Department News

HSIE Department

To the Brigidine community,

It has been a busy and exciting first few weeks of Term 3 for the HSIE department. As our seniors undertook HSC trials, Year 7 enjoyed fieldwork and our Commerce students ran their market day.

Year 7: Manly Dam Fieldwork

Our keen Year 7 Geographers embarked on an exciting journey to Manly Dam, where textbook theories came to life against the backdrop of nature's beauty. Guided by our dedicated instructors and fearless teachers, students explored the dam's ever-changing functions, delved into its ecological importance, and developed practical fieldwork skills including surveying soil and water quality as well as making a live catch to ascertain habitat quality in the waterways. This immersive experience not only deepened academic knowledge but also cultivated a sense of environmental stewardship.

Year 9: Student-Led Market Day

With a drive for experiential learning, our students orchestrated a vibrant market day that showcased their extensive planning, innovation and collaboration. Under the mentorship of Ms. Tsang, students took charge, bringing to life a range of business ideas including pizzas, doughnuts and the always-popular sausage sizzles. This hands-on venture not only honed entrepreneurial skills but also fostered teamwork, communication, and problem-solving prowess.

Year 12: HSC Trials

Congratulations to all our Year 12 students who last week wrapped up their trial HSC examinations. No doubt their efforts and collaborations have paid off and will set them up for one final push towards the end-of-year HSC exams.

Thanks to the fantastic HSIE team for allowing our students to undertake such rich activities, and for their evergreen efforts in providing quality teaching and learning to your daughters. 

Warm regards,

David Martin

Head of HSIE

Mathematics Department

Semester 2 has been a very busy term for the Mathematics Department, the main focus of the first half of Term 3 was preparing our Year 12 students for their mathematics trial examinations.

Year 12 students have been incredibly busy with their HSC Trials preparation and studies in the first 5 weeks of Term 3. Most of them had many late study sessions in the library with their teachers. We pray that their hard work will be paid off and will prepare them well for the upcoming HSC Examinations in Term 4. 

Year 11 students are preparing for their Final Preliminary Mathematics Tasks. These tasks will give them an HSC Examinations experience, where they are required to revise all of their prior work and complete the tasks in a 1.5 to 2-hour period.

Year 10 students are preparing for Task 3, which is an 80-minute task, an introduction to the Stage 6 examination style.

Year 7 – 9 are preparing for their Practical and Problem-Solving Tasks, in which they will be required to do some practical activities, such as measuring lengths, circumferences or diameter of circular objects and angles, conducting probability simulations using cards, dice or coins a estimating actual distances using scales….etc.

Maya Mabey     &        Gus Lyon 

Head of                         Assistant Head of          

Mathematics              Mathematics 

TAS & VET Department

It has been an exciting start to Semester 2 for TAS and VET students. There have been a number of engaging activities taking place.

Year 7 Engineered Systems Wind Spinners

Year 7 students will have started the design process for their Engineered Systems Wind Spinner projects. Students will be using laser cutter technology and the woodwork room to design and produce their own wind spinner. 

Year 7 Textile Technologies PJs

Year 7 students have commenced the design process for their Peter Alexander-inspired PJs. Students will design and produce their own textile patterns and PJ shorts and have an opportunity to embellish these with decorative techniques of their choice.

Year 8 Food and Agriculture 

Year 8 students have been learning about Food and Agricultural Technologies. They have been using teamwork skills to prepare and present nutritious food in practical lessons, while following WHS and hygiene practices. Students have made a variety of dishes including smoothies, homemade corn chips and avocado salsa, fried rice and stir fry. Students have also been working on a new design for the Brigidine edible garden by completing research on herbs and vegetables suitable for the current season. 

Year 8 Digital Technologies 

Year 8 students have been learning about Digital Technologies. They have explored how binary code is used in computing and the translation of information. Each student translated their name or a secret message into binary code and used different coloured beads to represent the binary message in the form of a bracelet, key chain or necklace.

Year 11 Hospitality

Year 11 Hospitality completed their first industry work placement. Each student spent one week in a Hospitality business learning about industry practices such as hygiene, safety, workflow, food presentation, teamwork and customer service. Students attended venues such as Catalina Rose Bay, Chiswick Woollahra, South Sydney Graphics Arts Club, The Intercontinental and various cafes and restaurants across Sydney. 

Year 12 Hospitality

Year 12 Hospitality student Charlize Ashby is a VET in Schools Student of the Year Finalist for the NSW Training Awards. This is a significant achievement, given there are only four Finalists in this category. The NSW Training Awards are conducted annually by Training Services NSW to recognise outstanding achievement in the vocational education and training sector. The Awards provide a unique opportunity to celebrate achievements and hard work. 

Congratulations to Charlize, and we wish her the best of luck!

Year 12 Hospitality student Melinda Charlesworth won The Youth Partnership VET Excellence Award. The award winner must display excellence in all aspects of their VET course, including completing assessments to a high standard, having a positive attitude towards their learning, and receiving positive feedback from their work placement host employer. 

Kylie Little & Alethea Oliver

TAS & VET Coordinators