Term 1 Week 3

Key Information

Term 1 - Important Dates

• Tuesday Week 4 (18th February) Beginning of Year Mass
• Monday Week 6 (3rd March) School Photos
• Tuesday Week 6 (4th March) Shrove Tuesday - Pancake Breakfast
• Wednesday  Week 6 (5th March)  Ash Wednesday Liturgy 2:00pm
• Wednesday Week 8 (19th March) Year 7 School Immunisations
• Wednesday Week 8 (19th-20th) Prep Vision Screening
• Friday Week 8 (21st March) UMY St. Patrick's Disco 5.30pm-7pm
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Week 9 (24th-26th March) - Parent Teacher Interviews
• Friday Week 9 (28th March) - Cross Country
• Thursday Week 10 (3rd April) Cross Country Presentations, Easter Liturgy and Last Day of Term 1

Tuckshop News

There will be no tuckshop in the coming weeks. An advertisement will be live next week to fill the role of Tuckshop Convenor for the 2025 school year. Please spread the word.  

Uniform Shop

Our Uniform Shop is open to orders being placed via the app: https://myschoolconnect.com.au/

Please give us 24 hours to organise collection for your order; we generally contact you when your order is ready to collect.

If you would like to try on sizes, the Uniform shop will be open on Wednesday mornings from 8.10-8.30 and Wednesday afternoons from 2.30-3.00.

Miss Heather 

Principal's News

Welcome to Week 3, 

On Wednesday I travelled to Townsville with Ms Lei Nelson, our APRE, to gather with Principals and APREs from other schools within our Diocese for Professional Development (PD). This PD was focused on our Catholic Identity. To pull apart the Catholic Identity at St Joseph's we utilise the feedback provided in surveys from parents, staff, students, and community members. Last year our community completed a survey titled Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI). Please know that the time you set aside to complete this survey is very much appreciated as the data has helped us pave the way forward as we reflect on area's for celebration, development or further investigation. Following this review we will be setting goals for the next 5-year cycle.

As we're entering into a year of renewal we will be diving deeper into the things that we do well at St Joseph's and celebrate them, as well as area's that would benefit from further development or investigation. This is a part of a 5-year School Renewal Cycle that all schools within the Townsville Diocese participate in.  

This year as we dive deeper into reflection, we will explore the following five (5) questions:

1. Are we true to our mission and purpose?
2. Are we focused on continuous school improvement?
3. Do we have high expectations for our staff and students?
4. Are our learning environments supportive and orderly? and
5. Does effective learning and teaching take place at our school?

There is a FACE (Family and Community Engagement) Group coming up in 2 weeks time, Tuesday 25th February 2025 at 3pm in the school library where we will explore the questions listed above. Your children are welcome to join you. 

I would also love to hear from you on topics that you would like the school to cover at information evenings throughout the year. Last week I spoke to a parent who would like a session of tips and tricks from The Student Protection Department at The Mount Isa Police station on online cyber safety and measures parents/carers can put in place or should be mindful of. Please complete the following google form with your suggestions:

• Google Form - Parent Information Session Ideas / Requests

Facebook:
Our facebook page is a great page to like as we share reminders and events regularly. There will be a 'whats on this week' document posted each Sunday for the week ahead.

I look forward to joining with our community next Tuesday at 8.30am in the MMS for our Beginning of Year Mass. 

May God Bless you and your families for the weeks ahead, 

Mrs Samantha Kelley
Principal 

Deputy's News/Curriculum

Welcome to Week 3, 

This year, we are continuing with the Writer's Toolbox, and we have seen a great improvement in our students' writing. The program helps students develop the skills they need to express themselves clearly and creatively, building their confidence as writers.

For families new to our school - as a school 3 years a go we reflected on the results of our students and the goals of our staff, which is when a consistent approach to writing was implemented from Prep to Year 9 through a program called Writers Toolbox. This has not only prioritised the development of our students writing, but has also extended a sense of familiarity for our students as they move from year to year.

