As we come to the end of Term 2, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on what has been a busy and productive term across all year levels.

Firstly, a sincere congratulations to our senior students for their efforts during the recent exam period and for their participation in the General Achievement Test (GAT). Your dedication, preparation and focus are commendable, and we are proud of the way you have approached these important academic milestones.

As we prepare for Semester 2, I encourage all students to read their reports carefully and take on the feedback provided by their teachers. Reflecting on your progress and setting goals for improvement is an important part of learning and growing. We want every student to work to the best of their ability and make the most of the opportunities ahead.

Thank you to our amazing staff, who continue to go above and beyond to provide rich and meaningful experiences for our students. This term has included camps, excursions, sporting events, and a range of classroom-based activities that contribute significantly to student engagement and wellbeing.

I would also like to wish our Grade 5 and 6 students all the best for their camp – we know it will be a fun and memorable experience!

To our families, thank you for your continued support and the strong partnerships we share. The relationships between home and school play a vital role in student success, and we truly value your involvement.

Finally, I wish all students, staff and families a safe and restful holiday break. Enjoy the time to relax and recharge, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back for another exciting term ahead.

Warm regards,
Pat Mulcahy
Principal

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Prep C have had a fun filled and exciting term 2!  We have done loads of learning and produced some outstanding work. In reading we read lots of different stories and practised stretching out our words and blending sounds together. We have also been doing lots of writing about our experiences.

Damian- I loved challenging myself when I am writing.

Andre- I loved reading new stories.

Myles- I loved writing about the weekend.

Lucas- I loved challenging myself by reading tricky books.

In maths we practised counting to 100, adding collections and even got to practice subtracting and collecting data with M&Ms. We also learned about time and the days of the week!

Cooper- I loved eating M&Ms in maths.

Maksim- I loved counting lots of different things.

Arswim- I loved learning new things in maths.

Declan- I loved counting and eating M&Ms.

In History we explored the past and how things have changed over time. We went to Sovereign Hill to explore how we used to live in the past. We looked at some old buildings, play with toys from the past and even got a chance to find gold!!

Tam- I loved the big slide and playing with toys from the past.

Exodus-  I loved seeing the horses, the soldiers and finding gold.

Willow- I loved the horses, looking for gold and the lolly shop.

Zekiel- I loved finding gold!

In term 2 we celebrated Mabo week and got to wear green. We were also very excited to participated in National Simultaneous Storytime and read The Truck Cat at assembly. We celebrated all the amazing Mums with our special Mother’s Day morning and participated in our first colour run.  We got covered in lots of different colours and slime!! To top it all off, we got to spend the day at the pool for our swimming carnival!

Colton- I loved the colour run and the slime.

Kiayah- I loved everything!

Torie-  I loved the colour run!

Fatima- I loved going swimming with my friends.

What an eventful term 2 we have had! We are looking forward to the many exceptional things we will do next term!

Mrs Coleman - Classroom Teacher

It has been a busy term in Prep1P! Students have been focusing on improving their reading, writing and maths skills! They have also participated in many special events such as The Colour Run, Mabo Week and our excursion to Sovereign Hill!

In Literacy, students have been making predictions, inferring, summarising and making connections on a range of texts. They have also been developing their writing skills by including more information in their recount writing and using punctuation.

In Numeracy, we have covered many different topics. These include addition and subtraction, time and data. The students continue to amaze us with the progress they make!

A highlight of the term for all students was the Colour Run and our excursion to Sovereign Hill! Students enjoyed these days thoroughly and had a smile on their face from the start to the end of the events! Prep1P has had a fantastic Term 2!

Ms Pritchett - Classroom Teacher

It has been a busy, exciting term in Grade 1 A!

We celebrated Mother’s Day! We made ‘Thank You’ cards and bought presents at the Mother’s Day Stall. We also had a special morning in our classroom for mums, grandmas and aunties. We were so excited to pamper our special guests, and they enjoyed themselves!

We participated in the Simultaneous Reading Time and had a special assembly. Then we welcomed our parents to join us in our classroom for some interesting activities.

 Our Colour Fun Run, Swimming Fun Day at Oasis Swimming Pool and our excursion to Sovereign Hill were the highlights of the term. Our students thoroughly enjoyed these days and had a smile on their faces from the start to the end of the events!

