Middle School
Middle School
Ms Katrina Stalker – Head of Middle School
MS KATRINA STALKER HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
A most rewarding semester
Term 2 was another a busy time for the Middle School. The Outdoor Learning Program took place for the Year 8 boys, in slightly cool but mostly dry weather around the Toolangi State Forest. Camp Toolangi and Lake Eildon were the sites for hiking, biking and rafting as well as rock climbing and high ropes. The camp is designed to build on the skills of problem solving, organisation and teamwork.
The boys were challenged to problem solve in group situations, trying to work out how to stack milk creates as high as possible without a boy falling off the top of the stack! They were encouraged to trust their peers as they challenged their nerve on the rock climbing wall and high ropes course. At the recent Middle School assembly, Alex Meggitt described the adventures of the camp. Alex was essentially going back home to the region of Victoria where he lives, and was mountain biking around his hometown lake, albeit a little more safely than when not on a school trip.
The boys enjoyed the activity and adventure of the overnight bush journey and the meal that night, always tastier when cooked by themselves. They were engaged in discussion during the cultural session run by Shawn Andrews, the Managing Director and Founder of Indigicate, discussing reconciliation and issues which face Aboriginal people today, as well as other underrepresented groups in our society.
The boys were encouraged to respect others and the environment, were told about the importance of
knowledge, of listening and sharing, of belonging to family and community, and of generosity and giving back to the community. The experiences the boys gained from this camp in both skills and personal accomplishment when being pushed outside their comfort zone will have positive outcomes for many years to come.
June saw the boys from Tiwi College visit. The boys were hosted by our Year 8 students, attending classes as well as showing us aspects of their culture in dance and ceremony. They also demonstrated their skill and love of Australian Rules football in a game against the Middle School boys. The visit proved a great success for all parties, with new friendships forged and ambitions gained by our boys to visit the Tiwi Islands.
Middle School boys have achieved success in varying fields during the semester. Richard Liu( Year 8) won the orchestral woodwind solo, 16 years and under section, at the Boroondara Eisteddfod, playing clarinet. The Henri Touzeau String Orchestra achieved a platinum award performing at the Victorian School Music Festival. Fred Leeton and William Chambers( both Year 7) each won a silver medal at the Victorian All Schools Cross Country Championships at Bundoora. Archie Abbott, Jake Maycock and Tommy Livadaras( all Year 8) have been selected for the Victorian Schools Rugby Union under 14 tour of Tasmania in September.
During the recent midyear break, Middle School boys participated in the science tour to the United States.
JJ Douglas, Freddy Petersen, Fred Boykett, Andrew Ward and Gordon Ngan( all Year 8), gave a report of their time visiting Alcatraz in San Francisco, before spending time in Florida at the Space Camp, which was undoubtedly both educational and fun for all the boys involved.
Xavier Wilson( Year 7) described his enjoyment of learning about surgery by removing tumours and repairing broken bones in chickens at the i2 camp, while Justin Booth( Year 7) described with enthusiasm his car called‘ Zippy’, which he created in the 3D printing workshops during the camp.
Of note are the contributions which Varoon Sharma( Year 7) made to a project called‘ Darkness to Light’ in East Timor over the Term 2 holidays. His efforts were recognised by the Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga, which had organised the mission where he worked as a volunteer in the Baucau Hospital on the East Timor Eye Project. The project helps restore vision through performing cataract operations. Varoon visited some schools distributing pamphlets to children to spread the word that eye doctors were in town, and to encourage their family members to get a check-up. Overall this has been a busy and rewarding semester for all those involved with Middle School.
18 Great Scot Number 151 – September 2017