Year 7 Information Night 2025: A Success
The 2025 Year 7 Information Night was well attended by both current and new families. The evening was an excellent opportunity for parents and students to learn more about what Middle School offers. A special thank you goes out to Ariana Ward and Zac Basterfield, who spoke during the event, sharing their experiences as Year 7 students.
Ariana, who has been with us since Prep, and Zac, who joined the College at the beginning of this year, both provided valuable insights into life in Middle School. They highlighted the wide range of opportunities available to students, from diverse subjects to our comprehensive music programs, SEISA involvement and the variety of extracurricular activities on offer. Their commendable speeches reflected the positive experiences they’ve had and the growth they’ve seen in themselves during their time here.
Thank you to everyone who attended the Information Night, and a special thanks again to Ariana and Zac for their inspiring contributions. Together, we can continue to make our Middle School a place where every student feels valued and supported.
House Cross Country
Last week’s House Cross Country was a fantastic display of fitness, determination and House spirit. We were thrilled to see students participating, each giving their best effort. Regardless of where students finished their contributions made the event a success and they earnt a point for their House! However, it was disappointing to see high absences, particularly in Year 8. I ask parents to support the school on this day next year, encouraging their children to attend school and participate. We encourage everyone to join in next year—there’s always something to strive for.
Congratulations to all participants; you’ve made your Houses proud! Congratulations to the following students who finished in the top 4 in their respective races. Well done to Ivy Addison, Jett Fawaz, Lucy Thompson, Ambrose de Gooyer, Ella Lomax and Lukah Fawaz who finished age champions! The results and photos of the day can be found in the Sport section of this newsletter.
Ralph Arceo
Head of Middle School
Book Week – Reading is Magic
Book Week's theme this year is "Reading is Magic." The Middle School celebrated with its inaugural Book Week parade, where students embraced the spirit of the week by dressing up in creative, interesting and House-themed costumes. Reading is a powerful cognitive exercise that stimulates brain development in all students. Through Book Week activities like storytelling and book discussions, we enhance cognitive abilities such as memory retention, critical thinking and problem-solving, all while cultivating a lifelong love for reading!
Building Respectful Relationships: A Visit from the Australian Police
Last week, Middle School had the privilege of hosting two Police officers, Constables Nick Carlson and Megan Krause, who presented the "You Think You Know" program, developed by the Australian Federal Police. The presentation was tailored specifically for our Middle School students, and it covered a wide range of important topics that are highly relevant to our students' lives.
Nick and Megan spoke on several critical issues, including the importance of respectful and inclusive relationships, understanding bullying and the law, and the safe use of social media. They also addressed the serious consequences of sharing pictures without consent and taking photos of others without their permission. The presentation didn’t stop there—it also emphasised the importance of positive identity, and the responsibility students must call out friends who engage in unacceptable behaviour.
The content was delivered in a way that was age-appropriate for our Middle School students, making it both engaging and educational. The initiative, which aims to foster a respectful relationship between the police and youth, is part of a broader effort by the Australian Federal Police to engage and participate in schools across the country.
We are grateful for the opportunity to host this important presentation and believe it will have a lasting impact on our students. By reinforcing these critical messages, we hope to continue building a school environment where respect, inclusion, and positive behaviour are the norms.
Year 6 Buddies
Our Year 6 Buddy program pairs Prep students with Year 6 mentors to support a smooth transition into school. Beyond easing this transition, the program fosters a strong sense of community and belonging within the school. It gives Preps a trusted mentor to turn to, outside of their teachers, and helps build connections across different age groups. Additionally, the program offers Year 6 students a valuable opportunity to develop leadership and mentorship skills, which will become more important as they progress through Middle and Senior School.
Last week the Year 6S class took their Prep A buddies for a walk around campus. They ventured up to Year 9, had a chat with Mr Torstonson at Senior School and enjoyed the sunshine. Harvey the dog went along for the walk too.
Japanese Onigiri Incursion
Last week, Year 7 students experienced making a ‘kyaraben – character’s obento’, which features food decorated to look like people, characters from popular media, animals and plants. Students used a range of ingredients, including ham, vegetables and rice to make a healthy and appetising packed lunch.
The students really enjoyed the experience and were very proud of their final products.
Indigenous Creatives visit Year 7s
Students in Year 7 HAS have been studying ‘Deep Time and Astronomy’ where the concepts of evolutionary theory, migratory patterns and knowledge of First Nations People have been linked with our understanding of Space and our Earth within it. Uncle Steve Parker visited our students to share his knowledge of the Dark Emu in the sky, song lines and seasons. Laura Brearley, known for her song writing and her creative and artistic skills then supported the students to create a short story with six words linked to 'Sky Country', the book by Aunty Patsy Cameron and Lisa Kennedy. These sentences were then written onto a template and sung/spoken to music.
We are grateful for the time given to us to support different ways for our students to learn.
Ann-Marie McLean
Instructional Leader
Reflecting on Indigenous History and Reconciliation: Year 8s Journey
Last term in English, our Year 8 students embarked on an exploration of Indigenous Australian history and the vital need for reconciliation. Through a study of key events in Australia’s past and engaging with firsthand accounts from First Nations Peoples, students delved into the significance of reconciliation and its profound impact on our nation.
This unit aimed to deepen students' understanding and appreciation of our First Nations cultures, fostering a greater awareness of the land they study on and the diverse cultural heritage it represents. Witnessing our Year 8 students embrace the richness of different voices and experiences was truly inspiring. Their journey highlights the importance of recognising and valuing the diversity that shapes our world.
As part of their studies, some Year 8 students wrote thoughtful and poignant letters to the editors of our local newspapers. The San Remo and Phillip Island Advertiser printed these letters last week.
Mairaed Carlin
