Secondary School
Year 12 Fieldwork
Excursion to Bodkin Park
A key part of the Year 12 ATAR Geography course is leaving the classroom to engage in fieldwork studies. Earlier this month students conducted fieldwork along the banks of the Swan-Canning River in Bodkin Park. The purpose of the excursion was twofold. Firstly, to observe and record evidence of the impacts of past and present land cover change within the Perth Metropolitan area, while also examining and evaluating two dramatically different strategies to counter these impacts, those strategies being Oxygenation Plants and Living Streams.
The boys investigated the history of land cover change along the Swan-Canning River since British colonisation in 1829, from native vegetation to market gardens to the urban residential developments, while also conducting water sampling tests to measure for water quality.
It was a great opportunity for the students to understand how human activities have altered our local environmental and to engage with solutions to improve its health for future generations. A special thanks to Jess Mullahey for assisting on the day and to our expert guide from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Naomi Adamczyk.
David Borrello
Humanities Teacher
April Revision and Preparation Programs
Business Management and Enterprise Excursion
Year 11 and 12
On Friday, 8 March our Year 11 and 12 Business Management and Enterprise students were afforded the experience of visiting Browne’s Dairy as part of their studies on global branding. The focus of the visit was to learn about how Browne’s seeks out new markets and how they adapt their products to meet the diverse needs of consumers in global economies.
We were privileged to have the opportunity to spend some time with Browne’s CEO Natalie Sarich-Dayton who provided an informative, honest and insightful overview of how the company targets and then determines the feasibility of global markets. Using Browne’s Hunt and Brew as a case study, we learned of their plans to take the product to the European and Asian markets, focusing on how they adapt the product to suit local tastes and preferences while at the same time never compromising on its quality.
Urban Walking Tour
Year 8
This week our Year 8 Humanities students participated in an Urban walking tour of the CBD as part of our studies on the push and pull factors that drive Urbanisation. Our tour commenced at Town Hall and we visited various historical landmarks including the Old Court House and London Court. Students were afforded the opportunity to learn about how the city has developed since the settlement of the Swan River Colony in 1829, with a particular focus on the impact on Whadjuk Noongar communities as well as the economic, social and environmental consequences of urbanisation.
Year 10 Professional Development Workshop
Cooking at Mercedes
Year 10’s are currently on to their second Professional Development Workshop. Last Friday Group 8 cooked their second delicious recipe at Mercedes College in their Home Economics Room. All boys agreed the sausage rolls were a stand out and were impressed with their work. Other scrummy recipes that the boys will try out in their four weeks of cooking are white choc and blueberry muffins, a one pot pasta dish and steak sandwich in Turkish bread.
Unlocking the World of Math
On Monday, 11 March all Year 7 students were treated to a 90-minute World of Maths session. Students worked in groups of 3 or 4 to solve a series of 17 problems. These ranged in difficulty and provided a challenging and competitive environment for the boys. Hands-on activities have many benefits for students. And it’s not just about reinforcing maths concepts. The activities encourage participation, boost confidence and spark a love of learning. All abilities are catered for which drives positive thinking so that students feel rewarded through their achievements. There is no pressure to finish – as long as everyone ‘gives it a go’, which they most certainly did. Students see different and brighter ways of doing maths.
Special mention must be made of who completed 15 of the 17 problems and answered 13 of them correctly. In 2025 we will be working with the Junior School to increase the school’s involvement with World of Maths.
