Secondary School News

As we step into 2025, I find myself reflecting on the joy that teaching and learning brings to the Collingwood College community. Each new year offers a fresh canvas filled with opportunities for growth, exploration, and connection. The classroom becomes a vibrant space where curiosity thrives, and every question asked opens doors to new understanding.

Witnessing those "aha" moments when students grasp concepts or discover their passion fills me with an incredible sense of purpose. The laughter and excitement during group activities remind me that learning is not just about absorbing information but building relationships, fostering creativity, and encouraging collaboration & innovation. It has been a privilege to be a part of this vibrant and diverse community for another year, and I look forward to seeing what our students achieve next year. Before we leave for a restful summer break, here are a few things that students immersed themselves in this term.

Athletics Day

We are thrilled to share that the Athletics Day was a resounding success for our students in Years 5 to 9! The day was filled with spirited competition and camaraderie as participants engaged in various athletic events and fun novelty activities. A special thank you to Aaron Jobe for organizing this fantastic event. It was heartwarming to see students cheering each other on, celebrating achievements, and strengthening their connections with peers and staff. This event highlighted their athletic talents and fostered a sense of community and teamwork.

We look forward to more memorable experiences in the future!

School Production - Wizard of OZ

Reflecting on our recent school production of The Wizard of Oz, I am filled with a sense of pride and joy. The talent and dedication displayed by our students and staff were truly remarkable. From the vibrant costumes to the carefully crafted set, every detail contributed to a captivating performance that showcased their hard work and creativity. I would like to thank all parents who contributed to developing the set, creating costumes and supporting rehearsals with pick-up and drop-offs to make this incredible production happen.

It was heartwarming to witness students supporting one another on stage and behind the scenes, creating a genuine sense of camaraderie. The energy in the audience was palpable, with cheers and applause echoing throughout the performance. This production not only highlighted our students' artistic abilities but also reinforced the importance of teamwork and perseverance. I would like to thank and acknowledge the amount of work that Sarah Adams has devoted to the students to support the production throughout 2024, as well as key staff such as Emily Wearne and Helga Hornung who supported with rehearsals, music and backstage management to ensure this could happen.

Congratulations to everyone involved for making it such a memorable event!

Lastly, I would like to acknowledge all of the work that staff, families and students do to support the teaching and learning experiences of our community. I am looking forward to another successful year here at Collingwood College and I will enjoy sharing the future endeavours and successes of our wonderful students with the whole College community.

Rachel Wood

Acting Assistant Principal Secondary

Year 7 Camp

By Sarah Powers, Year 7 Coordinator

I watched as the students waited in the locker area on the morning of our camp to Forest Edge. They huddled with their pillows and luggage, ready to take the multi-hour trip into the city, onto the V-Line train, then on a coach into the rolling hills of the LaTrobe River Valley of Gippsland. Some were excited, some were nervous, some likely felt indifferent to it all. There is always an array of emotions felt by a Year 7 child.

We made it to the Forest Edge teambuilding camp and the students, once tightly packed on the train and the coach, now tumbled out amongst the grass and trees. The bright sun made everything look technicolour and the teachers commented on the beauty of the surroundings, while the students simply wanted to get into their cabins. Before anyone was able to unpack, groups had to participate in their first team challenge. There were a variety of challenges over the course of our three day camp: low ropes, high ropes, raft building, initiative and team games, flying fox, bushwalk. The difficulty varied based on the individual’s personal strengths. However, the activity leaders and Collingwood staff on camp made it a safe environment for the children to push their boundaries and overcome fears.

My personal favourite to supervise (and a general favourite of the campers) was the flying fox. It offered everyone a chance to support each other – getting into a harness is no easy feat! Then there was the 250m walk in blaring sunlight, where you had the chance to chat with whomever you’d share the fox with. A boy in year 7 took my invitation and went with me, and we spoke about his interest in photography on the climb to our starting position. The ride itself lasted under a minute but it allowed everyone to see the beauty of the surrounding area and have some free air conditioning: wind in the face!

That evening we trekked up a steep grassy knoll to enjoy the golden hour together. Despite initial complaints about an evening walk, everyone seemed to enjoy the view from the top. Nothing good can be enjoyed without some hard work, eh? All in all, there is nothing more fulfilling than watching a group of kids be kids in the bush. They ran around, smiling. Some of them even rolled down the slope on the way back to the bottom. I know these moments of childhood are fleeting; for some, they’ve already entered into their teenage era. But I’m glad that on Year 7 Camp they could be children for just a bit longer.

I’d like to give a huge thanks to Lori, Cameron, Oli and Rebecca for attending camp with me and making it a special experience for our students. I’d also like to wish all Year 7 students and families a happy, restful holiday season.

Languages Department News

Chinese Tea Ceremony Year 8 - 9

We are excited to share that the Languages Department recently organised a Tea Tasting and Tea Ceremony Workshop for our Year 8 and 9 students. During this engaging session, students explored the rich history and intricate craftsmanship behind Chinese tea. They participated in a fun and educational Chinese tea culture quiz and enjoyed an informative presentation by Dani, who shared fascinating insights about various types of tea. The highlight of the event was tasting four distinct teas: Pure Gold Dianhong Black Tea, Wild Black Tea, Yunnan White Peony White Tea, and Tongcheng Flowers Green Tea. At the end of the session, students voted for their favourite tea, and everyone had a wonderful time immersing themselves in this unique cultural experience.

