Stories of Impact

In Middle School, we ask students from time to time to share an experience that deepened their faith, and that demonstrated the care and encouragement of their teachers. Below is the story of one of our Year 7 students.

It can be easy to assume that doing big things, takes superhuman powers. Sometimes we underestimate ourselves, and it can be hard to be content when it seems like everyone else is surpassing you. We can feel like we're not good enough, that we can't do it and that we don't matter at all. I know how it is to feel that way because I've been there. Luckily, I had help from my teachers, friends and parents.

I suffered from stage fright, so bad that I usually ended up crying if I hadn't prepared myself well enough. That wasn't all. In just a few days, I had to stand up and deliver a speech for the entire class to listen to. I had prepared well enough, and I knew my speech off by heart. My only problem was that I had no control over my growing emotions and I was afraid of what people would say about me.

I looked at my teacher, silently pleading her to forget me. My teacher smiled warmly, and she has one of the most incredible smiles I have ever seen. She genuinely believed that I could do it, and confidence seemed to seep back into my body.

In the end, I loved the marks I received for my speech. That was when I learnt to have faith in the darkest situations and vowed to do my best to see the brightness and positivity in each day. You don't have to do something big and embossed to help someone. Doing things like giving someone a long and meaningful pep talk and showering them with gifts is wonderful, but sometimes it's the smaller genuine things that can make a larger difference and mean so much more.

Every day, I try to smile and greet everyone I see and tell them something nice that I mean. It is incredible how things like that can brighten someone's day because it can be easy to think that we aren't big enough to make a difference. I am forever grateful to all my teachers and the other people in my life who have helped me to grow into the person I am today. I can safely assure everyone I meet, that all dark situations will eventually brighten, but they will only get better if we can be brave enough to be the light that shines.

We can't always just let the other people in our life make things better for us, it is important that we can keep on pursuing hope, and have faith that God will help us to be resilient in our problems. We can do it, but we can only do it when we ask God for help. He has an eternity of experience, and He will always reply to our problems if we ask Him to help us. Change for the better doesn't begin with superpowers from the sun or radioactive chemicals, but it starts with something far simpler. Faith.

What a privilege to hear these stories, to see the mature faith displayed by our students, and to know that our teachers carry the interests of each student in their hearts.

Christa Cloete

Yr7/8 Coordinator

Robotics

Aiden and I really enjoy building robotics. Our favourite was the time we built the cross-bow, and next we will build the catapult. The cross-bow fires 3 nerf gun bullets by pulling back the rope and pressing the trigger.

Daniel Wong

Year 5F

Year 8 Science GTAC Excursion

Electrophoresis to separate DNA fragments, centrifuging and gel filtration to identify milk proteins are both processes that Scientists use regularly. Our Year 8 Scientists were recently introduced to them at GTAC in Parkville. The students discovered the processes involved in immunisations, tried to work out which cows to breed from, the composition of their milk and also learnt about gene technology and its implications. They worked in small groups with real research Scientists and – most importantly – had lunch at The University of Melbourne.

“It was fun and educational. I liked playing games and doing experiments. I learnt about how science works in life situations.”

“It was interesting to learn about genetic disorders and how we breed cows, and I got bubble tea.”

“I had fun learning from the scientists that worked there. I really enjoyed working with the machines that were present in the lab.”

Greg Crotty

Middle School Teacher

Celebrating Reading

VICTORIAN PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE AWARDS

On 9th November, Mr Nick Wakeling, State Member for Ferntree Gully, presented the Year 7 and 8 students with certificates to celebrate their successful completion of the Challenge.

Mr Wakeling was pleased to note that the Reading Challenge was part of the Middle School English Program. As reading plays a critical role in literacy development and future educational success, he encouraged students to enjoy reading and engage in the many wonderful discoveries, experiences and journeys that books present to us.

A highlight of the morning was a special presentation to the VPRC Top Reader for 2017, KRISTEN BAKER. In addition to reading the 15 books required by the Challenge and completing the activities, Kristen continued reading in her free time and completed an impressive total of 100 books!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL YEAR 7 & 8 STUDENTS FOR THE SUCCESSFULL COMPLETION OF THE CHALLENGE AND TO KRISTEN BAKER, THE VPRC TOP READER FOR 2017!

Rajes Krishnan

Middle School Teacher

French Certificate 1

During August, a number of high-performing French students in Year 7 and 8 were invited to take part in the French Certificate 1 competition.

While quite a few students received a distinction in either Listening or Reading, the highest achievement was by two linguistically gifted Year 7 students, Sophia Tran and Kayle Dharmadasa. Sophia received a High Distinction for Reading and a Distinction for Listening. Kayle received a Distinction in both these areas. Both Sophia and Kayle have accellerated their French studies, and have nearly completed all requirements for Year 8 French.

Bien fait!

Christa Cloete

French teacher, Year 6 – 8

Community Notices

Newsletter 11

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