Middle School

Year 7 – A Year of Opportunities!

(Part 2)

In the previous newsletter, we started a series where Year 7 students of 2017 will be advising the 2018 Year 7 students on some essential skills to make this a successful year.

Kayle Dharmadasa, our current Middle School captain, writes the following:

In Year 7, my History study group had two students who had recently moved to Australia. They had very little knowledge of the English language, and I originally thought this would be a setback. It turned out to be a fun experience! Teaching them new words, phrases, metaphors and punctuation was sometimes challenging, but  we all had a good laugh together. If, for instance, I said someone was “on fire”, they would take it literally, and I would have to explain the real metaphoric meaning to them. It was an enjoyable experience, and when they accomplished something, I felt good. As I want to be a teacher one day, this was an important experience for my future.

In Year 7, there is a major change in how you get your books and materials for each class. In previous years, you would leave your books in tubs and at the start of each lesson, allocated people would just hand them out. In Year 7, you have to go to your locker every two periods and work out what you need for the next two periods. This is why organisation is important. To get the right books and stationery for each period, you have to be very organised. This is also an important skill for the future: if you are organised, it will be much easier to run a business, live in a family and keep track of your expenses.

Before Year 7, tests used to be so easy. Because of this, I barely studied for tests and kept this mindset going into Year 7. In Year 7, tests are much harder than in previous years. I had to put away my electronic devices, and start studying hard. This proved effective, as I achieved excellent test and exam scores. It has definitely taught me the importance of studying hard.

The last thing is probably one of the most important; stay focused. Daydreaming and staring out of the window might not have cost you much in Prep, but now you could miss heaps. If you got distracted for just a moment, you could miss some very important information, which could cost you good results. It is also important to do your work without getting distracted, or you could end up way behind the rest of the class in progress.

In conclusion, I think these things are important as they teach you life skills which will be useful in the future. I would like to thank my Year 7 teachers for setting a good example and teaching me some of the most important things I learnt this year.

Elijah Ferguson summarised his progress in Year 7 as follows:

I have enjoyed Year 7 as part of my schooling. Many of the teachers have been helpful to me. They answered questions, and taught me above and beyond what was required of them. Here are five of the most important things they taught me in Year 7.

I have learnt to organise my writing instruments, and to always have them handy. I have also learnt to organise my work, and to know when due dates were coming up and what standard should be met.

I have learnt how to write up experiment reports in Science. These reports form a large part of Science, and are very important. I am glad that I learnt how to do these, as they formed a respectable part of our grade.

Another thing I have learnt how to do, is study for exams. This is one of the most important aspects of school life, and I am glad I have learnt this in my early school years.

Most importantly, I have learnt to strengthen my relationship with God. I have learnt this through Biblical Studies, church and advice from friends, family and teachers.

Lastly, I have learnt to space out my year for work. For example, by the end of the year, we had to have completed the Essential Mathematics text book. Completing this text book, taught me to space my year out, by dividing the work into terms and semesters. This brought me success, and also taught me a skill that will be helpful in the years to come.

Thanks to these amazing budding journalists and writers for sharing their expertise about Year 7 with us. I hope our Year 7 students of 2018 will take their excellent advice to heart!

Year 7/8 Locker Bay

During Term 2 last year the new locker bay for Year 7 and 8 was completed, and students moved into the new area. In order to help us keep the locker bay a pleasant area for all concerned, a locker bay creed was drawn up and introduced to the students.

We have a roster of classes who regularly take responsibility for the clean-up in and around the locker bay, but the expectation is that students do not drop their rubbish, food or other possessions on the locker bay floor. Bins are provided for rubbish and recycling, as well as a compost bucket for food remains.

At the start of the year, the school provided each student with a lock, which the school paid for. We are constantly encouraging our students to keep their lockers locked in order to develop the basic life skill of organising and caring for their possessions. Please encourage them in this endeavour.

Christa Cloete

Year 7/8 Coordinator