Term three continues at pace and as always there is so much happening at Padua College, amongst the SIS sport, SIS Teen Chef, House athletics carnivals and of course the spectacularly successful College Production, Mamma Mia!, we also have our day-to-day lessons and activities.

Mamma Mia!

I would like to add my congratulations and thanks to the many staff involved in providing this opportunity for all the students at Padua. I would particularly like to highlight the Production team staff who are also part of our Mornington Junior Campus, they include Kylie Donnelly, Gabe Noonan, Jodie Williams, Gina Reimers, Anna Whittaker and many more.

I am in awe of these generous people who gave up so much of their time over many evenings to ensure the Production was a success. Well done one and all.

However, my biggest accolades are reserved for the stars of the show, our students! It was magnificent to see students come together across all Padua Campuses to produce a show of which they can all be proud and which will live in their memories… forever!

House Athletics

House athletics were held this week at the Mornington Athletics Track, in beautiful sunshine students and staff enjoyed a day of activity and competition. Thanks greatly to Mr Di Paolo, Mrs Whittaker and the entire team who facilitated a successful day.

Final results:

1. Sebastian
2. Frayne
3. Kolbe

Congratulations to both Charlee Dornom and Jake Georgiou for winning the Sprinters of the Meet races.

I think I repeat myself a little when I say this, but it remains true, whatever is your passion, whether the Arts, Sports, Academia or Social Justice, get involved here at Padua and you will find that opportunity to let your light shine!

Subject Selection

Other key events of the past few weeks have been the College ECaT evening (Education Careers and Training). This night provides a fantastic opportunity for our students to consider their future pathways as they move through the College. Similarly students in Year 8 will later have the chance to make subject selections for Year 9 in 2024, their first real chance to select subjects that specifically interest them, having had a chance to “taste” the different opinions throughout Years 7 & 8.

With all these choices we ask that students take these choices very seriously and do as much research as is possible, talk with teachers, older brothers or sisters, parents, family friends who may have particular insight into a pathway or career option that is relevant.

I encourage all our students especially those on the cusp of entering the Senior Campus to do their own research on the options that are ahead..

Particularly for our Year 9 students, who are about to embark on a three-year journey through the Senior Campus, incorporating studies in VCE, VET or VCEVM; have they done the RESEARCH?

The responsibility needs to sit with them to own the next part of their learning journey so they can make an informed choice and then own that choice, knowing that they are blessed to have the opportunities before them.

Wishing you all continued blessings.

SIS Intermediate Boys Football

The Intermediate (Year 9 and 10) B Side continued their impressive improvement, recording their first win against Hillcrest 12.5.77 to 6.9.45. With the Intermediate A’s having a shock loss over John Paul, our players responded magnificently to ‘fly the flag’ and get the points for our year level. Our only concern now with massive changes expected in the A’s, is that the quality players in the B’s that we have been putting an enormous amount of time into will be promoted to the A’s to improve their chances of winning in future games. The Intermediate B’s on a small ground played the slippery conditions perfectly with a long and direct brand of football to instruction. Finnbar Feehely and Eli Sherrin dominated in the mid-field and were given great service in the big man department by the likes of Michael Latu and MJ Uelehipa. Ross Walker and Jacob Diaz-Scott were resolute and held firm in defence whenever Hillcrest ventured forward. This was another even performance by the Intermediate B’s with every player contributing to the win. A heavy loss in Round 1 to St Francis, a narrow loss against John Paul in Roundd 2 and now a solid win against Hillcrest highlights the development of our team and the effort of our players who have a strong focus on getting better each week. A special thank you to Fletcher Leggo for doing a wonderful job goal umpiring.

Goal Kickers: Finnbar Feehely 3, Eli Sherrin 3, MJ Ulehipa 2, Riley Puls 1, Gus Derriman 1, Jonty Chase 1, Fred Langford 1.
Andrew Brady
Coach

Tough Padder Reports

Year 7 twins, Caitlin and Chelsea Oliffe-Betts share their experience of the infamous Year 7 PE induction program - the Padua Tough Mudder trail, also known as 'Tough Padder'

My experience was super fun because I like to run, do sport, and to do obstacles. The weather was not the best. It was really cold. It started at the senior basketball court when we split into two groups, boys and girls. We did team work exercises where we carried a rope above our heads and worked together to walk it to the other side of the court and back plus more activities like that. Next we ran on the senior soccer pitch where we rolled in dirt which was really funny. Then we went over and under some beaches, and the fence of the senior oval, but none of us could get over the fence, so that was pretty funny. Then we did another team activity. Next, we ran down to the junior oval where we army crawled under a net, which was annoying when your foot gets stuck in the next. Then we ran down to the waterlands, where we did more under and over obstacles, which were really fun. Then we saw it, the mud pit and on the other side the boys drenched in mud, then it was the girl's turn to army crawl through the wet mud pit, and it was pretty funny to see everyone's reaction. Then we did a quick activity that lead to a bit of the lake that was waist height deep and a metre long that we walked through, which was nice to get some mud of myself, then the final obstacle, you got on a raft and with a rope to pull ourselves to halfway across the lake then jump in a swim to the other side. After that, we showered and got warm.

Caitlin Oliffe-Betts
Year 7 Kolbe

Even though the weather was pretty cold on the day, we did the Tough Padder with lots of activities to warm up. Once we had done tons of different crazy activities, we had a lot of fun! The Tough Padder was a muddy obstacle course where we had to complete all sorts of activities like holding a giant rope over our head, commando crawling in mud, running, swimming in the lake etc. Parts of it were quite challenging but that didn't stop us! One of the highlights was to see how muddy everyone was which was so funny we all had mud all over us! My only problem was that when we got all wet it got really cold but as soon as we were finished we had warm showers! I think next time if I was to do this again it would be best in the summer where getting wet and cold was a great way to cool off on a hot day but overall I did still enjoy most of it!!

Chelsea Oliffe-Betts
Year 7 Kolbe