We are also so proud of our learning this term. We have made remarkable progress in Reading, Writing and Mathematics and we are looking forward to more learning in Term 3!

Thank you parents and carers for your support this term.

Enjoy the term break!

Mrs Abraham - Classroom Teacher

It has been a wonderful term in 2/3M!

We have enjoyed learning and having fun together throughout the term.

In Literacy, we have been focusing on writing Narratives using our imagination and planning exciting storylines. We have also engaged in Personal Writing about the weekend and experiences that we have been involved in. The students enjoyed following a plan to write a report. We reported on a favourite animal and a country we were interested in. Everyone shared their writing, and we all learned something new.

Reading activities have focussed on improving our reading skills. We made connections to the text and inferring what would happen next as we read. We focussed on reading fluently and read to a friend to practise the skill. I am extremely impressed by the reading in 2/3M, everyone has improved and the interest in a wide variety of books is high.

In Numeracy, we have been learning how to problem solve, looking for the important parts of the problem. We have been using many strategies to add and subtract. Everyone has enjoyed our daily times table challenge to help us remember our multiplication facts. We have also collected and discussed data, then displayed the data on a graph. We have also learned about time, telling the time and recognising the duration of time.

Prep to 3 swimming day and the colour run was a highlight. The swimming day was amazing, we all engaged in water play, faced our fears on the rope swing and enjoyed splashing our teachers. The colour run involved many laps of the course and loads of splashes of colour on our white T-shirts. Daniel enjoyed pouring a whole bucket of slime on me, it was so cold! All for a good cause!

Integrated Studies has focussed on Australian History. We discussed the first fleet and how Australia was colonised. We learned about Indigenous life and how things changed over time. Everyone enjoyed the Sovereign Hill excursion, panning for gold, walking through the tent city and down the dusty street. We bowled with a wooden ball, visited the photography studio with the biggest box camera and enjoyed playing with the olden day’s toys.

Students have enjoyed Home Group this term in our classrooms, we have played games to help us work together as a team and we had so much fun playing tunnel ball in the big gym this week.

Half the year over, loads of learning completed and more to come!

    

Mrs McPhie - Classroom Teacher

What a fantastic first semester it has been for 2/3G! Our students have shown a strong commitment to their learning, while also continuing to demonstrate the Carwatha values of Respect, Teamwork, Commitment, and Excellence.

In Mathematics, students developed key skills across a range of topics. They used multiple strategies to solve problems involving addition, subtraction, and time. We also explored, data, and a variety of problem-solving techniques, giving students opportunities to think critically and apply their knowledge in different ways.

In Writing, students explored a range of text types. They created engaging narratives, information reports, and personal pieces such as recounts and letters. It's been great to see them grow in confidence and creativity as writers.

In Reading, our focus was on strengthening comprehension strategies, including predicting and making connections. Students also worked on building their fluency and developing a deeper understanding of different text types, helping them become more thoughtful and independent readers.

Our Integrated Studies unit this term focused on Australian history. Students were curious and engaged as they learned about First Nations peoples, the First Fleet, and life before colonisation. They particularly enjoyed discovering how Indigenous Australians lived and cared for the land.

A highlight of the term was our work with The Resilience Project. Through activities focused on gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness, students built their emotional awareness and developed important skills to support their wellbeing.

We also celebrated a number of exciting school events this term, including the Prep–3 Swimming Day, the Colour Run, and our excursion to Sovereign Hill. These events were filled with fun and helped build strong connections and school spirit.

2/3G should be incredibly proud of all they’ve achieved this term. I’m so proud of their effort, enthusiasm, and growth. I’m looking forward to another wonderful term ahead!

     

Miss Gardner - Classroom Teacher

What a Wonderful Term!

It’s been a big and exciting term full of memorable moments and fantastic learning!

Two major highlights were the Colour Run, where students had a blast running through clouds of colour, and our Sovereign Hill excursion, which brought history to life in the most immersive way.

Back in the classroom, the learning hasn’t slowed down! Students have been busy engaging in fun, hands-on activities. In Numeracy, we’ve been exploring concepts using a variety of materials, encouraging both deep understanding and creativity. It’s been a joy to see students thinking outside the box and expressing their learning in new ways.

We’re so proud of all the effort and enthusiasm shown this term—well done, everyone!



Mrs Rozanic - Classroom Teacher

What a Wonderful Term!

