Year 12 VCE VM Numeracy Excursion – Dingley Village Adventure Mini Golf

Last Monday (24th Feb 2025), Loes Parma, Esther Sze, Vivek Thilkan and I brought 79 Year 12 VCE VM Numeracy students to Mini Golf – a day which provided an exciting and engaging opportunity to apply numeracy skills in a fun, real-life context.

As the students navigated the course, they encountered numerous opportunities to practice measurement, counting, and basic arithmetic. For instance, students had to keep track of the number of strokes it took them to complete each hole, which involved counting and adding up their scores. Additionally, some students used estimation skills to predict how many shots they would need to make before getting the ball in the hole, engaging their understanding of distance and spatial reasoning.

One part of the assessment involved measuring Hole 16, which required students to use measuring tapes to determine the exact length of the hole and the distance between obstacles. They then needed to sketch it on a piece of paper to use for their assessment later. This gave them a hands-on way to apply measurement techniques, directly linking the activity to the numeracy concepts they were learning. Given that the students are very sporty and always eager to take on new challenges, they approached the task with enthusiasm.

Moreover, the social aspect of Mini Golf encouraged teamwork, as students worked together to count and compare their scores. This experience not only reinforced their understanding of numeracy but also helped them develop essential life skills like communication and collaboration. Overall, the combination of a fun, hands-on activity with real-world numeracy applications provided the students with a memorable learning experience that blended enjoyment with valuable academic skills.

Ms Grace Wong

Head of Mathematics & Numeracy – Senior School

This week, the Year 12 VCE-VM Numeracy cohort visited the Dingley Village Adventure Mini Golf Course, where they participated in Mini Golf challenges, while using the skills learned in Numeracy to calculate measurements of certain holes. The visit was an opportunity to apply the mathematical skills we have been learning in class. The cohort primarily focused on calculating the measurements of Hole 16, which proved to be a fun and engaging activity, which tested us on our knowledge of measurement, and provided us with the ability to collaborate with each other. Within this task, we had to measure the length of certain sides in the green, using a measuring tape, which opened the cohorts’ eyes into understanding that learning these practical skills can benefit us and can in fact help us in real world scenarios.

Sam Hargreaves 12J

Year 12 Lord Somers Camp

Our year 12 students had the opportunity to attend Lord Somers camp from Wednesday 12th – Friday 14th February. This is always a highlight of students’ final year of school as can be seen by some of the accounts below. All students showed great comradery, participating in scheduled activities as well as creating their own opportunities for fun with cricket, volleyball and cohort hide-and-seek being popular pastimes. Students showed respect by listening attentively to guest speakers and past students to gain strategies about how to make the most of their year 12 experience.

Year 12 camp was truly an incredible and unforgettable experience filled with memories, from the fun game night, being able to win the plank challenge, and watching BRICKS movie trailers, really feeling like Ghostface is coming for you. To morning runs along the beach with the horses and beautiful horizon filled with hues of orange and pink.

Also amazing races where I got to be buried alive in sand and recreate old funny family photos. Ending with a Trivia Night where each team got to showcase their knowledge in various categories and a talent show with lots of amazing (and interesting) singing, to great dances and the occasional skipping rope using arms. Heading back to the school year with lots of joy and excitement from this phenomenal camp wishing I could experience it all once again.

Thanks Kambrya, especially Mr Sarkissian, Ms Parma, Ms O'Shaughnessy and all the teachers involved in making this truly a fun and remarkable adventure.

Coen Ferreira

Camp was a wonderful experience which I really enjoyed with all of my friends. Personally, my favourite part was the morning beach walks, with the picturesque sunrises being a wonderful thing to watch in the early morning. Another major highlight were the beach days where we got to have fun and relax on the beach. One thing we got out of camp was some great life advice from the various guest speakers, especially about life after school and university.

Rijul Taneji

Year 12 camp was an unforgettable experience for all, especially since it was our first as a cohort after missing out on multiple camps due to COVID. One of the highlights was the Amazing Race, where we worked in teams to complete fun challenges, from eating odd foods to burying each other in the sand. Games Night was another favourite, filled with laughter and friendly competition. Sonya, the guest speaker, left a lasting impact, reminding us to be more responsible and cautious in the nightlife scene. The heartfelt letters from our teachers and the time spent together made it a meaningful and memorable trip before our final year.

Bella Couper

My favourite part of year 12 camp has to have been the game night on the first night, as it really helped everyone get into the competitive spirit for the rest of the camp. One thing I learnt while at camp is that spending time with your peers outside of school shows you a side of them you wouldn't have seen without camp, which helps you bond in ways you wouldn't expect.

Vafa Shoghi

Darrabi Program

This term, the Darrabi students have been engaging in practical learning experiences, including setting up tents, as part of their preparation for the Wilsons Prom hike. This activity helped them build essential outdoor skills, such as using trangia stoves and managing their hiking gear effectively. These hands-on experiences are fostering their resilience, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities, all of which are crucial for their upcoming adventure.

