Classroom Reports

Foundation & 1

Our Mini Olympic Sports afternoon last Friday was lots of fun. We got to participate in all the activities, ranging from equestrian events where we rode a mop-like horse, to performing amazing gymnastic moves on the balance beam. 

Thanks Mr Forrest, for organising the variety of events. Our Buddies also participated in some Olympic activities with us.  We made Olympic torches and decorated Marie biscuits to represent the Olympic Rings. Champion effort by a champion grade. 

Mrs Tanya Chalmers, Teacher

Year 1 & 2

We have been lucky to participate in a few fun events in the last few weeks!

The Athletic House Sports were a great experience and it was pleasing to see the students have a go at everything, encouraging their classmates and smiling at the end.

We also had Mini-Olympics last week which included the Opening Ceremony with a real Olympic Torch and events that were completed in different ‘Countries’. 

Good luck with our current lockdown. Remember to email me with any questions, hopefully you will get to do a lot of what is in the learning pack but most importantly try to enjoy the time with your family and take care. 

Mrs Deidre McKenzie, Teacher

Year 5 & 6

As we head back into another round of remote learning, we can keep our spirits high by channelling the enthusiasm we had on Athletics day. 

The Year 5/6 cohort set their minds to a ‘free lunch’, and had smashed that goal by 9.00am! Every member of our class attended, dressed in team colours. The excitement was through the roof before we headed to the oval. We knew the fun had begun when Laura led us through warm ups of exquisite dance moves and a few rounds of the Chicken Dance, Nutbush and Macarena. 

We were exceptionally proud of the attitudes and behaviour of the whole class. Everyone participated (winning us an extra lunch!) and gave it their best shot in every round. They looked out for and cheered each other on passionately, proving to be a tight knit bunch. They demonstrated each of Wedderburn College’s values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience, and deserve a hearty CONGRATULATIONS! 

Please remember that if you need support with learning activities during home learning to contact either Mrs Steel or Miss Purkiss via email or by phoning the school. We understand that this can be a very stressful time for families. 

We look forward to having everyone back at school safe and well as soon as possible. 

Mrs Annita Steel and Miss Amy Purkiss, Class Teachers

Year 7 Art

Printmaking - COIN DESIGN 

The students in Year 7 Art were required to:

• Research Australian Coin Designs
• Identify Australian Coins that have animals featured on them.
• Sketch three different coin images
• Choose their favourite and most appropriate image to create a lino carving.

The students discussed Stuart Devlin AO 

Born in Geelong, Australia in 1931, Stuart Devlin AO completed art school at the Gordon Institute of Technology, Geelong specialising in Goldsmithing and Silversmithing at age 17. In a career that began as a teenager in Geelong, Devlin has carved out an illustrious career spanning more than 70 years.

Apart from designing Australia’s decimal coins that were released into circulation in February 1966, Devlin has designed coins for 30 other countries, including the United Kingdom and Singapore. He says: ‘I like the fact that millions of people around the world carry my work in their pockets.’ However, coins represent only one part of Devlin’s extraordinary career. 

From the ubiquitous Wiltshire Staysharp carving knife to ground-breaking designs for coffee services, furniture, tableware and candelabrum that lit up dining rooms around the world, Devlin produced exquisite pieces in silver with filigree gold ornamentation. His aim was to restore ‘richness and romance’ to peoples’ lives. Many honours have come his way, notably his appointment as Goldsmith and Jeweller to the Queen in 1982. After designing many of the awards within the Australian honours system, he was himself appointed an AO in 1988. 

Among other achievements, he designed the medals and coins for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Devlin has lived and worked in the United Kingdom since the 1960s, setting up his business after travelling there to oversee production of the new Australian decimal coins at the Royal Mint.

Ms Sophia Herrington (Piccoli)

Art Teacher 

Year 8 Orientation Day 

On Wednesday the 18th of August, our Year 8 students undertook their Orientation Day to the North Central Trade Training Centre. 

On this day, our students participated in the seven different electives that they can choose from in 2022.

Some of the highlights of the day were feeding the goats, cutting the scarves, trying out the tools in wood and game design. 

A big thank you to Barry McKenzie for organising the day.

Attached to this Newsletter are the subject overviews from NCTTC and Student Selection Form. Year 8 students have also been emailed this selection form. These need to be filled in and returned to Miss Milne no later than Friday the 27th of August.

Maths Pathways

Here we go again! A reminder to complete all of your assigned modules and revise for your tests.

Congratulations to this fortnights Maths Pathway champions. 

Just a reminder that students achieving 100% growth rate each cycle is equivalent to one year’s growth achieved in the Mathematics curriculum. 

REMOTE LEARNING TIPS - MATHS

• Make a plan and ensure you are completing an hour of Maths each day
• Create a goal for each day
• Separate your modules and complete them a page or two at a time
• Schedule in you time.

Please see below a blank timetable you may wish to use to schedule in subjects and break times.

Miss Emma Milne 

Maths Teacher

English Lockdown Study Tips

Whilst in Lockdown it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed about the amount of work that is in the booklets. However, there is no need as most English teachers have broken their booklets down into small and achievable chunks. 

If you are still feeling overwhelmed, try and focus on completing a small amount of reading, writing, spelling and language conventions (grammar/punctuation) activities, each day. You will quickly reach your 100 minutes of Literacy a day!

It would be best practice to complete Literacy and Numeracy in the morning and leave any specialist subjects that have provided work, until the afternoon. 

Most importantly, communicate with your English teacher if you are struggling with the workload or have any questions. We will try and support you the best we can.