Chinese Shanghai Street Restaurant Excursion – Younghee’s class

This term, students in Younghee’s class have shown remarkable dedication to their Chinese studies. Their hard work has paid off, not only in expanding their vocabulary and mastering new sentence structures but also in improving their behaviour, respect for others, and commitment to their own learning. To celebrate their achievements, the class visited a local Chinese restaurant, where they practiced speaking Chinese while enjoying a delicious variety of traditional dishes. The excursion was a joyful and enriching experience for everyone involved. A heartfelt thank you to Younghee for her tireless efforts in guiding and inspiring her students this term! 🎉🥢🍜

Xiaoming Li

Languages & High Abilities 7-10 Learning Area Leader

Yr7-12 Chinese Language Teacher

Middle Years Programme

It has been an amazing year at our college with implementing the Middle Years Programme (MYP) at Year 7. As both MYP Coordinator and a subject teacher, I genuinely believe that teaching and learning has opened up and provided opportunities for students to undertake inquiry with critical and creative approaches, learn by doing and experiencing through taking action, and meaningfully reflect on achievement. Students are now familiar with The Learner Profile attributes and Approaches to Learning, and are starting to develop skills in taking responsibility for their own development through considering strengths and opportunities for improvement. I would like to thank all families for their support and encouragement with the MYP this year.

MYP Showcase and Celebration

The MYP Showcase was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate learning and student achievement. Families were invited to undertake a Gallery Walk through the Year 7 Learning Centre and view a range of completed learning tasks for each subject with the opportunity to converse with teachers. Presentations started with an Acknowledgement to Country by Lj Rangiwahia, followed by Clemenine Duff and Audrey Roberts sharing their understanding of the MYP and individual learning experiences. All three students did a remarkable job, and certainly embodied the attributes of being reflective and knowledgeable communicators.

Orientation Day

It was lovely to meet our new (2025) Year 7 students at Orientation Day. These students engaged in a number of getting to know you and learning activities throughout the day. They were supported by our current Year 7 Student Ambassadors who led many of the activities including school tours and the popular Scavenger Hunt! Orientation Day is a very important day for incoming Year 7 students to meet new peers, become familiar with the secondary school learning environment and positively start the transition process. Well done to all students involved!

All the best for a wonderful break 🙂

Lori Michael

Leading Teacher - Teaching and Learning & MYP Coordinator

The Learner Profile

At Year 7 this year, students have been developing the Learner Profile attributes through classroom learning, but these also apply to all aspects of our lives and are central to life-long learning and being responsible members of local, national and global communities. Below are a range of ways that you can promote these attributes at home within the family. A simple approach is to model and recognise. Enjoy 🙂

The Learner Profile

Inquirers	We nurture our curiosity. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and value a love of life-long learning.	Encourage your child’s interests by visiting places such as the Local/State Library, Museum, NGV… Model being an inquirer: admit when you don’t know the answers to a problem or a question and seek out answers with your child Use the internet as a tool for inquiry and have conversations around reputable sites Discuss the role of inquiry in your personal and professional life
Open-Minded	We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, and those of other people. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.	Encourage your child to try new things - food, games, places, activities… Expose your child to different festivals, celebrations and traditions Encourage your child to listen for understanding Discuss issues and consider opposing points of view and reasons
Thinkers	We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.	Encourage your child to independently think of different solutions to problems Pose different real-life problems/questions to your child Ask your child questions when they are working on a problem: Do you have any ideas about how you will begin? Tell me about your thinking How could you do it differently? What do you notice and wonder?
Caring	We show empathy, compassion and respect. We act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.	Role-model the kind of behaviour you want to see in your child: helping others without being asked, being an active listener, acting in ways to show that you care… Reflect on the actions of characters in texts (prin/audio/film) Were they kind or caring? Recognise this quality in people’s actions
Knowledgeable	We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global decisions.	Encourage your child to make self/text/world connections with what they read/view. Include first language books/films. Ask your child what they are learning at school and engage in conversations about it: Why do you think that is an important thing to know about? Encourage your child to become familiar with current local/national/global events and issues
Principled	We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.	Discuss the importance of honesty/truth Talk about global issues and fairness/social justice Encourage your child to engage in team and independent sports/games Talk about the importance of effort over winning and being a gracious loser
Balanced	We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives - intellectual, physical and emotional - to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognise our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.	Encourage your child to participate in a wide variety of structured activities as a balance between school and leisure Discuss what you are eating with your child - is it a balanced diet? Emphasise that boredom is okay too - good for us! Put devices away Encourage your child to take timeout and go for a walk, engage with nature or read a book (Brain Breaks)
Communicators	We express ourselves confidently and creatively in different languages. We collaborate effectively, actively listening to the perspectives of other individuals or groups.	Encourage your child to stay in contact with relatives in other parts of Australia or different countries Encourage your child to explain their thinking orally or by drawing a picture Talk about what effective communication can look/sound/feel like Have family dinner-table conversations Play a game that requires a specific communication skill. e.g. Charades
Reflective	We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experiences. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.	Review your child’s report with them; talk about successes and opportunities for improvement Reflect on sport outcomes Talk about recent events/actions and what you have learned, or adjustments you would make Set goals with your child Talk about a growth mindset
Risk-takers	We approach uncertaining with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change. We see making mistakes as a natural part of the learning process.	Encourage your child to attempt new things and then reflect on it - whether they liked it and how it made them feel Discuss the difference between being a risk-taker and dangerous behaviour Recognise the learning gains that result from risk-taking and making mistakes Talk about comfort zones and the benefits of goal-setting Share your own growth stories from taking risks

Lori Michael - MYP Coordinator

INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE (updated 27 October) - Contact Person - Steve Wu

Please click on the attachment below to see a list of Stringed instruments for sale. If you

have an instrument for sale please email Steve at: fengchih.09@gmail.com

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