Writers Toolbox is an educational writing program powered by AI. This is designed to provide your child with suggestions on how to improve their writing or edits that their writing may need, in real-time. The feature that makes this even better, is that it is individualised to each student, meaning no two students will receive the same feedback. Your child can login to this platform at home and over the holidays or when absent complete the daily challenges. Please don't have your child complete the daily challenges at home through the week as we have time set aside each day for our students from year 3 to year 9 to complete these. Our prep to year 2 students are still working on Writers Toolbox at the same time, however, this looks a little bit different as it is more teacher-led and not as computer based. See a snapshot of our daily timetable below. 

To build on our reading time and improve student comprehension, we are introducing the Accelerated Reader program in 2025. This program helps students find books that match their reading level and interests. After reading, they complete quizzes to check their understanding. The program encourages students to read more and helps them become better readers.

You might notice this program being introduced in your child’s class over the next 2–3 weeks as we trial it in a few classrooms. We expect all classes to be using the program in some capacity by the end of the term.

Why is Literacy Important?
Literacy is an important part of a child’s development. It helps them think critically, build vocabulary, and communicate clearly. Strong literacy skills also help students learn in all subjects and prepare them for future opportunities.

We look forward to seeing the positive impact of these programs. If you have any questions about our reading and writing initiatives, please reach out.

NAPLAN - What is NAPLAN?

NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) is a national test for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. It measures essential skills in:

• Reading – Understanding and interpreting written texts.
• Writing – Communicating ideas clearly in written form.
• Language Conventions – Spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Numeracy – Problem-solving and mathematical reasoning.

Why is NAPLAN Important?

NAPLAN helps parents understand how their child is progressing in literacy and numeracy compared to other students across Australia. It also helps schools improve teaching methods and learning programs.

Parent Information Session Information - Wednesday 19th February 2025

Mr Dean Kelley
Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning

Assistant Principal Religious Education

As I write this article, I am in Townsville, collaborating with other schools on the ECSI (Enhancing Catholic Schools Identity) project. I am truly excited to be part of this event, especially as Mrs. Kelley and I have the opportunity to work together on a project focused on deepening our community’s understanding of what it means to be a Catholic school. This may seem surprising to some, considering the many wonderful developments we’ve experienced over the past few years — new buildings, updated Mission and Vision statements, new school prayer and the introduction of our school values: Love, Serve, Lead, and Strive. These achievements are all significant, yet it is essential that we continually reflect on how we can further strengthen and deepen our Catholic identity. The essence of being a Catholic school goes beyond what can be seen in physical changes or written statements. It is embedded in our everyday actions, our relationships, and the culture we foster within our community. As we move forward, it is vital that we remain focused on not only maintaining but enriching our connection to our Catholic heritage. This involves striving for a deeper understanding and living out of our faith at every level—among staff, students, parents, and the wider community. Together, we must ensure that our school identity remains at the core of all we do, guiding us toward a shared commitment to faith, love, and service - Guided by God’s Spirit.

Life Education Qld

This week, students from Prep to Year 6 had the opportunity to attend special sessions with Life Education and Healthy Harold. The classes participated in lessons that covered a range of important topics, such as staying safe, being healthy, understanding emotions, and respectful relationships. Each session was designed to be interactive and engaging, allowing students to learn valuable life skills in a fun and supportive environment.

Beginning of Year Mass

St Joseph’s will celebrate our first Mass for 2025 next Tuesday 18th February at 8.30am.  All are welcome to join us in this celebration. 

Confirmation and First Holy Communion Information Session 

The first session of the sacramental program will begin on Sunday, 23rd February, following the 8:30 am Mass at St Colman’s Church. If you were unable to attend the information session held last week but are still interested in having your child participate in the sacraments, please feel free to contact me at lnelson5@sjctsv.catholic.edu.au. I will be happy to send you the enrolment forms and provide you with the relevant dates.

God Bless,

Ms Lei Nelson
APRE

Pastoral Care

School TV

Bullying is an ongoing or repeated misuse of power in relationships, with the intention to cause deliberate psychological harm. Bullying behaviours can be verbal, physical or social. It can happen in person or online, via various digital platforms and devices and it can be obvious or hidden. Bullying in any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders.

