This week we will hear from the English, Science, TAS, CAPA, and PE Leaders of Learning.

English

We welcome to the English team Jason Saayman. Jason comes to us with a range of teaching experiences and is working closely with Year 7 and Year 10 this year.

English and the Importance of Reading

In every English lesson (From Year 7 to 10), students are reading for the first 10-15 minutes of their lesson. Sometimes students are assigned a class novel whilst other times they are encouraged to pick their own, but, at all times, all students from Years 7 through to 10 are expected to be engaging with some type of sustained reading material.

Reading is the homework for English; for some students it provokes a visceral pleasure (the holding of a paper novel combined with the soothing flicking of pages that smell faintly of vanilla) whilst for others, it can be more challenging. Regardless of your student’s feelings around reading, it is a skill that they need in order to be able to engage with the world around them. The aim for those who are hesitant to begin, is to find a text that is enjoyable, accessible and allows them to experience success.

Reading can include but is not limited to; audiobooks, graphic novels, picture books, magazines, newspapers, online articles, blogs, novels, textbooks, restaurant menus and the subtitles that you can add to your film or television viewing.

If your student is hesitant or needs support to find a text that they might enjoy, have them speak with their English teacher or have a chat with the lovely people in the library. As a school we are lucky to have access to not only our school library but to an online library program called SORA (Found under the star icon on Compass).

Year 7

Year 7 is deepening their understanding of feature articles and purpose. In the second half of the term they will be meeting a journalist who works at The Guardian and be given the opportunity to ask questions from someone who is working in the industry.

Year 8

Year 8 is refining their understanding of poetry and its ability to capture experiences, identities and culture. As well as analysing other people's poetry, Year 8 have also been crafting their own. Below are some examples of poetry that they have written.

Year 9

Year 9 are hard at work developing their knowledge of essay writing in response to the documentary, ‘The Social Dilemma’. Sustained written responses (often taking the form of essays) are a key skill for Stage 6 education across most subjects, but particularly English and the humanities.

Year 10

Year 10 students are deep into the reading of their chosen author and are well underway in the crafting of their author study project. Students are encouraged to continue to ask questions and think deeply about the texts they are reading as well as the literary value that these texts (and authors) have on the world around them!

Below are student responses to why they chose their specific authors.

For my author study project this term, I chose to study Charles Dickens. I had heard the name before as Dickens is an acclaimed author, but I was not previously aware of his writings. I then discovered that I had heard of his books and also of the movies that are based on them. I was captivated by these books and by the phrases that accompanied his name, Britannica states that he is an “English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian era”.

After beginning to read his book ‘Hard Times’, I can now understand why he is so renowned. However as a younger reader, his style of writing can be quite difficult to understand. - Lillie Kelly

I chose Dr. Suess as the author for my investigation as he has a significant place in the literature world, specifically in children's writing. I have seen many reiterations of his works such as The Cat in the Hat and The Lorax movies. I have also been familiarised with his short stories in the form of children's literature which are renowned for their unique, very bright, sensational, visually rich and highly detailed and meaningful illustrations. The way Dr. Suess conveys his often controversial and significant messages in such a way that children can understand and even enjoy it is an inspiration to all and he has a generational impact on the world. He highlights themes such as imagination and creativity, acceptance and diversity, environmentalism and conservation. Alongside his short stories, Dr. Suess also made political cartoons, advertising and commercial work, animation and film, artwork and sculpture, educational contributions, children's programming, public speaking and lectures and social commentary. -Safal Timalsena

Year 11

Year 11 are rapidly approaching their end of Year 11 examinations and are encouraged to build study notes to support them through this period. By practising the skills of building notes now, it will support them moving into year 12 (Which starts next term with the Common Module: Texts and Human Experiences that all English courses must complete).

Year 12

Well done Year 12 for completing their Trial Examinations! We are proud of you and the growth you have made, as well as will continue to make in the lead up to the final examinations.

Don’t forget to seek support from those around you and to ask all of the questions that you need.

Science

Term 3: Science Update

As another exciting term nears an end, students across various year groups are consolidating captivating topics in science education that promise to broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding of the world around them. From environmental sustainability to chemical reactions, let's take a glimpse into what's happening in each year group.

Year 7: Water Purification Adventure

For Year 7 students, the world of water purification takes center stage. This term, they are embarking on an enlightening excursion to both a water treatment plant and a sewage treatment plant. This hands-on experience will provide them with an invaluable insight into how water is sourced, treated, and made safe for consumption, as well as how wastewater is managed to safeguard the environment. Through interactive activities and guided tours, students will witness firsthand the intricate processes that ensure the water we use is clean and free of contaminants. This truely is an excursion that the students will never forget.

Year 8: Responsible Resource Management

Year 8 students are championing responsible resource management. With a strong emphasis on recycling paper, plastic, and glass, they're uncovering the critical importance of reducing waste and minimizing our ecological footprint. Through engaging projects and discussions, they're exploring innovative ways to repurpose and reuse materials, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Year 9: Mastering Energy Efficiency

Year 9 is all about mastering energy efficiency. Students are diving into the intricacies of energy wastage in the home, learning to design energy-efficient houses, and delving into the world of electrical energy production. Through practical experiments and real-life examples, they're gaining a comprehensive understanding of how their energy consumption choices impact the environment and how smarter choices can pave the way for a greener future.