Ms Kirsten Graham 

English Teacher

Year 9 Health Day

On Wednesday 18th August, the Year 9 students participated in a day covering a variety of aspects related to ‘Health’. Students looked at mental health, sleep/sleep routines and how these influence your health, music (drumming) as a form of stress release, drugs and alcohol as well as nutrition. 

Despite some late restructuring due to unforeseen circumstances, students were able to take away a lot of useful information and were engaged by some terrific presentations from Bethany and Cindy from Inglewood Community Health, Janice and Mr Forrest. 

Students were asked at the end of the day what stood out to them and some of the responses were as follows: 

• “There are no safe drugs” 
• “I need more sleep”
• “I am Shocked by how much sugar is in Nutra Grain and flavoured milk” 
• “I loved the beer goggle activity” 
• “My dad drinks too much whisky!”
• “Food was good – especially the smoothies"

A massive thankyou to Janice Deocampo for organising this wonderful day and to Mr Lockhart for providing some great food.

Mr Pettifer

PE Teacher

Science Week

Science Week ran from Monday 16th August to Friday 20th August. Activities were held by Mr Merritt at lunch time, for both Primary and Secondary students. 

Students had the opportunity to discover electronics and making a variety of different electrical circuits, including an AM Radio. Students used new magnetic kits to discover the force of magnetism and how it can make objects move by attracting or repelling them. Students observed magnetic levitation through the repulsion forces of magnets. 

Overall students really enjoyed the hands-on activities, giving them the opportunity to build and construct devices that use the principles of science in our everyday lives.

Mr Merritt

Science Teacher

Year 10 Work Experience

Conrad Sudgen completing his work experience at Wedderburn Hardware. 

Thank you to the local business for their ongoing support which allows our students to undertake work experience.

Year 11 Business Studies

The E&C’s Pop-Up-Shop has been postponed with a date yet to be determined. It may be later this term.  In the meantime, order forms and money can be returned in an envelope to the front office.

E&C’s Pop-Up-Shop is a short-term business activity being organised by Year 11 Business Management students. It is a fundraising initiative and all profits from the day will be donated to the Parents Association. The theme of the day will be

“D is for Doughnut Day”. Items available to purchase are Krispy Kreme doughnuts (both individually and by the dozen), toasted sandwiches, jelly, hot chocolates and coffee. Krispy Kreme doughnuts and toasted sandwiches will need to be pre-ordered but jelly, hot chocolates and coffee can be bought on the day. Coffee can only be sold to high school students and staff. 

* Pre-ordered boxes of doughnuts can be collected at the end of the day.

Ms Steptoe

Business Management Teacher

VCAL & VCE

VTAC

Last Tuesday the VCE cohort in Year 12 met with Sue Clay and went through their VTAC registration and application.  This process allows students to nominate 8 courses they would like to do once they are successful in passing VCE and in most cases have an ATAR score.  It’s beneficial to do it during Term 3 as some courses require further work to apply, such as personal statements, auditions, folios of work etc.  We also had time to go over what is required for a SEAS application and scholarships.

It was great to see most of the students came with an idea of what they wanted to choose and had the various course names and codes ready to apply.  Mrs Barker and Mrs Woodman were able to also assist the students with their applications and it was clear for a lot of the students that things have certainly become real.  Exciting times are ahead.

VCAL

By being back on site, the VCAL students have been able to start up the VCafe again and get some very worthwhile experience in the kitchen. Last week’s food choices of pumpkin soup, sausage rolls and rum balls proved very popular.

SPORTS

What a great turn up of senior students at the School Athletics Carnival.  It was wonderful to hear about the positivity of the day and the great amount of participation.  Extra pleasing was the 100% attendance by the Year 12 cohort and each student participated in events.  Well done! A great example of leadership and responsibility.

GAT

The GAT is set to be held on Thursday 9th September.  Please be aware that if there is any change to this, students will be told as soon as we know.

REMOTE LEARNING

All VCE and VCAL classes will be held via WebEx and it is an expectation that all students attend as they would if we were onsite.  We are getting too close to the end of the year to drop effort and work must still be completed.

We are also aware that during this time, some of us struggle with our wellbeing.  Make sure you reach out and talk to someone.  Know that we are here to talk to, as well as our fantastic wellbeing team, Janice and Kerry.  Make sure you get out and exercise in the fresh air.  Spend time in the sunshine and be kind to yourself.

Mrs Lauren Barker and Mrs Carol Woodman

VCE & VCAL Coordinators 

VCAL Activities

VCAL students have been getting involved in some “hands on” activities in between lockdowns which has been great to see. 

Students helped Mr Pettifer prepare the Long Jump pits for the Athletics House Sports and have been involved in repairing the cubby house in the primary school area with the help of Peter Zubov. 

Students have also been enjoying using the Woodwork room to make their own personal creations such as cutting boards, a wall mounted BBQ utensil holder and a wooden speaker box for an iPhone. 

Some of our VCAL students have been working with Di Robertson, who is volunteering her time to teach students important textiles skills. Their first project was to make pin cushions and they are now working on making denim bags from recycled jeans. 

Ms Steptoe

VCAL Teacher

Compass

Don't wait for the end of semester to view your child's progress. Log in to Compass and view teacher feedback and feed forward at any time by checking out your child's Learning Tasks. Children also received regular (every 5 weeks) progress reports on their Organisation, Behaviour, Attitude to Learning and Work Completion. Learning Tasks and Reports can be found on you child's profile page.