Secondary School

On this page:  Upcoming Events | Year 7 and 8 Family Picnic | Reconciliation Week | Year 9 Students Rev Up Their Design & Technology Skills | Year 12 Business Innovation | STEM Day Out | Year 11 Retreat: Independence, Adventure and Growth 

Upcoming events

Term 2

Year 7 and 8 Family Picnic

All RSVPs due today (Thurs 29 May) via ticketing

Come along with your family for an afternoon of good food and community. All Emmaus Christian College Year 7 and 8 families are welcome!

Details:

When: Sunday 1 June, 1-4pm

Where: Patritti - 13-23 Clacton Rd, Dover Gardens - Adjacent to Scarborough Terrace Reserve (lots of space for kids)

Food Truck: Braising Boy Mexican (caters GF, DF)

Plenty of outdoor seating

We would love to see you there!

Year 7/8 Parent Representatives

Reconciliation Week

This week is Reconciliation Week, which is a time for us all to learn and reflect about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, as well as exploring how we can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. 

The theme of 2025 is “Bridging Now to Next,” which encourages all Australians to participate in the work of reconciliation by stepping forward together, looking ahead and continuing the push forward as past lessons guide us. 

On Friday 16th and Tuesday 20th May, the Year 10 History classes visited Colebrook Reconciliation Park as part of their unit on Indigenous Australian Rights. Colebrook Reconciliation Park is where the Colebrook Training Home stood between 1943 and 1972, and it serves as a memorial to over 350 members of the Stolen Generations who were forcibly removed from their families and taken to this facility. 

This excursion was a time of remembrance, reflection and listening, and sought to work towards reconciliation through truth-telling. The students listened to stories of children who had lived at the facility, reflected on memorials, and gained a deeper understanding of the painful experiences of the past and the importance of strengthening relationships between all Australians to bring about future healing in a more united and respectful nation.

Miss Alisha Dutschke,

Secondary School History Teacher

Year 9 students rev up their Design & Technology skills

This semester in Year 9 Materials Technology, students have been exploring the critical relationship between form and function through the design and construction of CO₂ dragsters. 

While sleek, aerodynamic styling may make a racing machine look impressive, true performance comes down to more than aesthetics—weight, friction, and aerodynamics all play a key role in determining success on the track.

Throughout the unit, students engaged in hands-on learning, refining their understanding of material properties and their impact on speed and durability. They practised the safe use of machinery while working with timber to shape their dragster bodies, applying precision techniques to bring their designs to life. The final stages of the project introduced spray paint finishing, where students learnt how different coatings affect surface quality and durability, ensuring their vehicles looked as good as they performed.

To put their knowledge to the test, students raced their completed dragsters in a high-energy competition, analysing poll results and performance outcomes to assess the effectiveness of their designs. This exciting conclusion marked not only the end of the topic but also a deeper appreciation for the principles of engineering and design that will serve them in future projects.

Andrew Buchiw,

Secondary School Teacher

Year 12 Business Innovation

The Year 12 Business Innovation students were blessed to have Sally Rowe, a former Emmaus parent, come and chat to them about her business, TripSava. This business actually started three years ago in the classroom, with Sally's daughter, Kaitlin, brainstorming, developing and researching this business in her Year 12 Business Innovation project. Since then, the business has had a name change and has been developed and launched in the market as an all-in-one travel app - TripSava.  

The students listened to how Sally and her business partner have developed the prototype, including the market research done, channels used, partners involved, including offshore engineers and app developers, approximate costings, and future company goals that have been applied to their business model. 

The students also looked through the TripSava App and utilised the various features, giving feedback on its functionality. 

Thank you to Sally for sharing her thoughts about launching a business and imparting her entrepreneurial wisdom. All the students thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Kerry Davis,

Secondary School Teacher

STEM Day Out

On Monday 12 May, our Year 7 and 8 Maths Extension students participated in UniSA's STEM Day Out. It was a wonderful day of learning, problem-solving, and creating!

Students learnt about the science of flight, discovering how differences in air pressure can lift a plane off the ground. They were also challenged to solve logic puzzles using their mathematical skills, finding patterns they could connect to their study of algebra.

Finally, they took part in the tower-building challenge, where two of our teams managed to build freestanding towers over 110cm tall using two A4 pieces of paper and some tape!

Our students thoroughly enjoyed the day, and we are grateful to UniSA for hosting this event.

Steph Turner,

Secondary Teacher

Year 11 Retreat: Independence, Adventure and Growth

On Tuesday and Wednesday of Week 1, our Year 11 students embarked on a two-day camp designed to challenge, inspire, and empower them as they continue their journey toward adulthood.

Beginning at Mylor Adventure Camp, students were introduced to the camp’s core focus: developing independence and decision-making skills in a supportive environment. Life is full of choices, and this camp offered students the chance to practise making them—without direct adult intervention—and reflect on the outcomes. Every decision, whether it led to a success, a challenge, or something in between, became a learning opportunity. Students were able to choose from a range of activities offered a Mylor, including archery tag, canoeing and the giant swing, to name a few. 

A special moment came when Old Scholar Ben Peters joined the group to lead an evening devotion. His message encouraged students to lift their gaze to Jesus in order to equip them to look outward and serve others, as Jesus prompts us to do. This led to a time of meaningful reflection and prayer. It was wonderful to see the students engaging so powerfully in this time, standing with one another in prayer. 

A highlight of the camp was a fast-paced ‘Amazing Race’-style challenge, taking students from the bushland of Mylor to the bustling heart of the Adelaide CBD. Teams worked together to solve clues, navigate unfamiliar territory, and complete a variety of creative and physical tasks. From tracking down the most expensive wearable item in Rundle Mall and paddle boating on the Torrens, to finding ‘Wally’ to earn their lunch money, students embraced the spirit of adventure, capturing key moments on Polaroid cameras as evidence of their teamwork and creativity. The final challenge? To make their way back to school via public transport! 

This camp was more than just a fun break from the classroom. It was a powerful reminder that while life presents constant choices, each one is an opportunity to grow—and that when we look up, we’re better equipped to look outward.

Bec Dal Santo,

Year 11 Pastoral Coordinator 

English Coordinator 7-12

Secondary Teacher