Junior School Update

Year 7 Update

Tiegan Whitby, Sophie Balfour and Jess Lazzaro

It has been a busy and rewarding term for our Year 7 students, filled with a range of exciting incursions, excursions, and learning opportunities beyond the classroom.

We have been fortunate to welcome Somerville Proactive Policing officers to speak with our students about internet safety. Their engaging presentation provided valuable information about staying safe online, making responsible choices, and understanding the importance of respectful digital citizenship.

Students also participated in a session with Speak and Share, focusing on mental health, wellbeing, and looking out for one another. These important conversations encouraged students to reflect on how they can support both themselves and their peers, helping to foster a caring and inclusive school community.

One of the highlights of the term was our Year 7 excursion to the Zoo. We would like to extend a massive thank you to our Curriculum Innovator, Jaydn McGruddy, for organising such a wonderful day. It was fantastic to see students engaging enthusiastically with their learning in a different environment. The excursion provided valuable real-world learning experiences and created many memorable moments for both students and staff.

We are also looking forward to Interschool Sport next Thursday. This will be a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase the skills they have been developing throughout their Sport Education classes. Just as importantly, it will be a wonderful way to celebrate and conclude what has been a highly successful term.

As we approach the end of the term, it is hard to believe that there is only one term remaining of Year 7 before our students begin their transition into Year 8. We are incredibly proud of the growth, resilience, and enthusiasm they have shown throughout the year and look forward to finishing the year strongly together.

Year 8 Update

Jade Kairys, Jaydn McGruddy and Maddy Boyd

It is hard to believe that Term 3 is already coming to an end! The year seems to have flown by, and our Year 8 students have certainly packed a lot into the past few months.

Learning Highlights

In ICARE this term, our Year 8 students have been developing valuable skills to help prepare them for the world beyond school. Students have explored what it takes to make a great first impression, including learning how to write a professional resume and cover letter, prepare for job interviews, and highlight their strengths and skills. Who knows, maybe by this time next year, they might be asking “Can I have a pay rise?” rather than “Can I have an extension?”. Students have been rocking their way through Science this term, getting stuck into the fascinating world of geology. Students have been learning about the structure of the Earth, how its different layers work together, and the geological processes that shape our planet. In English, students have been developing their skills in preparing and writing analytical essays. Students have been learning how to unpack questions, develop clear arguments, select relevant evidence and explain how their ideas are supported by the text. With all this analytical thinking, we’re hoping they don’t start analysing ways to get out of their homework. This term in Indonesian, our Year 8 students have been planning their very own Balinese holiday. The big question, of course, is whether this task was carefully designed to develop students’ language and organisational skills… or whether Bu Thuy simply decided she was tired of planning her own holidays and thought the Year 8s could take over. Either way, our students are now well equipped to plan a holiday from start to finish, so if anyone needs help organising their next trip to Bali, Bu Thuy’s travel agency is officially open for business!

Interschool Sports 

Our Year 8 students have represented the school brilliantly in Interschool Sport this term, taking to the courts and fields for some exciting basketball and futsal action. Our Futsal team had a particularly successful outing, securing 2 wins from their 5 games. While the scoreboard didn’t always go our way, the students continued to compete with enthusiasm, encourage their teammates and give every game their best effort.

Celebrations and Awards

Student of the Week continued, where each week a Year 8 student was nominated by their teachers for displaying academic success, respect to all, and enthused engagement in their classwork. In addition, this student received a ‘gold star’ for their Home Group, and any Home Group that receives 5 Gold Stars will win a class lunch and party! A big congratulations this term to Kai Owen, Kade Vial, Alex Kraulis, Guy Richards, Stella Leskovec, Mia Berryman, Harper Denham, Charlotte Staave-Fischer and James Davie. This friendly competition between Home Groups is heating up, who will take home the glory… and more importantly, who will get the extra gravy with their chips?

Year 9 Electives 

This term has been an exciting one for our Year 8 students as they selected and received their 2027 Year 9 electives. This marks an important milestone as students begin to take greater ownership of their learning and tailor their timetable to reflect their interests, strengths and future goals. With their 2027 timetables starting to take shape, our Year 8s are one step closer to Year 9… Seriously, where has the time gone?! 

As we head into our final term together, we look forward to making the most of every moment, creating plenty of memories, celebrating our students’ achievements and finishing the year on a high note!

Year 9 Update

Robyn Williams, Georgia Skilton and Melissa Mackenzie

It has been an exciting and engaging term for our Year 9 students, with a range of opportunities designed to broaden their understanding of the world beyond the classroom and help them develop skills for the future.

On 21 July, a group of our students participated in the Creative Directions – Transdisciplinary Career Day, a full-day excursion focused on future careers and cross-disciplinary learning.

Through guided tours of Science Gallery Melbourne and the Potter Museum of Art, students explored the fascinating intersections between art, science, technology and the creative industries.

The day encouraged students to think beyond traditional career pathways and consider how different disciplines can come together to create new ideas, opportunities and solutions. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to discover emerging careers, make connections across areas of learning and be inspired by the possibilities that lie ahead.

On the 3rd of September, our Year 9 students participated in a workshop delivered by Project ROCKIT, focusing on online safety, digital wellbeing and building positive online communities.

The CONNECT program explores the positive potential of technology while helping young people develop the skills they need to navigate the challenges of being online.

Students considered how online experiences can both support and challenge relationships, connection and wellbeing, while developing a greater understanding of the experiences of others.

A key message from the workshop was:“We can create an online world that is worthy of all of us.”

Through the session, students developed critical literacy skills and practical strategies for engaging safely and responsibly with online content. This included learning how to recognise fake or AI-generated media and becoming more aware of how online information can influence our thinking and interactions.

Students also explored strategies for navigating harmful online experiences, including cyberbullying, image-based abuse and deceptive behaviour, as well as identifying ways to seek support when challenges arise.

These experiences have provided our Year 9 students with valuable opportunities to explore their future pathways, think creatively across disciplines and develop the skills and confidence needed to navigate an increasingly digital world.