Head of Secondary

Term 1 Reflection

Term 1 has been a busy start to the school year, with many opportunities for students to build relationships, develop independence, and engage in meaningful learning in and out of the classroom. 

It is always exciting to feel the ‘buzz’ of the school year as it begins. This start of the year is always exciting, and daunting, for students new to the College. Being the second year of our third homeroom at Year 7, it is a delight to welcome new families and students to the College.

Our Year 7 Camp provided a valuable foundation for the newest secondary students. At Camp Coolamatong students time spent together away from school, engaged in team‑building activities and shared challenges. Students formed strong connections with their peers and teachers while growing in confidence and resilience. Similarly, the VCE Camp at CYC ‘The Island’ in Cowes afforded senior students the chance to strengthen relationships, reflect on their goals, and prepare for the academic and personal demands of their final years of schooling.

Experiential learning continued with the Year 9 City Experience, where students explored Melbourne and engaged with the city as a place of learning, culture, and responsibility. This program encouraged independence, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of civic life. Our Year 10 Future Focus program also played an important role this term, with students visiting Deakin University and Monash University. These visits provided valuable insight into tertiary pathways and helped students begin thinking intentionally about their future learning and career options.

Students also with the Secondary Swimming Carnival, a highlight on our calendar. Students demonstrated great school spirit, encouragement, and sportsmanship throughout the day. It was pleasing to see wide participation, friendly competition, and strong house pride on display.

Our students do an outstanding job of balancing their studies and extra curricular activities both in and out of school. It is encouraging to see students developing in a holistic way, especially as we work towards our mission to send students out to be a positive Christian influence in the world.

We are thankful for the commitment of staff and the support of families in making Term 1 such a positive and productive beginning to the year. We look forward to the continued growth of our students as we move into Term 2 together.

2025 VCE Recognition Awards Assembly

Earlier this term on 6 February, we welcomed back some of our 2025 VCE students to celebrate all they’ve achieved at our VCE Recognition Awards Assembly. We’re so thankful to God for their dedication and perseverance, and for the opportunity to celebrate this milestone alongside their families over morning tea. We pray that God will continue to guide and walk with our graduates as they step confidently into the next chapter of their lives.

Year 7 News

Camp Coolamatong

The Year 7 Camp at Camp Coolamatong was a fun, active, and meaningful experience where students embraced new challenges, built friendships, and reflected on their shared theme, “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

Across the five days, students participated in a wide range of activities including raft building, stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing, sailing, tubing, indoor climbing, combat archery, and an adventure race. Many stepped out of their comfort zones, trying new activities for the first time and supporting one another along the way.

Evenings were filled with engaging programs such as group games, devotions, worship, a movie night, bush dancing, trivia, and team challenges. These moments strengthened connections between students, teachers, and staff, while reinforcing the camp’s spiritual theme of identity, value, and belonging.

A highlight of the camp was the visit to Raymond Island, where students enjoyed a boat trip, explored the area, and spotted koalas in their natural habitat. Throughout the camp, students also contributed through duty groups, helping with meals and clean-up.

Overall, the camp provided a memorable opportunity for students to grow in confidence, deepen friendships, and reflect on their value and purpose. Staff were extremely proud of the students’ enthusiasm, resilience, and willingness to try new things, making the camp a meaningful and enjoyable experience for all.

Medieval Education Incursion

On Tuesday 4 March, our Year 7 Humanities students took part in an engaging incursion run by Medieval Education. Throughout the day, students participated in a series of interactive sessions exploring warriors and warfare, rulers and subjects, archery, and gladiators.

The presenters brought along a range of armour, costumes, and historical artefacts, giving students the opportunity to see and handle items similar to those used in the ancient world. These hands-on experiences helped bring history to life and sparked plenty of curiosity and questions from our students.

The incursion supported our current Humanities unit on Ancient Rome, helping students deepen their understanding of how people lived, fought, and governed during this time. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to connect their classroom learning with real historical objects and demonstrations, making the study of the ancient world both memorable and meaningful.

Year 8 News

Our Year 8s have had a very settled start to 2026. Despite camp being postponed until June, our Year 8 worship team have banded together and been practicing new songs to lead us in worship in our Year Level Assembly times and in preparation for camp. The team is enthusiastic and keen to lead their peers with excellence.

Many of the Year 8s participated at the Swim Carnival – getting into the house spirit with their green, red and yellow costumes. As well as the house and swimming competitions, it was a wonderful opportunity for community among the cohort and great to see them cheering each other on.

Our Teen Mental Health First Aid specialists took the Year 8s through their program this term. This program equips students to recognise potential mental health challenges and to advocate for each other to find help when needed. It is an excellent program that empowers our students, and we are grateful to the team for presenting this to the Year 8s.

