Secondary Years

As I reflect on my first few months as Head of Secondary Years at GNLC, I’m reminded of the many colours that make up our community. From the teal blue of our uniform, to the vibrant cultural clothing showcased during our Harmony Day celebrations, these moments reflect the diversity and spirit of our College. I’ve also enjoyed experiencing my first Athletics and Swimming Carnivals, where teamwork and House spirit brought students together in pursuit of shared goals. 

Even the changing autumn leaves around the Tarneit Campus have added to the sense of growth and change this term. While much changes throughout the year, many things at GNLC remain constant. The steady rhythm of the school day, the positive atmosphere in classrooms, the respect shown by students, and the dedication of our staff all contribute to the strong sense of community across the College.

With Year 7 and Year 8 Camps now complete, we look ahead to future planning, particularly for our Year 9–12 students as they begin exploring subject selections and pathways beyond GNLC. Thank you for your ongoing support, and we wish all mothers and mother figures in our community a wonderful celebration on Sunday.

Daniel Wood

Head of Secondary Years

Teacher vs Student Debate (Term 1)

Last term, the Debating Club were pleased to present the very first Teacher vs Student Debate. 

On the Teacher team, we had Mr Lambert, Mr Rocek, and Mr Polidano. On the Student team, we had the President of the Debating Club Tara Dubey, Vice President of the Debating Club Aarya Patel, and Lead Adjudicator Ansh Bhatnagar.

With the gym packed and the audience eager, the two teams held a heated debate on the topic, “Who is better, the elderly or the youth?" Both teams gave heroic speeches that stirred our hearts and broke the audience into cheers and laughter, but to the chorus of the gym, the debate closed with a close victory for the Students.

The event was an incredible success for the Debating Club, and a testament to skills and ambitions of our students. We thank all who were involved and helped, our incredible debaters and volunteer teachers, and the audience who devoured the snacks as they did our arguments. However, the Teachers will not accept defeat so easily, and they will be back, better than ever, in a second Teachers vs Students Debate this term.

Harvey Nish

Teacher 

Year 8 Camp

The Year 8s started term 2 with the Bayview Adventure Camp, where they proved their skill, creativity, and humour in a wide range of activities. The teams challenged themselves in many leadership exercises and competitions; they paddled, battled, and capsized their canoes; they raced billy carts and mountain bikes at terrifying speeds, weaving between trees and sometimes landing jumps. 

They did this, and much more, with an engaged audience of alpacas, horses, guinea fowl, and other odd animals. The biggest event was the morning of surfing, a mighty tide for the students to ride. As many students surfed very well, many more fell into the swell, but everyone loved it and had fun. In the evening they continued the traditional talent show, as many new and old faces presented laughter and skill for the audience. On the second night, they hiked far into the hills and bush, enjoying a peaceful night walk beneath a beautiful starry sky. 

The experiences gained, and camaraderie built, will be remembered for a very long time. From the participation of students, the hard work of staff, and passion of the teachers, the camp was a great success.

Harvey Nish

Teacher 

Year 11 Class activity - Learning outside the classroom

Students used materials collected from nature to create models of different types of animal and plant tissues. They carefully selected items such as leaves, bark, stones, and flowers to represent specific structures based on their texture, shape, and function. For example, soft leaves were used to model delicate tissues, while rough bark represented protective layers. This activity was fun and engaging because it allowed students to be creative while applying their understanding in a hands-on way. It also helped them make meaningful connections between natural materials and biological structures.

Navkirat Kaur

Science Coordinator / Teacher

Year 7 Carbon Snake Experiment 

Our Year 7 science students recently carried out an exciting experiment called the “Carbon Snake” reaction. This hands-on activity helped them explore how chemical reactions happen and what causes new substances to form.

Students heated a mixture of sugar and baking soda. As the mixture got hotter, a chemical reaction took place. Gases were released, causing the mixture to expand and grow into a long, black “snake” shape. It was a surprising and dramatic change from the original materials!

Through this experiment, students learned about chemical reactions, especially how heat can trigger changes that produce new substances. They also practised important science skills such as making predictions, observing carefully, and explaining what they saw.

Sandhya Nair

Teacher