Year 9/10

Year 9 City Experience

This term, our Year 9 cohort explored Melbourne on an excursion designed to build confidence, independence, and personal development. The day was an opportunity for students to explore Melbourne while engaging in a range of activities that connected to their Term 1 Pathway 2 Success Careers Unit. Navigating the city in small groups, they visited key landmarks – Including Federation Square, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the State Library – completing a scavenger hunt that linked industries to real-world workplaces. Throughout the day, students were challenged to consider various careers through their exploration – such as architecture, event planning, customer service, and museum curation. They also participated in creative photo challenges, capturing team photos in front of iconic Melbourne locations. 

We are incredibly proud of how our students conducted themselves throughout the day, demonstrating maturity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to engage with the challenges presented. We had multiple reports from the public, both on the days and feedback after, about how impressive our students were in their engagement in the activities and how they conducted themselves in public. A big thank you to the staff who supported the excursion and to our students for their fantastic participation. We look forward to our next city experience in Term 2!

As Term 1 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on the fantastic start to the year for our Year 9 students. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and commitment as they embark on this important stage of their educational journey. Term 1 has provided a solid foundation, and we encourage all students to use this as a platform for even greater success in the terms ahead.  

Attendance Matters  

We are pleased to report that 83% of our Year 9 students achieved over 80% attendance this term. While this is a positive result, our goal is for all students to reach at least 90% attendance. Building healthy attendance habits now is crucial for their future success in VCE or VCVM. Regular attendance not only supports academic growth but also fosters resilience, responsibility, and engagement—key skills for life beyond school.  

Celebrating Academic Achievement  

On the final day of term, we celebrated students who achieved high GPAs, recognizing their hard work and dedication. The average GPA for Year 9 this term was an impressive 3.31, reflecting the consistent effort of many students. We encourage all students to reflect on their progress reports over the break and identify areas for improvement so they can continue striving for excellence in Term 2.  

EPIC Students  

A special congratulations goes out to the 60 Year 9 students who were EPIC this term—Every Period In Class! These students demonstrated outstanding attendance and commitment, and they were rewarded with a celebratory BBQ. Well done! We challenge all Year 9 students to aim for EPIC attendance in Term 2 and look forward to seeing even more students at the next celebration.  

Thank you for your ongoing support, and we wish you all a safe and restful break. We look forward to seeing our Year 9 students return refreshed and ready for more success in Term 2!  

Year 9 Year Level Leader

Kevin McCall  

Cranbourne East Secondary College