College Newsletter

Middle School News

Diversity Dash

Year 9 Student-Led Assembly

We had our 3rd Student-Led Assembly for 2022 and let me tell you, our Student Leaders were 100% in charge and in control of this one. They celebrated their peers' achievements, shared information about upcoming events like the Diversity Dash, congratulated our Term 4 School for Student Leadership Team, and rocked out to Rock Band Cs awesome performance. 

 

Thank-you to Mr Dean and all the supervising teachers for assisting the event so the students leaders could have another successful celebration. A special thank-you to our parents who join us again, we love having you in our audience! 

 

Yr 9s don't forget to write your story's for the Jessica Lindner Story Competition *see newsfeed for more details. 

 

Have a wonderful holiday, stay safe, stay active and see you for another exciting term 4.

 

Lisa Chiuchiarelli

Positive Climate Leader

Diversity Dash

Moving with colour

 

On Wednesday 14th September, our Year 9s ran two of the happiest laps around our school sports field! The Diversity Dash encourages students to get out and get active as part of a fun, social, colourful and inclusive event conducted within the school grounds. Students can run, skip, dance, or walk their way through a course while being squirted with colourful, non-toxic powder. 

 

 

 

 

 

Schools also play a critical role in strengthening multicultural inclusion in our community by providing an environment where acceptance of diversity, knowledge of other cultures and an understanding of global and local issues can be developed.

 

All of our Year 9s involved, including the teachers and education support staff had an absolute ball of a time. We were so impressed with the students' behaviour and grateful that we could celebrate them in their last week of term! Shout out to Tom Edgcumbe for all his work in organising this event with me!

 

 

 

Lisa Chiuchiarelli

Positive Climate Leader

Congratulations to Vlad P. of 9C for achieving a BRONZE medal in the AWF weightlifting competition in August. 

 

My Duke of Edinburgh Camp: Adventurous Journey

In Week 9, our Year 9 Duke of Ed students planned and implemented a self-contained bush walk journey from school to Crystal Brook Tourist Park in Warrandyte. Students were required to carry everything they needed for an overnight camp in their hiking packs, including food, water, and sleeping equipment. Along the way, they explored Mullum Mullum creek, Yarra Trail, noting significant historical sites, and local flora and fauna. At camp, students enjoyed games, campfire cooking, and a night walk before sleeping/crashing in tent accommodation. The Duke of Ed Adventurous Journey develops and tests a student's personal and social capabilities.   

 

 

Student Reflections

 

This camp offered many first time experiences; first time sleeping in a tent, first time walking 10kms+ in 2 days, first time wearing a hiking pack, first time using a Trangea pot... the list is neverending.
 
I have learnt most of these skills along the way. Our preparation stage before going camping was crucial for me. If it wasn't for the multiple lessons on setting up a tent, using the Trangea, and other safety lessons, I would have been lost on day 1.
 
Carrying a 10kg hiking pack was very challenging, especially whilst hiking through the trails. My favourite among the Mullum Mullum, Pound Bend and Westerfolds was definitely the Pound Bend tunnel. Overlooking the water splashing through the tunnel, there was a sense of tranquility and connection to the land. I also found many bird feathers of surrounding birds such as cockatoos, sparrows and kookaburras.
 
At the campsite, my partner Jess and I were diligently setting up our tent. However, we found out that the tent pole actually went through the tarp NOT the actually tent... a bit too late. That taught us a valuable lesson; ask before you do (if unsure).
 
This came in handy when cooking our food. While trying to make the flame bigger, I tried to take the simmer ring off the flame. Unsuccessfully the ring fell onto the bottom of the trangea. However the problem was resolved after Miss Chich used the spadoolie to get it out.
 
Along this camp, my feet were aching after all the walking. Unfortunately, the last two hours of camp, I was bitten by two bullants. They stung but I persevered the last few hours. However, through this experience, I also learnt to check logs before you sit on them!

 

 

The Duke of Edinburgh class planned and went on an overnight camp at Crystal Brooke caravan park. We all did great, fun activities like:
  • Going to Pound Bend
  • Cooking our dinner using a Trangia
  • Hiking along the Yarra river
My favourite activity was definitely hiking because we got to go out in nature and really admire the land we live in. And I never realised how therapeutic hiking out in nature is. 
 
Some challenges of the camp was actually getting there because we took a bus and walked a lot of the way, and we had to make class decisions on where to go. But it all worked out.
 
A challenge my group faced was deciding what food to buy because we all wanted different things. We overcame this challenge by finding foods that we all liked. We had to pack for dinner, lunch and breakfast.
 
All in all, I had a great time at camp.

