Rose & Waratah

Middle School Update

As we head towards the end of our first year of Middle School, we take time to pause, reflect and consider our journey so far. This year has been filled with celebrations, challenges and tremendous growth. We review our achievements and regroup as we prepare for the exciting times ahead. We have accomplished so much together and there is still more to look forward to as we continue this incredible journey.

Pastoral Care and Student Wellbeing

This term our pastoral focus across the Middle School is to enhance our students' relationship skills by encouraging empathy, embracing diversity and actively showing respect to all members of our learning community. Our goal is to further promote our student’s sensitivity to the needs of others and to act with integrity in order to continuously build an inclusive and thriving learning community.

 

In support of this, we are looking forward to the visit from neuropsychologist, Emma-Rose Parsons, from Spectrum House in Melbourne. Emma will work with Years 7-10  students, staff and parents on understanding neurodiversity and how to best support neurodiverse students. This will include keynotes during assembly, a staff presentation and a parent evening on the 28th of August.

 

By continuing the conversations at home, families will support our learning goals and allow their children to process their learning and exercise the skills promoted in our Social and Emotional Learning curriculum. Hereby, the following questions may serve as conversation starters:

  • How are you actively showing respect to your peers and teachers?
  • Can you think of a time when you showed empathy rather than sympathy to someone?
  • Why is equity rather than equality an essential goal when it comes to learning?
  • How can we make everyone feel safe and like they belong at school?

Student Voice Council

The Years 7-8 Student Voice Council is the student representative body of our learning community. Student Leaders embrace, promote and model the Purpose and Concerns, leading the students of the Middle School Campus to uphold the expectations and values of our community.

 

Student House Leaders work under the guidance and support of House and Student Leadership Coordinator, Esther Hoggart, to promote student initiatives and build House spirit in the Middle School Campus. 

 

Voting for Semester 2 student House Leaders was finalised last week and we are pleased to announce the following results:

 

Mather: Sophie Johnson and Max Skala

Unwin: Aquaria Nicholas and Evie Wilson

Hodgkin: Anica Ianculovici and Millie Morgan

Ransome: Charlotte Hoyle and Xavier Cooper

 

As we congratulate these students and look forward to their work with our students in Semester 2, we take this opportunity to thank the outgoing leadership team:

 

Mather: Lottie Frost and Rose Pullinger

Unwin: Vega Stoddart and Munro Macqueen

Hodgkin: Callum Johnson and Harry Tracey

Ransome: Remy Rawlings-Way and Finn Connolly

Learning

In Term 3, the Middle School's focus is on the environment, with each year level exploring this theme through various subjects.

 

Year 7

In English, students are reading 'Alex' by Roseanne Hawke, set in drought-stricken South Australia. The novel addresses climate change and mental health, particularly the depression that can result from managing land during drought. Complementing this, the SEL program emphasises Positive Psychology, encouraging resilience through mindfulness, gratitude, a growth mindset and physical activity. The Humanities Geography unit, 'Water in the World', aligns with the novel's themes, covering renewable and non-renewable energies, the water cycle, water scarcity, and hydrological hazards.

 

In the Food Studies course, students will focus on 'Food Waste', learning related vocabulary and understanding the environmental impact of food waste on climate change. They will explore methods to reduce their food footprint, such as reducing landfill and methane emissions and study innovative solutions like banana flour. Practical lessons will emphasise recipes with minimal food waste and using sustainable packaging.

 

In Chemistry, Year 7 students are studying mixtures and separation techniques like filtration, evaporation, distillation and flotation - applying these methods to real-world environmental problems. 

 

Students will participate in a Connections activity centred on designing, testing and refining water filtration systems to link their Chemistry studies with Geography. The Connections Quest offers students five options—Eco Warriors, Eco Crafters Wildlife, Marine Guardians, Eco Builders Bird Conservation and Green Guardians Planting—each focusing on environmental action. The term culminates with an exploration of 'regeneration', addressing climate change and reinforcing the transdisciplinary nature of their learning.

 

Year 8

The Connections Inquiry Quest encourages students to address real-world environmental issues through Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, leading to a September exhibition. 

 

In English, students explore themes of reality in media and connect this to the Humanities history unit, focusing on source accuracy, reliability and usefulness. Science investigations allow students to pose questions, test hypotheses and assess the environmental impact of their experiments. 

 

Mathematics lessons continue the focus on algebra, emphasising equation balancing and algebraic thinking.

 

In Design Technology, students create parquetry designs using Tasmanian timber veneers, learning tool safety and risk mitigation. Fibre classes involve knitting and sewing, promoting sustainable clothing practices. 

 

Drama classes emphasise non-verbal communication, with students creating scenes using body language and gestures. 

 

Music lessons focus on composing scores for film, television and dance, enhancing students' understanding of performance accompaniment.

 

The swimming program in Term 3 promotes water safety and stroke development, while Health classes cover nutrition's impact on health and sports performance.

 

Languages classes started the term with a cultural celebration, including activities like making French waffles, learning German dance, origami and Japanese calligraphy. These activities encourage students to appreciate different cultures and languages within our school community.

 

Term 3's curriculum in the Middle School integrates environmental awareness across subjects, fostering a holistic understanding of sustainability and resilience in students.

 

Lindy Gannon - Head of Middle School (Year 7 & 8)