Year 8 Report

from 2020 Yearbook

Year 9 Report

YEAR 8 ORATORY REPORT

Mr Craig Giles | Year 8 Coordinator

Whilst greeting the new Year 8 boys at the start of the school year, there was a real sense of anticipation and enthusiasm as the boys caught up with their friends and schoolmates. There were also lots of questions and excited discussions. Who are my new teachers? What classes am I in? Will I be with my friends? Can Richmond win back to back premierships?

As always, the first half of the year, and Term One in particular, is a busy time for the boys. There is always lots to organise and a number of new teachers for students to get to know.

Whilst we worked through all the busyness of Term 1 we were all becoming increasingly concerned with the news of the Coronavirus and the increasing number of cases across Australia and the world. Whilst there was a lot of anxiety and many unknowns in the early days of this crisis, I was impressed by the focus the boys maintained on their school work, and the humour and mateship they continued to display when we were together.

It is fair to say that the experience of the two lockdowns and the extended periods of remote learning made the 2020 school year unlike anything we could have imagined or prepared for. In all honesty I was amazed by how well the boys managed the experience, and the maturity and resilience they showed. Remote learning meant that the boys had to be more organised and prepared to ask questions when they needed help. The support and involvement of families became critical during remote learning, and I congratulate all our families on the encouragement and care they showed in often very difficult times.

Whilst we were restricted in the year level activities that we could do, the virtual Father/Son Evening was a great night and a rare opportunity for Dads and their boys to take some time out and have real conversations with each other. With all the worry and uncertainty present this year, the chance to share an evening together without distractions made this virtual event a memorable occasion. The feedback from all who attended was extremely positive.

We also enjoyed Don Bosco’s Oratory Week at the end of Term Three. The week was an imaginative celebration, with a range of fun activities and competitions the boys could Hopefully the experiences of the year have contributed to the building of capable, resilient and respectful young men who will continue to make a positive contribution to the school and their communities.”

undertake. The Year 8s joined in with great enthusiasm, showing off their creative and artistic talents and raising some valuable funds. During this time we also ran some specific Year 8 activities to further engage the boys, and the Year 8 MasterChef competition suggested that a number of our families would have been very well fed by their sons during remote learning.

Returning to school in Term 4 was something all our staff and students were looking forward to. Hopefully the boys were able to reconnect with each other on our return, and build on the new friendships that were developed whilst we were away. I continue to get great feedback from Oratory and subject teachers on the behaviour and respect that this year level shows, and I am disappointed that we haven’t had more time together in what was a pretty disjointed year.

As Year Level Coordinator, I’d like to congratulate the boys for the way that they have managed the year and all the challenges they have overcome. As I said at our Term Four Assembly, most of our boys do the right thing all the time, and do so with a smile on their faces and a level of respect and care for those around them. It was a year like no other, but hopefully the boys developed a greater understanding of their ability to stay focused and overcome uncertainty and challenges. Hopefully the experiences of this year have contributed to the building of capable, resilient and respectful young men who will continue to make a positive contribution to the school and their communities.

On behalf of all Year 8s, I’d like to thank all the teachers who have taught and encouraged the boys to give of their best, and in particular the Year 8 Oratory teachers: Mr Steven Loonstra (8A), Mr Chris Seeber (8B), Mr Allan Qi (8D), Miss Samantha Carey (8E), Mrs Adele Bellizia (8F), Mr Paul Azar (8G) and Mr Byron Chen (8H). Thank you so very much.

I look forward to following the development of these boys, and hope that they have an enjoyable and productive time at our Mannix campus in 2021.