It’s been a big and exciting term full of memorable moments and fantastic learning!

Two major highlights were the Colour Run, where students had a blast running through clouds of colour, and our Sovereign Hill excursion, which brought history to life in the most immersive way.

Back in the classroom, the learning hasn’t slowed down! Students have been busy engaging in fun, hands-on activities. In Numeracy, we’ve been exploring concepts using a variety of materials, encouraging both deep understanding and creativity. It’s been a joy to see students thinking outside the box and expressing their learning in new ways.

This term, we also said a fond farewell to Alyssa, who has left us to travel the world. We will miss her cheerful energy and warm presence in our classroom. Safe travels, Alyssa – we can’t wait to hear about your adventures! (See photo below)

We’re so proud of all the effort and enthusiasm shown this term—well done, everyone!

     

Mr Wixon - Classroom Teacher

Term 2 has been full of fun, learning experiences for grade 5/6B.

In Numeracy, we have focused on Addition, Subtraction, Time and Data. Students have worked in scaffolding groups, targeted at their individual needs and learnt different strategies to help them add and subtract in different situations. They have learnt how to read and use calendars, read analogue and digital time, calculate elapsed time between events and across time zones and learnt how to read bus and train timetables. In Data, they have learnt about collecting and displaying information in graphs and also how to interpret different types of data displays.

In Literacy, they have focused on different parts of speech, such as verb tenses and prepositions and writing narrative stories and biographies. They have also learnt about and practised reading strategies such as making connections, inferring and developed their reading fluency.

There have been lots of fun events throughout the term. The Colour Run was an exciting highlight. It was fabulous to see students getting involved in the fun. What a colourful afternoon and a great way to raise money for the school.

Our school excursion to Sovereign Hill was fantastic! 5/6 Students participated in an activity called Gold Fever where they reenacted life for miners on the gold fields. Seeing the troopers marching, the horse and carriage and the Blacksmith at work were fabulous experiences. The Lolly Shop was a hit along with the jewellery shop and general store.  Not only was it a fun day out but full of educational experiences.



Ms Bishop - Classroom Teacher

Grade 5/6E have had a busy and exciting start to the term, filled with a variety of special events and rich learning experiences.

We started off Term 2 with Gala Day, where students represented our school in AFL, teeball, and basketball. It was a great day of friendly competition, and our students showed outstanding sportsmanship throughout.

We also celebrated our wonderful mums at the Mother’s Day High Tea, and later in the term, we came together as a school community to raise funds and have fun at the Colour Run.

 

Throughout the term, 5/6E have also enjoyed spending time with their Prep/1P buddies, building connections and supporting younger students in their learning.

In reading, students have continued to explore strategies that help them read more deeply and think critically about texts. They have focused on predicting, making connections, and inferring.

In writing, we’ve explored a wide range of text types, including information reports, biographies, autobiographies, letters, and narratives. A highlight was the publication of some fantastic information reports on unique animals.

In numeracy, students have been developing their understanding of addition, subtraction, time, and location, using real-world examples and hands-on activities.

Our integrated studies focus has been on the history of Australia, with students investigating the impacts of colonisation and deepening their understanding of Australia’s past.

Near the end of the term, we visited Sovereign Hill to complement our learning about Australian history. It was an engaging, hands-on experience that helped bring the gold rush era to life.

 

We are also very excited for our upcoming camp, which is a highlight that many students have been looking forward to all term!

It’s been a fun, productive, and memorable Term 2. Well done to all of 5/6E for their hard work and enthusiasm!

Miss Edwards - Classroom Teacher

 

Well done to all students in 5/6T on their hard work during a long term! We have had lots of fun adventures this term. We competed at Gala Day, participated in Mabo Week, attended the Careers Expo, slimed teachers at the Colour Run, ate high tea with our mums, and of course, enjoyed our fun day at Sovereign Hill. Students have spent time getting to know their prep buddies better and participated in bonus PE sessions held by Year 9 and VM students. The highlight though is most definitely our Grade 5/6 Camp at Malmsbury to end the term!

During Literacy this term, students learnt how to write interesting and well-structured information reports and published them to their highest standard. We also completed personal writing, where students selected a person to complete a biography on, and practised their letter writing skills. We finished the term writing descriptive narrative stories with sizzling starts and explosive endings. In our reading lessons, students began looking beyond the text, making connections and predictions to help them better understand it.

