Secondary Community News
Lower Secondary (Years 7-8)
The students in year 7/8 have been settling in well throughout term 1. Students participated in a range of activities last week for Harmony Day and Maths Day, applying their skills in different contexts and collaborating with their peers. For our inquiry topic “Indigenous and Australian History”, students created a 3D Triorama displaying Indigenous Australian lifestyle. The students look forward to ending the term off with a well-deserved reward to play Bowling at Watergardens.
Upper Secondary (Years 9-10)
Water Works and Gardens
What a great way to start week 8 of Term 1; 30C and the start of our intensive 2-week swimming programme at Sunshine Swimming Pool. Some students are still consolidating their skills of floating, kicking using a floatation device, and diving for weights. Others are focusing on their backstroke, freestyle and treading water. Safety, Responsibility and Independence are skills practiced in this programme daily. Students have to take responsibility for their belongings, bringing them to school and taking them ‘all’ home at the end of the day – already we have a lost Nike T-shirt and some goggles. Please could you put students' names on items to avoid these mishaps! Independence is a skill we want all our students to achieve as they get older and dressing within a timeline is also practiced daily.
Our Hands-On Learning programme also continues to run until the end of the term. Students who choose to enrol in HOL enjoy being outside for their learning. They focus on developing their skills of Teamwork, Problem-Solving and Self-Management. Students work with animals feeding, cleaning and using their creative skills to help design and build appropriate spaces for them to live in comfort. Gardening is also a major task that students enjoy. Sowing, weeding and maintaining the garden beds in order for the seeds to thrive and grow. The produce can then be harvested for students to use in the kitchen – there’s nothing better than a homegrown tomato for flavour.
As we near the end of term 1, we wish you all a safe and happy holiday.
Senior Secondary (VPC/ASDAN)
What a wonderful term we have had in ASDAN. Students have experienced a wide range of activities and opportunities including work experience at Sunshine Hospital and Westvale Community Centre, visits to local community libraries, recreational activities such as lawn bowls at Sunshine City Club and travel training to Footscray Market and Highpoint using all means of public transport. Students have also been working hard in class to complete many ASDAN outcomes that encompass numeracy and literacy with a focus on independent living skills (recognising money, basic cooking skills, kitchen hygiene, safety, recognising work and community signs and how to behave respectfully, responsibly, and safely in school and community settings).
Trade Taster Program at AGA
Every Wednesday, a group of Year 11 students go to AGA to learn about OHS and trade work in carpentry, plumbing and automotive.
The following are the comments students have made about the program:
Jackson – I like AGA; it’s helpful to get a White Card and to get in the trade business.
Shaun – it’s good and looking forward to completing the program to get a White Card. It will be good to have to do some trade work.
Ruqaiyah – the best part of AGA is being in the workshop because we get to use the tools
Ben – I like using the saw because I like to cut timber
Kendra – I like the saw; it’s pretty fun but can be tricky sometimes.
Matthew – Matthew gave AGA a thumbs up and said “I like using the different tools”
Sammy – I like it because you get to work with your hands
Arvind – AGA is enjoyable because it’s hand on work
Secondary Students of the Week
