Middle School 

From the Head of Middle School 

This week we saw the launch of the Student Code of Conduct with the overall theme looking at students being able to learn without disruption in a safe environment. On Friday this week it is Bullying? No Way! Day with the theme of “Kindness Culture.” Students have had the opportunity to look at some videos regarding bullying online. 

In my role as Head of Middle School, students and parents often want to talk about bullying and what constitutes bullying behaviour. This topic is covered in detail in the Year Seven Health curriculum and also in Digital Technologies. Often we have to discern between rude behaviour, for example bad manners, mean behaviour, where there is a one off case of being mean towards someone else and bullying. When we deal with bullying we look at three things in particular; is there a power imbalance, is it unwarranted, is it repetitive. Often this is not clear cut and it takes some time to sort out the issues at hand, which is where we use the Schools' Anti-Bullying Policy, which is available on our website.

Parents can get a better understanding by viewing the YouTube videos that were created by the national Bullying No Way department What is bullying? - National Definition of Bullying - YouTube  Our aim is always to keep students safe at school and allow them to learn in a positive environment. 

NAPLAN

Next week all students in Years Seven and Nine will take part in a practice NAPLAN online writing test on Thursday at 9.00am. This test allows students to become more familiar with the online testing environment. The test is not for any formal assessment and results are not tabulated. It is important that all students come to school with a fully charged laptop. This helps students face the NAPLAN tests with confidence.

Expedition Leadership

Congratulations to the following Year Nine students who were presented with Expedition Leadership badges after the recent camp days: Amy Medway, Matilda Comer, Liesel Freebury, Ryan Hams, Sophie Harris, Mariella Somerscales and Chelsea Pearson.

Mr Adam Scott | Head of Middle School

VACS | Gill Creek Scout Camp

This Wednesday, the Year Seven Baudin students went to help at the Gill Creek Scout Camp in King River. The students and Mr Bonnin were challenged to cleaning out a fire pit and the dorms. The students were eager to help the owner of the camp with some jobs that needed to be done and were rewarded with biscuits and water at the end. The students had no problem with getting dirty with raking leaves and moving old furniture. Overall, this was a wonderful experience, and the students will go back to help more soon. I had a fun experience and think my peers did to.

Flora Rogers | Student