The Crest

Middle School

Mr Michael Busscher, Head of Middle School

Welcome back to all the Middle School families. I hope that everyone was able to enjoy the Easter break and are now well and truly back into the swing of things and are looking towards another very positive term of school.

 

We have a number of special events occurring in the Middle School this term. Our Year 9 events include the following:

  1. Dancing Lessons and Social with Loreto College. Dancing lessons will be conducted on Monday, May 12, 19 and 26 from 3.30pm-4.30pm here in our College Gymnasium. The Social will be conducted at the O’Collins Hall at the Cathedral from 6.30pm (7pm start) to 9pm. A letter has been sent to all parents in Year 9 last week via email.

     

  2. Year 9 Retreats will be conducted on either Thursday, 22 May (9A-9E) or Friday, 23 May (9F-9J) in our Pavilion. Real Talk, who will be conducting the Retreat is an organisation that gets REAL on the topics of sex, relationships and personal identity. Based on Catholic values and using personal sharing from our team of presenters, we provide up-to-date resources, presentations and programs on these important topics.

     

  3. The Melbourne Experience is designed to promote important life skills, such as independence, initiative and responsibility, and provide a real-world link to the Year 9 Curriculum. This will be conducted between Monday, 30 June and Friday, 4 July. The Melbourne Experience objectives include:
  • Learning about different aspects of Melbourne
  • History, Culture, Arts, Sport, Design and Innovation
  • Learning how to use public transport
  • Navigating around the Melbourne CBD
  • Developing teamwork and independence skills
  • Experiencing a range of activities across the CBD

 

Our Year 10 events for Term 2 include the following:

  1. One Night of Homelessness will be conducted on Thursday, 29 May. Our Year 10 students will participate in a unique and meaningful experience. This event is designed to help the boys gain empathy and understanding for those who face hardship by simulating aspects of life as a homeless person. The night will be conducted on the grounds of the College between 7pm-7.30am with all boys attending not required to attend classes for the remainder of Friday, 30 May. A letter will be sent home to parents next week with greater details provided.

     

  2. Year 10 Retreat on Thursday, 12 June. This all-day opportunity has been a very successful experience for Year 10 students in recent years. Objectives of the day are focused on the Touchstones of a St Patrick’s Education in the Edmund Rice tradition: Gospel Spirituality: to live Jesus’ commitment to peace, justice, and compassion, Liberating Education: to open hearts and minds through quality encounters that invite critical engagement and reflection, Inclusive Community: to foster of spirit of welcome and acceptance that promotes the common good and Justice and Solidarity: to encourage a spirituality of action that stands in solidarity with those at the margins.   

     

  3. The Tomorrow Man, Module 2: The History of Masculinity will be delivered on Tuesday, 1 July. The Tomorrow Man program aims to explore the impact of rigid masculine gender stereotypes and expectations and their impact on men across the country. The workshop sessions will invite our young men to share their views on what it means to be a man in 2025.

Finally, both year levels will undertake their Semester One Examinations between Friday, 20 June and Friday, 27 June. More details closer to this date will be released with the Examination Timetable.

 

In all, it looks like yet another busy Term in the Middle School, and as always, I hope that all our boys achieve the success they are busily working towards throughout this semester in the Middle School.