Secondary News
Colour Run
We ended last week with our Colour Run, where the whole school participated in a fun, wet, and colourful event to celebrate the great fundraising efforts of students in support of Compassion Australia. Thank you to the many hands to helped make this event a great success, and to the many teachers who volunteered to get slimed!
A reminder that fundraising is best done using the College link and only through approved methods (link, QR code, or cash). Thank you to the students who are representing our College so well.
Digital Responsibility
Students in Year 8, 9 and 11 spent time recently in sessions provided by the Digital Thumbprint team. The sessions highlighted how to responsibly navigate different areas of our digital existence including digital identity, protecting personal information and being discerning about how we use digital tools.
The Digital Thumbprint team have many helpful parent/family resources here: Resources – Families – Digital Thumbprint. Our young people need your help to be prepared for, supported and thrive in the digital world. They don’t always know what is safe or appropriate, and they need help to be accountable and wise in their digital responsibilities.
The eSafety Commissioner website also has helpful resources for parents and families: Online safety | eSafety Commissioner
Social Media Changes
Recognising and acting on the increasing body of research about the negative impact of social media on young people, the government has introduced an age restriction to using a large number of social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube. This ‘delay’ to having accounts is designed to allow students to develop maturity in digital literacy, critical reasoning, impulse control and resilience before they are exposed to content that can be harmful, impact addictions and sleep, and affect long-term health and wellbeing.
The restrictions take effect on 10 December 2025. A useful website with information about the changes is Social media 'ban' or delay FAQ | eSafety Commissioner. There are also some suggestions about how you can support your children with the changes: Social media 'ban' or delay FAQ | eSafety Commissioner.
Year 7-10 Examinations
Year 7–10 students will begin a series of tests and examinations this Thursday.
Throughout the year, students are assessed using a variety of tools that allow them to demonstrate their learning in different ways. Exams play a key role in this process by helping to identify areas where students are excelling or may need additional support. They also provide insight into how well students are meeting curriculum standards under focused, time-bound conditions.
To support their performance, please encourage students to:
Review their material regularly.
Establish consistent study routines.
Get plenty of sleep.
Eat nutritious meals to boost memory and concentration.
Year 8-10 Elective Line
The College is planning to include Year 8 students in the College-based elective line introduced this year to Year 9 and 10 students. This elective line will replace the IXL class for Year 8 and give them the opportunity to develop skills and interests in more project-based classes. Year 8-10 students are being surveyed this week to gauge interest in potential options before we make final decisions on the elective list for 2026. We look forward to sharing some other plans for 2026 in the coming weeks.
Formal Detentions
Formal detentions are a structured response to significant breaches of College expectations. They are issued when a student’s behaviour – such as repeated disruption, refusal to follow instructions, or failure to complete required work,warrants a clear and consistent consequence. Formal detentions serve both as a deterrent and an opportunity for students to reflect on their choices and reset their approach to learning. As part of our commitment to transparency and partnership with families, we are working towards implementing a system that will notify parents through Compass when their child has been placed on a formal detention.
Excursions and Permissions
Please note that all offsite excursions require explicit parent permission. This must be given by the due date. All excursions with ‘no cost’ need permission to be provided through the Compass link provided.
Upcoming Events
Please keep checking the College calendar on Compass for upcoming excursions and events.
Have a great week!
Geoffrey Xeros