Despite the efforts made to reduce bullying behaviours, the research tells us that one in four students still report being bullied every few weeks. However, not all negative behaviour should be considered bullying. The key difference is that bullying does not stop on its own. It’s important young people learn how to identify behaviours that are rude, behaviours that are mean, and behaviours that are related to bullying. 

Often the reasons for bullying can be complex. Some young people do it to get approval from others, some do it to regain control, whilst others may do it because it makes them feel safe. Supporting young people as they work through their emotions will help them unpack the motivation and reason behind the behaviour. 

In this edition of SchoolTV, caregivers can better understand why some young people engage in bullying behaviours and what to do to support a child experiencing it.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this edition of SchoolTV and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to the Bullying edition of SchoolTV
https://sjctsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/bullying

Year 7 Parents - Immunisation program for Year 7 Students. 
St Joseph’s Catholic School is participating in Queensland Health’s annual School Immunisation Program. All Year 7 students will be offered free vaccinations to protect against vaccine preventable diseases. Year 7 students will be offered a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and a combined diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine. 

Please read the information booklet contained in the consent pack which was sent home with your child on Wednesday 12th of February. Vaccinations will take place on Wednesday 19th of March. 

Homework Club for Year 7-9 Students
In the Lowcock Room every Thursday afternoon 3pm - 4pm. Students can use this time to receive tutoring for any subject or complete homework. Afternoon tea is provided. 

Events coming up this Term:

• Friday March 7th 2025 - Clean Up Australia Day
• Friday March 21st 2025 - Harmony Day Free Dress

Best Regards,

Miss Hannah McCall
Pastoral Care Leader

Inclusive Education

Youth Ministry

Welcome to this week’s youth ministry update. We are chipping away at the term and have more good works to report!

But first.. Important dates/reminders:

• Little Joey’s - lunchtime Scripture: every Monday play time in the library (P-3 students)
• Chaplaincy Breakfast: every Tuesday & Thursday from 7:45 to 8:10. 
• Staff & Student Prayer: Week 5 Wednesday (26/02) - 8:10 AM in the church 
• Mini Vinnies: Week 5 Tuesday (26/02) - First Lunch (playtime)

Spirit in Action - Yrs 7-9
This Monday we had our first SIA session. It was great to see some returning faces, and newcomers alike - enthusiastic, regardless! We spent some time unpacking the sacredness of our name, Jesus calling people by name because he knows us all intimately, and praying with Scripture. Some of the students even took the initiative to join in with our Mini Vinnies group! This is some serious development as faith leaders in our school. 

Staff & Student Prayer
It filled my heart to see so many students join together in the Church before school this week on Wednesday morning. It’s times like these that we can experience the Spirit moving!

We participated in an Ignatian Meditation (imaginative prayer) based on Luke’s Gospel account of Jesus calling Simon. 

Mini Vinnies - Yrs 4-6
Our first meeting as a Mini Vinnies group for 2025 was a productive one!

We spent some time discussing our major focus this term, Caritas’ Project Compassion, and brainstorming some fundraising ideas. Stay tuned for more information about our initiatives… 

The Year 6 students were super willing to take on their leadership roles within the group! I look forward to the “good works” we can participate in together this year. 

Yours in faith, hope & love!

Mr James Delaney ❤️‍🔥
Youth Ministry Leader

First Nations

On 13 February 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised on behalf of the nation for past laws, policies and practices that have impacted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly members of the Stolen Generations and their descendants.

This week we have spent time reflecting on this significant event and acknowledge how generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been affected, and continue to be affected, by past Government policies and practices.

Kevin Rudd's Apology

Upcoming events:

• First Nations Advisory Committee meeting - 3pm Monday 17th of March
• Emerging Leaders PIN session - Monday 17th of March - 4.30pm - Library
• National Close the Gap Day - Thursday 20th of March

Miss Leonie Ansell
First Nations Teacher

Prep

Hello parents and carers,

Wow this term is flying by! 

As we enter Week Four our Little Learners will continue to explore rhyming words, what syllables are, and the concept of putting sounds together to make words. In Week Four, we will excitedly explore letter sound recognition with the letter M saying ‘m’ with the focus being on the sound the letter makes as this is what is needed to “sound out” words. 

