Year 8 News

The end of the term is upon us and we reflect on all we have completed and packed into this term - Open nights, camps, visits to the eco- sanctuary, guest speakers, sports exchanges, activate challenge and completing activities and inquires for our Impact topic.

One of the highlights of the term was our Activate challenge that was held last week. This involved two sections - a school based challenge where students were in house teams competing in activities such as tug of war and dodgeball and a competitive community challenge where teams of eight ran around the community completing ten challenges. They probably ran over 10km during this challenge! Read more about the results and placings in this newsletter. A big thank you must go to the parents who helped run activities over the morning and to the runners from OBHS/OGHS and St Hildas who had to keep up with our teams!

Another highlight was the parents sharing night held this week to celebrate our learning from this term.  A great turn out of parents and caregivers came to find out what had been happening in our classes this term for our integrated theme of IMPACT.  Classes shared inquiry projects, songs, dances, writing and drama inspired by our term topic of IMPACT and how we can make a difference. It is a great way to finish our term and for students to be accountable for their learning - and for parents to see what has been happening at school when their child answers their question - what have you been doing at school today? and they say "Nothing". In the hall we also had yet again a very impressive display of Up-cycled projects and Photography that reflected either positive or negative Impact we are having on our environment.

Next term will be an important one for both you and your child as it is their last term as a Primary school student. Next year and beyond will bring new opportunities, new friendships and new challenges which is why our Term Four topic is called "Challenge."

The main focus is Health based looking at changing friendships, peer pressure, recap of UCAP(puberty) and with the support of the Life Bus programme - From the Shadows - we will be addressing issues around Drug Education and Alcohol. Other highlights of Term Four will include a challenge day out - zip lining, archery, high ropes course - just to name a few activities. This day out is earned by the students who maintain a positive attitude and application to their studies throughout Term Four. Further information about this will come out next term. Other Term Four highlights include the Year 8 Social, Art Gallery Trip, School Athletics, the Wearable Arts show and a Year 8 inter-class touch competition. So much still to look forward to!

I hope everyone has a safe and restful holiday and that we all come back ready to make the most of the last term here at Balmacwen for our Year 8 students

Lisa Dixon

On behalf of Year 8 Teachers.