Term 3 Wrap: The Premiership Quarter
At the start of this term, we called Term 3 our premiership quarter and challenged our students to make it their fresh start: to be curious, to embrace the hard bits, to ask for help, to look after themselves and each other, and to turn their Semester One Report into a roadmap rather than a verdict. As we close out the term, I want to reflect on what that challenge looked like in practice, and to say thank you.
I've watched students ask harder questions in class, not because they had to, but because they were genuinely curious about how the learning connects to their own lives. I've watched them return to a skill they found difficult in April and keep working at it in August, because effort, not talent, is what turns a beginner into someone who's good at something. I've watched students put their hand up and ask for help, in class and out of it, and I've watched their friends and teammates meet that with support and encouragement rather than judgement.
None of this happens by accident. We've deliberately built opportunities like the ones mentioned into the fabric of Middle School life. Our vertical House system and structured pastoral mentoring mean every student has an adult who knows their story, not just their marks. Our respectful relationships and digital citizenship programs give students the language to treat each other well, as we continue to work with students. And when a student's behaviour does result in a consequence, our staff don't simply hand it down, they sit with the student and work through it together, guided by a restorative conversation: what happened, what part did you play, who was affected, and what's your plan for next time. It is deliberate, human work, and it's what lets us meet individual stories- academic, social and emotional- moving through our Middle School on any given day, with care rather than a checklist.
To our students, thank you for the effort you brought to this premiership quarter, in the playground, in the classroom, and in how you looked after each other. To our staff, thank you for the attention and care you give to every one of those individual stories, every day. And to our parents and guardians, thank you for your support and partnership all term.
A few final notes as we head into the break. Good luck to your AFL team if they're still in the mix this finals series. Thank you to Ms Fyfield for taking on 6OD this term, and we wish Ms Horiguchi a wonderful long service leave next term.
Calendar Dates
Monday 5 October - Term 4 starts
Friday 9 October - Yr 5/6 Division Summer Sports
Tuesday 13 October - SEISA MTB (NHC)
Wednesday 14 October - Yr 5/6 Regional Athletics - Newborough
Wednesday 14 October, 9.30am - College Tour
Thursday 15 October - SSAV Athletics - Albert Park
Tuesday 20 October - Year 12 Final Day and Valedictory
Friday 23 October -Yr 5/6 District Cricket - Wonthaggi
Monday 26 October - Spring Soiree
Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday. See you in Term 4.
Ralph Arceo
Head of Middle School
Tournament of Minds (TOM)
Congratulations to our Tournament of Minds team, and to Ms Flower and Ms Young, on reaching the State Finals at Deakin University, Burwood on Sunday, 13 September. Mia Bowring, Liliana Fenwick, Jim Haynes, Zara Hill, Emily Miles, Wren Plews and Amelia Ritterman, "The Seven Spectacular Sparkling Spoonbills", presented their Language Literature challenge based on the first chapter of The Hobbit, and presented it admirably.
This team epitomises what I mean when I talk about the importance of students finding their people. Their strength comes from a genuine connection, real friendships, shared interests, and respect for one another. They question and challenge each other, and they support one another, so that every member gets to contribute and shine.
Through their involvement in the Tournament of Minds program, these students have grown in confidence, resilience, creative problem solving, teamwork and leadership. I have watched this team grow all term, and I could not be prouder of how far they have come.
We also had the largest cheer squad of the day, with parents, grandparents, siblings, uncles and aunties all making the trip to support them. It was a huge commitment on a Sunday, leaving school at 6am and not getting home until the evening, and it says everything about this team and their families that they did it without hesitation.
Congratulations, Seven Spectacular Sparkling Spoonbills. We are very proud of you.
Ralph Arceo
Head of Middle School
SEISA Theatresports
SEISA Theatresports was something that I am extremely happy to have participated in this year. We went to Beaconhills College and said goodbye to the dancers, who were off to compete in SEISA Dance.
We made our way to the building we would be in for the next few hours. The people from Improv Melbourne showed us lots of improvisation game. The most popular one was ‘slideshow’. At the end, every team played 3 games in front of the entire group. All the teams were extremely funny and great at improvisation. I highly recommend doing theatresports if you can. I promise you won’t regret it.
Mia Bowring
Year 7
Year 5 Dream City Incursion: Exploring Strengths and Future Careers
Our Year 5 students recently enjoyed an exciting incursion with Dream City, designed to spark conversations about personal strengths and future career possibilities. Through hands-on workshops, students explored real-world roles in neonatal nursing, virtual reality (VR), and robotic engineering, engaging enthusiastically with high-tech equipment and career-focused activities.
Workshop Highlights
- Neonatal Nursing: Students stepped into the role of caregivers, learning to hold, settle, and feed robotic infant simulators while measuring and recording vital data such as weight and length. Discussions highlighted key caregiver traits, caring, patience, empathy, and resilience, and the roles of medical professionals in this space.
- VR: In the VR session, students safely used headsets to explore immersive environments and discover how VR supports industries like medicine and engineering.
- Robotic Engineering: The robotics workshop saw students design circuits, program Sphero RVR robots using block and draw coding, and apply engineering principles to solve design challenges.
Students were enthusiastic participants throughout the day, demonstrating curiosity, collaboration, and a “have a go” attitude. The incursion provided valuable insights into STEAM careers while encouraging students to reflect on their interests, abilities, and potential pathways.
Anthea Bennett
Head of Careers
Year 8 Medieval Day
On Medieval Day, we learnt about medieval dances, weaponry, armour, sword fighting and many other interesting activities. We gained a better understanding of what life was like during the medieval period and the experiences people had.
My highlight of the day was learning about medieval armour. I found it fascinating to learn how armour evolved over time and being able to wear it was a memorable experience. I would like to thank our teachers for giving us the opportunity to experience Medieval Day and create memories that we will cherish.
Sam Bowtell
Year 8
