From the Classroom

Year 7 & 8 School Program

The beginning of the school year has seen the expansion of the MITS program to include both Year 7 and Year 8, for the very first time. We are fortunate to continue with the Year 7 program in the Richmond Football Club, while the Year 8s are working not too far away at Richmond High School. We look forward to bringing the two year levels together on the one site in the coming years. The students have been fantastic settling into their new routines and embracing all of the many wonderful learning experiences on offer, of which a few are outlined below.

(Left) The Year 8s are working with the Melbourne Recital Centre, led by First Nations facilitator Davey Norris, to create electronic and recorded music, 

This term students have participated in a number of Art projects. One of the highlights was meeting Gail Mabo, daughter of Eddie Mabo. She shared the story of her recent artwork on celestial stories and students then used natural resources to create a story that represented them. 

“Minjin crossing is located in Bulman/Weemol. It is 20-24 minutes away from the community. I chose this place because I go there every week with my family, and we go there to hunt and go for a swim. It has lots of sand under the water and there's lots of fish. The water is very clear and also my grandfather takes me there all the time. That's why Minjin Crossing is important to me - Jamelia Yr 8 

The Science curriculum has taken the students outside of the classroom, as they learnt about plant adaptations in the Botanical Gardens with Rick Tudor, how to dissect a squid in the labs at Melbourne University and explored Dights Falls, finding out about the adaptations of aquatic invertebrates.

We have loved when the Year 7 & 8 students have been able to come together in the classroom. 

Dwayne and Michael (left) getting stuck into some reading.

The Year 7s have also been refining their subtraction skills. Ricky and Dylena (below) are pretty proud of their regrouping. 

Michael Barnhoorn

Head of Teaching & Learning

Geography

In Year 8 Geography this term, we have been learning about water in the world. Recently, Kalkarindji and the surrounding areas in the Northern Territory have flooded, causing over 700 people to be evacuated from their homes. 

We have learnt that when the rivers overflow they can turn into floods. If the rainfall is heavy, it can cause a flash flood. Floods are very destructive to homes and communities and it is very expensive to clean up and to fix the damage that has been caused. 

In the MITS community we have students and boarding staff from Kalkarindji and around that area, as well as Fitzroy Crossing, whose communities have been affected by the floods and need food, clothing and any other necessary items to rebuild their homes and try to get back to normal.

If you would like to help, you can donate using the links below and thank you for donating.

Nariyah, Zaya and Caiden

https://mwrc.com.au/pages/donations

https://www.freedomday.com.au/donate

https://www.cdu.edu.au/alumni-giving/2023-northern-territory-flood-appeal