Science and Design Technology News
End Of Term 2 :
Science Department
Semester 1 has been a busy and rewarding period for our Science students, with classes across all year levels engaging in practical investigations, collaborative learning activities, and a variety of assessment tasks. With the Years 8–11 examinations now completed and feedback returned, students have the opportunity to reflect on their achievements and consider their goals for the remainder of the year.
As we move into Semester 2, students will continue to build their scientific knowledge through a range of engaging topics. Year 7 students will investigate ecosystems and classification, exploring the diversity of living things and the relationships between organisms and their environments. Year 8 students will study body systems, including hands-on dissection activities that will deepen their understanding of anatomy and physiology. Year 9 students will examine the nervous system, learning how the body detects and responds to internal and external stimuli.
Highlights from Semester 1
Dry Ice Day (Year 7)
As part of the States of Matter unit, Year 7 students conducted a range of exciting experiments using dry ice. This hands-on experience helped deepen their understanding of solids, liquids, and gases.
BioEYES (Year 10 Biology)
In Biology, students observed the development of zebrafish embryos from single cells to free-swimming larvae. This program gave students the opportunity to explore genetics, anatomy, and scientific investigation while also developing their critical thinking and collaboration skills.
Science Club
This term saw the launch of our new Science Club, which has already proven to be a fantastic success. Students began the term by participating in a range of exciting hands-on activities, including a rat dissection, Elephant’s Toothpaste demonstrations, and the design and launch of water bottle rockets. The club also provided valuable support for our VCE students, with dedicated revision sessions to help them prepare for their mid-year examinations.
Thank you to all the staff and students who contributed their time and expertise to running these sessions. A special thank you goes to Fern, our STEM Prefect, for her outstanding leadership and commitment in establishing and leading the club.
Robotics Club
Robotics Club is now running every Wednesday in the DLC, giving students the opportunity to develop their skills in programming, engineering, and robotics. Club members are currently designing and building robots to compete in RoboCup Junior Australia, applying their creativity and problem-solving skills to real-world challenges.
We have already seen an incredible level of interest and enthusiasm from students, with many keen to get involved in this exciting program. A special thank you to Luka, our STEM Prefect, for his leadership and support in helping to run the club. Together, we are also planning a range of exciting in-school robotics and STEM competitions for Term 3, providing students with even more opportunities to challenge themselves and showcase their talents.
What’s in Water? (Year 11 Chemistry)
Year 11 Chemistry students visited the University of Melbourne to take part in the What’s in Water? program. Working in university laboratories, they conducted real-world water analysis and learned about future opportunities in science, engineering, and environmental fields.
Tournament of Minds – STEM Challenge Preparation
Students have been preparing for the upcoming Tournament of Minds STEM Challenge by developing their problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation skills. Working in teams, students have explored complex challenges, generated creative solutions, tested ideas, and refined their designs through an iterative process.
The program encourages students to think creatively, communicate effectively, and apply STEM knowledge in authentic and engaging ways. We look forward to seeing their hard work, creativity, and teamwork showcased at the Tournament of Minds competition in August.
Upcoming Events – Early Term 3
Heart Dissections (Year 8)
Year 8 students will explore the internal structures of the heart through a practical dissection activity. This engaging lesson will support their learning in the Body Systems topic, helping them understand how the heart functions as a pump in the circulatory system.
VCE Biology Field Trip
Our Year 12 Biology students will attend a laboratory workshop at the School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, as part of their VCE Biology studies. Held in a tertiary laboratory setting, the workshop will provide students with the opportunity to apply their learning through hands-on practical investigations aligned with Unit 4 Biology.
Students will explore evidence for evolutionary change using Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies) and investigate immunity through an influenza ELISA case study. This experience will reinforce key concepts from Outcomes 1 and 2 while providing valuable exposure to university-level scientific research and laboratory techniques.
Rowan Presland
Learning Specialist STEM | Science