In Numeracy, students have practised a range of strategies to add and subtract numbers efficiently. They practiced reading analogue clocks and calculating the time of events. Students also collected information, created graphs and analysed data.

5/6T have had a fantastic Term 2 – enjoy the well-deserved break!

     

Ms Brady - Classroom Teacher

This term our Primary international students in the PLC class went on an excursion to Healesville Sanctuary. They saw lots of Australian animals up close, where students could look at and discuss their different features as well as the types of environments they live in and what food they eat. A great way to start their learning about Australian Animals and Information Reports.
      

Mrs Clarke - Classroom teacher.

Grade 3/4R, 4W and all 5/6 students have collected their glazed creations from the kiln.  We will keep them here at school until the Art and Technology show, which is to be held this year on Tuesday October 28^th in the MPC. Mark the date in your diaries.

3/4R and 4W studied the work of post-impressionist Vincent Van Gogh.  Looking at how he creates movement in his work by using short directional strokes and layering colours.  4W were inspired to try to recreate ‘The Starry Night’ using oil pastels.  3/4R students drew a landscape image inspired by the blending and layers of colours in short strokes.

Grade 5/6 students have been learning how to use grey lead pencils to draw contour lines in the correct proportion and shade to create tone and texture.

 

 




Mrs Mc Aleer - Primary Art Teacher

Exploring Chemical Science

This term in STEM, students from Prep to Grade 4 explored concepts in Chemical Science through hands-on investigations and guided discovery.

Prep and Grade 1 students focused on the properties of materials. They explored how everyday objects feel, look, and behave – identifying whether materials are soft, hard, stretchy, waterproof or transparent. Students used their learning to design and create a hat suitable for either a rainy or sunny day, selecting materials based on their tested properties. These creative projects helped students connect science learning to real-world purposes and develop their ability to explain their thinking.

Grades 2 to 4 investigated how materials change between solid and liquid states. Students made ice cream, observing how the mixture changed from liquid to solid, and melted crayons to create new colourful designs, exploring how heat causes materials to melt and then harden again when cooled. Through these hands-on experiments, they observed melting and freezing processes, used scientific vocabulary to describe changes, and recorded their observations carefully. Students practised making predictions, explaining their thinking, and reflecting on the changes they observed.

Across all year levels, students demonstrated curiosity, persistence and a growing confidence to think and work like scientists. It’s been a wonderful term of discovery and learning in STEM!



Mrs Braybon - STEM Teacher

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As we move into winter and the weather changes, bringing us cold temperatures and much needed rain, we conclude Semester 1 and move into Semester 2. It is hard to believe we are halfway through the year. 

Term 2 has been packed full of exciting moments and memories that we have shared, from being grateful, empathetic and mindful through The Resilience Project in home groups, to the colour run and Rubicon Camp, the GAT and Careers Expos, revisiting our entry routines and non-negotiables and of course the much-anticipated Year 12 Formal. 

As we look to Term 3, there is plenty more to look forward to, including Blackburn Week and Cowan Week, athletic sports, Year 7 Camp, excursions, Multicultural Day and our High Achievers’ Celebration Assembly.

Non-negotiables and Entry Routines

As we look to maintaining calm classrooms and reducing the cognitive load, we have revisited our entry routines and non-negotiables.

Students have a clear understanding of the expectations around entering the classroom and beginning their learning, with each classroom and teacher having the same routine and expectation.  This includes a consistent space to line up prior to entering the classroom, entering the classroom quietly, standing behind chairs and then commencing learning.

Our non-negotiables are:

• Mobile phones

As per the ministerial policy implemented by the Minster of Education, students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and securely stored during school hours.  The preference is to store phones in lockers secured by a lock.

If a student is seen with a mobile phone it will be confiscated by the teacher and stored in the main office for collection at the end of the school day. Non-compliance will result in further consequences including, but not limited to, after school detention and parent contact.

• Uniform

It is expected that all students attend school in full school uniform. We understand that there are times when this is not possible and request the provision of a note to the House Leaders who will issue a uniform pass.  Please note that uniform passes will not be issued for hoodies under any circumstances and students who are wearing a hoodie will be asked to remove it.  Students are welcome to utilise the inside facilities during recess and lunch time to remain warm.  If you need assistance with uniform items, please contact the school and we can provide support.  The school saving bonus can also be used to purchase uniform items.

