Middle School
YRTS
This week the Year 9 students have all participated in another of the Yarra Ranges Tech School’s incredible programs; Sustainable Housing.
This program gives students the opportunity of ‘hands-on’ and ‘real-life’ learning with the use of the latest technology and building materials.
Students investigated the issues of climate change, energy efficiency in the home and sustainable housing.
They designed house models and used data logging technology to time and assess temperature increases in their creations and the modifications they could introduce to improve the energy efficiency. They then competed against each other to see which team could achieve the fastest 3-degree temperature increase, whilst ensuring a cost-effective design.
They used this data to draw conclusions regarding the materials that balanced cost, longevity and effective thermoregulation. They were also able to justify the additional expenditures that were included in their housing design by offsetting it with reduced heating costs and longevity of their structure.
The innovation and creativity displayed by each of the student teams was impressive and their engagement in the program ensured that the day was positive and productive. We are extremely lucky to have access to this wonderful facility where our students can experiment with technology like data-loggers, virtual reality systems, artificial intelligence robots and various other programs.
We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with the Yarra Ranges Tech School and their ever-evolving programs.
Year 9 City Camp
The Year 9’s will be attending a CITY CAMP in Term 3, staying two nights from Wednesday 4th September – Friday 6th September. The accommodation will be at ‘Discovery Melbourne’, on Franklin Street near the Queen Victoria Market. The camp will provide a combination of compulsory group experiences, as well as optional leisure activities. Students will experience the amazing marine life at the Aquarium, then take in the views of our capital city from the Eureka Tower, Australia’s tallest building. An MCG tour will show students where their sporting heroes prepare for big games, while a visit to the Melbourne Museum will explore our Indigenous culture. A ‘Heroes Day’ at the Reach Foundation in Collingwood will support students to further develop their social/emotional skills, building resilience by reframing challenges, as well as forming supportive connections with others. Dinners will explore the migrant history of Melbourne via food, most likely at Chinatown and the Italian precinct of Lygon Street.
This program aims to explore the history and culture of Melbourne, while supporting students to increase their independence, make decisions both as individuals and groups, and develop their skills of how to behave in public. By applying their learning from school to the real world, students will discover how to overcome challenges and solve real problems. The opportunity to interact with other students and teachers outside of the school environment will strengthen the connections amongst the group, providing a supportive network when going into the senior part of their schooling, as well as being a lot of fun!
Please put the date in your calendars! More information to come soon…
For any further enquiries, please contact Julian Holland, Head of Middle School