Junior School Update

Year 7 Update

Tiegan Whitby, Sophie Balfour and Jess Lazzaro

Term 2 has been a positive, busy, and rewarding time for our Year 7 students, with many opportunities to celebrate their behaviour, achievements, and involvement in the school community.

Students have continued to engage enthusiastically in our Good Behaviour Goodies program, proudly cashing in their positive rewards each week. A clear highlight has been enjoying warm hot chocolates, a well-earned and much-loved treat during the colder months while recognising their positive choices and efforts in the classroom.

We were also very fortunate to welcome the Pat Cronin Foundation, who delivered an important and meaningful presentation to our students. This session encouraged thoughtful reflection around respect, making positive decisions, and looking out for one another, providing valuable learning that extends beyond the classroom.

It has been wonderful to see so many students participating in interschool sport opportunities, including events such as the District Cross Country and District Athletics. Students have represented the school with pride, demonstrating great sportsmanship, effort, and teamwork.

We are incredibly proud of the effort Year 7 students have been putting into all aspects of school life, from their classroom learning to extracurricular activities. Their commitment and willingness to get involved have been fantastic to see.

Looking ahead, we are especially excited to see our Year 7 students perform in Legally Blonde next term. We know they have been working hard, and we cannot wait to see their talents shine on stage.

Overall, it has been a great term, and we look forward to continuing this momentum into Term 3. We also cannot believe that the Year 7 cohort only have 2 more terms, it feels like yesterday they were coming in for transition days! 

Year 8 Update

Jade Kairys, Jaydn McGruddy and Maddy Boyd

As we reach the end of Term 2, we would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the many achievements, learning experiences, and memorable moments our Year 8 students have enjoyed throughout the term.

Learning Highlights

In ICARE this term, our Year 8 students stepped into the world of coding and game design, creating their very own computer games whilst demonstrating creativity, problem-solving skills, and plenty of persistence. Students were thrilled to discover that creating their own games through coding also came with the important responsibility of "testing" them, meaning their teachers couldn’t tell them to ‘stop playing games during class!’. In Humanities, students travelled back in time to explore the fascinating world of the Vikings. From longships and legendary explorers to Norse mythology and Viking settlements, students discovered there was much more to the Vikings than just helmets and raids. Thankfully, while students enthusiastically embraced Viking history, there have been no reports of any attempts to sail longships across the school grounds during this rainy term… yet. And lastly, our Year 8 students participated in an engaging and thought-provoking session presented by the Pat Cronin Foundation, which delivered an important and meaningful message about respect, resilience, and standing up for others. 

Exploring Your Future

This term, our Year 8 students had the exciting opportunity to visit the Australian Catholic University (ACU) to explore a range of future career pathways and post-school opportunities. Throughout the excursion, students engaged in activities and discussions that encouraged them to think about their interests, strengths, and aspirations, while gaining valuable insights into different professions and tertiary education options. The experience provided an excellent opportunity for students to begin considering their future goals and the pathways available to them. This learning will be particularly valuable as students prepare for Year 9 subject selections at the beginning of Term 3, helping them make informed decisions about subjects that align with their interests and future ambitions.

Celebrations and Awards

Student of the Week continued, where each week a Year 8 student was nominated by their teachers for displaying academic success, respect to all, and enthused engagement in their classwork. In addition, this student received a ‘gold star’ for their Home Group, and any Home Group that receives 5 Gold Stars will win a class lunch and party! A big congratulations this term to Owen Fenton, Willow Alexander, Billie Delooze, Toby Hook, Grace Matthews, Hamish Rickeard and Milla Ryde. An even bigger congratulations to 8C and 8E who earned themselves that hot chip lunch by being the first two Home Groups to receive 5 Gold Stars throughout the term, proving once and for all that success is best served hot, crispy, and with plenty of gravy!

Year 8 Class Restructure 

One of the most significant changes for our Year 8 cohort this term has been the restructuring of classes from five groups to four. We are incredibly proud of the resilience, maturity, and positive attitude our students have demonstrated throughout this transition. They have embraced the opportunity to build new friendships, establish new routines, and contribute positively to their classrooms. 

We wish your family a safe and happy mid-semester break and look forward to Term 3 with this group of inquisitive, hardworking, and expressive young individuals.

Year 9 Update

Robyn Williams, Georgia Skilton and Melissa Mackenzie

Our Year 9 students have had a dynamic and engaging term, full of learning, exploration and development both inside and outside the classroom. 

One of the standout experiences this term was the excursion to Deakin University, where students participated in workshops focused on employability skills, with a strong emphasis on communication. Through interactive activities and team-based challenges, students had the opportunity to explore how communication plays a vital role in future work environments. It was an inspiring day that helped bridge the gap between the classroom and real-world career pathways. 

In addition to our academic learning, Year 9s also got active in the Winter Sports Program. Whether participating in netball, badminton, or AFL students demonstrated great sportsmanship, teamwork, and persistence in the chilly conditions! It was fantastic to see so many students getting involved and supporting one another on and off the field. 

In the classroom, students continued to build core learning skills, including critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration, across all subject areas. Highlights include practical cooking assessments in Food Technology, history investigations, and continued development in numeracy and literacy. 

We are incredibly proud of how the Year 9s have carried themselves this term with enthusiasm, growing maturity, and a willingness to engage in new challenges. 

We encourage all students to enjoy a well-earned break, reflect on their progress so far, and return in Term 3 ready for the next stage of their learning journey. 

Wishing all Year 9 students and families a safe and restful holiday break!