Specialists

 

Secondary 11/12 

 

Term 3

Digital Tech

The Secondary 11/12 students are very interested in making their own 3D objects in the ‘Print it 3D’ unit. So far we have used the 3D pens to draw different creations and dived in to the TinkerCad software to virtually design our own 3D objects, including a bookmark, dice, magnet and star fidget. We are busy printing what we have designed so far while learning how to use the 3D printers safely. Watch out for the objects as they come home!

Music 

Music elective groups have also produced impressive band work on a song of their choice. Classes have selected a variety of pieces such as Die on This Hill by Sienna Spiro and Billie Jean by Michael Jackson and have been developing their performance skills as an ensemble. Senior students are demonstrating thoughtful musical decision making as they shape their final interpretations of each piece.

PE

Students who chose the Striking and Fielding elective completed an introduction to softball and baseball, trialling different ball-striking skills such as bunting and driving. Students refined their ball-striking technique to improve the accuracy and distance of their hits. They enjoyed playing competitive matches on Loyola Oval, where they practised their batting and fielding skills on the diamond.

Selected students also joined the Track and Field team, where they competed in the 100m, 200m, 800m, Shot Put and Long Jump events at the School Sport Victoria (SSV) Northern Metro Region Track and Field Championships. Many students qualified to compete at the SSV State Track and Field Championships in Term 4

Social Competencies

This term, Secdondary 11/12 students developed their understanding of relationships, personal safety and reproductive health. Students explored the characteristics of healthy and safe relationships, with a focus on mutual respect, consent, personal boundaries and effective communication. They also explored the steps involved in building a healthy romantic relationship, as well as learning about menstruation, how babies are made, and the importance of personal hygiene in supporting reproductive health and wellbeing.

Students also explored peer pressure and strategies for making safe and informed choices in relationships and everyday situations. Through realistic scenarios, role-plays and group activities, students considered consent, public and private spaces, appropriate behaviours and how to seek support when needed. 

Their mature contributions, respectful discussions and willingness to engage with these important topics have been a highlight of the term.

Visual Arts

Secondary 11/12 students opened the term with writing, colouring and Pop Art‑themed name artworks featuring bold colours and patterns, a process that involved plenty of trial and error. For many, it was their first experience independently creating block lettering. Learners then progressed to higher‑level planning tasks, designing an intentional collaborative mosaic. They worked closely with peers to test arrangements and colour combinations while also developing concepts for a personal project of their choosing. Their thoughtful approach, creative risk‑taking and steady increase in confidence have been evident in every session

Food Technologies

Term 3 has been exciting for students in Food Technology. We have been ‘Cooking like a Chef’ and making a variety of dishes from many different chefs. We have made jacket potatoes with various toppings, chicken pot pie, hamburgers from scratch, falafel wraps, sausage rolls and macaroni and cheese. These were all popular with students and required them to use a range of cooking and food preparation techniques to complete the recipes. Students will finish off Term 3 with churros and chocolate dipping sauce.

Science

Throughout the term, Secondary 11/12 students have participated in LEGO Masters. Students had the opportunity to showcase their creativity and design skills during free builds. Some students felt more confident using instructions and enjoyed using a range of Minecraft, Sonic the Hedgehog, Lego City and animal-themed LEGO kits. Both classes participated in a structured build challenge, where they had 45 minutes to respond to as many build challenge cards as they could, with the winners for each session receiving a mini figure of their own to take home. We even had one pair attempt a blindfolded build! Towards the end of term, students worked in groups to participate in offline LEGO coding, building mazes and then writing code to help their mini figure navigate through each maze.

Drivers Education

Drivers Ed students have made a strong start in identifying the many steps involved in becoming smart, empathetic road users. We have discussed the process of obtaining their Learner’s Permits and highlighted the safety knowledge they already use every day. Students have also shown impressive improvement in their practice learner permit tests.

Outdoor Education

This term, students have embraced the swimming program at La Trobe Indoor Sports Centre, building their skills, confidence and water awareness. Across the sessions, they have strengthened their understanding of water safety, including how to correctly use life jackets. Students have worked on treading water, improving their swimming strokes, and developing both kneeling and standing dive techniques. It has been fantastic to watch their endurance increase as they challenged themselves to swim further and complete the length of the pool. Overall, students have made great progress and enjoyed a positive and rewarding term in the water.

Jess Mitchell

Specialist Leader