Student News
"Be The Best That You Can Be"
Year 7 Science – Measuring Devices
I am glad to say that our Year 7 young scientists have settled in very well into the school environment in just a few weeks. I am pleased to hear that these young scientists are enjoying their science lessons at school and sharing their classroom experiences with their family members.
Recently, the Year 7E's explored the different scientific equipment/tools that they are going to use in the Science lab in real life. They used a few measuring devices, viz. a stopwatch, measuring tape, trundle wheel, thermometer, kitchen scale, measuring cylinder, force meter, and many more.
They worked in pairs and used the above instruments for a given situation by choosing the right tool. A few pics of their investigation using various tools are below for your reference.
Year 7 English
Our Year 7 students have been busy developing their creative writing skills. Here are some examples of some 'Theme Song' that students from 7B were asked to write:
THEME SONG
BULLYING
There are no benefits of being rude
It doesn’t make you look cool
Bullying can make people feel weak
So, don’t be rude just because you think they’re a geek
Bullying is a crime
And it will be until the end of time
You should let everyone live their own life
So, don’t be strife
There’s no reason to feel so blue
Those bullies haven’t got a clue
About who you are
Oh, you’ve come so far
Now go be you
Bullying is a crime
And it will be until the end of time
You should let everyone live their own life
So don’t be strife
Now what should you do if you are getting bullied?
Go tell a teacher, friend, or parent
They’ll listen to you and give you advice
And you’ll be able to go back to feeling precise
Georgina Bice-7B
Motivation
Motivation is Inspirational
It is very traditional
Motivation is National
Motivation is compassion
You must be passionate
Motivation can give you affection
Your work doesn’t have to be perfection
As long as you try
And you are motivated
There is no need to cry
And maybe you can impress the nation
As long as you have someone there
To motivate you no matter
You can have quite a fun time
As long as you try
And you are motivated
There is no need to cry
And maybe you can impress the nation
By Kayla BERWICK – 7B
Standing Ovation
Hardwork is not easy,
Its not a piece of cake, maybe you never know,
You could get a heart ache.
Sometimes life can make you sad
But you just got to know, it’s best not to be mad.
All you might need is motivation,
Maybe just one day,
You’ll get appreciation,
you might never know, it’s probably a standing ovation.
Sometimes life is gonna pull you back,
You just gotta know, it’s not all black.
Sometimes life can make you sad,
But you just gotta know, it’s best not to be mad.
All you might need is motivation,
Maybe just one day,
You’ll get appreciation,
you might never know, it’s probably a standing ovation.
Zahrah Moin-7B
Teamwork
Teamwork is fun
So, let’s have some fun
I can’t hear you
I can’t fear you
Teamwork is great
And you don’t know it
We’ re bigger
We’re stronger
And we’re tougher too
It’s all fun and games
Until the day
Break a bone I hear someone say
As the day comes everyone is lit
We are a team
And we are big and fit
Teamwork is fun
So, let’s have some fun
I can’t hear you
I can’t fear you
By Marlie Moloney-7B
Leadership Camp
The school leadership camp is a great opportunity for all leaders from various year levels to come together and improve on their leadership skills as a group. The activities such as Abseiling, Canoeing and Hiking in the picturesque setting, pushed us all out of our comfort zones and encouraged trying new things. The four groups Red, Green, Blue and Yellow all mixed so well right off the bat and created good, friendly competition between everyone. Overall the camp was a great experience and taught us all heaps of valuable lessons, these lessons will be applied to our leadership positions next year in all sorts of ways.
- Lachlan Palmer (School Captain, 2022)
Year 8 Design Engineering
These are some photos of the groups working on designing a maze challenge for the EV3 Lego Mindstorm Robots for year 8 Design Engineering.
Year 8 ACE Science Extended Experimental Investigation
This term the Year 8 students at Wheelers Hill SC have explored the concept of different forms of energy and how they transfer and transform in the world around us. To test their understanding and incorporate their Scientific Inquiry skills the Year 8 ACE class was challenged to develop their own investigation that incorporates some of the concepts we explored early in the term. All of the students took on the task with enthusiasm and were able to ask some very interesting scientific questions to be put to the test.
Click here to view some Science Experiment Videos:
With rackets, coke bottles, stopwatches, scales, and yeast at hand the students set out to run their exciting experiments. They learned the importance of being thorough with our method and materials and how to use scientific background knowledge to develop a prediction. Despite what was at times an unexpected outcome, all the teams were effective in their collaboration and ensured they communicated their scientific learning through a modern scientific poster.
A special thank you to Mr. Bragg for putting together some very complicated student experiments and even helping to run some crazy devil’s toothpaste!
