Faculty News
Humanities
There was much to celebrate in our Humanities students’ achievements in their VCE examinations. The VCE History Revolutions results, in terms of the number of ‘40 plus’ scores (representing the top 9% of students in the state) were ranked third in Victoria, while a single VCE Geography class attained seven 40 plus scores, placing them fifth in the state. Of the ‘perfect study scores’ of 50 attained by Mazenod students, I am delighted to report that 60 percent belonged to Humanities students. Indeed, the faculty’s results stood out for the fact that every VCE class achieved a positive residual value-added score.
Particular congratulations should be extended to Ben Noonan and Daniel Plowman for being the top scorers in VCE History Revolutions, and who both, as Year 11s, scored a perfect study score of 50, and were the only two boys in the entire state to do so, along with Harry Minack (who also scored a perfect 50) for being the top scorer in VCE Geography, and Jordan Tranter, who was our top scorer in VCE Global Politics. Such feats highlight the professionalism and dedication of the talented staff throughout the faculty, coupled with the very impressive efforts of our talented students.
Ben Noonan
Daniel Plowman
Harry Minack
Jordan Tranter
Ben Noonan
Daniel Plowman
Harry Minack
Jordan Tranter
The vast majority of our ’40 plus’ VCE History students came through the History Enhancement accelerated program. The program begins in Year 7, and focuses on stretching our most able and passionate historians so that they are in a position to begin their VCE History study in Year 10. The Year 7 and 8 classes, led by Mr Joe Moore, will commence this term, alongside our Year 9 Enhancement elective class taught by Mr Mal Spasic, with the intention that many of these Year 9 students will apply to take accelerated VCE History next year.
In what we hope will be a ‘COVID-normal year’, planning is well underway for a number of upcoming Geography excursions to enable our students to hone their fieldwork skills. Next week, our Year 12 VCE Geographers are heading to Knoxfield to explore the environmental impacts of urban development, focusing on the potential destruction of the local habitat of the endangered Blue-billed Duck. Later in the year, our Year 11 VCE Geography students will be going on two field trips. They will first be visiting Marysville to study the impact of, and responses to, the tragic Black Saturday bushfires, whilst also analysing the level of vulnerability to future events. They will also head to Phillip Island to focus is on the impact of tourism on the area.
The protean nature of politics means that our VCE Politics courses have been updated to reflect recent current affairs developments. Our Year 11 VCE students have studied the events of 6th January this year at the United States Capitol to analyse the language used to describe the episode, whilst our Year 12 VCE students will need to consider the impact of the pandemic on international cooperation and responses to climate change.
Finally, the faculty is delighted to formally welcome Ms Lauren Oliver to our teaching team. Having already taught in both Australia and the UK, and for much for last year here at Mazenod, her strong passion for archaeology and engaging lesson designs have already received positive feedback from her junior History classes.
Mr Nick Young
Humanities