Year 8 Activities Week

Last week, Year 8 students took part in an exciting and meaningful Activities Week, centred around the theme “Caring for Creation through Curiosity and Learning”, inspired by the biblical verse:

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” — Genesis 2:15.

Throughout the week, students engaged in hands-on learning experiences that encouraged teamwork, compassion, curiosity, and responsibility for our world.

Monday and Tuesday were STEM-focused days, led by Mr Fleri and Mrs Godfrey. Students were privileged to learn from two engineers from the UNSW Water Research Laboratory — Kurt Douglas (Pells Sullivan Meynink Associate Professor of Rock Mechanics and Associate Head of Engagement, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering) and Andrew Chuong (UNSW Student Ambassador). They shared insights into engineering pathways and the many different fields within engineering.

Students then worked in groups to design and build water towers, testing their stability and height to see which structure could stand the strongest. Later, we were entertained and challenged by a powerful performance from Brainstorm Productions, which explored a range of potential bullying scenarios within a school setting. The performance highlighted how actions not intended to be hurtful can still be interpreted as such, reminding students that the most important response is always kindness.

Later in the day, students rotated through house group activities, including flying drones, a cultural walk with Uncle Jimmy through Five Dock Park, and the Floating House Challenge. During the nature walk, Uncle Jimmy shared his knowledge of the land, teaching students about different trees, leaves, and how Indigenous peoples used the earth’s natural resources. The Floating House Challenge required students to work in teams to design and construct a floating house using recycled materials, mimicking the floating villages found around the world amid the ongoing climate crisis. Students tested how many rocks their structures could hold while remaining afloat, learning about sustainability and real-world living conditions.

On Wednesday, students attended the long-awaited Taronga Zoo excursion, which had been rescheduled from earlier in the year. Despite the change in plans, students had a wonderful day walking through the zoo with their teachers and classmates, exploring exhibits featuring lions, monkeys, tigers, and native Australian animals such as koalas and kangaroos. They also visited the Education Centre, where they learned about animal classifications and even had the opportunity to touch some of the animals up close. It was a memorable and enriching experience for all.

Thursday was filled with music, movement, and reflection as students sang, danced, and listened to guest speaker Chris Stoyle. He spoke passionately about gratitude, selflessness, and life’s true priorities. Students reflected deeply as they created a list of 100 things that make life worth living, followed by singing favourite songs and dancing together – including a few enthusiastic teachers.

The week concluded on Friday with a relaxing and fun Picnic Day at Bayview Park with Year 7. Although it was a very hot day, students enjoyed the opportunity to swim before returning early to school to watch The Grinch together in the hall. It was the perfect way to celebrate the week, strengthening friendships and the connections formed throughout Camp Week.

A special shout out must also go to all the staff who generously gave their time supervising the many activities throughout the week, and to Mr Sciortino, our Year Coordinator, who oversaw the planning and organisation of the entire week to ensure that everyone had a safe, enjoyable, and memorable experience together.

Overall, Activities Week was a wonderful success – full of learning, laughter, faith, and friendship. Students embraced the opportunity to care for creation, grow in understanding, and create lasting memories together.

by Zoe, Abia, Lucia, Bailey, Isabella, Mari and Chloe – Year 8 Students

Mr Greg Sciortino, Year 8 Coordinator