Mr. Pedro Mello
STEM Learning Specialist
Year 8 Personal Best and 2022 Captains
Our first term in Year 8 has seen students embrace the Personal Best Program with their focus on positive learning and engagement in and beyond the classrooms.
We look forward to the Surf Day, the RAISE Mentoring Program and opportunities set for the terms ahead. Last week’s Year Level Assembly, featuring the positive starts to the 2022 School year, saw Home Group Captains receive their badges. As student leaders, they will share the College values and represent their peers in all aspects of Year 8.
Mr Woods and I look forward to working with the Year 8 Captains, proving their best as leaders.
Congratulations to Home Group Captains:
8A Charlotte Marescaux and Lexi Adomian
8B Mackenzie Rooney – Ho and Melinda Loh
8C Niki Stanlovic and Zoe Tulloch
8D Ellie Kasapoglou and Georgia Mann
8E Gabrielle Nayef and Poppy Stainthorpe
8F Shayley Nada and Mitchell Peacock
8G Mo Pham and Richard Jiang
Miss Jacinta Wilson
Year 8 Coordinator
ACE Project Escape Room Program
As part of the Year 7 ACE Project, our students in the ACE class are taking on the challenge of developing their very own Escape Room that incorporates the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As our class focuses on the Design Thinking Process and the first initial phase of Design Thinking is to Empathise we had the pleasure of visiting EscapeXperience in Oakleigh so that all of our students could have a go at their own real-world Escape Room. Students took on the challenge, with support from Mr. Dixon and Ms. Riddoch, and had a real go at trying to get out of professional Escape Rooms. Although not all groups got out, all the teams were able to truly learn what an Escape Room is all about!
From here students conducted quick Empathy interviews with each other, breaking down what they felt, heard, saw, said, and did, and how that might have made them have different pains and gains from the experience.
Some great comments from our students include -
“We worked together efficiently and relied on a teammate who had done one before”, Eric
“The plot and story was really good and interesting. With cool puzzles and unexpected clues and things”, Stella
“I got to learn lock opening skills. There was also excitement of the new experience and I got to know my group a lot better”, Tilly
We certainly can’t wait to see our students put on their creative hats and develop their own Escape Room for our school community to try to Escape next term!
Mr. Pedro Mello
STEM Learning Specialist
Year 10 Leadership Class
“Talking About Year 7 Peer Support Wins and Challenges”
The Amazing Benefits of Peer Support
Peer Support is a fabulous and exciting program that is run every year, where a group of Year 10 leaders go into a Year 7 class and teach the class important skills moving forward into high school and in life. Over the past weeks, the Year 10 Peer Support Leaders have taught the Year 7s twice, teaching them a range of skills from emotional literacy to belonging. I was so excited to be teaching the Year 7s, and I found my team and I had learned many new skills along the way, that improved our leadership skills and our teamwork and collaboration.
My team and I learned how to tailor and personalise certain activities in certain classes, as the class we had, 7C, preferred active games that required them to move around and talk amount each other, while still learning. I also discovered that teaching a class is more complicated than it sounds, but it provided me with a challenge to apply my leadership style to classes and how to work with a group to create lessons plans and run the class.
I also loved learning more about the students in my class and having fun and laughing with them in class. It gave me an opportunity to create a bond with the class, which I know we can use later on in the year. I found that it is ok to make mistakes and how to learn, grow and laugh about them, with my team and my class. It was so fun and rewarding watching the Year 7s complete our lesson plan and have fun and laugh while doing it. I loved taking the Year 7s this term, and I can’t wait for more Peer Support classes with 7C and more opportunities to expand my leadership skills even further.
Hannah Wright (10B)
Learning about Trust
Peer Support is a program run by the Year 10 Leadership class and our aim is to make the transition, for Year 7, into high school more comfortable for them whilst playing some games for interaction. We are teaching them some life lessons as well as how to help control emotions and how to respect their peers.
Some positive experiences my group went through included engaging the class in listening and contributing. My group’s most successful activity was the egg and spoon race. We were testing how our emotions change when we play the game with a real egg versus a chocolate egg. Year 7 students really enjoyed the activity as it taught them about trust.
Bri Chandler (10E)
Moving Forward
Supporting the Year Sevens, influencing and providing a positive atmosphere and simply comprehending these students was one of the most rewarding experiences. Discovering how to approach their learning in a suitable manner, struggling to keep their attention and attempting to create amusing and academic activities was challenging. Along this leadership journey, I have uncovered that I really enjoy structuring relationships with all types of personalities and that respect is fundamental to working with each other.
Zoe Hunt (10A)
Building Confidence
Peer Support is a program run by the Year 10 Leadership class. This program consists of groups of Year 10 students teaching and bonding with an assigned group of Year 7 students. Our goal is to make the Year 7 cohort more comfortable in the school environment, whilst teaching them important values through fun learning activities.
