Student Excellence Program

Soul Sonics (grade 5/6 students): On Thursday 14th November a group of grade 5 and 6 students took part in an electronic music workshop run by Jason from Soul Sonics as part of the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES). The workshop was a fun, engaging way for our high ability music students to further develop their music creation and production skills.

The day began with Jason leading an informal discussion about music, sound and creativity, and then the students were given a chance to play and experiment with some electronic music making instruments and hardware to tune themselves in for the day.

The main activity for the day involved students working in groups collecting field recordings and turning them into pieces of music. Students were first sent out into the school yard with directional microphones to collect short recordings of interesting sounds. These sounds were then inputted into the music making software, and the students were taught how to turn the field recordings into usable samples. They then learned the process of sequencing these samples and combining them with other instrumental samples and sounds to create their own pieces of music.

The students who undertook the workshop showed fantastic commitment, creativity and willingness to try new things and extend their music creation knowledge and skills. We thank Jason from Soul Sonics for running the fantastic day, and Miss Pearce for organising the day.

“I loved finding and creating different sounds and finding out how you can use the sound to make music. You can make music out of ordinary sounds” (Aishman)

“It was so interesting to identify and group sounds, and learn about ordering sounds into different groups” (Kaylee)

“I learned about the odd and peculiar sounds that we hear that we can turn into a masterpiece. It encouraged our mindsets and passions for music” (Mamie)

“I liked that we get to choose our beats and sounds and get to collaborate and work together” (Elrohie)

Challenging Climate Change (grade 5 students):

On Thursday, 21st November, a group of grade 5 students had the unique opportunity to participate in an engaging Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES) event focused on tackling climate change. The day brought together experts and students to explore the causes and solutions for one of the most pressing issues of our time.

Andrew from the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey kicked off the event with a fascinating presentation on the origins of carbon dioxide and the role fossil fuels play in global warming. He also highlighted the potential of clean energy sources to help combat climate change, inspiring students to think critically about future energy solutions.

The spotlight then shifted to Chelsea Long, who joined us to share her experiences at the Australian Antarctic Ice Base. Chelsea gave an insightful overview of Law Dome, a significant site for climate research, and explained how ice cores provide a window into Earth’s climate history.

Students had the chance to get hands-on by analysing their own simulated ice cores, creating detailed ice core logs that revealed past environmental conditions. This immersive activity helped them better understand the science behind climate studies and how we can use data to predict and mitigate future challenges.

The event was a fantastic mix of science, education, and action, leaving students with a deeper understanding of climate change and the tools to be part of the solution.