Year 7-9 - Coaching Parade Campus

Year Seven-Nine Updates

It’s been a busy and productive period in the secondary school, with a range of activities, excursions and camps taking place across year levels. Over the past fortnight, students have taken part in Year Seven soccer, Year Seven-Nine netball, Year Eight Interschool Sports, the Saltwater Café excursion, and the Year Nine Visual Communication excursion. A major highlight has also been the Year Nine City Camp, where students engaged in a range of meaningful and memorable experiences.

Year Nine City Experience Camp

Our Year Nine students recently returned from an exciting three-day City Experience Camp, and what an adventure it was! From first-time tram rides to iconic Melbourne landmarks, students embraced the experience with curiosity, confidence, and a whole lot of enthusiasm.

Day One

The camp kicked off with an exciting start at Melbourne Central, where students enjoyed arcade games and bowling, a definite crowd favourite! For many, the journey continued with their very first tram ride, taking them to a private screening of Lilo & Stitch at Crown Cinemas. The day wrapped up with the dazzling flames display at Southbank, creating a magical end to a fantastic first day.

Day Two

After a hearty breakfast, students braved the cold weather for a guided tour of the MCG and Sports Museum along with presentations from Olympians Rhydian Cowley and Reba Stewart. Next stop: Queen Victoria Market, where students explored historic stalls and picked up some fun souvenirs. The day ended on a high with ice skating at Docklands, where students supported one another and shared many laughs on the rink. 

Day Three

The final day of camp was just as memorable, with breathtaking views from the Eureka Skydeck followed by a relaxing lunch along the Yarra at Southbank. It was a fitting end to a camp filled with learning, connection and fun.

We are incredibly proud of how our students represented themselves and our school. Their behaviour, maturity, and positive spirit made this camp a resounding success.

We hope our students enjoy sharing their many memories with their families, and get some well-earned rest!

Exciting Three Days for Students Who Stayed Behind

While many students were away at camp, those who remained at school enjoyed an action-packed and engaging three-day program. The week was designed as a friendly competition, with students divided into teams to participate in a variety of fun and challenging activities.

Each team kicked off the week by designing their own unique team flag, setting the stage for a series of competitions. Students took part in board games, STEM challenges, art contests, and physical activities each offering opportunities to collaborate, problem-solve and have fun.

The program culminated in a special celebration, where the top three teams were recognised for their efforts. In addition, individual students were acknowledged for demonstrating outstanding personal attributes such as leadership, creativity, caring and a positive attitude.

It was a memorable week full of laughter, teamwork, and school spirit a great experience for all involved.

Year Nine Humanities 

Over the past few weeks, our Year Nine Humanities students have explored the Geographies of Interconnection — how people, goods, and ideas move globally. Starting with the Silk Road, we traced early trade routes before examining how modern transport and communication systems connect the world today.

Students investigated fast fashion, sweatshops in Bangladesh and the role of multinational corporations, using maps to locate Export Processing Zones and track the journey of a smartphone. They also explored submarine internet cables and compared the Eurotunnel and Gaza tunnel to understand how infrastructure can either connect or divide communities.

Next, students will explore how production, consumption and tourism affect people and places, considering the cultural and environmental impacts. This unit encourages the students to think critically as global citizens and reflect on how their choices influence the world around them.

Year Eight Humanities 

This term in Humanities, our Year Eight students have explored some of the world’s most fascinating landscapes as part of their Geography unit. From the towering layers of Rainforests, the formation of Mountains, and the sweeping stretches of Deserts, to the mysterious world of underground landscapes, students have developed a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them.

A key focus has been understanding how water shapes and transforms landscapes, carving valleys, forming caves, and continuously changing the Earth’s surface. Students also investigated how societies work to protect these environments, with a spotlight on UNESCO World Heritage Sites and their role in preserving significant natural and cultural landmarks.

To make learning engaging and memorable, students took part in a range of creative and interactive activities. They designed informative presentations using Canva, created and competed in quizzes on Blooket and Kahoot and worked together on visual and digital projects to reinforce key concepts.

As we approach the end of the term, students are preparing for a written assessment that will cover the knowledge and skills they've developed throughout the unit. 

We are incredibly proud of their enthusiasm and hard work, and we look forward to seeing them demonstrate their learning.

Year Seven Humanities

This term, Year Seven Humanities have focused on two units: History and Geography. Some classes have been exploring ancient cultures, with a focus on Ancient Australia, while others have been studying how resources, like water, are used and interconnected in Geography. Next, the groups will switch, ensuring all students cover both areas.

In History, students have developed their understanding of ancient societies and will now apply this knowledge in a project-based assessment. They will work in groups to design a board game based on a chosen ancient culture. Meanwhile, in Geography, students have focused on the use and management of natural resources, laying the foundation for deeper exploration in the coming term.

Year Nine Leaders Debate at Parliament House

Our Year Nine Student Leadership Group recently had the exciting opportunity to spend a day at Parliament House, participating in the Victorian Schools Parliament Program (VSPP) alongside students from across Melbourne.

In the lead-up to the event, our students dedicated several weeks preparing for a thought-provoking debate on the topic: "Should the Government ban businesses from becoming cashless?"

On the day, the students confidently presented their arguments in the House of Representatives. They then had the chance to hear from two expert guest lecturers from RMIT and the University of Melbourne, who shared valuable insights on the pros and cons of a cashless society.

The day also included engaging round-table discussions, where our students collaborated and exchanged ideas with peers from other schools. To conclude the experience, they returned to the House of Representatives to present their final position, advocating that businesses should be free to choose whether to operate as cashless and formally requested the Speaker to accept their bill.

It was a fantastic learning experience for our student leaders, who gained valuable skills in public speaking, critical thinking, and civic engagement.

Drama (Years Seven to Nine)

This term in Drama, students across Years Seven, Eight and Nine have been developing their confidence on stage while working collaboratively to express their ideas in performances that reflect their humour, creativity, and individuality. 

Our Year Seven students have been learning the foundational skills of theatre, focusing on gesture, voice, and key performance elements through a series of 'Performance Challenges'. In Year Eight, students have expanded on these basics by diving into the world of Commedia dell’Arte, exploring both the history and humour of this theatrical tradition through theory and performance. Meanwhile, Year Nine students have been taking ownership of their learning through a 'choose your own adventure' approach: Applying improvisation skills and theatrical conventions to explore performance styles that align with their interests and talents. It’s been a fantastic term of expression, risk-taking, and growth!