Middle School Report
Ms Michelle Collins
Westall Secondary College
From the Director of Learning
Middle School
Ms Michelle Collins
And just like that, we come to the end of another busy and rewarding year in the Middle School. We would like to take this final opportunity to celebrate everything our Middle School community has achieved in 2025.
Term 4 has flown by with students wrapping up assessments, heading off on excursions, and transitioning into 2026 classes as part of the Headstart program. These final weeks are always full of energy, reflection, and excitement for what’s ahead.
Across the year, we have seen such wonderful growth in our students’ learning, and also in their confidence, independence, resilience, and kindness. We have watched friendships strengthen, young leaders emerge, and students challenging themselves in new ways. It has been incredibly special to see how much they’ve grown from the start of the year to now.
We would like to acknowledge our 2025 Middle School Captains: Amy Tran Nguyen, Danny Nguyen, Rangga Hidayat and Kaushalya Kanaganathan. Thank you for all your hard work this year in representing the Middle School students. We will announce and welcome our 2026 Middle School Captains in our Term 1 newsletter next year.
To our students: we are so proud of everything you have achieved. To our families: thank you for your ongoing support, encouragement, and partnership.
Finally, thank you all for your support in my role as the Middle School Director of Learning for the past three years. In 2026, the Director of Learning role will be taken on by Mr. Peter Tarwala and I know he will bring great energy, care, and commitment to the role.
Wishing all our students and families a safe, happy, and well-earned holiday break. We can’t wait to see what 2026 brings!
Ms Michelle Collins
Director of Learning - Middle School
Year 10 Exams
We would like to acknowledge and congratulate the Year 10 students for the outstanding way they approached their recent exams which were the first formal exams many of them have ever sat. Their conduct, commitment, and positive mindset were a credit to them and to our school. They showed resilience, maturity, and a genuine willingness to do their best, and they should feel incredibly proud of this important milestone. We would also like to thank Mr Murray for all of his hard work in coordinating the Year 10 exam period.
Year 10 Celebration Excursion
Our Year 10 students were commended during their final week of schooling, for the mature and focused way they approached their end of year exams. The attendance across exam days was very high, and students followed all processes with respect and responsibility, contributing to a smooth and successful exam program. To celebrate their hard work, students (and staff) enjoyed a well-deserved day out at M-City and Zone Bowling, where they were able to relax, have fun, and connect with their peers. Both the exam period and the Celebration Day were great successes, and we are incredibly proud of the year 10 cohort of 2025. We wish them good luck as they enter their final years of their schooling!
Mr Murray
Year 10 Coordinator
Year 9 Celebration Day
Our year 9 students finished off their year with a fantastic day at Chesterfield Farm. We wanted to give the students an opportunity to get into nature, and experience something different. The students had the opportunity to see many different types of animals – camels, emus, kangaroos, goats, sheep – and they also had the chance to feed and pet some of the animals. The fickle Melbourne weather held up, and it truly was a beautiful day to spend outdoors.
It was a great end to the year. The year 9s will move into year 10, their final year in middle school. Enjoy the break, and get ready for a big year of learning in 2026!
Mr Peter Tarwala
Acting Director of Learning - Middle School
Year 10 EAL Excursion – Chinese Museum
On the 7th of November, Year 10 EAL classes went on an excursion to the Chinese Museum in Melbourne to explore and learn more about Chinese culture. This excursion was related to our text ‘Ties That Bind, Ties That Break’ by Lensey Namioka. The book tells the story of a young Chinese girl, Ailin, who refused to have her feet bound at that time. By visiting the museum, we were able to see real objects, traditions, and historical information that helped us understand the book more clearly.
During the excursion, we explored several exhibits that explained essential parts of Chinese history and culture. For example, at the entrance, we saw two lions and learned the difference between the male and female based on their paws. However, one of the most interesting things was about foot binding that we learned in class. According to the text, Ailin was a courageous girl who bravely refused her foot bound and her decision changed the course of her whole life. At the museum, we saw examples of tiny shoes called ‘’lotus shoes’’ and this helped us imagine how painful it must have been. It was a great day to not only learn more about Chinese culture but also to enjoy each other’s company.
By Harry Ngo
