Science News

So many students have been busy writing narratives and persuasive texts that address the science outcomes and showcase their creativity and improved writing skills. It has been impressive to watch and read the drafts as students in Year 7 and Year 9 move through the writing process, developing their vocabulary, checking grammar and punctuation and responding to teacher feedback. 

I have the permission from some students to attach their work so far. They are still editing and improving until their final submission so stay tuned to share their best work.

The Year 8 have been involved in heart dissections and other body systems and this has prompted some interesting responses.  We are now looking at the excretory system, having just looked at the kidneys, the best reactions are yet to come. 

Year 9 have submitted their persuasive texts on some aspects of the Universe. I will share these in the next newsletter after marking.  Once we finish looking at the Big Bang theory, Year 9 will finish the term studying Ecology and hopefully looking at their responsibility to reduce waste and respect the resources of the Earth after they know and understand from their persuasive texts that there is no place like home. 

Year 11 are nearly in their study weeks prior to the final exams for their preliminary Year. We wish them every success as we support them with their study techniques and preparations. 

Year 12 are finalising their courses and are by now aware of just what is necessary to achieve their best result in the HSC.  This is where hard work and focus can improve their results and help them perform at their best. We wish them every success as they prepare and show the HSC markers just how much they know and can do. 

We say a sad Farewell to Mr Le Brocque as he retires from Marian. He has certainly left us with some fantastic facilities and the beautiful flowering pears that adorn the perimeter, giving us a visual delight of white blossom at the moment. 

Best wishes to you all 

Esther Dumbleton 

A Year 7 story

Scratching bark that irritates me every second, beneath the fine layers of knitted twigs, my wide eyes awaken. Looking at my surroundings, I browse the thick trees, clear sky with a bright moon, with the mountain in the far distance. Stiffening up in posture, listening for the intruder. Louder and louder the irritating noise gets closer. Expanding my long wings after a good day's sleep, shaking my body off, I lift up against gravity in search of the intruder. Locking my target, I stealthily attack with the help of using contact force and friction between my beak and the soft skin of my meal. Tearing skin off, squeaking in the still night, blood gushing everywhere. Tasting the chewy meat with a strong taste of blood dripping off my beak. My appetite is pleased but not compared to my high expectations.

Sucking in fresh air, puffing out hot air. I felt aware of the night sky, crickets chirping and frogs croaking. Witnessing the thick bushes rustling, a low growl hiding and fuming between myself and the attacker. Fuzzing my feathers up, perfecting my stance, I got ready to defeat the raider. Large paws leap over the bush within moments. Shock waves travel through my body. Jaws unwrap sharp pearls. Hooting furiously, I dodge and fly back into my knitted nest for my safety. 

Peering over the nest I see the wolf. Stomach growling, I knew I couldn’t take on such a large creature. Deciding to go in search of food, I use my weight to make myself air resistance through the sky into a slow quiet glide, without making a noise using the advantage of the turbulence against my wings. After gliding for a while, I found a pond, which was occupied by amphibians. Eyes on the pond I hover over it. Making my choice I fold in my wings, to decrease the drag, to be more aerodynamic. Diving down I managed to swoop up a slimy and bumpy frog. Slippery in my mouth, I dug my beak into it to get a firm grip. Holding onto it, I arrive at the nest mirroring what I did with the mouse. Tough skin, with a rubbery like meat, I devoured it in minutes. 

Full enough, I admire the view. But something odd was happening. Wind gushing in my face, nearly making me fall. Clouds rolling in from the east, it was a mighty big storm. Ditching the nest, I had to get to the undercover area immediately. Adventuring out of the nest, I flew to a leafy tree, where I knew I could keep as dry and warm as possible. Sitting down and warming up, I wait for the rain to come. Rain spitting down like spears, wind bursting through the leaves. I have mistaken myself for a safe place, but it was too soon to escape. 

Wishing for the best, the rain dies down after an hour. Quivering off the droplets of rain, I was drenched. Flying back up to my nest, all of the nest was gone. Gone it was. 

Finding a spot in a tree at dawn, I slowly went back to sleep. Hoping for a better night tomorrow.