Middle School Report

Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians,

We congratulate our Middle School students on a successful Term 1.

We are thrilled to reflect on the great Term that we have had and also share the upcoming events and opportunities designed to engage, challenge, and inspire our students in Term Two. From academic milestones, sports competitions, engaging assemblies and guest speakers to a week in the city for Year 9 students, there’s something for everyone to look forward to.

YEAR 10 EXAMS:

Year 10 Exams will run toward the end of Term 2 for all year 10 students. English and Maths exams will run at the end of week 9 with all other exams running throughout week 10. Having experience in sitting exams before commencing VCE is vital. Not only do Year 10 exams consolidate their academic knowledge, but builds their confidence in general exam conditions, enhances motivation to study and ultimately mimics the structure of VCE, allowing students to be better prepared.

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YEAR 10 WORK EXPERIENCE

In the final week of Term 2 all year 10 students will partake in Work Experience (30th June- 4th July.) Work experience is important for students in terms of personal development and career preparation. It helps students explore career options, build a network of connections and learn about workplace etiquette, time management and practical skills. Students will be offered time in their PDL classes to work on these applications. This is a key component of the Year 10 Curriculum. It plays an important role in helping students transition from school to the workforce or further studies and hence, it is an expectation that all students will participate. 

GUEST SPEAKERS:

This term we welcomed Missy from Gamblers Australia to present a workshop to our Year 9 and 10 students. Each workshop helped students build informed attitudes to gambling by providing insights and developing awareness around key themes, such as financial literacy, media advertising and online gaming. This session explored the blurred boundary between online gaming and gambling. Students were provided with the knowledge and strategies to identify the potential risks and to make online gaming safer, allowing them to make more informed decisions.

As part of our ongoing commitment to student safety and community awareness, in early Term 2 we will welcome our Youth Resource Officer at Diamond Creek to our Year Level Assemblies to speak with our students about the importance of being safe and lawful in the community. This session will provide valuable insights for students, helping them make informed decisions and understand their role as responsible members of the community. It will be a fantastic opportunity for students to engage in meaningful discussions and ask any questions they may have.

CELEBRATION LUNCHES:

We celebrated and awarded Homegroups who had the highest attendees at our Swimming Carnival and Athletics Day by providing a hot lunch. These extra-curricular activities are not only vital to student attendance, but fosters a positive school climate and nurtures connections between students and staff. Extra-curricular activities play a vital role in shaping students beyond the classroom, providing them with opportunities to develop friendships, teamwork skills, and a strong sense of belonging. Whether it’s through sports, music, drama, debating, or community service, these activities create environments where students can connect with others, collaborate, and grow socially and emotionally.

Tara Librio

Middle Sub-School Leader

Diamond Valley College 

Year 10 SPP Excursion to AgriBio at La Trobe University 

At 8:50 in the morning, Katie rushed the Year 10 Predators and Psychopaths' class to La Trobe University’s agricultural centre, AgriBio. 

The bus was electric, and I was pumped for some science. When we arrived, we got lanyards that allowed us into the laboratory. When we were in, we were introduced to Rajah, Holly and Anna. They were going to help us with the science.

First, we extracted DNA from some wheatgerm in a glass then Rajah told us how to put cow DNA into an electric DNA sequencer with a micropipette. Afterwards, we were told it was lunch, and we walked to the La Trobe food court – the Agora. There were so many food stores. I settled for some Chinese; it was very nice. Yum! When we got back to the lab, we learnt about trees, more specify gum trees. 

Did you know that there are 935 types of gum trees? Fascinating. After wards, we thanked the helpers and headed on our merry way back to school. It was the best excursion ever.

By Mitchell Taylor