• Class materials

Students are expected to attend classes with all the required materials, including pens, pencils, a calculator, writing books, textbooks, a device (laptop or iPad), diary and any other subject specific materials. 

For PE, students are required to bring their PE uniform in a non-school bag, changing at the beginning and end of their scheduled PE class.

• On time to class

To ensure all students receive equal opportunity to learn and receive teacher instructions, it is imperative students arrive to class on time.  This facilitates a calm classroom, with all students entering the classroom at the same time and receiving the same instruction.

SMR Cross Country

Huge shout out the following Blackburn students who represented the school at the SMR Cross Country on Wednesday 25^th June.  You should be very proud of your achievement:

• Missy Farfan
• Harrison Montgomery
• Filippos Symeonidis-Syvridis

Blackburn Week

Look out for all the fun activities in home group, at lunch time and the exciting food options that will be on sale in Week 6 of Term 3.  Get ready for the rising of the phoenix.

Finally, have a safe and enjoyable break for the school holidays.  Hopefully you find the time to participate in the activities that bring you peace, joy and happiness and we look forward to seeing you all when Term 3 commences on Monday July 21^st.

Finally, we look forward to a vibrant and successful Semester 2, filled with new opportunities, continued growth, and shared achievements across our school community.

Go Blackburn!

Mrs Herridge and Mrs Rentzis - House Leaders

Hard to believe we are halfway through the year already! Another term full of events, excursions, learning growth and achievement. Our Year 9s had their week away on camp, our school got behind the fundraising effort with the colour run with our primary students particularly loving the slime! We had the Mabo Week activities and most recently our Year 12s had a fun night at the formal, a significant memory in their final year.

Our Chang Home Groups have spent a lot of time focused on the Resilience Project this term, with activities to allow them to express gratitude and a focus on allowing ourselves to be in the moment rather than worried about the past or stressing about the future.

The Learning House Ladder is way too close and we need our Chang students to show Respect, Commitment, Teamwork and Excellence a lot next term so we can climb up above the other houses.

Well done to the following students who have achieved the most house points in Term 2 for Chang:

Primary: Ana Gavrilovic, Amel Pojatic, Kuda Marembo

Junior Secondary: Szandro Luga, Serina Tan, Sophie Doleman

Senior Secondary: Sofia Kaur, Georgia Deed, Victoria Hong-Aung        

Have a great break and see you back ready for Term 3!

Mr Roberts, Mr Amante & Ms Pritchett - House Leaders

Term 2 has been full of energy, effort, and striving for goals in Cowan Learning House. Right from the start, you all settled in with purpose and set your goals high. It’s been awesome to see how you've thrown yourselves into learning, tackled assessments with resilience, and supported each other along the way. The buzz around the Learning House has been positive—there’s definitely a strong love of learning.

In our Home Group sessions this term, we’ve kept a great balance between having fun, building better learning habits, and looking after our mental health. At the start of the year, we kicked off The Resilience Project, which has helped us focus on being more grateful, showing empathy, and practising mindfulness in our daily lives. These sessions have been a great way to connect with each other and build habits that help us stay positive and focused.

As we head into Semester 2, Cowan House is ready to keep the momentum going. There’s a lot to look forward to—new learning goals, exciting challenges, and events like Multicultural Day, where we celebrate the awesome diversity in our school. And of course, the Athletics Carnival is coming up too—a fun day to get active and cheer each other on!

This term has really been about resilience, friendships, and growing together. Let’s take that energy into the next term and keep aiming high. Here’s to another awesome term in Cowan Learning House.

Mrs Andrews & Ms Toul - House Leaders

What an exciting and successful term it’s been for Mabo Learning House!

This term, we proudly celebrated Mabo Week with fun and engaging activities including Mabo Bingo and Mabo Pictionary, which brought our house together in the spirit of learning and teamwork. We also got behind a great cause, raising over $800 for Clothing The Gap through our loaded chips fundraiser. A massive thank you to everyone who contributed – what a fantastic effort!

Mabo took out the win for the week, with Chang finishing second, Cowan third, and Blackburn in fourth place. Well done to everyone involved!

We also had an incredible afternoon at the Colour Run, where Mabo students showed their support in full force and helped raise additional funds for our school canteen. It was great to see so many of our students getting involved and having fun for a good cause.

