Celebrating Community, Connections, and Adventure!

What a year it has been! Year 9 2025 has been full of adventures, academic challenges and personal growth. It is hard to believe that the cohort are about to transition to Senior School. With this in mind, it is time to reflect on the year that has been and the opportunities they have experienced.

The Year of New Academic Challenges

Commencing Year 9 means meeting a whole new range of teachers and students. With a wider selection of subjects available, students get to engage in electives that suit their interests and future careers. For many of our Year 9s, subjects such as Ceramics, Metal and Silver, and Woodwork offer the chance to ‘get their hands dirty’ and learn practical skills.

Year 9 also requires students to face their first set of exams at Norwood Secondary College. Students sit exams in English, Mathematics, Humanities (History/Geography) and Science. They approached these with enthusiasm and resilience, providing a fantastic introduction to Senior School exams.

Year 9: City Experience

From 30 June to 4 July, our Year 9 students took part in the annual City Experience, exploring Melbourne and engaging in a variety of cultural, historical and recreational activities. Highlights included taking part in an Amazing Race organised by Year 12 Vocational Major students, touring the Shrine of Remembrance, visiting the MCG, enjoying a delicious lunch at Universal Restaurant on Lygon Street, watching an Imax film of Jurassic proportions, and exploring the cells at Old Melbourne Gaol. Most importantly, students had the opportunity to explore the Melbourne CBD for themselves.

Throughout the week, students navigated the public transport network with confidence and maturity, demonstrating independence and responsibility at every turn. Some also took time to explore shops, with Culture Kings proving particularly popular. It was a busy and tiring week, but thoroughly enjoyable and full of memorable experiences.

The Year 9 Team were impressed with the students’ behaviour, enthusiasm and adaptability, and it was a pleasure to see them embrace new challenges while representing the College so well.

Intergenerational Program

Throughout Terms 3 and 4, Year 9 students visited residents at Chrinside Views and Warrandyte Gardens as part of the Intergenerational Program. The program was designed to help students develop empathy, patience and respect through genuine, face-to-face connections with older members of our community.

During their visits, students engaged in a wide range of activities with residents, including Bingo, cards, Giant Jenga, Uno and seated volleyball, as well as singing, dancing, listening to music and participating in creative Arts and Crafts sessions. Students also took part in structured group activities and informal conversations, many of which required persistence and understanding due to memory loss, repetition and cognitive decline.

Time spent in the Memory Support Unit at Chrinside Views was particularly meaningful. Through simple physical and mental activities, students motivated residents to move, sing, dance and engage socially. These sessions were often lively and chaotic, but full of happiness, laughter and genuine connection.

Students were frequently exposed to challenging and personal conversations. They responded with maturity, compassion and resilience, demonstrating strong listening skills and emotional awareness. Calling Bingo proved unexpectedly demanding, with residents holding very high standards, but students rose to the challenge and grew in confidence with each session.

Throughout the program, students consistently demonstrated outstanding manners, respect and empathy. They built strong relationships with residents and staff, often receiving praise for their kindness and professionalism. The Intergenerational Program provided authentic learning experiences beyond the classroom and was a powerful reminder of the value of community, connection and mutual respect.

High Tea

On Friday 28 November, Year 9 students hosted residents from Chirnside Views and Warrandyte Gardens at a High Tea in the Library to mark the conclusion of the 2025 Intergenerational Program. After visiting the aged care facilities throughout Terms 3 and 4, students were genuinely excited to welcome the residents into our school and return the warmth and generosity they had received.

Students took real ownership of the event. They helped transform the Library, welcomed guests on arrival, served food and drinks, and spent time talking with residents throughout the morning. Our Café Bakery students, supported by Food Technology staff, prepared homemade scones and sausage rolls, which students proudly served as part of the High Tea.

The entertainment was also student led. Beau F performed an AC/DC medley that had plenty of toe-tapping, followed by a beautiful contemporary classical piece from Isaac L. Students also embraced a surprise yodelling performance with enthusiasm and good humour, much to the delight of the guests.

As the morning came to a close, students supported residents back to their bus, assisting with wheelchairs, carrying bags and making sure everyone felt cared for. Each resident was given a small gift bag and a handwritten card. The maturity, kindness and pride shown by our Year 9 students throughout the event was outstanding, and it was a pleasure to see them represent the College so well.

Celebrating Academic Excellence

This year has been a testament to our Year 9s, and all they have achieved academically within our school community. We congratulate the students below who have been recognised by their teachers for academic rigour and determination.

Academic Excellence	Academic Endeavour
Gabriella Carbone	Remy Bexley
Amelia Donald	Nathan Carvill
Jasmine Harvey-Hunter	Quinn Crawford
Cing Sian Sung Hatzaw	Paige Fitzsimons
Bailey Henderson	Beau Formichi
Yui Hiki	Hudson Griffiths-Wrench
Isaac Lockwood	Charlotte Jennings
Charlotte Luke	Toby Packett
Amy Peterson	Leiyck Pakantara
Hannah Stroud	Zoe Philp
Ryan Tan	Cooper Ricketson
Arke Van Der Jagt	Taylor Robinson
Ava Whelan	Jacob Setches
	Zane Thom

Other Awards
Arke Van Der Jagt	Leadership and Service
Jasmine Harvey-Hunter	Leadership and Service
Levi Ohi	Lodge of Concentration
Remi Sherar	Lodge of Concentration
Billy Midgley-Schulz	North Ringwood St Vincent's Scholarship
Marlea Sheehan	Performing Arts
Leah Tonkin	Performing Arts
Charlotte Jennings	Visual Arts
Paige Fitzsimons	Sports Award
Toby Packett	Sports Award
Remy Bexley	SSV Academic and Sporting Achievement Medal
Jackson Buchanan	Sports Blue Award
Emin Selimanovic	Sports Blue Award

On behalf of Junior School and the Year 9 team, we wish you a safe and enjoyable break, a Merry Christmas (I hope Santa visits you all this year!), and a happy New Year.

Mr. Adam Given & Ms. Christina Bukojemski

Date:	Event:
Wednesday 28 January 2026	Term 1 Day 1 - Years 7, 10, 11, & 12 including VCE VM
Thursday 29 January 2026	Term 1 Day 1 - Years 8 & 9
Tuesday 3 February	VCE Parent Information Night
Tuesday 10 February	College Photos
	Year 7 Parent BBQ
Friday 13 February	Swimming Carnival

Important Dates