Foundation

In Inquiry, we’ve been observing and sorting leaves into different groups based on their features—such as shape, size, and colour. This has helped us understand how scientists classify plants. Now, we’re turning our attention to the animal kingdom! We’ve started investigating the different features of animals—from feathers to fur, scales to skin—and discussing how these features help animals survive in their environments.

In Mathematics, we’ve been learning how to measure objects using informal units—like matchsticks. We practised lining them up carefully to measure the length of classroom objects. One of our favourite moments was when we imagined trying to measure a whale using matchsticks! We quickly realised that wouldn’t be very practical and shared some giggles thinking about how many thousands (or millions!) of matchsticks we’d need.

We look forward to diving deeper into our discoveries in the weeks to come!

Mrs Tanya, Classroom Teacher

Year 1/2 A

What a busy and exciting time it has been in Year 1/2A!

We recently had the wonderful opportunity to watch the Alpha Shows performance of King Arthur. The students were captivated by the action-packed story and loved the chance to engage with the characters. It sparked lots of discussion about courage, kindness, and doing the right thing.

In Maths, we’ve been exploring shapes through hands-on activities. The students have been busy building, sorting, and naming 2D and 3D shapes — and having lots of fun along the way! These practical activities have helped us deepen our understanding and use mathematical language in real-world ways.

A special highlight has been working alongside the VM (Victorian Pathways Certificate) students. Together, we've focused on building friendships and practising important SWPBS (School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support) skills like sharing and taking turns. It’s been a wonderful way for our students to connect with older peers and strengthen their social skills.

We've also been learning new maths games that help build our memory and support us to work together as a team. These games are not only helping us grow our number knowledge but are also encouraging us to take turns, cooperate, and encourage each other.

Finally, a friendly reminder to keep up with home reading! Regular reading at home helps build fluency, confidence, and a lifelong love of books. Please continue to support your child by listening to them read each night and signing their reading log.

Well done, Year 1/2A, for showing such enthusiasm, kindness, and a strong love of learning!

Miss Anderson, Classroom Teacher

Year 1/2 B

Mrs Torney, Classroom Teacher

Year 3/4 A

We are finally back to regular classroom routines with minimal outside disruptions! This term, 3/4A has been diving into the wonderful world of poetry! A couple of students have even written their own fantastic poems that we’ll be sharing. It's been inspiring to see how students bring their ideas to life through words!

In Mathematics, we are focusing on building fluency with our times tables, particularly the 2s, 3s, and 5s. Our goal is for students to be able to automatically recall these facts in any order. To support this, we’ve introduced a Friday Times Tables Challenge each week. This is a great opportunity for students to practise at home and work towards confident, speedy recall.

Thank you for your continued support, especially in encouraging regular practise and celebrating your child’s efforts and achievements!

Mr Campbell and Mrs McKenzie, Classroom Teacher

Year 3/4 B

We are over halfway through Term 2 and have been continuing to learn lots of new things. In maths, we are focusing on division and splitting numbers into even groups. We have also been learning about calculating the perimeter and area of certain shapes.

In reading and writing, we are looking at information texts and fact vs opinion. We have also been doing our thinking tracks each week.

We have introduced our pen license checklist and have been practicing writing our letters correctly. We have also tried some joint handwriting on Fridays. We hope that some students will be receiving their pen license soon!

Coming up:

Week 7 - 6th of June: Report Writing Day - Student Free Day
Week 8 - 9th of June: King’s Birthday public holiday

Miss Lockhart, Classroom Teacher

Year 5/6

Vroom! Vroom! The bus set off for Swan Hill camp with the 5/6ers in it. It took an hour and a half to get there with a 15minute stop in Kerang.

As we got on the horse carriage we heard the horses feet clop on the road as everyone sang ‘Barbie Girl’. The horses were Clydesdales and there names were Ben and Rocky. The person who drove the horse was named Jordan or Jordy.

When we were on camp at Pioneer Settlement in Swan Hill we had a lesson on Aboriginal culture. The man told us about the marks on the trees and what they mean. He told us how they would hunt and how they would make huts with bark and use kangaroos. He told us about bush tucker and lots of traditional things.

The red and white boat, the PS Pyap glides across the murky water. In the corridor you can look out the window and see the paddles turning. There is also a shop selling snacks, drinks and souvenirs.

As the lights are shining and the snow is falling the light show starts. The birds glide across the trees and crystal blue water rises up in the sky the fire bursts up and all of us scream in shock. It’s a great experience. If you get the chance to go you should go even if you get home sick.

Thankyou to Mrs T, Miss Melinda, Mr Pearse, Miss Trina, our amazing Chef Kylie and Miss Eilish for making this happen.

From the 5/6 class.

Primary Music

In primary music this term, we have well and truly immersed ourselves in glorious Celtic culture! Each week we have enjoyed singing, dancing and exploring Celtic tunes and instruments.