During our Math blocks, we will continue to identify and write numerals and show these amounts on a tens frame. 

Early Years testing will be completed over the coming weeks. This is a literacy and numeracy test that is completed individually with each child at the beginning of the year and then again in Term 3. The data that is collected is used to show overall class strengths and weaknesses, and also helps to identify who may need extra support. It also shows growth in learning over the year. This helps me to provide lessons that are most beneficial to students. A supply teacher will cover the class whilst the Early Years Testing is in process.

Lots will be happening in the religious aspect next week as we will participate in the Beginning of Year Mass on Tuesday Morning. Our Little Learners will participate in Christian mediation and learn about Jesus.

Life Education: Excitedly, we had a visit from Healthy Harold in Week Three! Our Little Leaders got to learn all about being a good friend in a lesson about Harold’s Friendships. The participation in the discussions about what makes a good friend was wonderful to see.

Reminders:

• Monday: Mrs Jill Smith will take our little learners for Art in Period 5. In Week Three we will also begin Library Time. Students will be able to take borrowed books home which will be replaced fortnightly. 
• Tuesday: Miss Pucciarmati will take our Prep students for Technology in Period 5
• Wednesday: Miss Borlase will take our students for Sport in Period 5. Every second Wednesday we will also go to the library to borrow books (3,5,7,9)
• Thursday: Miss Pucciarmati will be the classroom teacher
• Friday: Every second Friday we will have an assembly at the Mary MacKillop Shed (Week 2,4,6,8,10)

Yours in fun and learning,

Miss Brock, Miss Josie, Miss Rachel and Miss Pucciarmati

Year 1

Hello parents and carers,

We have had a very busy first three weeks of Year 1!

The students have been very busy transitioning from prep lines to red and blue lines. They have been focusing on each letter and where they sit (head, body & tail). They have been using this knowledge to then write their recount of their weekend. They have been writing some awesome simple sentences and drawing some great corresponding drawings. 

In Math, the students have loved participating in the count to 120 counting video. They have also enjoyed using the interactive whiteboard to locate numbers before and after. We will start looking at skip counting patterns in the next coming weeks. 

The students enjoyed visiting Healthy Harold, where they learnt about growing friendships. How they can build positive relationships with their friends in class.

Here are some photos:  

Reminders:

Homework was handed out on Friday, please bring it back on Thursday. 

• Monday: Library Bags 
• Tuesday: Technology and Art
• Wednesday: House Shirt
• Thursday: Sport (Sport uniform) 

Have a wonderful week,

Miss Haley and the always fun Year 1’s!

Year 2

Hi Year 2 Parents and Carers,

Over the last 2 weeks we have been learning lots! In Math we have continued with learning the number 1000 and discussing ways we can count to and quantify the number 1000, looking at place- value and number boards.

In English we have looked at character preference, where students have chosen their favourite character from ‘The Lizard Gang’ and written why the character is their favourite. We have also focused on creating flow within our sentences when writing. Incorporating our Simple, Adverb, W-start and new sentence style the very short sentence.

We have also engaged in Religion through looking at the story of ‘Abraham and Sarah’, discussing God's nature through Y-charts and Retrieval charts. 

On Tuesday the 11th of February students received a visit from Healthy Harold. Healthy Harold taught students how to grow good friends, and different strategies they can use to help their friends. Year 2 was super excited to see Healthy Harold! 

It was a super fun week in Year 2. 

Kind Regards, 

Miss Tess Motti

Year 3

Good day all parents and guardians,

It has been a busy and exciting two weeks since I have started at St Joseph’s. 

As it is the first time that I am addressing you I thought that I would start with some basic information before we get started on what we have been busy with.

