Year 7 News

As the third term draws to a close, this will be my last newsletter for 2025. Next term, I will be moving into a new role at Kurnai College and the team leader for year 7 will be Paris Werner. Paris is the Disability Inclusion specialist at the Churchill Campus, and she is excited to be taking over the management of the cohort. I trust Paris will do a magnificent job preparing the Year 7’s for their transition to Year 8! I wish all the students and our wonderful families a safe school holiday period and all the best for the remainder of the year!

Orienteering

On the 2nd September, a group of Year 7 students participated in an orienteering session run by Kid Connect. The students enjoyed their activities and the BBQ lunch! Here is what the organiser Neal Daly had to say:

 “What was admirable was the way the teams come together to work as a team and all our staff commented on the how good their groups were and so well behaved.” 

Great job representing our school Year 7s!

Maths Competition

Quade Jobling, Lillia Russell, Morgen Adams, Beth Prokopiwskyi and Wes Zomer attended the VCES Maths Games Day run by the Mathematical Association of Victoria and hosted at Mirboo North Primary School. The event saw students engage in a day of mathematically enriching, competitive activities against several other schools from the area.

Congratulations to Wes, who came in first place as part of a team with some of our Year 8 students.

Thinking Championships

The Thinking Championships have gotten off to a flying start with medals awarded for the banner-making competition and the flag-making. Congratulations to Taylah Bartlett on her banner design and to her country, Kiribati, on receiving the Gold medal for its banner. Congratulations to Kenya for receiving the gold medal in their flag design. Over the next week, students will be competing in round robin thinking activities designed to develop their personal, social and critical thinking capabilities. Students will have to work as a team, to compete for medals and prizes. 

History Day

To celebrate History Day Year 7 students will be participating in a medieval feast at lunchtime and some fun activities throughout the day. Students are encouraged to dress up in historical costumes from ancient times to the WW1 period. 

R U OK? Day

On Thursday, we celebrated R U OK? Day with a BBQ and some delicious cupcakes! It was fantastic to see so many students dressed in some yellow to recognise the importance of checking in with those around us and asking, “Are you OK?” A huge thank you to the advocate team and the wellbeing team for all their work in celebrating the day!

Congratulations

A huge congratulations to Addisen Russell, who recently won the raffle at the Churchill Hub. Addisen submitted a response to the Churchill Town Centre Plan Listening Post about how the Churchill Leisure Centre is a highlight for Churchill. 

Learning Behaviour Updates

Teachers are currently completing Learning behaviour updates for the Year 7 classes. These will be published before parent-teacher conferences next week. Parent-Teacher Conferences will be on Thursday, 18th November and Friday, 19th November. You can book online via COMPASS, or if you need support, please contact the front office. 

Attendance

We have seen a decline in attendance with many students not attending classes. Although we are doing an alternative program, this is an important part of the year 7 curriculum around learner resilience, growth mindset and critical and creative thinking. Its important student continues to attend school until the last day of term, unless unwell. Students do not require consent to participate in any of the thinking championship activities.

Year 7 Artwork

Contact Details 

If you have any concerns regarding Year 7 students, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (03) 5132 3700 or Erin.Gruis@education.vic.gov.au or Paris.Werner@education.vic.gov.au

Erin Gruis & Paris Werner

Tear 7 Team Leader