Middle School Report
Middle School News
Grit is the word of the week that I would like the students to start using in conversations at school and at home.
Angela Duckworth is a professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and a pioneering grit researcher. She has found, in study after study, that “where talents count once, effort counts twice"
To explain that finding, Duckworth uses this formula:
TALENT x EFFORT = SKILL
SKILL x EFFORT = ACHIEVEMENT
When you apply effort to talent, you develop skill. And when you apply effort to that skill, you get achievement.
In conversations I have with students, I find that they display Grit quite often but cannot explain it. Maybe the formula above can be displayed somewhere in your house to keep your child thinking about achievement.
The Middle School Team would like to say thank-you to all the students who helped out on Open Night. As I was doing a tour it made me very happy to see so many students proud of talking about their school to the community.
Congratulations to Hayley T, Lani H, Nicola H, Mia M, Simone R, Tarlyia C, Chloe K who represented Wheelers Hill Secondary College at the Dance Fair. Please see the Performing Arts Page for all the details.
Congratulations
Adam Redenbach is a 14 Year old Year 9 Wheelers Hill Secondary College Student. He has been umpiring football for two years. During this time it was noticed that he had top potential for his age and quickly became a boundary umpire for seniors and a field umpire for up to 17 year olds.
This year Adam experienced being a field umpire for Auskick kids on the MCG on Anzac Day. He will be umpiring on June the 2nd for the Dreamtime Round. Last year Adam umpired at the International Cup. He was able to umpire teams from England, USA, France, New Zealand and Pakistan.
To be at this level Adam has gone through the ranks, training twice a week for 1.50 hours. Adam has been interested in AFL which has led him to take on this area of the sport.
Middle School Leaders
Meetings are held weekly with the team and the students talk about activities that are happening and initiatives that they would like to undertake. As part of the process of becoming a Middle School Leader the students are asked to think of something that they would like to improve in the school and how they would change it. We have been slowly addressing all the ideas that have been mentioned by the students in their interviews.
Year 7
The Year 7 Cohort had the opportunity to see Brainstorm Productions - Verbal Combat. Many issues covered in the performance are relevant to the age group. Some of the conversations afterwards are just as valuable in allowing the students to process what they have just viewed.
The students also have two more sessions of Peer Support. It is good to hear the excitement of the students making their way to the group activities. The students are covering areas that the Year 10's work very hard to thoughtfully organize.
Year 8
As part of the Personal Best program the students will be hosting a Wonderful Women High Tea. It will be an opportunity for the students to learn the process of working out and hosting an event and giving back to the community. Please keep an eye out for the details as the students will be putting in a lot of time and effort to put on this event.
Year 9
As part of the Community Connections program some of the groups have been visiting the Primary schools and are teaching the students about their area of interest. Many students learn a lot of skills such as leadership, listening and organizing.
Regards
Mrs Melissa Robinson
Middle School Leader