Around the College 

Welcome to Voyage Family Evening

On Wednesday, 28 February, under a cloudless sky, set against the green backdrop of our Eastern Yard, Year 9 families gathered and connected. This special event was our second checkpoint for the Voyage, our year-long program all Year 9s undertake, the Welcome to the Voyage Family Evening.

The event set off with a briefing of the intentions and themes connected to the Voyage program, as well as the checkpoints that would assist the students in navigating the year of growth ahead. From a Mentoring Project to the Challenge Accepted Camp in Week 5 of Term 4 in the picturesque Grampians – the students could see that there was much to look forward to!

Two especially memorable moments within the Welcome to Voyage Evening were letter sharing on the lawn and the Stepping Up Pledge. In their Voyage lessons leading up to this checkpoint, students were given time to write letters expressing gratitude to their parents and their thoughts and feelings on their journey so far. Parents were able to reciprocate in the sharing by bringing childhood photos with them, providing a basis to acknowledge how far their children had already come.

Beyond the reminiscing, students were also asked to think about how they would ‘step up’ this year. The Stepping Up Pledge was scribed on Endeavour Way coloured leaves and encouraged students to identify something they intend to do or take on to take a small step towards adulthood. The students will return to these promises to themselves throughout the year.

The Welcome to the Voyage Family Evening only provided us with a glimpse of the growth we can expect from our wonderful Year 9s. 

We are looking forward to a transformative year ahead. Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s voyage teacher or myself with any questions you may have.

Laura Brenko

Year 9 Year Level Leader

Cyberpsychology:

Guest Speaker Talk

We were pleased to welcome back old scholar (Class of 2010) and ex-colleague John Oestmann recently, who presented to the Year 11 Psychology classes. 

With a background in multimedia, and currently working as a music designer for video games, John spoke about the psychology of his work, including the concept of ‘Flow’, the dangers of addiction, the use of feedback systems within video games, and the way music is used to evoke emotion. 

This perfectly complemented the current Year 11 topic of Cyberpsychology and was definitely an area of interest for our students!

Innika Ackerley

Science Learning Leader

Biology:

VR + AR Experience

The Year 12 Biology students used virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in our new Discovery Centre to explore the inside of cells. Students used the interactive stations to delve into the body and look at specific cells and their internal components, organelles. 

The augmented reality cubes allowed a 3D look at plant cells and the VR head sets gave 360 degree aspects with detailed narration.

These experiences will be on offer to the public on the upcoming Open Day. 

Come and have a play!

Lauren Gray

Biology Teacher

First Things First Coffee: 

Guest Speaker Talk

This semester, the Year 11 Business Innovation students are exploring existing businesses to understand the key elements to success as well as the many challenges entrepreneurs face. What better way to learn this, than by speaking to entrepreneurs who have walked the walk? On Thursday 22 February we invited founders of First Things First Coffee, James Carrigg and Aaron Box, to share their experiences through a Q&A session. 

They engaged brilliantly with our students, discussing a wide range of topics from finding quality suppliers and financing your startup, to managing employees and maintaining a good work-life balance. We are immensely grateful to James and Aaron for continuing to connect with our students and help give them real-world business knowledge.

Lianne Zilm

Business Innovation Teacher

Year 10 Health and Wellbeing Day 1:

First Aid and Service

On Thursday 7 March, Year 10 students were given the choice to either complete their First Aid Training or undertake an in-school Service Activity. Below details each option provided to students.

First Aid

Students started the day by discussing the importance of knowing first aid and how to respond with first aid in various situations. 

The day was a mixture of theory and practical applications, such as learning how to give CPR, using EpiPen’s and learning how to bandage fractures. 

It was an eye-opening and rewarding day for all students as they learnt that often first aid can consist of the initial support provided to someone in the middle of a medical emergency before medical professionals attend to the situation. While in other cases, first aid is the care provided to someone with a minor injury. For example, first aid is often all that’s needed to treat minor burns, cuts, and insect stings. One student said, 

‘It was a fantastic day and we learnt so much. Now we are now able to look at people’s symptoms and identify different medical emergencies like heart attacks, strokes, and many more. Along with how to identify them, we also learnt how to treat these things’.

Veronica Falero

Year 10 Year Level Leader

Service Activity

We started the day by sitting down and talking about ourselves and why we chose to partake in service. Then we had Tayla Priebbenow, Ministry Assistant, come in and run an activity with us. For the activity we were all given a set amount of gems. 

I was given one, Paula was given five, Jemma was given eight and Claudia was given two. We then had to play rock, paper, scissors and whoever lost had to give away one of their gems. 

What I learnt from this activity is that not everyone is given the same gems/advantages as others and service allows us to even out the playing field and give to people who are less fortunate. If we all started out with the same amount of gems it would have been fairer and the person who won would feel less guilty for winning as everyone is even. 

Tayla gave a presentation about the acts of service she has done in her life and the people she has helped all around the world. After that we did service for the school by cleaning up and replanting Endeavour's veggie garden with new vegetables/herbs. We helped weed the veggie patches, clean up the leaves around the area and plant new sprouts that will soon grow to be strong and healthy vegetables/herbs. 

To end the day we went to the art room to pick out some paints so that we could paint some pictures for the Ingle Farm Catholic Church. We each chose an Endeavour Way Value of Love, Hope, Courage and Forgiveness and base the painting around the value chosen. 

I decided to choose social justice (hope) and paint a picture of the world with a sunset in the background and people holding hands as a community. I really enjoyed everything that we did, and I feel thankful that I was able to help the Endeavour College community and serve. 

I would definitely recommend more people do acts of service because it doesn’t just make other people feel appreciated, but you also feel content within yourself.  

Madelyn Goss

Year 10 Student

Advertiser Calling...

Last week the Advertiser arranged a phone interview with two of our debating superstars, Samantha Perryman and Olivia Vasilev, asking them questions about their interest in debating and how they think the skills associated with public speaking can help them within their chosen pathway following secondary education. The girls were tremendous ambassadors for the College, speaking clearly and confidently about their debating experiences and how the skills learned can translate across multiple facets of life. 

The story is expected to be published in the Advertiser mid to late March.