Big Picture Academy

Year 9 Advisory 

Welcome to the Big Picture Academy to our Year 9 students! They have truly stepped up to the challenge of learning in an Advisory environment as they have delved into their first project with the focus of Who Am I? Students have explored how they best learn, their family culture and traditions, their passions and interests and have considered what they would like to explore in the future. Students have created vision boards, which will help them to set goals for the future. All of this will be featured in their exhibitions, which will occur in Week 2 of Term 2. Bookings for these exhibitions will be made available at the beginning of Term 2.  

As part of our learning journey, students have worked collaboratively to create their Advisory space. As part of this, students asked if they could recover our seats which we use for check-in every morning and discussion. Students used their quantitative reasoning skills to measure the area of the seats which would need to be covered and cost the materials. This project will take us through to Term 2, where we will hopefully be purchasing our fabric and work with experts to recover the chairs ourselves.  

In Big Picture, students sign a Big Commitment, which is an agreement to participate various aspects of the Big Picture curriculum. As part of the agreement, Year 9 are expected to read 3 books per year, one of which is an autobiography. As such, we have been reading the autobiography, The Happiest Man on Earth, written by Eddie Jaku, which details his experiences as a Holocaust survivor and his work with the Sydney Jewish Museum. Students have been studying the Holocaust and as part of our outlearning experiences, we attended the Courage to Care presentation, where we met a Holocaust survivor, Peter, who told us his story and explained why it so important to be an upstander, not just a bystander. To conclude our studies, next term we will be visiting the Sydney Jewish Museum, along with Years 10, 11 and 12. 

The Year 9 students are working hard to put the finishing touches on their exhibition for next term. Invites to their first exhibition for parents and/or caregivers will come out during Week 1, Term 2. I have been impressed with the level of effort students are putting into their work and I am certainly looking forward to watching these students exhibit their first project next term! 

Mrs Edwards 

Year 10 Advisory 

Year 10 Advisory has been a hive of activity leading up to the end of the term. Some of the project's students are working on include; using Indigenous design material to create hair scrunchies, researching the history of cricket bails, making us aware of animal poaching and trafficking, building a computer from scratch and designing a safe and engaging childcare centre”. 

As part of our Big Picture commitment, students complete 3 journals per week. It’s been a pleasure seeing our students working on their writing skills and it’s also been a fantastic way for me to get to know our students in the year 10 advisory. I am looking forward to meeting our year 10 parents and carers at our end of year exhibitions.  

Mrs Caran Wasson 

Year 11 Advisory 

As we approach the end of the school term, I want to take a moment to reflect on how truly amazing Year 11 has been. This term, all students have been attending learning through internship programs, engaging in their major projects, running town halls, and showing dignity and respect to their peers and mentors. 

One of the unique features of the Big Picture Academy is the emphasis on internships as a way of learning. This term, all students have been participating in internships that allow them to explore their interests and passions outside of the classroom. By working with professionals in their field of interest, students have gained valuable skills and experience that will serve them well in the future. 

In addition to their internships, students have also been working on their major projects. These projects are self-directed and allow students to explore a topic of their choice in depth. From researching renewable farming to creating their own eyelashes business line, students have been engaged in a wide range of projects that reflect their individual interests and passions. 

Finally, I want to acknowledge the remarkable level of dignity and respect that students have shown to one another and to their mentors throughout the term. It is clear that the Big Picture Academy is a community that values kindness, empathy, and understanding. We are proud to have such an amazing group of students who embody these values every day. 

As we look back on the term, we are filled with gratitude for the opportunities that the Big Picture Academy has provided for our students. We are excited to see what the future holds for this exceptional group of young people, and we can't wait to see the impact they will make in their communities and beyond. 

Year 12 Advisory 

Senior Graduation Portfolio 

Year 12 have their check point exhibition coming up during week 10. They have been working on either a Senior Project or a Senior Thesis (if they are on a university pathway). Term One will see them begin working on a Social Action project which is also an integral aspect of the Senior Graduation Portfolio. They will be ensuring that they have evidence of their learning when the next round of Moderation occurs as part of the IBPLC. Big Picture allows students to learn through their passions and interests in their Senior Project which is a 12 month project. Some of the Senior Projects are Social Work, Art, Natural Dog Treats, Criminal Psychology, Pain Pouring, Cyber Security and Primary Teaching. These Projects are one of the many aspects of the Big Picture Design. 

Local Heroes 

Year 12 have been involved in listening to Local Heroes speak to Year 12 English Studies and Year 12 Big Picture Academy. Newcastle Knights star Kayla Romaniuk spoke to students in regard to her journey to playing Rugby League at an elite level. Kayla did not see herself as a role model when she clearly was a role model for young women starting out in Rugby League. Leigh Crieghton spoke to students about his ability as an elite sportsman in Power lifting. Leigh can power lift 120kg. He is an advocate disablity and human rights. Matthew Ortiga also spoke to Year 12 about Soul Café and all of the great things Soul Café do to help those in need. All three speakers were inspirational and demonstrated all qualities of Local Heroes. 

Maitland Regional Art Gallery 

On the Friday the 17th of March the Year 12 Big Picture Advisory went to Maitland Regional Art Gallery. Robbo drove the students on the Happy little school Bus and lucky students were on the bus as they felt the need to instruct her in the art of how to drive. We arrived at Maitland Regional Art Gallery and the students were met by Kate Adamson the Learning and Audience Curator. The students then participated in a variety of backstage passes from curator, digitalising team and exhibitions that are yet to be open. MRAG is an amazing space that is run by a handful of people who do a fantastic job. There are some an amazing artists and this was a great opportunity to address Learning Through Internship as part of the Big Picture Design. The students behaviour was exemplary and should be proud of how they demonstrated respect for themselves and others. 

Town Hall 

Town Hall is run by an allocated advisory within the Big Picture program of Kurri Kurri High School. At the end of each week during the school term, all years of Big Picture will come outside of their classrooms to perform what's called “Town Hall “. Town hall is a meeting amongst all advisories to recognise upcoming events, any issues and student accomplishments.  

During Term 1, year 12 have been the mentors for the junior classes on how to run town hall. The first week of term 1, year 12 set the standards of town hall when they produced an activity between the junior and senior advisories. Year 12 went to year 9 and year 10’s advisory and asked year 9’s or year 10’s if they had any questions for the seniors about the Big Picture program.  

In week 6 of term 1, year 12 was allocated to run town hall. Year 12 described how they wanted a fun activity to run for the whole program, their activity was a paper airplane challenge and challenged the program to who can make the best plane and fly the furthest. In the Big Picture learning goals this describes Personal Qualities and Communication. 

Throughout term 1, Year 12 Big Picture advisory member Madison Todhunter embarked on a journey of leadership and mentoring as she has created multiple documents, strategies and activities for town hall. Madison created an activity called who’s next where at the end of every town hall, they pull out a paddle pop stick with the advisory who will be running town hall the next week. Madison has created a town hall agenda document which all advisories must follow to run a smooth town hall. Madison has recognized that with her leadership work, town hall has  run smoothly, consistently and fun for everyone within the Big Picture program. Madison Todhunter has stepped up to this position to achieve multiple aspects of Big Picture learning and leadership to put to her senior graduation portfolio.