Year 7 Welcome Day: A Joyful Start to the Secondary School Journey
The Year 7 Welcome Day was a vibrant and memorable experience for our current Year 6 students as they prepared to join the Secondary School in 2026. Filled with excitement, hands‑on learning, and opportunities to make new friends, the day helped ease the transition into high school while showcasing what life at the College will soon look like for them.
A Warm Welcome from Year 9 Peer Support Leaders
Our Year 9 Peer Support Leaders made a wonderful impression, guiding activities throughout the day with energy, kindness, and genuine enthusiasm. Their leadership set a welcoming tone and ensured every student felt included and supported as they got to know their future classmates.
A Taste of Secondary School Learning
Students explored a range of curriculum-based lessons—including Art, History, and Science—which offered a glimpse into the engaging and interactive learning culture of high school. Moving between classrooms, meeting new teachers, and stepping into specialist spaces helped students build confidence for the year ahead.
They also enjoyed sessions in their chosen performance streams: Music, Acting, Musical Theatre, Dance, Ballet, or Elite Tennis. Joined by students from Years 7–9, they were able to immerse themselves in their passions and experience the excitement of specialist training at the College.
Sharing Food, Friendship, and Fun
Morning tea in the library featured freshly baked muffins, while pizza at lunchtime brought a buzz of conversation and laughter. These shared moments gave students the chance to relax, chat with new peers, and soak up the College’s welcoming atmosphere.
Finishing the Day with Connection
The day concluded with reflective activities and name-learning games. Impressively, by the end of the day, every student knew the names of all their peers—a wonderful testament to the sense of community already forming.
Student Reflections
Students shared glowing feedback about their experience:
- “I liked EVERYTHING because I learned new things I tried, and I met new people and our peer support helped us.”
- “I really enjoyed art because it was so unique! But the best part was all the peer support leaders helping us. The pizza and muffins were so yum!”
- “Science was the most interesting because I had never done experiments before.”
- “I have never done interactive classes like the science and history class. Also, the teachers were really nice.”
Both Mrs Jacqui Sherer, Year 7 2026 Coordinator, and Ms Kirsty McEacharn, Head of Wellbeing, praised the students’ enthusiasm, engagement, and willingness to connect throughout the day. We look forward to officially welcoming this wonderful cohort in 2026 as they begin their secondary school journey at The McDonald College.
