Year 11s: out and about

Zoom zoom:  VCAL class takes their workplace learning to the Grand Prix at Albert Park

On our trip to the Grand Prix, our biggest highlights of the day were probably watching the cars qualify. Some of the other things we were able to check out was the latest technology and robots that people have built in this generation. We got to see the planes fly past and they were so loud. Another big highlight was when we saw the old cars drive on the track. It was so interesting watching because they are so loud and pretty fast for how old they are.

The purpose of us going to the Grand Prix was to check out the safety measures and learn about OH+S. While walking around the Grand Prix, we discovered and identified hazards and areas that needed improvement. Some areas that did need improvement was providing ear protection. They didn’t have any ear protection for sale that I could see. Another area was bag checking and lining up. They were checking bags really fast and poorly which allowed people to sneak in anything they wanted and the line to enter the Grand Prix took so long and it was moving too slow. Some bonuses of going to the Grand Prix were we had a lot of freedom and were allowed to walk around with our mates and didn’t have to be with the teacher the whole time. We also got to relax and watch some of the qualifying.

 We learnt that we were able to do a lot of work and get everything done and also have heaps of freedom. 

By Dean Antonopoulos 11B

Bushfire awareness: Geography fieldwork 

On Friday the 17th March the Year 11 Geography class went on a fieldtrip to Marysville with Ms. Smith and Ms. Costanzo to learn about the Black Saturday bushfires which burned the town in 2009. Students were working on their upcoming fieldwork report to answer their research questions “What changes can we expect to see within a community that has been affected by bushfire?”

Students had an opportunity to observe how the townspeople, environment and community have rebuilt and recovered from the fires, including hearing from an expert speaker who was a photojournalist present for the Black Saturday aftermath. They were able to see the recovery of a key local tourist attraction, Steavenson Falls, and put themselves in the shoes of the townspeople who sought shelter on the local football field while the fire scorched around them.