Celebration of Learning

Field Study Day - 28 June

Year 8 Maths to Royal Botanical Gardens

Going to the Royal Botanical Gardens for field study day was a wonderful experience and taught us many things. We did a variety of things including collecting data and answering data-related questions, drawing graphs, calculating distances and measuring objects like the ‘Mare and Foal’ statue. It taught us how to work effectively and efficiently in a group to collect accurate sets of data. We also got to see many interesting and artistic pieces of architecture in the garden including ‘The Moreshead’ fountain. I particularly enjoyed answering the questions for ‘The Morshed’ fountain and calculating the measurements for the pond next to the entrance. I personally had fun and thought that going to the Botanical Gardens was a great and engaging experience.  Yue Wing

On the 28th of June year 8 went on a maths excursion to the Royal Botanic Gardens. We were split up into non-class groups so that we could make new friends and spend time with other girls in our year that we usually don’t. There were nine activities that were the same for each group, but everyone started at a different one, so we didn’t collide. In each activity we got to explore another area of the Botanic Gardens and look out onto the harbour while still doing maths. It made the maths activities more interesting and fun since we were given the opportunity to be active and discover ways of using maths in everyday life. The teachers supervised us and helped us when we needed it to explain questions but let us figure them out on our own as a group. In my group this worked really effectively, as in most activities everyone was helping out and contributing, building up both our teamwork and communication skills. The excursion also helped us practise how to read a map and follow signs as well, as we had to find our own way as a group to each destination. Though, my group did get lost a few times, we always managed to, without our teachers help, find our way by reading our map. On the excursion we were also taught how to tell the time on a sundial, figure out if a statue of a foal and a hoarse was proportionate and graph the amount of people walking and running along the harbour. Even on the bus trip we checked how many kilometres it had done already and the time, to figure out the distance we travelled by bus at the end. All in all, it was a fun excursion and I had enjoyed figuring out problems with my friends and learnt a lot.  Romy Brooks

On the 28th of June this year, the year 8 students went to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Just before we left school, we got given a booklet that had activities for us to complete throughout the day. One of the tasks was about the trip there. We worked out it took approximately 28 minutes and the gardens were about 12.8km from school. After we had gotten off the bus we split into small groups.  One of my groups first task was to try and find a statue of a horse. We had a map of the gardens to guide us. We found the statue and had to take some measurements. The next activity we did was finding some very steep steps. The task required us to count how many steps there were. In total there were 118 steps. There were a few other structures we went to find, such as a sundial and a fountain and we had to answer some question about these things. One of the last tasks we did was to observe and count different categories of people using the people in the park. Then we had lunch in the gardens and then returned to school by bus.   Alexis Edwards

Year 9 PDHPE

Year 9 students were able to join with their friends for a fun trivia day on all things PDHPE.

Eager students signed up prior to their day in groups of six and developed a theme for their trivia team. Many groups had outstanding costumes, creative team names, elaborate table decorations and even snacks for the day. The day consisted of a number of online quiz rounds on topics related to PDHPE content learnt within the year thus far with a few fun topics to break it up. The highlight of the day was the physical fitness challenges where one member from each team represented their group by competing in a simple fitness challenge.  Fitness challenges included: sit up, push up, wall sit, free throw in basketball, sprint, long distance run and a plank hold.  As part of the trivia challenge, students also designed and created informative videos on cyber bullying.  To finish off the day each team was involved in a final dance challenge. Overall, the day was a fun PDHPE recap of semester one and a great day was spent with friends

Year 10 Geography to Cronulla

On Friday 28th of June Yr. 10 went to Cronulla and Wanda Beaches to learn about and investigate costal management and the strategies being implemented by the local government. We broke off into small groups, each with their own guide and throughout the day we learnt how to use geographical instruments to measure the environment such as taking the temperature, the wind speed and the brightness of the beach. We also learnt about the structure of beaches and costal development and other human impacts that have hindered the important processes that take place. We learnt this through interactive activities such as building a beach using natural materials and learning how to use a GPS. Overall the day was very interesting really opened our eyes to the issues facing our beaches today.  Mieke van Wel

Year 12 Careers Expo

Year 12 received information sessions on UAC, TAFE and EAS before setting off to the Careers Expo.

Poetry with 7A

This term our class, 7A have been studying poetry in English. We have learnt about poetry techniques and their effects and how to identify these techniques. We also analysed some famous poems about nature written by poets such as Les Murray, William Wordsworth and Robert Frost. We decided to use our knowledge of poetry to create a video about environmental issues. Our video includes poems and haikus created and written by students in 7A, focused on climate change and pollution. Here are some of our poems for your enjoyment.

HSC Dance Showcase

Outstanding Dance Showcase, Congratulations to students & Dance staff Ms Reed & Ms Hunter and big thanks to junior dancers supporting our HSC candidates. Thank you to family & friends who attended, supporting the efforts & many additional rehearsal hours

Yr 11 Economics Excursion

Here’s some of our best & brightest soaking up knowledge at the Reserve Bank on their

Economics excursion.

Yr 10 Macbeth Excursion

"Something wicked this way comes....” Another quality excursion for  Year 10 students at the ⁦Bell Shakespeare production of Macbeth ⁦at the Opera House.

Dragon Dance Workshop

On the 4th of July, during our Chinese class, we participated in a dragon dance incursion at school. The dragon dance instructor taught us the basic steps in the dance, such as how we walk and run as a dragon dancer and the intricacies of the dance. We learned positions and formations for a short performance and we all collaborated in small groups to dance with the dragon. It was fascinating to see the dragon come to life seamlessly. Overall, we really enjoyed the whole experience. It was very fun and intersting to work together with others and perform the dragon dance. Thank you to Ms Liu and Ms Wang for organising this incursion for us, we very much appreciate it. - Ruxing Zhou, Year 10.

The Premier’s Debating Challenge 2019

Our Year 9 & 10 debating teams contested at the local level, demonstrating their enthusiasm and skill in the art of debate. Both teams debated against Fort Street High School, Ashfield Boys High School and each other.

Topics ranged from issues concerning censorship in social media and anti-discrimination laws to banning coaching colleges. The competition demonstrated our students’ abilities to engage in a wide variety of issues relevant to themselves and the wider community, fostering critical thinking and problem solving skills. We are yet to find out if our teams have made it through to the Regional level but, whatever the outcome, we can be proud of the students and their impressive achievements representing the school in the Premier’s Debating Challenge for 2019.

Year 9 Textiles Technology with Ms Jenkins

Inspired by the theme "Sea and Sand", students have been engaged in the design process and the development of strong design concepts.  Each of 18 students used a variety of manufacturing techniques to turn these ideas into completed cushions. Students worked hard developing their skills in machine embroidery, appliqué and patchwork, as well as applying a variety of decorative embellishments to their project. An important focus for these students was to develop an understanding of Functional and Aesthetic properties of their completed design. The photo is Year 9 Textiles Technology with Ms Jenkins.

Inspired by the theme "Sea and Sand", students have been engaged in the design process and the development of strong design concepts.  Each of 18 students used a variety of manufacturing techniques to turn these ideas into completed cushions. Students worked hard developing their skills in machine embroidery, appliqué and patchwork, as well as applying a variety of decorative embellishments to their project. An important focus for these students was to develop an understanding of Functional and Aesthetic properties of their completed design.

Bats, Sticks & Balls PDHPE unit

8C enjoying cricket in the winter sunshine as part of the Bats Sticks & Balls unit