Middle Years Update

Some words of Wisdom on Lockdown 2.0 from  two of our wise Year 7 Class Captains

I think everyone is finding lockdown a bit hard but here are some of my do’s and don’ts about lockdown. My do’s are I get to spend a lot more time with my dog, I get to play with my siblings all day and I can eat whenever I want! But Some of my don’ts are, I don’t get to see any other family or friends, I don’t get to go to school and I get really bored!  

My piece of advice is try and use being at home all day-everyday, to your advantage. You can do so much in your free time while you are stuck at home😊!   

Kayla Earsman 7E

I really like remote learning 2.0.  Even though we can’t see our friends and classmates face to face, we can still see them in the class calls that we do and just talk with everyone. I also like that the things we would usually do at school are harder to do because we are at home, but we are still giving it a go.  It is sometimes annoying though, because we have to stare at our screens all day. It’s also annoying sometimes when we can’t do actual cooking in the kitchen at school with our class. Same with science where we can’t do some little pracs at home.  My piece of advice it that no matter how hard things are just give it a go and it might get easier.    

Dyllan Marget 7A

The last day of Term will be celebrated with a Lockdown 2.0 Celebration Pyjama Day were all the Year 7’s can stay in their PJ’s all day. Teachers also have permission to stay in their pj’s if they want to. There will be lunchtime films and Kahoot games.  There will also be a Pet Photo Competition.  

Year 7 PJ Day Reflection:

To celebrate the end of Term 3, the Year 7 HG captains organised a Pyjama / Comfy Clothes day for all of Year 7 on Friday the 18th of September.

The Year 7 HG captains planned a fun day packed with plenty of exciting activities such as Movies, Kahoot and a photo competition! Many HGs competed at recess to take the place as KAHOOT MASTER. We also had multiple watch parties running at lunchtime, to view Wreck it Ralph, The Parent Trap and Monster’s Inc together. It was heaps of fun to see people dressed in their pjs for the day. Some teachers even got involved! This day was all about having fun and celebrating the amazing work students have done during remote learning.

We hope you all enjoyed it! We also hope everyone has wonderful, restful holidays.

From the Year 7 HG Captains of 2020

What's happening in Year 8

Well, what a term! Congratulations, Year 8s, on making it to the end of what has been a Term Three like no other. We are so proud of all the efforts you have made and the resilience you have shown this term – and your ability to respond and adapt to new challenges has been outstanding.

In times like these, it is more important than ever that we take some time to reflect on and celebrate all that we have achieved. Challenging yourself has been an ongoing theme of the year, and you have all risen to the occasion magnificently. Term Three has been a significant term in the school year, and all of you should be proud of your accomplishments.

While many of your subjects remained the same, the beginning of term marked the beginning of new subjects and – for some of you – new teachers. Whether this unlocked your new passion, introduced you to some new ideas or allowed you to explore your interests in greater depth, you have done very well to adjust in such a challenging time.

New and exciting subjects were central to the term. You all received a handbook in the mail outlining the huge range of subject options for Year 9 – you will be the first Year 9 cohort in Wantirna’s history to have so much input into your subjects. We are so proud of the way you all investigated and explored your options, whether that be through Curriculum Information Night, speaking to subject teachers or your Mentor Group teacher. Each of you put considerable thought into this fantastic opportunity to develop the right course for you. The school leaders are busily allocating you to your subjects, and we look forward to sharing these with you later in the year.

At the end of Term Two, each of you embarked on a Personal Best project, which came to fruition at the end of this term. For many of you, this required some significant flexibility and adjustments to your action plan, but you should all be proud of the ways in which you challenged and pushed yourself throughout the term. We encourage you to carry this mindset with you into Term 4, into 2021 and beyond.

You have ahead of you a two-week break from school. Use this time to relax and look after yourself. Read a book, play video games, do some yoga, teach your dog a new trick – whatever it is that relaxes you. You’ve had a long, intense term, and your two-week holiday is very well deserved.

Look after yourselves and each other – and remember to reach out if there’s anything we can do to support you.

Mr Karwan & Mrs Digby

What's happening in Year 9

Term 3 was about new electives, new curriculum and mastering independent study skills. It has been another term that we did not anticipate, but one that has shown yet again how our Year 9 students can adapt and become self-motivated. 

Pathways have been explored this term when students explored subjects for Year 10. Unlike the times when the college would be open for the evening with demonstrations and informative presentations, we got to open our laptops and do it all remotely. This was a challenging task but so many of our Year 9 students participated in the evening and during mentor group the following day. Many teachers spoke about the impressive question’s students asked and the excitement particularly around the changes to the college’s curriculum choices for 2021. 

Students had a full day of researching ideas for subject selection and then participating in student conferences with their Mentor teachers. As we are both Mentor teachers, we can speak first had how powerful these discussions were. Students showed their preparation and how important this next chapter of their education is to them. 

It has also been a term where many of our Year 9 students have turned 15 and began thinking of entering the workforce. We have had many students asking for references, which we are pleased to offer. These crazy times we are living in now has meant that students have had to be home and out of their normal routines. Employers want to know how you have adapted, so speaking about your independent study skills and communication skills with teachers is something students should be encouraged to celebrate in their interviews and job applications. 

We have all had to learn to adapt and be resilient. It has been hard, and we are looking forward to Term 4 becoming ‘back to normal’. We want to hear about some ‘fun’ developmental skills you worked on while in lockdown. Maybe use the holidays to begin a new hobby or perfect that skill you never have time to work on. Ms Ivankovic has been developing her mad skills on her skateboard using it for transportation to buy her morning coffee. While Mrs. Franks has been developing her skills in Grade 4 and 5 curriculum as she’s been remote teaching her own children. 

Wishing you all a safe break. Re-charge over the holidays- make sure you do something that you enjoy!

We look forward to seeing your faces and hearing your laughter in Term 4. 

Mrs. Franks and Ms Ivankovic