Leongatha Secondary College (LSC) welcomed 103 Year 7 students, the majority making the short journey from Leongatha Primary School (LPS), while the 2024 Year 12 group is ready to tackle the challenges ahead.
Cooper Rogers has quickly settled into Year 7, a process made easier by participating in an orientation day there last year as he neared the end of his time at LPS.
He’s looking forward to woodwork and the chance to undertake “more out there experiments” in science, such as dissection and mixing chemicals to make a formula.
“We get to actually do it instead of theorising,” Cooper said.
In the short term, he’s adjusting to juggling more books and having a sports uniform, necessitating greater organisational effort.
Ida Hilligso Chadwick has also shifted across from LPS.
She is delighted with the food on offer at LSC, with apple pie an instant winner.
Ida said the focus in the first couple of days of secondary school has been on introductions to teachers, subjects, and students who have come from various schools in the region and further afield.
While she is still learning where everything is situated at her new campus, Ida has quickly got to know the names of new classmates.
Year 7 students are buddied with others from Year 10 through the school’s ‘Peer Support Program’, helping them find their feet at secondary level.
“They’re looked after and guided, particularly during the first term by the Year 10 students who act as their mentors,” assistant Junior School principal Warwick Ford said, having responsibility for those from Year 7 to Year 9 inclusive.
The mentors also help during offsite ‘experience days’, conducted midterm, that involve activities designed to foster unity among the Year 7 cohort, laying a platform to get the best out of their schooling.
Year 12 students will also have valuable guidance available, a point noted by one of the group, Alli Tuckett, who is striving to go to uni next year, perhaps to study a Bachelor of Education.
“There’s a long road ahead of me but I’m feeling hopeful because we’re backed up by a supportive Year 12 coordinator and good teachers who can support our learning,” Alli said.
Mackenzie Nash is the coordinator referred to, having worked with the current crop of Year 12s while they tackled Year 11.
“I have high expectations for all of them; they’re a motivated group and supportive of one another, and they have high expectations for themselves,” Mackenzie said.
She added that it’s up to her and her colleagues to encourage the Year 12s to get the best out of themselves.
School captain Bodhi Abernethy is looking forward to combining leadership with his VCE Vocational Major (VM).
Aiming to become a builder, he is confident the school will help prepare him to enter the workforce, and is planning to gain as much hands-on experience as possible this year.
Bodhi explained the school has a flexible approach to its VM program, tailoring it to the needs of each student and what they want to achieve.
“They’re willing to make change and help us wherever we need it,” he said.
As school captain, Bodhi outlined his intended approach to the leadership role.
“I’m one for leadership and I’m always the first to put up my hand for anything, so I’m going to take it head on and it’s a great learning curve for me,” he said.
Bodhi looks forward to working with those on the school council and seeing things from a different perspective, while representing the students and working with other college leaders.
While this scribe met just a small number of the new arrivals and VCE students at LSC, a positive vibe was apparent in what promises to be another productive year.