Important days to note:

• Monday: Library day. We will visit the library to change books for quiet reading as well as for home reading. Please make sure that your learner has their library bag should they want to take out books for home. 
• Wednesday: House shirt. On a Wednesday, learners are allowed to wear their house shirts.
• Fridays: PE Learners must please wear their sport uniform on these days.
• Homework: Starting from this week, homework will be sent out each Monday, to be returned on Friday. Should there be any reason why the learner could not complete the homework, please send me an email. There will not be any consequences, but it will allow me to have a better understanding of what is happening in the learners life, and to understand should they feel overwhelmed. Learners are however encouraged to try and finish the homework, and it will be greatly appreciated if you could cast an eye to make sure they are understanding the work. Year three’s are still very young to work independently and often need some encouragement.
• Brain breaks: Please remember to pack a healthy snack such as fruit or vegetables, no lollies for brain break please.

What have we been up to!

On Thursday the learners had a visit from Healthy Harold which they enjoyed tremendously. 

For this Friday we will be doing posters for “Pilgrims of Hope” and photos of the learners' work will be taken. This is the school's mission for 2025. 

English
We have been busy learning all the different types of words, the punctuation etc, and have now started with our persuasive writing. We have started on the Writers’ Toolbox Platform which the learners thoroughly enjoy, and Soundwaves is improving our spelling.

Maths:
During the past weeks we have been practicing our place values, and in the following weeks we will be doing our addition and subtraction. IXL Math is the online math program which we use for our Math homework. Please feel free to contact me should your learner not have access to the internet or a laptop, and I will gladly provide printouts. The students so far have provided positive feedback on this program. 

Other Subjects: A snapshot of English and Maths has been provided above, however, rest assured that we have also been hard at work in Hass, Science and Religion, and will continue with these subject areas.

Class Reward System: We will be starting our petal class reward system, where the whole class needs to work for a common goal. When successful they earn a petal. Once the flower has all its petals the class is rewarded with the agreed prize eg. Popcorn day, extra playtime etc.

An individual reward system will be implemented as well.

Have a great week!

Mrs Deidre Koekemoer

Year 4

Happy week 3 everyone! In Year 4 we are really into the swing of things with lots of exciting learning and settling into routines. 

On Wednesday the students really enjoyed the Life Education presentation with Healthy Harold still being a huge hit. They learnt all about the systems of the body, in particular the digestive system, which will support our Health unit of healthy living. Throughout this unit we will focus on healthy foods with the students given an opportunity to look at their lunchboxes and identify the food groups that they contain. Don’t forget that we still have brain break in Year 4 and students are required to bring a healthy snack, preferably a piece of fruit or some vegetables. 

English: Our Unit this term is ‘Historical Narratives’. We will be exploring stories from the early convicts and examining the features of this genre. The information students learn in HaSS will be used for the students’ assessment task of writing about their life as a convict and presenting their story to the class in character.

In English we are continuing to use Writer’s Toolbox to further develop writing skills and Soundwaves to improve our spelling. 

Maths: Over the past two weeks we have been learning about place value including decimal fractions. Next week we will explore common fractions, mixed numbers and equivalent fractions. I will be setting tasks on IXL for students to practise online.

Reward System- This term we are using a Class Economy as a reward system. Students are rewarded for positive behaviours demonstrated in the classroom as well as taking responsibility for their learning by practising maths concepts at home on IXL Maths, reading and learning their spelling words. They also get rewarded for completing their class jobs. Students receive class money which they can use to buy incentives such as free time on a Friday, a milkshake or even sitting on a chair for a day instead of sitting on the floor. They may choose to save their money for a class auction in Week 5.

Have a great week!

Mrs Lesley Wall

Year 5

Hi Year 5 Parents and Carers,

I hope you have all had a great first week back at school.

Week 2 and 3: Over the past fortnight in Writing, the Year 5s have been looking at the similarities and differences between different fairytales and the fractured version of the fairytale. Over the next few weeks, they will begin to construct their own fractured fairytales. In Maths, we have worked at the Friendly Balance and Friendly Fix strategies. We have also completed our first concept for the year which was on writing and ordering decimals.

During Science, we are looking at states of matter. We observed the properties of oobleck, water, and cornflour and will continue to look at each state of matter in more depth in the coming weeks.

From Week 4, Mr Timms will be taking the Year 5s for Health.

