Clyde North Campus News

Finding Joy

Why is joy so important? There is much research to prove that the emotion ‘joy’ boosts our immune system, fights stress and pain and improves our chance of living a longer life. Based on this evidence, we need to be actively looking and finding the joy in every day.

Students and staff know that I love popping into classes for a quick, visit which is a favourite part of my day. This week I happen to drop into Mr Patawaran’s Year 7 Music Class learning to play the ukulele. What I thought would be a quick check in with the class to see how they are going turned into a much longer visit. The reason being, I could not tear myself away from the joyous sounds of their ukuleles and their singing. The joy the students were experiencing was evident in their smiles and it made me think, how often do we not pause and let the experience of joy happen. Life is busy even for Year 7 students, but they embraced their learning and found joy. So, this week I went looking for joy and found it everywhere. Here are my top 10 joyful experiences.

Learning the ukulele
The R U OK activities run by our VCAL students
The R U OK Colour run
The 3 x 3 Basketball competition
Winning and participating in the XSPAND Games
The speeches from the students for House Captains
The sunshine
The joyful and excited faces of the students as they experience their first visit to the new Performing Arts Theatre
Every time someone said hello, smiled or waved
The end of Term and the promise of joyful holidays.

XSPAND Games

The XSPAND Games have been a great initiative developed by the Year 9 committee in building community within the Year 9 cohort this year. The Term 3 competition has now closed with 9I taking a relatively strong lead, although 9J and 9G are hot on their heels. In Term 4 the competition resets with more fun opportunities to earn points through the XSPAND Games. It has been great to see a team effort across Year 9 in displaying positive behaviours and we know you will all keep the momentum going into the rest of the year.

We have now had three different Tutor Groups win across the year which demonstrates how wonderful this year level has been in living our R.O.C.K.S.

The holidays are creeping up, so on behalf of Mr S and the Year 9 team I take this opportunity to thank the students for the grit and resilience they have displayed to get through this term so successfully.

House Captains 2023

The excitement and joy experience from the announcement of the 2023 College Captains last week continued this week with the process of electing the 2023 House Captains. Congratulations to all those students who bravely nominated themselves for a House Captain position living up to our motto of 'Be not Afraid'. Each candidate spoke from the heart about their passion and hopes for their peers, and the wider College community. There can be no doubt that we have established a culture of student leadership at the College characterised by vitality, passion, dedication, and integrity. Thank you to all candidates, you are all fine examples of servant leadership. The House Assemblies to end the Term will feature the announcement of the 2023 House Captains. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for the announcement.

Congratulations to all candidates.

The Class of 2022

When the Year 7 photos of our Graduating Class go up on the windows of the Discovery Centre, it signifies that the time for us to start preparing the final goodbyes to the Graduating Class that are upon us. Casting an eye over the Year 7 photograph alongside the Year 12 photograph reminds us of how fast time flies. One minute you are twelve years old entering a vast new space called secondary school full of unknowns and the next minute you are 17, even 18, and about to leave the safety of this now familiar space and enter a new unknown world. We look forward to these final celebrations and events that will take place in Week 3 of Term 4. Our hope is that we have prepared the Year 12 students for their next adventure and that they find, and experience joy every day.

I wish you all a safe, productive, and joyful week and holiday.

Julie Banda

Deputy Principal - Head of Clyde North Campus