Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians,

As we reach the end of the school year, it’s time to celebrate the achievements, growth, and memorable moments that have made this term in the Junior School truly special. Thank you to our Year 7 and 8 students for their hard work and to our parents and guardians for your ongoing support.

This term, students have made great strides in developing essential work habits, including organisation, attendance, and responding to feedback. By meeting deadlines, preparing effectively for assessments, and prioritising regular attendance, students have built skills that are vital to their ongoing academic success and personal growth. These habits form the foundation for resilience and responsibility, setting students up for success in their future learning.

PAT (Progressive Achievement Tests)

Year 7 and 8 students participated in PAT (Progressive Achievement Tests) in reading and Mathematics, providing valuable insights into each student’s learning journey. These assessments allow us to tailor support to meet individual needs. Congratulations to all students for their hard work!

Celebrating School Spirit: BBQ and Uniform Recognition

To recognise students who consistently wore the correct uniform, we held a BBQ event as a fun way to celebrate their demonstration of school pride and positive representation of our values. It was a great afternoon of community spirit, food, and recognition of our students’ dedication!

Head Start: Preparing for 2025

To support a smooth transition into next year, our students experience the Head Start program—two weeks dedicated to next year’s curriculum. Head Start allows students to get a feel for new subjects, routines, and expectations, and build new and positive relationships with peers and staff, helping them start 2025 with confidence.

Upcoming Vertical Learning Journeys

Our Vertical Learning Journeys are just around the corner! These end-of-year activities give students the chance to opt into a range of engaging, interest-based activities, allowing them to explore new topics, learn from each other, and connect with peers across year levels. We’re excited to see what each student chooses to explore! Events will be up on Compass for students to opt-in.

Well done to all Year 7 and 8 students for showing incredible resilience, perseverance, and commitment throughout the term. You’ve embraced challenges, given your best effort, and continually strived to improve. Your hard work and determination have been inspiring, and we are proud of all you’ve achieved. We look forward to seeing you continue to grow and take on new opportunities in the year ahead!

Warm regards,

Junior School Team

Highlights from the term

Year 7 Taiko Drumming Incursion

On 15th October, Year 7 students had their drumming incursion at Sunbury College. This event was held to teach students about the Japanese Taiko drum. The Taiko drum is made out of cow skin because it is strong and thick. The base of the Taiko is wooden.

The history of the drum firstly originated in Korea, China, and possibly even India. Many years ago, only men were allowed to play the drums. These were played for many reasons, including to communicate, and for religious activities.

Students were split into groups; each group was able to experience the amazing beating of the drums. Ayako Sensei is well known for her talent for playing the Taiko. She has travelled around Melbourne and given many performances.

We were able to create amazing patterns in the music. It included counting to 10 in Japanese. It was a very fun and intriguing experience. Overall, this was a once in lifetime experience.

Pranitha & Emily Year 7 students.

Year 7 STEM Enhancement

As part of the STEM Enhancement Program at Sunbury College, our Year 7 students embarked on an excursion to the Royal Botanic Gardens where they explored the fascinating world of biomimicry – the practice of learning from and imitating nature’s designs to inspire new technologies and solutions. This hands-on experience was a fantastic opportunity for students to engage with the natural environment and observe how plants and animals have evolved to solve complex challenges in their ecosystems.

Through this exploration, students deepened their understanding of key STEM concepts, such as patterns in nature, adaptation, and sustainability, while developing critical problem-solving and creative thinking skills. By studying the efficiency of natural structures like leaf patterns and plant root systems, they were able to see firsthand how these designs can be applied to real-world problems in engineering, architecture, and technology.

This excursion not only supported students’ scientific learning but also reinforced important STEM skills such as observation, analysis, and innovation. It was a truly enriching experience that highlighted the connection between classroom theory and real-world applications, giving students the chance to see how STEM subjects are integral to understanding and improving the world around us.

Hazija Besic, Science Teacher

Market Day

On Market Day, Year 7 students set up stalls to raise money for a charity called CareWorks. Students were able to raise over $800.

We do this because it helps us understand the importance of diversity and inclusion. Another reason was to help us learn responsibility as that is one of our values at Sunbury College.

It was very welcoming as there were so many options to choose from such as brownies, cupcakes, pastries & many more delicious treats. Along with games such as water ballons and many more fun and creative stalls.

Students were able to feel positive about their stalls with the help of other students and teachers. The Market Day was a very respectful and organised environment, which made people feel safe at the College.

Market Day was connected to our Year 7 learning because we are learning about economics, a life skill that everyone needs to know. This can help us be more responsible and learn how to think advanced in business.

Overall, Market Day was a very interesting day full of positivity and respect towards others. We all had a very fun day and we hope that Market Day continues in the future.

Pranitha Ravishankar and Emily Greenaway of 7A

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