And just like that Term 3 is behind us. The second half of the term has had a real focus on students in the classroom and maximising their academic learning. With Parent Teacher Interviews at the end of this term and Year 9 Semester Tests and Year 10 Exams running in the middle of next term, working through the curriculum has become the main target. The middle school students have persisted through the term and are hopefully progressing towards these big academic milestones next term.
Even though Term 3 has had a heavy academic focus there has still been plenty of extracurriculuar events for the students to participate in. Our school was very well represented at the district level athletics carnival with many students progressing to the regional level next month. The Africause Program has been running and has provided skills in leadership and decision making for the students involved. The REST program for a select group of Year 9 students, overseen by a teacher external to the college, has also been regularly running. The latest excursion to the 1000 Steps in the Dandenong Ranges provided a physical challenge that cannot be provided in the classroom.
One of the largest events of the year in the middle school is the annual Year 9 City Experience, which was held in Week 9 this term. The program took students out of their comfort zone and exposed them to many of Melbourne’s tourist attractions. The Melbourne Goal, Ice Skating and a cruise down the Yarra River to Williamstown a few of the highlights. We are incredibly proud of how the students conducted themselves. It is clear they are a respectful, organised and enthusiastic year level and we look forward to future events with them. We hope it was an enjoyable experience for them and has hopefully taught them a few useful life skills that they can begin to put into practice as they continue to gain their independence.
The Term 3 holidays are here so I’d like to take the time to wish our students and families a safe and enjoyable break. The weather will only improve from here and we look forward to welcoming our students back at the beginning of next term. It is a big term for both Year 9 and 10 so let’s hit the ground running and finish the year off as well as we can.
Mr Owen McIntyre – Middle Sub School Leader
