Secondary Life

Year 9 Service Week

Taimi Buchan, Year 9 Teacher

In Week 7, the Year 9 students stepped away from their regular classes to deeply explore the concept of service. Each day began with reflections on God’s teachings about service in His Word. We learned about our calling to a life of service, as exemplified by Jesus, and studied biblical figures who lived out this calling. 

Throughout the week, we were inspired by guest speakers including Sam Ramsden, Inspector Dan Jamieson, Rev Scott Hawkins and, Adam Mack, who shared stories of how they strive to live lives of service. Adam Mack also brought along team members who had recently returned from a mission in Rwanda, sharing authentic and vulnerable insights. 

In addition to these teachings, students participated in various acts of service each day. From preparing meals for food bank freezers to serving within our DCC community and partnering with broader community organizations, the students put their learning into action. 

This week was a practical application of the lessons from our Community Life curriculum, emphasising the greatest commandment: to love God and love others. Our hope is that these experiences will shape the students as they grow into Kingdom Builders. 

Student Reflections:

“I have realised that service isn’t just doing a job like the dishwasher because your mum asked you to, but instead, it is an act of doing something willingly, for another person or a group of people to benefit - putting others above yourself. Using your gifts and talents to give back to the community and anyone at all because  

everyone deserves it, and by doing this you are worshipping God because that’s what God calls us to do, to serve and love others.” 

“My thinking has changed in that I had thought it was a hard thing to serve our community and that you need to go with an organisation or some group to do it. This week has helped show me that it can be simple and easy things that can resonate with the people that you serve. Whether it is going and helping in their gardens or cooking someone a meal. You can serve with your church or by sending kind notes to people.”  

Biology Camp

Aliya Lewis, Biology Student

Biology camp was an incredible opportunity to explore God's creation. We got to learn about the little organisms that we so often overlook, who are so amazingly complex and unique in their own way. 

Unfortunately, the unpredictable weather meant we were not able to go on the scheduled boat ride, so instead we heard about the micro-plastic crisis and combed the beach for seaweed - learning about (and eating!) all the different types. Believe it or not, there is one type of seaweed, called Darwin's Pearls, that tastes like cucumber! 

We had a lesson in the lab at the Discovery Centre, extracting worms and examining shark eggs, as well as exploring the aquarium, where we touched squid eggs and saw seahorses being fed. 

Overall, it was a fantastic camp, and a great chance to get out of the classroom to learn things only taught by experience. 

Year 7 Podcast Incursion

Leanne Benson, Year 7 Coordinator

The Year 7 students recently participated in a dynamic two-day Video & Podcast Incursion, led by Tripod Enterprise Education. This project gave students the opportunity to create a video and podcast showcasing “A Day in the Life of Year 7,” designed to introduce key highlights of the year to our prospective Year 7 students for 2025. 

The incursion emphasised the development of vital general capabilities such as critical thinking, collaboration, digital literacy and personal growth. Working in teams, students brainstormed ideas, developed scripts, and practiced interviewing and questioning techniques. They also explored digital technologies, combining media elements to create engaging content. 

This collaborative process allowed students to experience real-world project management, working towards deadlines and learning how to effectively communicate their ideas. The energy and enthusiasm in the room was infectious, and the students thoroughly enjoyed the creative and inspiring learning environment. 

Soon, the videos and podcast overlays will be available for students to share with each other, showcasing their hard work and creativity. 

Goethe Poetry Competition

Nahed Samuel, German Secondary Teacher

On Friday, 30th August 2024, students from across Victorian schools gathered at Monash University to participate in the 2024 Goethe Poetry Competition. 

Open to students in Years 10, 11, and 12, this event allowed participants to showcase their German language skills by reciting year-level appropriate poems before a panel of judges.

Our Year 10 students had been working diligently in preparation for this competition, with the top 8 selected to represent our school. Among the many students from various schools across Victoria, our very own Leanne Leong stood out, securing first place with her exceptional recitation. Competing against students from a range of schools, Leanne’s performance shone brightly, earning her the top spot and recognition from the judges.

In addition to the competition, all Year 10 German students had the exciting opportunity to visit Monash University’s German Department for a guided tour. This provided them with a valuable glimpse into the opportunities available for further German studies at the university level.

We are immensely proud of Leanne and all of our students who participated in this enriching event.