Year 7 – 5 Weeks of High School: Snapshot
Dear Parents and Guardians
With the help of our wonderful Year 7 teachers, we have put together a snapshot of the first five weeks of high school for our newest students.
It has been a busy and productive start to the term for our Year 7 students. In just five weeks, the girls have successfully transitioned from primary to high school, showing adaptability and grace. We are particularly proud of how they have navigated the new school grounds and applied problem solving skills to any challenges that come their way, and reached out for support from their teachers and me. As we move into the next five weeks, we would like to remind you of the support that is on offer here at the College. To help students manage their new workload, the Study Hub hosts after school tutoring where teachers and alumnae offer homework help. It is a great resource for anyone looking to complete their task and homework in a focused environment. Below is a snapshot of what our Year 7s have been doing so far.
Mrs Serita Vari, Year 7 Coordinator
Religion
Year 7 have made a wonderful start to their Religious Education journey at Domremy, embracing both learning and community life with enthusiasm. They began the year with Belonging Day, where they participated in an Instructional Mass and were introduced to the Presentation Sisters’ charism. In RE lessons, they have explored the inspiring story of Nano Nagle and what it means to “shine their light” as members of a Presentation community through their first unit “What it Means to be Catholic.” A special moment for the cohort was receiving their Catholic Youth Bible during a chapel liturgy, marking their initiation into the Faith Life of the College. Already, Year 7 are growing in confidence, connection, and understanding as they step into the rich spiritual life of Domremy.
HSIE
So far in Year 7 History, students have been investigating the Ancient Past and answering questions such as What is history? And who dictates what is history? Students have become familiar with reading time in history, sorting certain events into chronological order, and learning about how historians and archaeologists use sources to reconstruct the past. From their very first lesson, students have shown an eagerness to learn, actively participating in class discussions and sharing everything they know about history.
PDHPE
In theory lessons, students have been diving deep into the “Changes and Challenges” of adolescence, exploring the various physical and emotional shifts that occur during puberty. By normalising these experiences and identifying personal support networks, including trusted adults at home and within the school community, students are building the resilience and coping strategies needed to thrive during this developmental milestone.
In practical settings, Year 7 has commenced an energetic Gymnastics unit. After mastering fundamental movement skills such as static balances, rotations, and safe landings, students are now collaborating in small groups to design and compose their own original routines. It has been wonderful to see their creativity and teamwork shine as they link these physical skills together, demonstrating both impressive body control and great sportsmanship.
Our Year 7 PDHPE group has launched into this unit with real enthusiasm, already collaborating thoughtfully on their group routines and showing a genuine willingness to participate. The theory lessons are perfectly timed learning as they settle into high school life—and despite it only being Week 5, they already feel like a confident, comfortable part of the school community.
Science
Year 7 have been learning about how scientists determine the answers to their questions about the world. We have discussed the various branches of science and the interplay between these branches, as well as the transdisciplinary work that scientists conduct in media and communication. In their practical work, the students have been learning about scientific equipment, its uses and how to draw equipment correctly. Most excitingly, the students have begun using the Bunsen burner, learning to light it safely and then using it in experimentation, building their confidence in achieving competency with lifelong science skills.
Mathematics
The early work in Year 7 has consolidated student understanding of number and order of operations that was first introduced in primary school. We have extended upon this work by exploring directed (including negative) numbers and incorporating this into our existing framework for resolving expressions with multiple operations. We are now looking to further develop earlier work on patterns and rules to lay the foundation for a more formal introduction to algebra and pronumerals.
Connect 7: A Huge Success So Far!
We are thrilled to report that Connect 7 has had a phenomenal start to the year! The program is already proving to be a resounding success, with our Year 7 students diving into their sessions with incredible energy and enthusiasm.
High school is a unique season of growth, and Connect 7 is intentionally designed to help our girls navigate this transition by focusing on two core pillars: social confidence and academic independence.
Through engaging group activities, the program empowers students to build meaningful friendships while developing the vital self-management skills they need to become confident, independent learners. We are so proud of the progress our girls have made already and look forward to seeing them continue to flourish as the program progresses.
Visual Arts
Year 7 students have immersed themselves in the vivid world of art through an exploration of the French Impressionist movement known as Fauvism, in preparation for their upcoming written assessment task. This dynamic movement is celebrated for its bold, expressive brushwork and its vibrant, energetic use of colour to communicate emotion and atmosphere.
Throughout their practical lessons, students have been strengthening their observational drawing skills, learning to look closely and thoughtfully record the world around them. They are developing the ability to transform flat, two-dimensional sketches into convincing three-dimensional forms through the deliberate use of shading, tone, proportion, and depth.Their next task will see them apply this knowledge creatively by producing their own Fauvist-inspired artwork.
Languages
Italian
The girls have begun to explore Italy – its 20 regions and major cities, learning about what makes them unique. They’ve learnt that Venezia (Venice) is known as the “Floating City” and that they already know about 2000 Italian words!! We’ve looked at the similarity between Italian and English words and names of brands “Made in Italy”
We want the girls to be confident in how Italian words are pronounced, so our language work has also begun now with learning about the Italian alphabet and the sounds of the letters.
The girls have been very interested in class, with many showing aptitude in the skills of learning Italian. “Sono molto brave”! ( They are very good”!)
We are all looking forward to a rewarding and fun semester of Italian.
“Forza ragazze”!
Japanese
Students have begun by sharing their background knowledge and interest in Japanese culture and language. They have explored similarities and differences between the two countries in terms of etiquette such as bowing and the geography, including population density and map of Japan. Through introductory activities we have discussed sports like sumo wrestling, bullet trains, the history of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and religion in Japan. Students have also learnt about the traditional Japanese festivals each month: Year of the Horse in January, Setsubun (Bean Throwing Festival) in February and Hinamatsuri (Doll’s Festival) in March. Use of the language has started with dialogues and songs to practise greetings, and will continue with counting and some writing in script in coming weeks.
Minasan – gambarimashou! Let’s do our best, everyone!
Music
In our specialist music classrooms, students have hit a high note with the launch of the Amadeus Music Education Program. This term focuses on the fundamental elements of pitch and duration. A vital part of these first weeks has been instrument stewardship, with students learning the responsibility of correctly assembling and caring for their orchestral instruments to ensure they remain in peak condition for the ensemble.
English
So far this term, our Year 7 students have been immersed in the study of a ‘bildungsroman’ novel (your daughter will be happy to tell you what this means) about a young girl and her family who have left China in search of a more prosperous life in America. The novel explores the many challenges the girl faces as she adjusts to a new language, culture and way of life. Through her journey, students are exploring important concepts around the challenges of the migrant experience and the resilience needed to confront unfamiliar and unfair situations.
As part of this unit, students are also preparing to write their first essay. This is an exciting milestone and, while it may feel a little daunting at first, it marks an important step in their development as writers and thinkers. With guidance and practice, they will develop the skills to express their ideas with clarity and confidence and we look forward to celebrating the steady progress each student makes along the way.
Big Sisters/Little Sisters
On Thursday at lunch, the big sisters and little sisters came together to share stories, learn more about one another and make new friends. Since it was such a hot day, everyone was treated to Zooper Doopers, which made the whole catch‑up feel extra fun and cheerful.
