Year 7 Report

Celebrating a successful start to high school life!

Transition Program

Guided by their fabulous mentor teachers, students spent their first two days of high school undertaking our transition program, which helped them to make friends and learn all about life at Norwood. Folders were sorted, laptops set up and many tours were run. The highlight of the program was definitely the fantastic applause our students received as they were welcomed into their first assembly at Norwood Secondary College. 

For the first time, our Transition Program included a Welcome BBQ for families to meet Mentor teachers and other new families to the college. This was a brilliant success, with many families noting that it helped them to feel connected to the school and provided a great start for friendships with other families. 

To finalise our Transition Program we held our annual pancake breakfast and welcomed back Grade 6 teachers, Primary School Principals and families to celebrate a successful first term for our Year 7 students. The morning was a buzz with many great stories shared about camp, tricky combination locks and past teachers being introduced to new friends. 

The Year 7 Transition Program set our 7s up for a brilliant year of success in their classrooms, with many new friendships formed and students feeling comfortable with the routines at Norwood. 

Year 7 Camp- ADANAC

In the middle of our Transition Program, our students got to experience camp life at Camp ADANAC. The two camps allowed students to meet new people in the year level, get to know their classmates more and build a connection with key teaching staff.

Students felt the rush of launching themselves down the 110 metre waterslide into the lake and there were many competitions of who could get the fastest speed, which led to lots races up and down the hill. The flying fox was a hit with all, but the gaga pit in free time was the place to be, with Ms Guerra showing off her Gaga skills. 

We are proud of the way our students took on the challenge of going to camp so early in the year and it provided many students with an opportunity to build strong connections for the year ahead. 

Year 7 Mentoring Program

All families at Norwood know the value of the Year 7 Mentors in creating a safe space for their students to succeed in their first year of high school. Our brilliant mentor team this year have worked tirelessly to get to know all of their students, be their advocates and push students to achieve their best.

Our Mentor program has had various areas of focus throughout the year, which has seen students be guided with their goal setting, supported through friendships and provided the opportunity to further their leadership skills.

I just wanted to say a big thank you to Cynthia Kennedy, Will Macafee, Ashlea Guerra, Elisabeth Collins, Alex Papanotas, Jack Pritchett, Emma Day and Cameron Cox for all of their hard work and dedication in helping the Year 7 students transition to high school.  

Extracurricular Achievements

Our Year 7 students have launched themselves into life at Norwood, with our cohort achieving success in many different areas of the school. Some events of note are:

• Year 7 Baseball State Champions (Phil, Jackson B, Jackson Mc, Jackson M, Harry, Bentley, Landon, Joshua C and Bay)
• Year 7 students involved in Production (Leilani, Charlotte A, Lachlan M, Evie C, Sarah G, Isabella, Harper V, Tzarah, Maiya, Violet P and Ellen)
• State Athletics (Isla J, Harrison P)
• State Cross Country (Isla J, Harrison P and Samuel T)
• SRC (Maisy L and Cooper O)
• Trans-Tasman Challenge Gold Medallist (Ethan B)
• Haych’s Legends Match 
• Maroondah Youth of the Year Winners (Chayce C, Chloe V, Bronson A, Landon B and Lachlan M)

Celebrating Academic Excellence 

We want to wish all of our Year 7 students the very best for Year 8 and onwards. It has been a pleasure leading you through your first year of high school and we know you will all achieve great things in the future. Thank you to our Year 7 families for all of your support throughout the year and we hope you all have a safe holidays. 

Ms Nicole Pratt and Mrs Cynthia Kennedy