Westall Secondary College Newsletter

Junior School Report

Ms Jessika Cichy 

Message from the

Director of Learning

Junior School

Miss Jessika Cichy

As we reach the halfway mark of Term 2, I want to acknowledge the continued efforts of our Year 7 and 8 students. It has been a busy and productive term so far, and we are proud of the positive energy, focus and maturity many of our students have shown across their classes, excursions, assessments, and school events.

Uniform Expectations – Staying Warm and Following PE Guidelines

As the weather cools down, it's important that students are both warm and in full school uniform. Students should be wearing their Westall uniform correctly each day, and this includes changing in and out of PE uniform as required.

 

Students must bring both their PE and regular uniform on days they have PE. PE uniform can only be worn all day on days when students have a physical iCreate or have interschool sport. Year 7s have this on Tuesdays, and Year 8s have this on Fridays. Outside of those sessions, students must bring their PE uniform and are expected to change back into their regular school uniform.

Furthermore, 

  • Puffer jackets, hoodies, and non-school jumpers are not part of our uniform and will be confiscated if worn at school.
  • If your child needs assistance accessing correct uniform items, including school jackets or jumpers, please get in touch—we’re here to help.

If you are unsure what day your child needs to change for PE or iCreate, please contact their Year Level Coordinator or Miss Grey. Let’s work together to keep students warm, comfortable, and in the right gear for learning.

 

The Flipside – Brainstorm Incursion for Years 7 and 8

Earlier this term, our Year 7 and 8 students took part in The Flipside, a live performance by Brainstorm Productions that explored mental health, peer pressure, bullying, and online safety. The interactive theatre piece followed the story of two students as they navigated the challenges of growing up in a digital world. The incursion encouraged students to reflect on their own choices, friendships, and emotional wellbeing. It was a powerful reminder of how important it is to think critically about the way we treat others—both in person and online—and to ask for help when we need it.

If students or families ever need support, the following services are available:

  • Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800 | kidshelpline.com.au
  • Headspace – headspace.org.au
  • Lifeline – 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au

You can also speak with our school’s Wellbeing Team at any time by through your child’s Year Level Coordinator.

Learning Progress, CATs & Setting Up for Success

As we move through Term 2, many students are now preparing for their next round of Common Assessment Tasks (CATs), which play a key role in tracking their learning progress and growth. These tasks help teachers understand how each student is going and what support or extension they may need.

 

We understand that balancing homework, assessments, and other responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming for young people. That’s why we want to work in partnership with families to support good habits and routines. Some helpful ways to support your child at home might include:

  • Setting up a quiet, distraction-free space for study
  • Helping them map out their week to plan time for homework or revision
  • Talking together about what tasks are coming up and what support they may need
  • Celebrating the effort they put in 😊

A gentle reminder that all CATs are compulsory. If a student does not submit their CAT, they will receive an Ungraded (UG) mark and be followed up by their teacher. Ongoing non-submissions may be escalated to Year Level Coordinators and students may be required to complete tasks in supervised settings.

We strongly encourage all students to check Compass regularly and recommend that families do this together where possible. If you’re ever unsure about a task or need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher or Year Level Coordinator—we’re here to help.

 

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s progress, wellbeing, or school experience, please feel free to get in touch with myself or our Junior School Team. We are always here to support. 

 

Warm regards,

Miss Jessika Cichy

Director of Learning – Junior School

Aim High Update

Through Semester 1 our Aim High program has continued to grow and strengthen with the inclusion of our Yr7 students selected to be a part of the program in 2025. Our Yr7 students were selected based on their academic testing which included their performance in Naplan this year. 

Congratulations to the following Yr7 students who are now part of the Aim High program: Zairene Fernandez (7C), Alex Le (7B), Serena Johnson (7C), Darsh Nayak (7A), Zachary Singvongsa (7C), Eliana Reddy (7B), Muhammad Al Faith (7A), Cyndie Keth (7B), Kevin Nguyen (7B) and Evan Kuy (7A).

 

Throughout Term 2 we have had some of our Aim High students being offered a place in the Victorian High Ability Program (VHAP). Once again, this program is a Department of Education program to extend students in the areas of English and Maths across the state who are tracking above standard in these subject areas. Well done to Yr 8 student Steven Le and Yr 7 students Alex Le, Evan Kuy (Yr7) and Darsh Nayak who have been engaging in these online classes since the start of term.

 

The inclusion of our Y7 students into the Aim High program, our Aim High Inquiry project was launched. At the start of term all Aim High students were invited to the Westall Hub to take part in a range of ‘getting to know you’ activities before transitioning into the work of the inquiry project. The inquiry question framing the project is looking at a ‘Victoria of the Future’ from the lens of a ‘Utopian Victoria’ or ‘Dystopian Victoria’. Groups were created and assigned, and their initial task was to look at what their Victorian would look like from perspectives.

 

More time will be dedicated throughout the year as our Aim High groups explore their inquiry project question, with the goal of showcasing their work in a presentation to the school community later in the year. The presentation presents a clear view of your speculated future for Victoria, showcase their understanding of History, Geography, Civics, English, Mathematics, and Science. ​

 

Additionally, the project will give students an opportunity to practice the skills inherent in each of these areas, such as data analysis, projection, communication, writing, discussion, research and source analysis.​

Additionally, our Aim High students took part in their first Victorian Challenge Enrichment Series (VCES) event, which took them to the state library. Her students attended a ‘Research Fundamentals’ workshop to assist them build research skills which will be needed to complete their inquiry project. A big thank you to Ms. Annie Papagiannopoulos, Mr. Hieu Minh Tran and Ms. Smrithi Buyya for their work and leadership within our Aim High program to date.

 

 

Mr Jason Tickner

Assistant Principal