Year 10: Unveiling the Magic of Chemical Reactions

Year 10 students are unraveling the mysteries of chemical reactions and their applications in everyday life. From understanding the chemistry behind cooking to exploring the role of chemical reactions in industrial situations, they're discovering the underlying science that makes our world tick. Through exciting experiments and engaging demonstrations, they're learning how chemistry shapes our world in more ways than we might realize.

Year 11: Preparing for Yearly Exams

Year 11 students are gearing up for their yearly exams. This crucial period demands dedication and diligence as they review and consolidate their learning from the past year. From intensive study sessions to collaborative group discussions, these exams are an essential milestone that lays the foundation for their senior studies.

Year 12: Reflecting and Refining for Success

With their Trial Exams now behind them, Year 12 students are taking a moment to reflect and refine their study strategies. The feedback they receive from their trial exams serves as a valuable guide, allowing them to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Armed with this insight, they're fine-tuning their study techniques and solidifying their knowledge as they prepare for the upcoming HSC exams, which will undoubtedly shape their academic journey.

As the term comes to an end, students across these diverse year groups are immersing themselves in a world of scientific discovery and personal growth. From hands-on excursions to rigorous study sessions, each year level is paving the way for a future where knowledge, curiosity, and sustainability go hand in hand.

TAS

Stage 5 Technology

“Articulated Lamp Design”

Now this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold; from its base to its flowers it was hammered work; according to the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.

Numbers 8:4 (God’s design brief to Moses)

The Year 10 Designworld class have just finished their second major project for the year which was designing and constructing an innovative articulated lamp. The lamp needed to incorporate a recycled LED light and be powered by an old USB cord.

There were some excellent examples of innovative design thinking.

Year 10 and 11 Textiles

Students engaged in a fabric decoration technique workshop with Susanne from S&S. Students have learnt 4 new and exciting techniques- sublimation, solar fast sun printing, silk painting, and heliographic (sun) printing.

CAPA

Drama

Year 11 Drama have finished their assessment content for year 11 well done to all! They had to create a piece of theatre from page to stage. Our group produced a piece that was focused around Hitler, Marolyn Monroe, Cleopatra, Shakespeare and Jesus all coming to the future and their interactions on how they become so “influential”. The students did wonderful and our carefully selected audience (including teachers) were wonderful and encouraged the students to achieve great success during the assessment. We also had one solo performance (monologue) that featured Hitler being placed into the modern day. It was a good piece of theatre that made us laugh and enjoy the style of absurdism it included.

We are excited to present pieces of our theatre performances later in the year.

Music

Year 7 and 8 students started the term looking at bucket drumming and recently completed a small group assessment where they had to arrange the ‘trash’ song they learnt. Students had to find different and creative ways to make sounds on the buckets, add various dynamics as well as play in time with the rest of their ensemble. For the last part of this term students will learn to play either the guitar or keyboard and will swap to the instrument at the start of next term.

Year 9 are currently working on a unit of contemporary music, learning to playing riffs and chords on guitar and piano

Our Yr 11 and 12 students have been busy completing their individual performance assessments over the last month. We have also had some students taking the opportunity to perform at assemblies as well as at last week's HSC performance night. Yr 12 will have their final HSC performance exams in week 9 and we wish them all the very best.

Visual Arts

Year 11 Visual Arts students have created a series of works about their personal Journeys. Their works embrace a plethora of mediums from printmaking to watercolour. Some works are titled.

Finally Coop. This work celebrates the journey of mental health; its struggles and triumphs.

Fawn Brown. Fawn’s work takes us on her creative journey as an artist; from a young child through to adolescence.

Lilly Edmonds. “Out on a limb”. Journeys sometimes reflect our future aspirations, including a desire to travel to Europe after study.

Lilly Croft. “I’m not an indoor-sy girl”. A new found love of the outdoors is revealed in this work, which has transformed Lilly’s perspective of what it is to live a life that is meaningful and exciting.

Samantha Balangatan. The life of a barista is a lively one. Sam has captured the joyous atmosphere and frozen moments in her part-time work.

Sophia Sweeney. Car trips can be boring; allowing the mind to wander and imagine the unimaginable.

Sophie Ridley. “Milk Bar”. Every generation holds warm memories of the community milk bar. This local icon is vanishing due to being overrun by the shiny allure of the chain store.

Lily Bull. The smooth pebble is the perfect surface to capture the precious love of literature across different ages.

PE

Year 11 PDHPE

This Term the Year 11 PDHPE class has been exploring the unit First Aid. As part of their studies students will have the opportunity to attain their formal First Aid Certification from the Australian Royal Lifesaving Society. In preparation for the course students have been applying their first aid knowledge. Pictured below are some of the students applying a collar and cuff sling, elevation sling, arm sling and a donut bandage.

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