety of activities like canoeing, flying fox, giant swing, mud run, raft building, aeroball, and other challenges and activities. We were able to learn more about nature and wildlife in these three days without screens and leaving behind the bustling life of high school. The evening activities were exciting yet relaxing to rest after the active day. At the end of the day, being in the cabins with friends was an adventure.

What we valued most about the camp was the chance to bond with our classmates and activity groups. We faced challenges together, like building the rafts and falling in the mud together. We laughed, helped each other, and became closer as a group.

As we look back on our Year 8 school camp in the forest, we realise how much it taught us about teamwork, nature, and the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone. It was a simple yet profound experience that we will always cherish, and it made us appreciate the beauty and wonder of the natural world in a whole new way.

by Ellie, Sammy, Vanessa,

Rachel and June - 8L

Student Compass ID/Library/PTV  Cards

Please remind all students that they must carry their Student Compass ID/Library/PTV  Cards with them at all times.

ALL students must sign in with their card at the Middle School Office when they are arriving late and sign out at the General Office when they are leaving early for any reason. 

The cards are also used for any student photocopying that is done at school. The EDSC Student Compass ID/Library card can be used as ID for student PTV (Public Transport Victoria) travel. They are required to carry this card as student identification while travelling on public transport.

If a student loses their card, parents/guardians are able to re-order a replacement card via the Compass parent portal.