Year 7 Program Success: Student Voices Illuminate Our Journey of Discovery 

As Wheelers Hill Secondary College's Year 7 students wrap up their engaging three-day program, their reflections offer a window into the impactful and enriching experiences they've encountered. Here's a closer look at the insights shared by our students, highlighting their journey through innovative learning and teamwork.  

Boys Program: A Testament to Teamwork and Innovation 

Joshua Francis enthusiastically recounted, "The year 7 boys’ program was a blast! I had the opportunity to meet new people and socialise... We had lots of games based on teamwork, like building towers, bridges, and playing capture the flag. There were also science experiments that were fun and engaging. From collaboration to working with teachers, it was awesome."  

Echoing this sentiment, Ilan Engelbrecht remarked, "The S.T.E.M program is one of the highlights of the year... It was one of the most fun learning experiences with activities like tower building, science experiments, and overall fun games. I made at least 3 friends from this program, and they definitely need to keep this going!"  

Matthew Bice shared, "The Boys Program was an extremely fun and amazing experience to test all our teamwork skills. We played many games, all involving a tremendous amount of teamwork... It was a GREAT 3 days, testing all our teamwork skills and getting to know other people from other classes."  

Hayden Hetherington discussed the hands-on learning aspect: "We got to play educational games that worked on our teamwork. For one of the activities, we built a bridge that had to be a certain size and had to hold books on it. The strategy my team used was just to stick a bunch of paper together with sticky tape."  

Ryder Hart added, "The fun we all had during the three days was immeasurable... We did games and spent valuable time together learning and playing. We were split into groups; in one game, we played Capture The Flag, which had us capture clues and solve a riddle... Overall, it was a great experience, and I would recommend this to all schools." 

Girls Program: Exploring AI and Shaping the Future 

Fiona Hardy expressed, "Thank you to the people from Monash Tech School who taught us about technology. The STEM program was a great opportunity to learn about AI... We got to explore different AI chats, including Chat GPT, and use Dalle 2, which gave us visual images of our ideas. My group made a magical school on a white fluffy cloud with a horse stable, swimming pool, and much more."  

Alyssa Belakhov shared her honest perspective, "I learned that AI is not always original with its ideas... I enjoyed the games, but working in my group was challenging. However, the experience was valuable for those really passionate about technology."  

Tabitha Hutman detailed, "We spent three days in the library learning to use AI, understanding statistics, and designing our own school. It was educational, helping us see how we use AI in daily life and allowing us to present our ideas creatively." 

Amelia Wilson noted, "We learned how AI works and its applications in daily life. The program was engaging and informative, offering a new perspective on technology and its uses."  

Naomi Begley reflected, "The STEM program was engaging and a unique learning experience. Designing a uniform and creating images of our high school with AI was fun. Presenting our ideas and discussing them with professors felt like preparing for future job interviews."  

In Summary 

The program not only enhanced our students' STEM skills but also fostered social interaction, teamwork, and creative thinking. These reflections highlight the positive impact of hands-on, interactive learning experiences, and the importance of innovation in education.  

We thank our students for their enthusiastic participation and our staff for their dedication to making these programs a success. Wheelers Hill Secondary College continues to champion a future where learning is engaging, collaborative, and innovative.