Students have watched far too many Michael Flatley performances, but is there really such thing as too many?! Feeling inspired by River Dancing, all classes enjoyed rehearsing some classic river dance moves. Please click the links to view some short clips of their dance practice. They're not experts yet, but they're doing a good job to juggle the coordination and timing!

https://vimeo.com/1087629149

https://vimeo.com/1087629381

https://vimeo.com/1087638693

Upper primary are learning the Tin Whistle and have started off by playing Happy Birthday as it is a familiar and simple tune, before diving into classic Celtic songs. We have been practicing outside... 20 Tin Whistles in a classroom isn't for the faint hearted!

Lower primary have been learning the song and dance moves for Rattlin' Bog. If you haven't heard this song, please ask your child to perform it for you and see how much they remember!

CHOIR

Our Choir students had their first performance last week and what a success that was! These students practice at lunchtimes on Wednesdays and did a great job at sharing some songs at the Biggest Morning Tea in Soldiers' Memorial Park. We are considering changing the time of choir practice so students can access both Chess Club and Choir.

Mrs Postle, Primary Music Teacher

PE News - Mr P and Miss Milne

NCD Cross Country

On Friday 16th March, eager students from Wedderburn College braved the cold morning to compete in the NCD Cross Country in St Arnaud.

4 students ran so well, that they qualified for the next stage – The LMR Cross Country. Those students were:

Blaz Cramp
Jade Cramp
Noah Winslett
Violet Stephenson

A massive congratulations to all students for doing such a great job and representing the college well! Also, thank you to Mr Fowles and Mrs Polkinghorne for taking the students and supporting.

Bike Education

On Wednesday 21st March a number of staff members attended a course that will enable them to deliver bike education at Wedderburn College. Mr Iser, Mr Pearce, Mr Harrington, Miss Milne, Miss Van de Wetering, Miss Picolli, Mr Pettifer & Mr Fowles are now able to safely instruct and implement bike education classes for students. The teachers involved gained valuable experience and understanding. A big thank you to Mr Forrest for allowing this opportunity. Staff look forward to sharing this important knowledge and teaching with students moving forward. Congratulations to all staff who reattained/attained their certificate. Big thank you Lou Looby and Cazz Clarke for coming and training us.

Emma Milne & Ben Pettifer

Sports Coordinators

LMR Cross Country

Tuesday the 27th of May three very energetic, enthusiastic and eager students left the school grounds to compete in the Interschools Cross Country, the last step before State competition. Their energy did not match the weather forecast. St Arnaud really turned it on for us windy, overcast, wet stuff from the sky (not enough to excite the farming families), it was fresh!

First up was Noah in the 17-20 age group, running the grueling 5km track. Noah finished in style perhaps not where he had hoped for, but running extremely well in windy conditions. He was up against some tough competition with 44 runners.

The energised Jade was next, lining up against some much older and longer legged competitors again in the 17-20yrs. Jade proved that size does not matter, athletic ability and will power took her all the way to 6th place and state finals. Congratulations!

With Blaz out for the day with injury, Violet was our final runner for the day in the 15yr old girls. Violet was up against a large number of very professional looking competitors. She started and finished strong, once again proving that it is mind over matter. Placing 19th out of 39.

Well done and congratulations to all of you on representing your school and yourselves, it was a pleasure to be your chauffer for the day.

Miss Toni

Year 8 Art

Ms Piccoli, Art Teacher

Year 11

Homeroom Update – Weeks 5 & 6

It’s been a huge couple of weeks for our Year 11 students, full of exciting excursions, hands-on learning, and great opportunities to explore life beyond the classroom!

Our Legal Studies students visited Horsham for some Regional Law Talks, where they deepened their understanding of the legal system in action. Meanwhile, students attended the Tomorrow Bound Careers Expo in Bendigo, exploring a wide range of future career and study options. Of course, the day wouldn’t be complete without a quick trip to Maccas to finish it off!

Another highlight was the Art ME Camp to Melbourne, where students immersed themselves in culture, creativity, and collaboration. One memorable moment was Lillie’s favourite – the escape room challenge, which brought fun, problem-solving, and plenty of laughs.

Our VM students continue to thrive in their Structured Workplace Learning placements, gaining real-world experience and valuable skills. It's fantastic to see everyone enjoying their placements and making the most of the opportunity. A huge thank

We’re also off to a flying start in the Reading Marathon! It’s great to see so many students already clocking up minutes. Remember to keep recording your time—every page counts!

A huge congratulations to Noah and Jade, who will proudly represent the College at the upcoming LMR Cross Country—well done and good luck!

🎓 Mr G’s Study Tip:

“Don’t just read—recap!”

After every class or study session, take 2–3 minutes to write down what you remember without looking at your notes. This helps lock it into your long-term memory and shows you what to review later.

Great work, Year 11—keep the momentum going!

PS A big Happy Birthday to Mr Fowles, who celebrated his birthday this week!

Mr Gretgrix and Mr Fowles, Year 11 Homeroom Teachers.

Legal Studies Excursion

On Tuesday, 20th May, the Unit 3/4 Legal Studies students travelled to Horsham as part of Law Week to engage in a series of informative and thought-provoking sessions. The day included presentations from the Victorian Ombudsman’s office, focusing on the role of the Ombudsman in the justice system and spoke with Legal Aid about the importance of human rights when interacting with police.