I have found that this has benefited both the Year 10 and 7 classes in many different ways. I have learnt what it means to be a leader and the positive and negative aspects of it. Throughout only two classes, I have watched the Year 7 students gain a newfound confidence and it could not be more rewarding to experience them blossom in the learning environment we have created.
Jasmine Poole (10A)
What Peer Support has Done for Me
Picking Peer Support for one of my Year 10 Subjects was probably one of the best decisions I have made. Being a part of Peer Support has given me so much confidence and a voice that I never knew I had. It has opened up some amazing activities that I’m sure all the other Year 10’s are jealous of. Being a part of such a good group and working with different people of all year levels has really stepped me out of my comfort zone and has given me a wide range of amazing opportunities.
Charlee Jane (10E)
Purpose of Peer Support
Peer Support is a Leadership class with the Year 10 students who are working with the Year 7 students to focus on the Year 10s Leadership skills and their abilities of what they are capable of. For the Year 7s it is a way of showing them that there are people here for them if they ever need to talk and they can always rely on us Leaders to have that sort of comfort and support towards them.
Kirah Millar (10C)
Meaningful Takeaways
Peer Support was quite difficult from the beginning as I was new to this school and the subject. Over Term 1 I have gained the confidence that I never had before, to talk to new people and become friends with them. This has helped me majorly, as we worked together as a group, coming up with ideas for fun activities to do with the Year 7s. All these activities we ran with the Year 7s had meaningful takeaways that can help them through their high school journey. Overall, this subject has helped me personally gain more leadership skills, and social skills and hopefully has taught the Year 7s some important life lessons.
Morissa Khun (10E)
Growth in Me
Before peer support, I had already had a large amount of leadership experience and I went into the lesson feeling as though I would be using my skills but not growing them or learning anything new. However, I discovered how applying my skills in a new environment can be a satisfying challenge and enjoyed learning about all the kids' personalities and strengths so that we could tailor our lessons toward our group.
I know that I have grown as a leader and look forward to more opportunities to develop and improve how I relate my skills. I also know that I not only helped the Year 7s to form a closer connection with their peers, but I feel that I have grown closer to my group as well and I’m proud of how well we work together. Moving forward I can't wait to spend more time with 7C and my group!
Molly Downie (10B)
Year 10 Camp
Year 10 camp this year was on 23-25 March at Rawson Village. After two years of lockdown, students were very excited to finally go camping where they participated in a variety of activities and learned what 'S'mores' were. Below are some student reflections on the camp:
MY YEAR 10 CAMP EXPERIENCE-
On the 23rd- 25th of March, all of the year 10 students went to Rawson Village, in Rawson, to attend our first-year level camp since year 7! We were all excited to be going away and looking forward to spending 3 days with our friends and classmates. It was so nice to have the opportunity to do something we had missed being able to do during COVID lockdowns, and aside from wearing a mask and the pre-departure RAT tests, it was just like the good old days of school excursions!
Over the course of the three days we did a range of activates which included Commando (thankfully not as much mud as I expected!), Initiatives, Climbing Tower, Zip lining, Beach Volleyball and bush cooking (tip- damper takes a long time to cook. Be prepared to wait, because raw damper is not ok!!), and bush walking. There was also mountain biking, orienteering, high ropes and swimming (water was cold, showers were very warm!). We also enjoyed S’mores (so much chocolate and marshmallow goodness), trivia nights and watching the footy. We all had a lot of fun and learnt a couple of new things along the way.
On the last day we had a special guest speaker, Arthur Bolkas, who had turned his life around from being in jail in his younger life due to poor life choices, to become a criminologist and help other people turn their lives around. He also told us about the ‘4-legged stool’ theory, and how we need physical, mental, emotional and spiritual balance in our life to become successful. This is something we can all apply in our lives going forward. We all learnt a lot from Arthur, and I know a couple of people who were really moved by his speech.
Overall, we all had a really great time at our year 10 camp. There was lots of laughter and fun, and I got the chance to make some new friends and talk to people I haven’t talked to before. We have all learnt many new skills and life lessons, and also had a lot of fun and made lots of memories. Thank you for a really fun time!
Hannah Wright – 10B
Rawsons Village was an appreciable experience- from building tougher bonds, noting new skills, collaborating with our peers and even managing with the constriction of cold water, we all had a blast. Activities such as bush cooking, mountain bike riding, rock climbing and high roping were memorable encounters for all of us. Even in year 10, we were still able to create new friendships. Overall, Rawsons Village was a beneficial camp.
Zoe Hunt 10A
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