Year 9
Elective Focus: Italian
Italian is a year-long elective where my peers and I learn about the Italian language and culture. This subject is one that challenges us and we recognise the ability to use other languages is important and a great way to work on becoming active global citizens.
During our classes, Mr Murrill inspires us to learn about Italian culture by creating fun and memorable activities. For example, a Virtual Reality tour of an Italian house and interactive booklets, which help us to fully engage in our classes. These tasks make Italian an elective that we look forward to and that we get a lot out of. These activities have increased our understanding of the culture and language and we are grateful to have a teacher who is so passionate and encouraging when it comes to learning a new language.
Year 9 Italian takes a step beyond the generalised learnings of Year 7 and 8 Italian. So far this year, we have studied ‘how to explain our daily routine’, as well as ‘how to describe the features of a house.’ This has significantly boosted our conversational, spelling and listening skills.
As the year progresses, we eagerly anticipate more exciting topics and activities. Our journey through learning Italian is not just about learning a new language, but also about opening our minds to a rich and diverse culture.
Amelie Baker
Year 9
Leadership Day
On Thursday 23 May, we were delighted to participate in ‘Altitude Day’ run by YLead, which was designed to challenge and push us out of our comfort zones. The day included a variety of enjoyable activities such as learning ways to make a positive impact on our school, listening to three guest speakers who shared their stories and taught us how to make a difference by setting the right example for others and engaging in conversations with Year 9 students from other schools. To bring this day to an end, we did a dance together as a Year 9 cohort.
Our time on ‘Altitude Day’ was amazing. Each of us gained valuable skills on how to make an impactful effect on our school, make others feel included and push our limits to become more confident future leaders.
Ashleigh Siebel
Year 9
Sue Grima and I had the pleasure of accompanying a group of Year 9 students to this Leadership Day. The students were wonderful ambassadors for the College. They engaged fully in each of the activities and listened attentively to the guest speakers. Our students were prepared to move out of their comfort zone by speaking in front of an audience; finding their voice and expressing what they thought leadership was to them; stating the qualities they recognise in leaders and getting up on stage in front of the audience and performing an unknown task, as was the case for Lena Andrews who was prepared to dance in front of the audience on stage. On the day it was evident that our students’ character strengths of curiosity, kindness, leadership, humility, teamwork, humour, bravery and zest were not merely words on a page but their lived experience.
They learnt:
“There ain’t no mountain high enough,
Ain’t no valley low enough,
Ain’t no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you, babe.”
Year 8 student, Zara Solomon reflected on the experience as, “Leadership is standing up when no one else will.”
On behalf of the year level, I congratulate Hayley O’Shea for representing the Catholic Girls Sports Association of Victoria at the 2024 Victorian All Schools Competition. This is an outstanding achievement.
Celine Incani is to also be congratulated for her 9th placing at the CGSAV Cross Country event last week. All members of the intermediate cross-country team are to be congratulated for their efforts leading up to and on the day of competition.
Like all sports and any extra-curricular activity, there is a lot of time spent preparing for the day and the camaraderie that grows through these activities stays with us long after the race has been run, the swim has been swum or the music has stopped, in the case of our College production, Frozen JR.
As the final weeks of rehearsal take place, I wish every member of the College production well, for their commitment to this event has been extraordinary. Whether they are a member of the cast, a musician or part of the backstage crew, every person plays a significant role for the show to go on. Their passion has been evident every Thursday afternoon and no doubt on every occasion they have had a rehearsal.
Exams
Next week, our Year 9 students will complete examinations for the first time in their core subjects – RE, English, Maths, Science and History. An examination is another form of assessment. Their examination result will not define them, nor does any assessment result. The experience of sitting for examinations will hold them in good stead for future years. As one Year 9 student said last year after their first examination, “If I knew that was all it was going to be like, I would not have made such a big deal of an exam”.
The procedure for each of the days has been explained to the students. May I please remind you that consent must be given on PAM for students to leave school at the conclusion of their final examination for the day. Students who do not have permission to leave will be expected to remain at school until 3:15pm.
I thank the students who have contributed to our newsletter this week, Ashleigh Siebel, Zara Solomon and Amelie Baker.
Jane Cowan
Level Leader: Year 9