Our Year 9 Students Are Achieving Great Success in and Out of the Classroom!

Congratulations to all of our Year 9 students on a very successful Term 3 thus far. It has been very pleasing for our team of staff leaders to visit classrooms and witness some of the wonderful work and academic achievements of our cohort.

Many of our students have demonstrated substantial growth in their learning across 2026, and they have started to achieve some of the goals set for themselves upon reflecting on their Semester 1 reports. At a recent Year Level Assembly, a large number of Year 9 students received certificates from NAPLAN for achieving substantial growth, which is testament to the positive progress that the students are making in their learning.

In co-curricular activities, we have seen our Year 9 boys and girls succeed in many of their sports. At the time of writing this article, some of our Year 9 girls (Elle Gilchrist, Evie Gretgrix, Ava Hope, Ellie Macumber, Sienna Raco and Macey White) are part of an Intermediate Netball team representing our College in the Schools in Action National Netball Championships on the Gold Coast and they have won their first three matches! We wish them well for the remainder of the event.

Congratulations also go out to the following students who have achieved significant awards over the last week:

• Lily Hemopo (CMCB Classical Musician of the Year)
• Victoria Tomkins (CMCB Contemporary Musician of the Year)
• Luelle Green (Bronze Award – 10 commendations)
• Bethany Riddell (Bronze Award – 10 commendations)
• Ryder Zerk (Bronze Award – 10 commendations)

Bringing History to Life: Year 9 Gallipoli Experience

On Friday 21 August, the Year 9s experienced an informative live virtual learning tour of Gallipoli. It was all about the events that happened during the First World War, both traumatic events and life-changing ones. The tour was guided by two experienced tour guides who showed us Gallipoli and the influential people who died so that we could live, and the who, what, when and where of World War I.

I found the tour very easy to follow and very informative. To start, the tour guides gave us a detailed background of Gallipoli and how World War I started. Then the tour guides showed us a map of the landings and detailed descriptions of what World War I was like. 

They explained the main aspects of the war, and some that seemed insignificant but were quite complex and affected how the Australians were presented in the war. For example, both tour guides explained how we landed in the wrong spot in Gallipoli, and the enemy had high ground. Moreover, the tour guides showed in real time what the Gallipoli terrain and battlefield was like. They explained about the mass casualties that damaged the land at Gallipoli, leaving the terrain ruined, which I found very interesting.

I was especially interested in the historical and significant soldiers in World War I. The tour guides talked about the significance of those soldiers who sacrificed their lives so we could be where we are today. The tour guides showed their respect and appreciation for the soldiers and led us into a reverent 10 seconds of silence. 

I found the tour entertaining and inclusive; they answered all our questions about the First World War. The tour guides were delighted to have us, and they were respectful and patient with us. Overall, the tour was amazing and eye-opening to truly see and hear about the history behind World War I.

It was indeed great to see people take such interest in our history. I am ever so grateful for this opportunity.

Grace Wyatt

Year 9 Creative Design Illustrations

Drawing activity focused on capturing the likeness of a natural object, with proportion, tone, and implied form as the key areas of focus. Students explored a range of media before producing a final illustration.

This task leads into the ceramics unit, where the same forms are explored and form, proportion, and texture become the primary focus.

Finally, a reminder that all Year 9 students are asked to bring wrapped lolly and chocolate donations to Mercy Homegroup (MHG) sessions each morning, over the next two weeks, to be used as prizes for our Year 9 Mercy Day Stall. The Year 9 MHG with the most donations will receive a prize for their efforts.

Mr Stephen Evans, Mrs Josephine Tobin and Mr Dean Carmody, Year 9 Leadership Team