The Darrabi students have enjoyed interacting with experienced staff, including Mr McDonald who spent a few periods teaching and guiding the students on how to put up and pack up tents. These students have been wearing their hiking boots in and hiking around Grants Picnic Grounds, Mt Cannibal and the 1001 steps.

In addition, the students were involved in Athletics Day, where they took on the responsibility of working the BBQ. This allowed them to work collaboratively with staff and improve their communication and teamwork skills as they took orders, dealt with change and developed a ticketing system to help them work effectively. It was a great chance for them to learn how to interact with both students and teachers in a dynamic, event-driven environment.

This year, we have introduced ‘talk time’. This encourages students to invite staff within Kambrya, where they can connect with and get to know other staff members over hot chocolate or cordial. This initiative aims to help build relationships as they prepare for the transition into senior school and any future interactions they may have with other staff. The opportunity to interact with different teachers and peers will play an important role in developing the interpersonal skills required for success in the senior years.

The 360 Casey bus recently paid a visit to Kambrya, where the Darrabi students interacted with Rory and Chanel, who led an informed discussion on mental health support services. They highlighted various engagement strategies for working with young people and exploring available tools, facilities, and associated programs. The students actively participated in the conversation. They also gained insights into how they could access and benefit from this valuable, free service. The students had a fantastic time.

Olanda Mossad

Darrabi Program Coordinator

GIRLs Program

Last week our GIRLs program students collaborated with the Darrabi students to run the BBQ at Athletics Day. Below are some accounts from students in the program and some photos.

As a part of the GIRLs program each year we participate in an Athletics Day stall. There were lots of things to prepare for this such as working out what we wanted to sell, getting everything organized, setting up and working together. This was the first year we have collaborated with the Darrabi program to work out what we were selling and the prices. During the preparation we had to think about what we were going to sell, the prices, what deals and what to do if things didn't arrive in time for Aths Day. We all worked together to make our Aths Day stall happen and were very proud of our efforts.

Kasey Burke

On 25th February the girls hosted Athletics Day stalls. We sold drinks, bubbles and lolly bags. Whilst we were running the stall we felt the stress because we ran into a problem that we didn’t have any 50c or $1 coins and we lost some sales due to this. On a good note, we sold out of all our lolly bags and bubble wands, so we felt accomplished because this was our first fundraising event as a group. I would like to thank Rashni, Darcy and the Darrabi team for all their support throughout the day.

Sienna Islamovski

Senior Girls' Volleyball

On Tuesday, February 18th, the senior girls' volleyball team travelled to Casey Stadium to compete in the Cardinia Division competition. Despite some scheduling changes that altered the initial draw, the team demonstrated exceptional adaptability and preparation. Their consistent training, which began in late 2024, had fostered a strong sense of camaraderie and a particular focus on improving their serving skills.

The team's first match was against Koo Wee Rup's A side, where Kambrya secured a convincing victory in straight sets, 15-7, 15-3. In their second match, Kambrya faced Minaret and again emerged victorious in straight sets, 15-4, 15-5. With these two wins, Kambrya finished on top of Pool A, which also included Pakenham and Edenbrook.

In the final, Kambrya played against Lakeside, the winners of Pool B. The first set was more competitive than the earlier rounds, with Kambrya edging out a 15-10 win. The second set saw a challenging start for Kambrya, who found themselves trailing 0-5 due to unforced errors. However, the team's unity and mutual support were evident as they rallied to secure a 15-11 win in the second set, crowning them as the new Cardinia division senior girl’s champions!

Throughout the tournament, Kambrya remained undefeated, not dropping a single set, and earned a well-deserved spot in the regional competition, scheduled for Term 2 Week 1 on Thursday, April 24th.

Congratulations to the team on an outstanding performance, and best of luck in the upcoming regionals.

VPC Students Excursion to Coles

On Thursday the 13th of March, eight of the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) students went on a Mini Excursion to Coles in Eden Rise as part of their Financial Numeracy Budgeting SAC.

The students were given the task of creating their weekly meal plan and a shopping list prior to our visit. When, they arrived at Coles they had to locate the items on their list and compare prices of different brands to work out which option was a better buy. This involved them analysing the unit price and then choosing items accordingly.

Since this is a task that students will use later in life, they enjoyed completing it.

Karthika Subramanian

VPC Numeracy Teacher

I enjoyed the excursion to Coles because I learned how to budget and save money on groceries

Curtis Benza

Year 11M

The 2025 Media top design excursion

On Wednesday 2nd April the year 12 media classes headed to the city on the train to see the 2025 Top Design exhibition, at the museum.

Upon arriving at the museum, everyone had the freedom to explore and observe the top designs from previous Year 12 students. It was both fascinating and inspiring to see the creativity on display.

There was a section showcasing films from last year, which not only highlighted the talent and dedication of past students but also deeply encouraged us to put in our best effort and strive for excellence in our own work.

When our session was over, we left the museum and headed to Melbourne Central, where we spent the rest of the excursion enjoying lunch in the food court.

Important Dates

To be read in conjunction with the Compass calendar