 

  

Alpine School

Alpine School is a School for Student Leadership that provides an immersive state-wide residential program for Year 9 students. Only 2% of students in our state are given such the opportunity to attend this education facility. It is a BIG deal and we are incredibly proud of the young people from our Middle School who will be embarking on this journey from week 1 in Term 4. 

  • Oliver B.
  • Sarah C.
  • Oliver D.
  • Jia Yue F.
  • Lucinda L.
  • Abby M.
  • Nikola P.
  • Andrew R.

The curriculum for our team of 8, plus their 45 or so peers from across metropolitan and regional schools, focuses on personal development and team learning projects sourced from students' home regions. We are keen to support their Community Learning Project. Watch this space for updates on their adventures and learning. 

 

Thank-you to our College Council for supporting these students to attend. To the parents of these young people, we wish you luck in preparation and in their absence - we will miss them too!

 

MyCity Excursion 

Liveability Walk on the 10th August

 

Not just a sight-seeing activity, students are asked to think a little deeper about the destinations by using the following questions.

 

Collins Street

  1. Understand Luxury brand establishment and value, why people choose to fancy and expensive pants and shoes? Who are they?
  2. Understand what the city looks like and its history. Who is living in the city and who will come to city? 
  3. How to judge a person according to their appearance?  How old are they? What is their hobby? Which school did they attend? What is their personality like? Is all this judgement, right? Why?

 

Russell Street

  1. Understanding old power and new power difference between church and bank.
  2. Understand indigenous people's history, how did the government get the land?

 

The Alley Art Wall

  1. Understanding the meaning of the paintings.
  2. Individual value and family balance
  3. Little stories about personal growth

 

Swanston Street

  1. Which group is the city for?
  2. Discuss disabled people and support they receive.
  3. City is the place for connecting people.

 

Written by Kristin Li

Inclusion Officer 

 

 

MyCity Excursion

The Eureka Tower Experience

 

Year 9 students had their excursion at the Eureka tower on August 17, 2022. The experience not only brought them to the top of the tallest residential skyscraper in Melbourne, where they had a full view of Melbourne’s CBD but also across Melbourne through voyage theatre. The students experienced traveling around Melbourne, awakening all their senses as they went through the journey, peaking and smelling all the wonders of Melbourne through the virtual reality pod chairs in the voyage theatre. 

After an adventurous ride across Melbourne, they learned the history and architectural structure of the Eureka tower. The students showed their interest and asked questions. 

 

And then, they experienced seeing Melbourne’s CBD on the 88th floor of the Eureka tower. Seeing Melbourne’s CBD at the top of the Eureka tower feels like seeing the city for the first time. The spectacular view of the world’s tallest residential skyscraper showcases and captures the beauty and attraction of the city in one glance. It gave the students a memorable experience. They were able to view and explore the city from a different angle. They also experienced the fresh air in an enclosed open area on the 88th floor of the Eureka tower. 

 

Some students experience the Edge, a glass-enclosed cube in full view of the city on all sides. The students had an enjoyable learning experience at the Eureka tower. 

 

The experience showcases the beauty and wonders of Melbourne, and the students travel and see the beauty and attraction of the city in one place. 

 

Written by Iris Karl De Leon

Wellbeing volunteer

Student photos

The following photos were taken by Year 9 student, Leroy F, on his MyCity excursions. Thank you for your contribution, Leroy!

MyCity Excursion

 

On Wednesday 10th August, two year 9 MyCity classes attended the “Most Liveable City” excursion in the Melbourne CBD. Striving to be resilient, the students had the opportunity to catch the bus all together and navigate their way into the city. 

 

The students respectfully met with a tour guide from “The Intersection Urban Learning”. Starting at Collins Street, the tour guide used the surrounding expensive shops and buildings to demonstrate Melbourne’s image of livableness and accessibility. As each stop of the walk progressed, the tour guide drew emphasis on specific barriers that prevent reaching this ideal. 

 

Through storytelling, the students learnt about the prevalence of homelessness and how this contrasts with Melbourne’s “liveable city” expectation. The students learnt that only 2% of people experiencing homelessness is a result of drug addiction; rather, it is often a result of divorce, mental illness or domestic violence. 

 

By drawing awareness to the realities of many people in our communities, the students reflected upon their own experiences as well as challenge their own preconceived ideas around these issues. Most students said they found this very surprising and mind-opening. 

 

The tour guide drew attention to the importance of the land we stand and live on, and the ongoing impacts Colonisation has to this day. The students were faced with the saddening realities that marginalised communities still face today and how they can use their own power to deconstruct this. 

 

The students were challenged to understand their responsibility within society, and more specifically within their school community. Through this experience, the students demonstrated the ability to empathically reflect upon the social issues that many people in Melbourne’s CBD face.  

 

Written by Natasha Pignatelli

Wellbeing Placement Student