Classroom Activities

Year 10 Personal Growth

The Year 10 Personal Growth classes recently visited Donald Primary School and St Mary’s Primary School, volunteering in classrooms for one hour each week over three weeks. This initiative was linked to the Barefoot Investor step "Volunteer in your local community", which students were exploring in class. The experience was thoroughly enjoyed by the Year 10s, who appreciated the opportunity to return to their former primary schools and give back by assisting teachers and younger students. Many students felt they made a meaningful contribution, which left them with a keen sense of personal satisfaction. Thank you to Donald Primary School and St Mary’s Primary School for their ongoing support of this valuable program.

Building Bridges, and Brains, in TED

In our Technology, Engineering and Design (TED) class, students recently tackled a hands-on challenge in designing and building a bridge using only basic craft materials to span a 40cm gap. Armed with popsicle sticks, masking tape, and their imaginations, the goal was to create a structure that could hold as much weight as possible.

The first round of testing produced a wide range of results. Some bridges held less than a kilogram, while others managed up to 9kg before giving way. Students then analysed their designs, made improvements, and had a second attempt.

The standout second performance came from Max and Riley, whose redesigned bridge held over 22 kilograms without collapsing! We eventually had to stop stacking weight, not because the bridge broke, but because we physically couldn’t add more without it toppling from the load on top. An amazing effort that showed real problem-solving and teamwork.

Well done year 7 TED and extra well done to Max and Riley.