It’s hard to believe that we are already near the year’s end. 2024 has flown by and this shorter term will indeed seem very fast. The focus for Year 8 in Wellbeing this term will be our Mini Compassion Projects. After the success of last year’s compassion unit in Term 4, the aim of our projects is to be practical in showing the love of Christ, other people-centred, and to develop empathy. PC classes will be choosing several smaller activities to show kindness and compassion for others in our community and slightly beyond. Activities they may wish to complete include: writing notes of gratitude to staff and students, create a wall of positive notes of encouragement to each other, write letters of encouragement to some Year 12 students, write thank you notes to front line workers, clean up our playground, collect empty bottles for recycling, etc.
Also this term, Year 8 have been busy readying themselves for their Final Examinations and the culmination of their practical assessments in Visual Arts, Food & Digital Technology, Music and Engineering & Materials Technology. This is the culmination of a lot of work on their part and it has been encouraging to see so many of them taking a serious approach to these tasks. The organisation and motivation they have shown in creating study timetables and study notes has been excellent. As the building works in the Senior School are being finalised, with J block and the refurbishment of K block and the quad area, Year 8 have adapted well to changes in procedures. Students are coping well with carrying their bags with them as locker access became unavailable, longer commute times between classes and limited playground access at break times.
Year 8 students are also excitedly looking forward to 2025, particularly being able to finally take some classes of their own choosing in electives. We are also busily preparing for the 2025 camp at Wedderburn. Students will be completing a soft start to the Duke of Edinburgh program, camping in tents, cooking outdoors and completing some small hikes.
Mrs Fiona Byrne
Languages Coordinator & Year 8 Advisor