Students also participated in a "Youth at Work" workshop, where they discussed workplace rights and even signed a petition supporting the removal of junior wage in order to adopt minimum wages for every worker. The visit continued with a tour of the Horsham courts, where students had the opportunity to speak directly with the Jury Commissioner, a barrister/solicitor, and a professional mediator, gaining valuable insights into the Victorian legal system and career pathways in law.

Fun fact these fashionable horse hair wigs barristers wear cost upwards of $6000.

Thank you, Mrs. Woodman, for taking us to Horsham Court. We really appreciate the opportunity to learn outside the classroom and experience the legal system firsthand.

Written by Jade and Dakota.

VCE Legal Studies

VCE Report

The Year 12s have settled into the year and are busy completing SACs and looking forward to finishing their Unit 3 in each of their subjects. They have also been engaged in The Regional Pathways Program, that gets each of them looking at life after school. Well-being is also a priority and the 12’s have three sessions over the term, where they will learn how to destress and take care of themselves.

Year 11 Exams:

At this stage, our Year 11 exams will still take place in Week 9 for all VCE Year 11 students and for VM students doing a VCE subject. All exams will take place at school, in a room to be announced. They will meet in the library 15 minutes before the starting time of the exam. Students are to wear full school uniform, bring only the equipment required for each exam (no pencil cases please, just pens, highlighters, pencils etc) and a clear drink bottle. Students are only required for the times they have exams. There will be no homeroom. Students will sign in and out at the office.

General Achievement Test:

The GAT will take place on Tuesday 17th June at Donaldson Park. Students are required to arrive at school no later than 9.00am for a 10am examination start. The GAT runs in two parts across the whole day. Year 12 VM students only need to do Part A.

All students undertaking the GAT have been given a brochure prepared by the VCAA. Please take time to read through and ask questions if necessary.

Students may take an English and/or bilingual printed dictionary into the GAT, but not a thesaurus or a combined thesaurus–dictionary. Electronic dictionaries and calculators are not permitted.

Students will also need pens, pencils and an eraser to complete the GAT. They must use either a blue or black pen to complete the two writing tasks and a pencil for the multiple‑choice answer page.

No special study is required for the GAT. The general knowledge and skills that are tested are those students have built up through their previous study in English, Mathematics, Science and Social Sciences. Each question provides all the information needed to work out the right answer.

Students not undertaking the GAT on Tuesday 17th June are permitted to study from home with their parent or guardian’s permission. Please call the front office and inform them of this decision to make sure your absence from school is accounted for.

VCE Art

From the 14th to the 15th, we had the wonderful opportunity to attend an engaging and enjoyable camp in Melbourne, during which we visited a variety of art galleries. It was a truly memorable experience for all of us.

We visited the National Gallery of Victoria, including their permanent First Nations exhibition ‘Wurrda Murra’, saw the Top Arts 2024 exhibition, including the top artworks by Year 12 students studying VCE Art and were even lucky enough to see their folios as well. We also visited a range of contemporary and artist run gallery spaces including Flinders Lane Gallery, Tolarno and Blindside Artist Run Space. The Outsiders, a great collection of Street Art, including works by Banksy and Rone was also part of our trip!

On the way home we were lucky to visit the current Frida Kahlo exhibition at Bendigo Art Gallery.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mrs. Barker for organising such a fantastic trip. Her efforts in ensuring that everyone had an enjoyable and enriching time are greatly appreciated. We would also like to thank Mrs. Woodman for her support in keeping us punctual and well-organized throughout the trip.

VCE Art Students

VM Report

Our Vocational Major students enjoyed a bush outing this fortnight, with a bike ride along Queens Gully and a BBQ morning tea prepared by Mr Zubov. Students used communication and leadership skills to navigate, as well as encourage each other. Students were responsible for pre and post bike maintenance and it was nice to see them interacting in a different environment.

Back at school, students participated in games with the Grade 1 & 2 students whilst the 5/6s were on camp. It was great to see the VM students directing the games and supporting the younger students.

Students are currently working on their resumes and are identifying their personal strengths and areas for improvement based on the feedback from their work placements.

Looking ahead, students will be participating in an agricultural industry visit in June, as well as renovating the primary cubby house.

Mrs Postle, Voccational Major Teacher

Reading Marathon

On your mark ... the Reading Marathon begins!

While the Reading Olympics won't officially open until Term 3, our first event is underway, starting ... now!

The Reading Marathon is back for 2025.

Students will be asked to record the number of minutes they read each day (see classroom/English teachers for how to do this)
Carers/parents will be asked to sign to confirm reading done at home
Minutes will be tallied weekly
Year level and overall leaders will be listed outside the library
Awesome prizes, including books, box-sets of books, and more will be up for grabs
There will be new surprises, including 'sprint weeks' where students with the highest % growth for that week can win big

Get on board and support your house! Last year, the Reading Olympics was the decider for the overall House Championship so don't let your house down.

GO ANSETT!!!!!

Mr Iser, Reading Marathon Coordinator

School Wide Positive Behaviour Supports - SWPBS