GEC College News

Junior School Highlights

Year 7 Highlights

The departing Year 7 Coordinators Mr Coghlan and Ms Peiris wish the best to all students going into Year 8. We enjoyed our time in the role and Ms Cowley and Ms Baker-Goldsmith are looking forward being the Year 8 coordinators in 2019.

 

Congratulations to the Year 7 Baseball Team who recently came runner up at the State Finals. The following students represented Glen Eira College with aplomb:

  • Ezra Bloch
  • Igor Dubrovski
  • Max Kais
  • Raphael Nicolas
  • Oscar Gardiner
  • Jonah Ariel
  • Zac Palatsides
  • Cameron McCutcheon
  • Maxime Eysseric
  • Jay Trickey
  • Hayden Cormick
  • Ed MacLeod-Smith

It is an exciting time of year, with students meeting new classmates and teachers. There are also many opportunities to help students get excited for the year ahead.  We have had some exciting excursions to the zoo and the liveability excursion to the city.

 

Bernie Coghlan & Delanka Peiris

Year 7 Coordinators

Year 8 Highlights

Now is a great opportunity to look back at some of the 2018 highlights. 

 

There have been some outstanding results in interschool sport this year, with Year 8 students representing the College at all levels and across a wide range of sports. Special mention to the boys and girls table tennis teams, and the girls softball teams, who made it all the way to the state finals.

 

"Congratulations to all Year 8 students who were involved in interschool sport this year. It was a pleasure to see you represent the college with enthusiasm and pride. And we had some excellent results across the board this year. Look forward to seeing you out there representing GEC next year."

Peter Bales

Sports Coordinator

 

The year 8 cohort have had some outstanding academic results throughout the year, which will be formally recognised at Presentation Night during the last week of this term. Students will be recognised for academic excellence and endeavour across all subjects.

 

The Year 8 camp was a particular highlight this year, as we headed down to beautiful Princetown on the Great Ocean Road. Over the 3 days students were taken out of their comfort zones and given the opportunity to develop new skills and friendships. 

 

"Camp this year was more practical than usual as we were staying on a farm. I learned a lot about farming and the countryside and got to see some really cool nature. I also learnt what it is like to be stung by an electric fence, among other things!" 

Haddi El Shorbagy

 

More recently, students headed to Fitzroy for an excursion relating to their work in Geography on an Aboriginal agriculture excursion. From all reports it was an enriching experience that brought the work done in the classroom to life.

"In Fitzroy we saw some great street art, met with leaders at the Koorie Heritage Trust and learnt more about Aboriginal history in agriculture. We also got to eat barramundi and kangaroo."

Tess Keogh 8B

 

Finally, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all students the best as they progress through their high school years. I have enjoyed coordinating this cohort over the last two years. I have seen students grow and develop as people, from shy early Year 7s to confident nearly Year 9s. There have been some challenges for this group over the last two years and I've been impressed with their resilience and compassion towards each other. I wish students and families a great summer break and look forward to seeing you around the college next year.

 

Daniel Mulligan

Year 8 Coordinator

Year 9 Highlights

During 2018 we have focused on the positives and celebrating student success as much as we can. At our Friday morning assemblies students received certificates for various events and activities including maths and geography competitions and also end of semester academic and endeavour awards. It is an opportunity for their peers to see the great work they have succeeded in.

 

This term Ms Byrnes, Ms Cowley, Mr Ebert, Ms Rio, myself and 63 students embarked on our Year 9 camp journey to Rubicon camp, which was approximately 2 hours from school. We had  had an amazing time. 

 

Students were given the opportunity to both camp outside for 2 nights and also be back in warm bed for 2 nights. We didn’t have any complaints on camp outs, students were patient and cooperative and really did show their maturity. Even if there were a few midnight visits from possums, kangaroos and even a deer.  

Our Year 9 Junior School Captains have been great showing initiatives and leadership skills. Congratulations and thank you:

 

Ben Matthews

Jenna Casamento

Paul Palatsides

Aimee Harris

 

I will truly miss coordinating this year level next year but will be excited to be able to teach most of them again in Year 10. 

 

Sarah Mortimer

Year 9 Coordinator

From the Junior School Captains

What a year it has been! As a school, we have had many achievements this year, and moments to be congratulated. We have participated in many fundraisers, like Jump Rope for Heart and Relay for Life. There have been new clubs and lunchtime activities born, and we were able to put our newly upgraded school to use. We are proud of individuals who have represented the school whether in sports, languages or general excellence. We congratulate all those who received awards in the languages assembly, for French, Japanese, Hebrew and Spanish, and I’m sure we were all enthused at the talents that were showcased throughout the afternoon. Thank you to everyone for an enjoyable year and good luck in the future.

 

Jenna Casamento

Junior School Captain

At the beginning of this year, an opportunity was given to all of the Year 9 students. This was the Duke of Edinburgh Award. A number of Year 9s have participated in this program and taken advantage of the many amazing skills the program provides.  As part of the adventurous journey section of the award, all of the participants participated in the Year 9 camp. This was their practice journey where they went camping with no running water or power, for 3 days.  The experience was incredible, and all of the groups became really close friends. The next step is to partake in the qualifying journey where the participants have little to no guidance from the supervising teachers.  This journey is happening on the 19th and 20th of December on French Island. Overall, all of the students have had a great time partaking in the program and are really looking forward to the qualifying journey.

 

Aimee Harris

Junior School Vice-Captain

 

The end of the school year is busy time for everyone. Students finishing their final projects, last tests and exams, and looking back on a productive and successful 2018. Now, students have completed their final weeks of their 2018 year level, and have entered the transition period. This time is an excellent way for students to adjust to any possible changes in classmates, getting to know their teachers for next year, and in the case of us captains and the other Year 9s, being introduced to our new subjects. This year’s transition marks our last days as part of the junior school, and introduces us to the senior school. This comes with having selected subjects to complete next year, and many of us have selected enhancement subjects, choosing to take on the extra challenge of early VCE. The Junior School Captains hope everybody adjusts well to their new schedule, and thanks everybody for an incredibly enjoyable and productive year.

 

Ben Matthews

Junior School Captain