We have also had Jake from Talk Money come in and run 3 sessions on ‘Spending and Saving Money’ and ‘Becoming Scam Savvy’. The Year 8s engaged well in these sessions, learning more about how to budget, how interest compounds when we save and how to avoid scams. We would encourage you to discuss these topics at home with your Year 8s. Talk Money also provides resources that you can use to further the learning for your Year 8s here: talkmoney.org.au/resources.

All students participated in a study skills session with Elevate this term. These sessions are targeted to the specific year group, to assist them with their general study skills as well as when preparing for examinations. There are Elevate resources available for students and parents on the Hub.

Hanging Rock Excursion

"Our visit to Hanging Rock was truly an exciting and memorable experience that combined a learning opportunity with a sense of adventure. We began by taking some environmental measurements, using these really cool devices which calculate temperatures, wind speeds, humidity percentages, and light units in the blink of an eye, which helped us understand the conditions of the area better. While taking in Hanging Rock’s astonishing beauty, we also created some detailed sketches of the landscape, capturing the rock’s remarkable features and the surrounding scenery.

"The highlight of the day was definitely the guided tour up Hanging Rock. Climbing and exploring the rock firsthand allowed us to fully appreciate its size, shape and natural features, while the view from the top was absolutely breathtaking. The combination of the measurements and the immersive exploration made the trip both educational and such an enjoyable time. Overall, it was a fun, inspiring and enriching experience that nobody could forget."

Year 9 News

City Experience

Week 8 of this term marked a significant milestone for our Year 9 students as they commenced their experiential learning journey through Melbourne, widely recognised as one of the world’s most liveable cities. Over the course of five days, students undertook the challenge of completing an inquiry-based project that engaged deeply with the city’s cultural diversity, historical context, and civic structures.

This immersive learning experience fostered collaboration and strengthened students’ observational and problem-solving skills, while also supporting their social and emotional development. In navigating real-world environments, students demonstrated growing resilience and an enhanced capacity to apply knowledge beyond the classroom.

The success of the city experience would not have been possible without the dedication and teamwork of the staff at St Andrews Christian College. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all staff members for their commitment and for going above and beyond in supporting our students throughout the week. Above all, we give thanks to God for His continued guidance and blessings.

Year 10 News

Future Ready Careers Program 18-20 March 2026

From 18–20 March, our Year 10 students participated in an immersive three-day ‘Future Ready’ Careers Program, designed to equip students with the vital knowledge and skills needed for success in senior school and future careers.

Morrisby Profiling and Personal Discovery

On Wednesday, 19 March, students completed the Morrisby Profile, a comprehensive career profiling system integral to Victoria’s Year 10 Careers Education. These profiles provide deep insights into students’ strengths and aptitudes, encouraging them to explore diverse career options and make informed VCE subject selections.

To unpack these results, we hosted the St Andrews Morrisby Information Evening on Thursday, 20 March. National Morrisby Manager, Craig Eastwood, presented to students and parents, offering expert guidance on interpreting the profiles to map out future pathways.

University Immersion

A major highlight of this year’s program included interactive tours of Monash University (Clayton Campus) and Deakin University (Burwood Campus). These visits offered invaluable insights into university faculties, course structures, admissions, and the vibrant academic and social life on campus.

Pathways, Resumes, and Financial Literacy

Throughout the week, students engaged in practical sessions:

• VTAC & Pathway Planning: Students were introduced to the VTAC application process, researching tertiary courses, prerequisite studies, and alternative entry pathways.
• Employability Skills: A workshop on drafting Resumes and Cover Letters was held, focusing on the key skills employers look for in 2026.
• Financial Literacy & Work Rights: Facilitator Jake McNamara from the ‘Talk Money’ Foundation delivered engaging workshops on tax, superannuation, reading payslips, and understanding workplace rights.
• Scam Awareness: The program concluded with a practical Friday workshop, "Becoming Scam Savvy," to help students identify red flags and stay safe online.

It was a fantastic three days of growth and planning. As the world of work becomes more unpredictable, insights enable students to build resilience, adaptability, and a capacity for lifelong learning, preparing them for a rapidly evolving workforce.

VCE News

Phillip Island CYC Camp

The VCE Camp at Phillip Island CYC was a joyful and memorable experience in which students bonded through shared activities and moments of reflection. The trip began with a stop at Cranbourne Botanical Gardens before continuing in Cowes with a scavenger hunt and a relaxing evening at the beach, where students enjoyed games, admired the sunset, and gathered for worship and devotions. The second day focused on making the most of the onsite facilities, with activities such as abseiling, team challenges, and an escape room, alongside opportunities for rest, unstructured play, and community building. On the final day, students embarked on a cruise from Cowes Jetty to visit a seal colony, overcoming initial nerves to enjoy the experience before returning home grateful for the strengthened community, meaningful connections, and cherished memories formed over the three days. Thank you God for watching over us and building the community in the VCE cohort for this year. We are so grateful!