Middle School Report

Message from the Director of  Learning

Middle School

 Ms Michelle Collins

As we wrap up another term in Middle School, I think we have all earned a restful and relaxing break over the upcoming holiday period.

We would like to extend a big thank you and congratulations to the Middle School students this term for showing up every day with a positive attitude and ready to learn. The Middle School students have been involved in lots of activities this term and have gained some valuable skills for their future. We expect this dedication and commitment to your learning will be reflected in your upcoming progress reports. 

A reminder that next term students will be expected to wear their summer uniform. If you have any trouble sourcing correct uniform, please contact your child’s Year Level Coordinator. We understand that cost of living pressures are impacting our community and if you do require any extra support, please reach out to us.

We would like to acknowledge the following students who are leading the way on our Westall Way Points Leaderboards. These students are consistently displaying our core values and will be receiving end of term awards for their commitment to themselves, the school and our Westall community.

Stay safe and have a wonderful break everyone!

Ms Michelle Collins

Director of Learning - Middle School 

Year 9 English - Romeo and Juliet Performance

The Year 9 English classes have been studying the play 'Romeo and Juliet' by William Shakespeare this term and last month The Flying Bookworm Theatre Company came to the college and performed for the students. 

The three actors performed key scenes and explained their significance to the students.  They even performed one scene in both the original text and modern-day English!  This provided the students with an invaluable understanding and insight into the plot and the motivations of the characters. 

Studying Shakespeare can be a daunting task for students but this short performance coupled with some great classroom teaching has enabled the students to engage with the play and develop an appreciation for this great playwright.

Mr Brendan Smith

Classroom Teacher

Year 9 Global Literacy Excursion to Dandenong Magistrates Court

As part of our Global Literacy class, we visited the Dandenong Magistrates Court. We travelled by train, and once we arrived, we went through security. It was a new experience for all of us, as we had never been to a court before. We were excited once we got inside but still stayed quiet and well-behaved.

We got into 2 groups, one with Ms. Collins and one with Mrs. Tickner, and entered different courtrooms. Most of the cases were related to road traffic offences, such as careless driving, drunk driving, and unlicensed driving. We learned a lot about summary offences and the court processes.

 Akshaya and Kayla, Year 9

Year 10 EAL Melbourne Zoo Excursion

Year 10 EAL students visited the Melbourne Zoo after completing their unit of work on persuasive language. They had an enjoyable day observing different animals and learning interesting facts about them. At the end of the visit, they gathered information about the benefits and drawbacks of keeping animals in zoos and debated their stance on whether zoos should exist in the 21st century.

Mr Udara Ethaligoda Vidana Gamage 

Going to the zoo with my classmates makes me feel excited and fresh. This is an opportunity to get more hands-on experience with animals outside of the classroom. Besides, we can learn more about global and English. When I see creatures from all over the world up close, I feel more like a part of nature. I'm excited to share this experience with my classmates because it's not just about seeing animals, it's about friendship, laughter, and making new memories. It reminds us how colourful life can be outside of our daily schedule.

Hannie Pham, Year 10

Year 9/10 Lit Histories UFO Investigation

Year 9 and 10 students in the Lit Histories elective have been researching the mystery of the UFO incident at Westall Secondary College in 1966. Students explored the school locations and the local area including the Grange where, more than 50 years ago, over 200 people, including students and teachers, reported witnessing an unidentified flying object. There was also great excitement amongst the whole school community when we welcomed several witnesses who shared their personal experiences of the event, describing what they saw, how it affected them, and the lasting mystery surrounding the incident.

The students and staff were thoroughly engaged in listening to the witnesses and they asked thoughtful and probing questions about the day of the event, the evidence and theories that have since emerged. 

We would like to thank Joy Clarke, Terry Peck, Colin Kelly, Phyll Tierney, Sue Cooper and Mark Hopcraft for sharing their experience with the students and also researcher Shane Ryan for his assistance in facilitating the visit for the students.

Ms Michelle Collins

Waverley Panthers U16’s

We would like to congratulate Year 9 and 10 students Ashton Puia, Tutavake Ponini, Lachlan Puia, Junior Pere, Junior Kareroa, Terrance Teariki and former students Ben Mariri and Israel Moeroa on their impressive grand final win with the Waverley Panthers U16s boys team on Saturday 27th September. Well done boys!