A big congratulations goes to our Year 7 Mabo students, who have made an outstanding start to their high school journey at Carwatha. They've already earned hundreds of house points, showing great enthusiasm and team spirit. Keep it up!

Looking ahead to Term 3, we’re excited for more upcoming events, more opportunities to earn points, and hopefully moving even closer to securing Mabo’s first ever House Cup

Mr Hammond & Ms Go - House Leaders

PE Term 2

It has been a very busy term in Physical Education. As well as the usual program involving students from Year 7 to 9 improving their fitness, enhancing their fundamental motor skills and tactical game play across a range of sports and activities, students have had some other challenges to develop their leadership and Personal Development Skills as well.

The Year 9 students were fortunate enough to do a Key Learning Task where they had the opportunity to work with the Grade 5/6 primary students. It was called Teach-a-skill and in groups of 3-4 they had to plan, instruct, and lead skills and a game for the primary students.

This happened over a few weeks and both groups of students (secondary and primary) thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Many sports were chosen such as Soccer, AFL, Netball, Volleyball, Badminton, and Basketball. A huge thank you to the Primary teachers for their support in this Year 9 learning task: Olivia Edwards, Bree Bishop and Tiffany Brady.

Mr Collings (PE/Health Coordinator)

SPORT Term 2

It has been another massive term in sport at Carwatha. Many teams have gone out as well as our Senior students representing the college in sport for the last time. There were many great efforts without winning a sport pennant this term, but many teams finished top 3 in our Greater Dandenong Division or just had a great day improving and having fun with their teammates and enjoying the thrill of competition.

We did however win a pennant for winning the 12/13 girls GDD Cross Country championship held at Tatterson’s Park this year. We had some great results across many age groups and we had our largest SMR Cross Country team for quite a few years. All students did themselves and Carwatha proud at the SMR Championships held at Ballam Park in terrible conditions where most of the races started in rain or hail!  

As mentioned, our Year 12s represented the college for the last time and a couple of teams need a special mention. The girls and boys senior basketball teams competed hard and with the right spirit all day, as did the senior boys soccer team that if not for a bit of luck could have found themselves competing in the final.


The same could be said for the senior boys futsal team who gave it everything they had and were very unlucky on the day. Their attitude, respect and resilience was great to witness and it was a positive end to their Carwatha careers and we wish them well in their sporting pursuits in the future. We hope they’ve enjoyed their time representing the college over the past 6 years (some even longer!!) and we thank them for their efforts and service to sport.

We are really looking forward to Term 3 and there is no rest as the Intermediate Round Robin is in Week 1 and teams have already started training! And don’t forget our Carwatha Athletics Carnival scheduled for the 19^th August at Ross Reserve also, which is always a great day!

A massive thank you to all the teachers and teacher aides who have helped out to coach or attend sport days, without their dedication, we don’t have a sport program. Thank you for giving up your lunch times to train and afterschool time to prepare for upcoming sport days…it is much appreciated!

Term 2 Coaches and helpers: Chris Pieta, Christy Weller, Monique Hofman, Hayley Duncan, Tieren Hem, Isabelle Savoulidis, Matt Stephens, Tim Dakis, Alex Palermo, Fiona Davies, Pam Naylor.

Term 2 Representative Teams:

• Year 7 Boys Soccer
• Year 7 Girls Soccer
• Year 7 Girls Netball
• Year 7 Girls Badminton
• Year 7 Boys Badminton 

• Year 8 Boys Soccer
• Year 7 Girls Netball
• Year 7 Girls Badminton
• Year 7 Boys Badminton 

• Inter Boys Soccer
• Inter Girls Soccer
• Inter Girls Netball
• Inter Girls Badminton
• Inter Boys Badminton 

• Senior Boys Soccer
• Senior Boys Netball
• Senior Girls Netball
• Senior Girls Badminton
• Senior Boys Badminton

• Senior Boys Basketball
• Senior Girls Basketball
• Senior Boys Futsal

Mr Collings (Interschool Sport Coordinator)

VM @ Carwatha

It has been another huge term in VM. This term the program took ‘hands-on’ learning to another level! Some of the activities the Year 11 group have participated in are listed below:

• Road Safety VET Program
• First Aid qualification
• Career Expo
• Community Activity

The Community Activity, which doubled as a major assessment task, was the highlight of the term. Students had to plan and design, implement and reflect on a community activity that needed to improve the health and wellbeing of the members of that community.

