Middle School

Year 9 Students Explore Modern-Day Prophets 

As part of their Religious Education studies on modern-day prophets, our Year 9 students recently visited the Dr Sr Mary Glowrey Museum in Melbourne.  This excursion provided a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of faith in action through the inspiring life of Dr Sr Mary Glowrey, an Australian woman who dedicated her medical career to serving the poor in India.

During the visit, students explored Glowrey’s extraordinary journey — from her work as a pioneering doctor in Australia to her calling as a religious sister with the Society of Jesus Mary Joseph.  Through interactive exhibits and engaging discussions, they reflected on how her legacy continues to inspire acts of service and justice today.

This experience challenged students to consider who the modern-day prophets are in our world — those who, like Glowrey, courageously advocate for the vulnerable and embody Gospel values.  The visit also sparked conversations about how we, too, can respond to the call to be people of faith and action in our own communities.

This excursion was an enriching and thought-provoking part of their studies, encouraging our students to see that prophets are not just figures of the past but are present among us today.

Ms Hannah Hale

Learning Leader Relgious Education

Year 9 Focus on Food

Students in Year 9 Food took on the exciting culinary challenge of making bagels from scratch.  This hands-on learning experience allowed them to explore the art and science of bread making while honing their skills.  Beyond just creating delicious bagels, this task emphasised the importance of precise measurements, patience and teamwork - key skills for any aspiring chef or home cook.  The students also learned about the history of bagels and their cultural significance in different cuisines around the world.

Ms Mara Atkins

Teacher Food Technology

Year 9 Physical Education

This term, two of our Year 9 PE classes have completed the ‘Melbourne Sporting Identity’ unit for Physical Education.  This unit focuses on sports that make up a big part of Melbourne’s sporting culture including cricket, tennis and the AFL. 

Our Year 9 students went to the Australian Sports Museum and undertook a tour of the MCG  to hear stories about some of our great sporting moments. 

In addition, students went for a walk along the Yarra river to explore how it is used by individuals and groups aiming to be physically active. 

Ms Tanya Vajda

Learning Leader Health & PE

Year 10 Cyber Sleuthing

On Friday, 7 March, Year 10 Cyber Sleuthing students took their learning beyond the classroom and into the school garden, where they used Micro:bit sensors to collect soil moisture data.  

This hands-on investigation provided them with valuable real-world data, which they are now analysing for their reports. Leveraging the technology skills they have developed in class, students programmed the Micro:bit, organised their data using Excel spreadsheets, and created graphs and charts to present their findings effectively.  This project not only reinforced their coding and data analysis abilities, but also deepened their understanding of environmental data and its practical applications.

We look forward to seeing their final reports and the insights they have gained from this experience!

Ms Betty Lin

Learning Leader Technology

Author Visit - Tony Birch

The Year 10 cohort at Academy was honoured to have bestselling Indigenous author Tony Birch come speak to them on Thursday afternoon.  The girls were not only given insights into ‘The White Girl’, the novel they are studying, but were also given some words of wisdom from Tony’s journey as an author. He recalled getting his first public library card at 5 years of age and stressed upon the importance of reading and working hard. 

It was a real joy to have Tony speak with such passion and many of the girls even had their novels signed.  Thank-you Tony Birch!

Mr Stefan Odachowski

Learning Leader English

Celebrating St Patrick

Last Friday, a group of our Year 10 Captains had the privilege of representing our school at the annual Whole Diocese Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral.  With over 200 Catholic schools in attendance (Primary & Secondary), this special celebration focused on the feast day of St Patrick, highlighting his legacy of faith and mission. 

Led by the Archbishop of Melbourne, Peter Comensoli, the Mass was a powerful gathering of students and staff from across the diocese, united in prayer and reflection. 

A particularly moving moment was the unveiling of a new icon of St Patrick, a striking tribute to his enduring influence, as you can see in the image below, St. Patrick is holding our cathedral.  

It was a truly stunning celebration, reminding us of the strength and beauty of our shared Catholic faith, the homily focus being on “God always finding us”.

Ms Hannah Hale

Learning Leader Religious Education