The Nazarene

Around the College

Amazing DNA

  • Your DNA contains as much information as 1,000, 500 page text books worth of information.
  • You are made of 75 trillion cells containing 3 billion base pairs.
  • 90% similar to a mouse, 60% similar to a fruit fly,
  • 40% similar to a fish, 50% similar to a banana.
  • In 1953 Watson and Crick developed double helix model of DNA.

 

This model was created by Catherine Williams, Year 9 Laurel Science.

Stomata

Stomata are specialised tiny openings or apertures found on the surface of leaves.  They vary in size and density in different species of plants.  Stomata act as an active interface between plants and environment and serve as important portals for gas and water exchange.  They are bound by a pair of specialised guard cells which regulate the size of stomatal opening.  They allow carbon dioxide to diffuse inside the plants to perform photosynthesis and let oxygen and water out thereby influencing the rate of photosynthesis and transpiration.

These photos of leaf epidermis showing stomata and epidermal cells were taken by Christopher-James Truong, Tinh Nguyen and Loc Tran Nguyen - Year 11 Biology.

Vascular tissue in Celery

This is a cross section of the celery through the stem after immersing the celery stalks in food dyes. The transport system in plants consists of two specialised vascular tissues located in the vascular bundle. Xylem is responsible for transporting water and nutrients from the roots to different parts of the plant. Water makes its way through the process of capillary action as indicated by the colour of the food dye. Phloem transports sugars produced in the leaves during photosynthesis in the chloroplasts to the rest of the plant. Both play a critical role in the transport system of plants.

 

Vascular bundle in celery (Apium Graveolens) are photographs by Shrivarsha Manirangasamy and Kelly Nguyen - Year 11 Biology

 

Dr Nirmala Lazar 

Teacher

Year 10 English Shakespeare Incursion

The annual incursion with The Flying Bookworm Theatre Company has been an integral part of the Year 10 English curriculum for many years and they never disappoint. Last week’s ‘Introduction to Shakespeare’ session had Year 10 students entertained and engaged in their learning as they were given an insight into Elizabethan Theatre and the language used by William Shakespeare. Featuring scenes from Shakespeare’s dramas, including MacBeth and Romeo and Juliet, our two visiting actors brought to life plays written many centuries ago.

There were many enthusiastic participants with a special mention to Thomas, Josh, Tim, Zachary, Ruby and Iliana, who joined our visitors on stage to act out key scenes. What a wonderful introduction to the Shakespeare unit!

 

Ms Mish Mackay

Library Co Manager and English Teacher

Incursion Year 11 and 12 VCE PDT Textiles 

Last Thursday 12 March the VCE PDT (Product Design Technology) Textiles students had Todd Heggie from The Masters Institute of Creative Education visit our class for the day. He had shown them many skills and techniques used in fashion designing. It was a fun day learning about the industry and the pressures of it also.

The students walked away knowing how to draw heads, feet, hands and textures of a variety of fabrics that they can use in their options for their folios. They were upskilling and showed confidence in the use of copic markers, pencils and specialty papers.

Todd and I were most impressed by all of the designs that the students had come up with. It was most difficult to choose an overall winner, however, I congratulate Monica Cody from Year 11 who has won a scholarship for a 4 day workshop at The Masters Institute of Creative Education that will take place in the July school holidays. A fantastic day and well worth it.

 

Ms Formanek

Head of Textiles

 

 

 

On Thursday 12 March our VCE Textiles class had an incursion with Todd Heggie from The Masters Institute of Creative Education. In the morning, Todd taught us how to draw a face, a hand and a shoe which are the more difficult parts of drawing a model. Throughout the rest of the day he demonstrated how to show the fabric type using Copic markers. We were also able to ask Todd any questions were had and show him our designs so far. At the end of the day he awarded Monica Cody a scholarship for a 4 day fashion workshop at The Masters Institute of Creative Education during the June school holidays. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and we are so grateful that we had this opportunity.

Agatha Scandizzo

Year 11