This was the focus in the classroom and the project was an opportunity for groups to show their understanding in a practical setting. The following activities were chosen and most groups excelled and all were able to reflect honestly and were quite humbled by the experience: Jump Rope for heart (Grade 3 students), Indoor Soccer Tournament (Grade 5/6 students), Basketball Tournament (Year 9 students), Carwatha Colour Run (fundraiser BBQ and Milkshakes for Primary students), Bake sale (Secondary students).

Can’t wait to see what the next term brings…anything is possible when these students take a risk and get creative!


 

Mr Collings VMPDS teacher

Recreational Pursuits Term 2

Coming off a sensational time at camp at Phillip Island in the last week of Term 1, students couldn’t believe that Rec Pursuits could get any better!!! The following activities are the reason Year 10s love this elective:

• Bubble soccer Springvale
• Jell’s Park
• Cardinia Reservoir
• Dingley Adventure Mini-golf
• Bounce Keysborough
• 1000 steps hike and BBQ

The behaviour, respect for the outdoors and the community and the gratitude these students showed throughout this elective made it an absolute privilege to take the subject. Well done and I look forward to watching your continued outdoor pursuits and love of physical activity and sport over the coming years!!! Well done!




 

Mr Collings - Recreational Pursuits teacher

Our Year 9 students had an unforgettable time at our camp this term. A whole week at Rubicon was a challenge for some, but many embraced the week away with friends.

The camp was full of different outdoor activities and adventures, with students getting to decide what their day looked like each day as a group. They rode bikes around Lake Eildon, climbed mountains, rafted down the river, cooked over a fire and spent time looking up at the stars at night.

We are proud of the resilience and willingness of our students to push themselves outside of their comfort zone and were glad to have had such a fun week away with them all!

    

Term 2 is always a very busy time in the Careers world! There were many awesome events and activities run this term.

Year 9

Students in Year 9 started the term off with Morrisby Face-to-Face Counselling. Students spent 30 minutes going through their Morrisby report and discussing future career aspirations with career counsellors.

Later in the term Year 9 students participated in Deakin University’s FutureME program. This is 3 days of workshops and activities run by Deakin University students. Year 9 went to visit Deakin Burwood and had a fabulous day checking out the beautiful campus and participating in a “speed meet” with Deakin staff. Our students did a great job talking to strangers and asking amazing questions about the staff’s career pathway.
 

Year 10 and 11

Year 10 and 11 VCE students went to Swinburne University. Students participated in a presentation, had the chance to explore Swinburne University and participate in a variety of workshops including Aviation, Law, Health, Engineering and Astronomy!

Year 10 and 11 VCE VM and Pathways students visited the South East Expo and Try a Trade – where they got to speak to exhibitors, hammer in a nail, try floristry among other great jobs.

Year 7 – 12

Term 2 marked our annual Carwatha Careers Expo. We had 34 exhibitors this year, hundreds of students and a lot of meaningful conversation. We received great feedback from exhibitors regarding our students interest in education, work and jobs. Students participated in a scavenger hunt and did very well engaging with exhibitors.

      

Year 9 – 12 Girls

A group of 30 female Carwatha students went to Monash University for their first ever Re-Design for Her Hackathon. Our students were placed into small groups and had to design a solution for a real life world problem based on a topic. The ideas some of students came up with were amazing – women only trains, support for female fisherman, a women’s only union! Great ideas from our girls on empowering women and ensuring women have equal opportunity in the workforce.

  

International Students

International students visited the Uni Open Day Education Expo where we had to fight them off to leave. Students were very engaged in discussing with exhibitors their future education and career.
 

Ms Hong - Careers Coordinator

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News from the Library....

A Winter – Melbourne Poem:

Winter's Embrace

The sky, a canvas, grey and deep,
Melbourne sleeps, its winter sleep.
Icy winds through city streets blow,
As chilly breezes softly flow. 

Explanation:

• "The sky, a canvas, grey and deep":

This establishes the mood of a cloudy, cold Melbourne winter day.

• "Melbourne sleeps, its winter sleep":

This personifies Melbourne and suggests a sense of quietness and dormancy during the colder months.

• "Icy winds through city streets blow":

This paints a picture of the cold wind that's characteristic of Melbourne winters.

