Middle Years

2026 Orientation Day and Building Positive Relationships

Last week the 2026 Year 7s attended their Orientation Day here at the Senior Campus. It was a great time for us to get to know them as a cohort and for them to begin to develop a positive relationship with each other, the school, their teachers and the Middle Years Centre in general.   

Research shows that positive relationships in schools are crucial for student success, leading to better academic outcomes, higher motivation, and improved behaviour.

Relationships are not just between students, but also with their teachers, their subjects, their co-curricular activities and the school in general, which all foster a sense of belonging, making students feel more engaged, secure, and motivated to attend school.

This first Orientation Day for the 2026 Year 7s is an important part of their journey in building these positive relationships. I had the opportunity to read a number of the Year 6 reflections from the day and a key theme that emerged was how much they enjoyed making new friends and getting to know the Senior Campus. 

The programs for our Middle Years students give them the opportunity to take the time to build and maintain healthy relationships with each other. This is an enriching experience for their life, both now and into their future. I’m looking forward to the new Year 7s embracing new relationships and I hope the current Year 7 and 8 students can see the positive difference these relationships make when they begin their step-up program and the 2026 school year. 

Dr Ben Hawthorne 

Head of Middle Years