DP (Year 11) News

ESS: field trip

by Natasha Prewett, teacher of Environmental Systems and Societies

The ESS class has been studying ecosystems and ecology over the past term, including species diversity, community interactions, flows of energy and matter, and biomes, zonation and succession.

Last Friday they braved the rain and cold to visit two sites on the Yarra River to measure and evaluate biotic and abiotic factors in these ecosystems. Students used a set of quadrats to sample the plant species present, then learnt how to use equipment including an anemometer (to measure wind speed) and a clinometer (to measure slope).

Music: first performance

by Karoline Kuti, Music Coordinator and teacher of Music

Braving the cold on Tuesday 19 June were the wonderful music students working towards their performances for the DP Music course.

Set to a background of flickering candles and filmic mood lighting, the night began in a calm and meditative manner with Tilda George-Murphy performing her rendition of  Stalactite  by Amanda Handel. Tilda played with elegance and control and had us bopping in our seats to her Jazz Invention.

Transporting us to South America was Dante Kuti with his version of Piazzolla’s  Nightclub 1960.  Finishing on a high with the Stephan Grappelli and Django Reinhard classic,  Minor Swing,  Dante had the audience toe tapping to the very end.

Gulliver Poole embraced the sounds of twentieth century America with Gershwin’s  Prelude No 1  which created great contrast to the evocative Girl with the Flaxen Hair  by Debussy. Taking us on Mikhail Glinka's journey through technical virtuosity and heartfelt expression, Gulliver dazzled the audience with his flair and energy.

It was a pleasure to hear these wonderful musicians taking the risk to put their music out to the world with such honesty and care. We look forward to hearing them all perform again soon.