Reminders

• Sport uniform: Tuesday
• House shirt: Wednesday
• Technologies: Monday
• Arts: Tuesday
• HASS: Tuesday and Wednesday
• Sport: Wednesday
• Languages: Friday
• Health: Friday

What’s on in Week 4

• Beginning of Year Mass - Tuesday - 8.30am - MMS
• Friday Morning - Assembly

Have a great week!

Miss Leonie Ansell

Year 6

Settling in nicely!

Hi everyone,

The first three weeks have almost disappeared without trace! We have spent time getting our room organised and making decisions about how we will work together to create a positive learning environment.

There have been several of our afternoon tasks that have focused on developing leadership qualities - we call them the Elements for Success. Even when a team/group has not achieved their goal, there may be many qualities that they have demonstrated - team cohesion, good listening, respect and support for others etc. We have taken part in Paper Chains, Lava River, Cell Ball with Year 5 (although it was particularly hot that day) and the Marble Run. The class has been very impressive at working together and listening to each other. Some of our photos on our class website show some of these activities in action.

In English, we are learning about the structure and features of narrative texts. Discussions have been about how authors and filmmakers generate creative ideas, how they introduce the setting and characters (protagonists and antagonists) in the exposition paragraphs at the start of their writing. We have used Writer’s Toolbox to start our paragraph structure and used feedback to improve our written work. In spelling, we have investigated the phonemes [a] and [b] and the common graphemes used to represent these sounds. We have begun to discuss prefixes (e.g. ex- meaning out) and suffixes e.g. -ed, -ing, -s and -es, -able (meaning can be) and -ion (meaning action, state or result of). In reading, we have loved discovering about Emperor Penguin and the Bermuda Triangle. Selecting new vocabulary that we may come across in our reading is one of our key focuses for this term. Discussing intended meaning and even using definitions if required to develop our background understanding. Key skills for the term are Word Detectives and Question Makers so that we can contribute to class discussions about the text.

In Maths: our Think Mentals are currently looking at strategies for adding numbers, including decimal numbers and money amounts. Our main focus is looking at fractions and how to ensure our understanding is clear by using visual fractions. We will also begin our work on looking at the denominators and deciding if we can add two fractions easily or if we need to use equivalence to support our addition of fractions.

In Health, we had a presentation with Denise about Relationships - Respect, Relate and Connect. This was our final visit with Healthy Harold. As part of our work for Cyber Safety Week, we have discussed keeping our personal information private online and what to do when we feel unsafe or uncomfortable online.

Have a great week!

Mr Mike Tarleton and Mr Larry Cullen

UMY Subject Spotlight

Welcome to 2025! A special welcome to the new students in my English classes and to our year 7 cohort who have started their secondary education journey. The term has kicked off with a bang across the 3 year levels of English. The students are eager and engaged with their units of work and the demonstration of knowledge and understanding, even in these early weeks, has been really impressive. 

Some general notices for this Term:

• NAPLAN testing is completed this term for year 7 & 9 students (in the UMY)

• I will set some targeted revision/preparation in the coming weeks for the students to work through at their own discretion 

If you would like more info, please reach out via email rlovett1@sjctsv.catholic.edu.au

Year 7 English - Snack Smackdown
This term, the year 7 class will explore the genre of persuasion, focusing on advertising and marketing consumable (food) products.

They will explore the power of persuasive language and marketing strategies by analysing, deconstructing, and creating advertisements for snack products. Already, we are engaging with a range of multimodal texts—including video ads, product packaging, slogans, and advertorials—to understand how language, visuals, and rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) are used to influence consumer choices. As the term progresses, students will develop their persuasive writing and speaking skills by learning how language can influence an audience. They will explore key persuasive techniques, such as using personal pronouns, emotive language, exaggeration, rhetorical questions, repetition, and direct address. Our learners will also analyse real-world snack packaging and advertisements to understand how companies market their products. Through hands-on activities, they will have the opportunity to apply these techniques by designing their own snack product, developing persuasive packaging (including a product blurb), and constructing an advertorial to promote their item to a targeted audience. I really look forward to seeing their final assessment pieces and how this highlights their creativity in the classroom. 

