Year 7 & 8 Sub-School News

Assistant Principal's Report

There have been many initiatives, opportunities and events taking place across the College for our Year 7 and 8 students.

All students in Years 7 and 8 have now completed the annual Attitudes to School Survey. This important survey is a valuable opportunity for students to reflect on their learning environment and school experience, and provides the College with important data to guide future planning and identify areas for improvement. Student voice plays a crucial role in shaping what we do, and we thank all students for taking the time to complete the survey thoughtfully.

Thank you to all the Year 8 families who attended our recent Learn to Row Information Evening. The turnout was incredible, both in person and online. It’s fantastic to see such a strong interest in our rowing program. Rowing at MGC is a unique opportunity for students to build teamwork, resilience and leadership, and we’re excited to welcome a new group of Year 8 students into the program.

Our passionate Environment Team has kicked off a creative new initiative to help us all do our bit for the planet. Over the next three weeks, students will take part in the Bin Awareness Challenge. This is a fun and educational competition designed to help students learn how to correctly use our different waste, recycling and compost bins. The initiative includes signage updates, bin quizzes, and a friendly house competition to see who can be the best sorters! Keep an eye out around the school for tips and tricks on how to keep our waste streams clean and green.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support of our students. We’re proud of the energy and enthusiasm they bring to every opportunity.

Rachel Robertson

Assistant Principal

Year 7

It’s been a busy and exciting few weeks for our Year 7 students, with some fantastic events showcasing their talents, teamwork, and growing confidence.

A huge congratulations to our Year 7 students who took to the stage in the recent Persuasive Public Speaking Competition. Representing their classes with pride and poise, students tackled challenging and thought-provoking topics such as “Artificial Intelligence poses a danger to humanity,” “Universal Healthcare,” and “All nuclear weapons should be destroyed to ensure safety for humanity.”

The speeches were well researched and confidently delivered. We’re proud of everyone who took part, and a big congratulations to our winners.

Well done for your powerful speeches and inspiring performances!

Last week, Year 7 students had the chance to connect with their Year 8 Junior Ambassador buddies at the much-anticipated Buddy Picnic. It was a lovely afternoon filled with conversation, laughter, and sunshine. Students enjoyed getting to know each other better, checking in, and sharing snacks in a relaxed outdoor setting, building friendships and support networks that will continue to grow throughout the year.

A big round of applause to all the Year 7 students who participated in our recent Dance Night! Your energy, creativity, and teamwork were on full display, and the performances were a joy to watch.

Katelyn Walters

Year 7 & 8 Student Engagement and Wellbeing Leader

Year 8

Term 2 has seen Year 8 students settling back into routine and engaging in a range of learning activities both in and out of the classroom. While energy levels can fluctuate during the colder months, it’s been good to see students continuing to participate and contribute to school life in a variety of ways.

This term, the Year 8 Wellbeing Program has introduced a short Careers module. The program encourages students to start thinking about their interests and strengths, and how these might connect to their Career Action Plans. It's early days, but it's a helpful step in beginning those longer-term conversations.

As part of their wellbeing work, students also completed the Resilience Project Wellbeing Survey. In response to the question “If you could magically change anything, what is one thing that you would do to support the wellbeing of young people?”, students shared some thoughtful reflections, including:

"Try to be kind to others and support one another." 

"I’d create safe, fully judgment-free spaces everywhere." 

"Treat others how you want to be treated."

These responses are a reminder that many young people are thinking deeply about how we support one another, and that they value empathy and respect in their daily interactions.

Emily Miller 

Year 8 Leader