Around the Senior School

History

Ms Brooke Skinner organised the Year 7 Archaeology Day - Crime Scene Investigation. It involved rotating through a series of ‘stations’ around the Wolaroi Campus and at Windermere. Students were investigating what it means to be a historian and how history is constructed. 

Some 'cookie excavation' during the Year 7 Archeological Day.

Year 10 History students have been using the Library's flexible learning area to research key inventions of the Industrial Revolution. 

Year 7 History students have been ‘playing with time’ in History. They are investigating time lines, the order of events  and CE/BCE. 

Geography

The Year 12 Geographers had a fantastic time in the Macquarie Marshes last week. They were fully immersed in their case study of an ecosystem at risk which deepened their knowledge and understanding of the ecosystem. Our students loved escaping the traditional classroom setting and absolutely thrived during the fieldwork - getting their hands dirty, kayaking and chatting to local locals in Warren.  A big thank you as well to the staff who accompanied our Geographers, Mr Jason Smith and Ms Sophie Fardell. 

Science

Year 7 Science - Bunsen burner licenses

One of the many excitements of commencing Science in secondary school for the Year 7 student is learning about the names and uses of the many pieces of equipment that allow scientists to make accurate measurements and pursue answers to their questions.

The Bunsen burner – the apparatus commonly used for heating substances in the lab – is one of the first to be taught to Year 7 students. They learn its parts and how to operate it correctly and safely, culminating in their qualifying for their ‘Bunsen burner licence’. 

Here are some of Mr Johnston’s students who, having passed their Bunsen burner safety assessment, are participating in their inaugural experiment requiring its use. Mr Johnston, new to the Science faculty in 2022, was extremely pleased with the way each group conducted themselves during this activity.

An immersive start to learning in Social Science!

Our Social Science students have had a busy start to the year – learning in the field, with their hands-on and from the experts. A quick summary:

HSC Legal Studies 

(Mr Ronald)

• Senior Constable Jeff Mullins (Youth Liaison Office, Central West) visited to talk through police power, various criminal offences and perspectives on the effectiveness of the legal system.

Year 12 Geography 

(Mr Callaghan and Mr Smith)

• An overnight field trip to the Macquarie Marshes to learn about this resilient ecosystem – the photos show an abundance of water and life (including a re-emerging frog population!) in contrast to the charred burnt landscape of two years ago.

Year 9 Commerce 

(Mr Ronald, Ms Kite, Mr Waterson)

• For their ‘Consumer and Financial Decisions’ topic, these students are working on a proposal for “Buying a Car”. To assist, they have visited local Ross Preen Mechanical (to learn about what to look for in a used car) and also visited John Davis dealership to explore more options.
• Mr Waterson’s class undertook a ‘blind’ tasting activity in a hands-on approach to ‘comparison’ shopping with some surprising preferences for home-brand products over their more expensive branded competitors

Cross-curriculum: What in the World?!

Each fortnight we are aiming to discuss a current world issue and engage with an article (literacy focus), multimedia and discussion. So far this term we have examined McDonalds underpayment of staff and the Ukraine crisis. We hope to encourage more worldly and outward looking cohorts who learn with us to appreciate the issues that cross our areas of study – Geography, Commerce, Business Studies, Legal Studies and Economics.

The Social Science team and our students are thrilled to be able to partake in these learning experience both on and off campus, especially after a few disrupted years. Thanks to our families for your support and we encourage you to talk to your children about what they have been up to in class.

Natasha Terry-Armstrong, 

Head of Social Science