• "As chilly breezes softly flow":

This adds a softer touch to the poem, hinting at the gentle, yet cool, nature of the weather. 

This poem uses imagery to evoke the feeling of a typical Melbourne winter, highlighting the cold and the quiet atmosphere.

Term 2 in the library has been a lot of fun ?

Library Monitors Ana and Narah have been creative making posters and book marks for various Global Observances.  Observances closer to home included National Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week, Mother’s Day etc…

Primary students have enjoyed their creativity and are very eager to take the bookmarks.

Global Observance we looked at were:

International Dance Day - We learned about Flamenco from Andalucía-Spain

International Jazz Day – We enjoyed jazz music in the library at lunchtime



International Day of Families – is to raise awareness of issues faced by families throughout the world.

World Bee Day – created an awareness of the importance of protecting bees and other pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to a sustainable future.

World Environment Day – We learned that we need to say ‘no to plastic’

World Oceans Day - Oceans are a big part of our lives, and it is time we realize their importance.

World Blood Donor Day – is a global tribute to the millions of voluntary, unpaid blood donors who give others a second chance at life. Their generosity saves lives, strengthens communities and embodies the spirit of solidarity

 

We enjoyed the company of two year 10 work experience students William from Wellington Secondary College and Minuli from Glen Waverley Secondary.  They both bought with them quiet demeanours, full of imagination and a sense of humour.

Book Review:







Mrs Naylor & Mrs Famularo

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The Main Office

Office Hours:         Monday - Thursday 8.15am - 4.00pm

                              Friday                      8.15am - 3.45pm

Parents should always make contact with the Main office when visiting the college. 

 

Office Staff:

Buisness Manager:                         Theresa Jarvis

FInace Officer:                               Roseann Bivens                        

Student Services & Accounts:          Pauline Horbaczow

Enrolements/Administration:           Eftalya Coskun

Administration:                              Bronte Fisher

First Aid:                                       Donna Azzopardi

Term Dates 2025

MABO           - Mr Hammond/Ms Go
COWAN         - Mrs Andrew/Ms Toul
CHANG         - Mr Roberts/Mr Amante
BLACKBURN  - Mrs Rentzis/Mrs Herridge

Secondary Junior Leader    Mr Roberts

Secondary Senior Leader    Mr Hammond

Assistant Principals ( Year 7-12)   Ms Adams & Mr Oke

To Speak to or book an appointment with a coordinator, College Leader  or Assistant Principal please contact the main office.

Primary Contacts 2025

Assistant Principal: Mrs Beauchamp-Ormerod

Primary Leading Teacher: Mrs Beauchamp-Ormerod/Mrs Elias

To speak to or book an appointment with a class teacher, leading teacher  or  Assistant Principal please contact the main office.

PrepC               Mrs Colman-Hrissinis

Prep/1 P           Ms Pritchett

1A                    Mrs Abraham

2/3M                Mrs McPhie

2/3G                Ms Gardner

3/4R                 Mrs Rozanic

4W                   Mr Wixon

5/6B                 Mrs Bishop

5/6E                 Mrs Edwards

5/6T                 Ms Brady

Bell Times

All students are expected to be punctual and regular in attendance. After each absence, a note of explanation, dated and signed by the parent/guardian must be brought to the school or absences can be monitored and/or approved online via compass. 

College Map

Lost Property

Lost Property is located in Sickbay. If your child has lost an item please call or see Nurse Donna in Sickbay.

Uniform purchase 


Sustainable School Shop: 
Second Hand Uniforms & Second Hand Books

The College is conscious of the need to provide an efficient process for families to be able to buy and sell second hand uniform.

We are happy to announce the sustainable school shop website that Carwatha College P-12 has previously directed parents to use for second hand books now offers buying and selling of second hand uniforms.

Please go to

 www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au

For the best results:

• Register on the Sustainable School Shop website
• List your second-hand uniform items for sale
• List wanted ads for those items you are looking to buy
• The College’s uniform lists are loaded into the system to make listing ads easy
• The system matches the ads of buyers with sellers and notifies the buyer via email
• Buyers contact sellers and arrange where and when to trade.
• The school is not involved in the transaction
• Parents are well supported via Sustainable School Shop’s telephone (0438 743 444) and email help lines
• The system is simple and easy to use - If you don’t have a computer, internet access or an email address, please call the Sustainable School Shop for assistance.

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