Year 8 English - Through New Eyes: Rewriting The Outsiders
This term, our Year 8 students are diving into the world of S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders—a powerful novel about identity, belonging, and the divide between social groups. Through creative writing, debate, drama, and deep analysis, students will explore how stereotypes shape identity, how conflict drives character growth, and how we can challenge the labels society places on us.

Learners will reimagine key scenes from the novel, stepping into the shoes of different characters to see the story from new perspectives. They’ll debate thought-provoking questions like: Does being a Greaser define Ponyboy? and Can we ever escape the groups we belong to? Through engaging activities, they will unpack the novel’s themes in a hands-on way.

As we progress, students will use their growing understanding of character, conflict, and theme to craft their own creative reimaginings of the novel, bringing fresh ideas and personal insights to Hinton’s world. This unit isn’t just about studying a book—it’s about understanding ourselves and the people around us.

I can’t wait to see the insightful discussions and creative work that come out of this journey! Stay tuned for some standout student pieces later in the term!

Year 9 English
This term, our Year 9 students are stepping into the world of persuasive communication with our exciting unit, Persuade to Protect: Crafting Public Health Campaigns.From thought-provoking advertisements to powerful public health messages, students will explore how words and visuals can inspire change. They'll analyse real-world campaigns, uncover what makes them effective, and then put their persuasive skills into action!

The highlight? Students will develop their own multimodal health campaign on an issue they care about—whether it’s sun safety, mental health, vaping awareness, or another important cause. Through eye-catching posters, compelling radio ads, and persuasive writing, they’ll learn how to craft messages that truly make an impact.

I am so excited to see the creativity and passion our students bring to this project! Get ready to be persuaded

Year 7 Science
This term in Year 7 Science, students have kicked off their high school science journey by learning essential skills for working safely in the lab. They have explored laboratory rules, safety procedures, and even earned their Bunsen burner licences—an exciting milestone!

Throughout the term, students will be developing their understanding of chemistry by investigating how substances interact and change. They will learn to classify materials into mixtures and pure substances, identifying examples of each in their everyday lives. Through hands-on experiments, they will explore different methods used to separate mixtures, such as filtration and evaporation, and consider real-world applications of these techniques.

Students will also dive into the fascinating world of particles, examining how solids, liquids, and gases behave based on the motion, arrangement, and attraction of their particles. They will use scientific evidence to support their conclusions and communicate their findings using accurate scientific language—an important skill for budding scientists!

We look forward to seeing our students grow in confidence as they plan and conduct their own investigations. Here are some snapshots of our young scientists in action during their first-ever practical lesson!

Year 8 Science
This term in Year 8 Science, students are diving into the fascinating world of chemistry by exploring the structure of matter and how substances interact. We’ve kicked things off by creating models of atoms and testing Ernest Rutherford’s groundbreaking atomic theory—a fantastic discovery made by a brilliant Kiwi scientist (much like their Year 7/8 Science teacher!).

Throughout the term, students will deepen their understanding of matter by classifying substances as elements, molecules, or compounds and examining different ways these can be represented. They will also distinguish between pure substances and mixtures, recognising how different representations help us better understand their composition.

As we explore chemical reactions, students will investigate the differences between physical and chemical changes, identifying key indicators such as heat production, colour change, and gas formation. They will also conduct hands-on experiments, including investigating how temperature affects the rate of dissolving—a key concept in understanding how substances interact in everyday life.

We are excited to see students develop their scientific inquiry skills as they ask questions, test ideas, and communicate their findings. Here are some photos of our young scientists in action, creating atomic models and testing Rutherford’s theory!

Miss Mairin Borlase

Year 9 Science
In term 1 students engage in the study of Chemistry and how it impacts human endeavour through formulation of products that serve our needs as a society. Students engage in laboratory practical's to explain observable chemical processes in terms of changes in atomic structure, atomic rearrangement and mass. Students explain how the model of the atom changed following the discovery of electrons, protons and neutrons and describe how natural radioactive decay results in stable atoms. Students model the rearrangement of atoms in chemical reactions using a range of representations, including word and simple balanced chemical equations, and use these to demonstrate the law of conservation of mass. Students conduct practicals to determine if a chemical reaction has taken place or if matter simply changes state. 

Mr Rob Grehan

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