Science and Design Technology News
End of Term 3 :
Science Department
Term 3 has been another busy term for the Science Department, with students engaging in a wide range of practical learning experiences both in and outside the classroom.
Our Year 12 students are now wrapping up their learning across their VCE Science courses, which means it is time to shift the focus towards revision for the end-of-year exams. At this stage of the year, it is important that students maintain their effort and make the most of the time they have left.
Three key tips for effective revision are:
Start now and study regularly. A small amount of focused revision each day between now and the exam is far more effective than trying to cram everything into the final few days.
Practise with past VCAA exams. Students aiming for strong results should work through as many past VCAA exams as possible, carefully reviewing their mistakes and identifying areas that need further revision.
Use active revision strategies. Avoid relying too heavily on passive strategies such as simply rereading notes. Instead, choose techniques that make your brain work: complete practice questions, retrieve information from memory, explain concepts without your notes, and identify and correct gaps in your understanding.
The work students put in over the coming weeks can make a significant difference.
This term, our Year 7 students have been exploring Forces, developing their understanding of how forces can affect the motion and shape of objects. Students have been investigating different types of forces, including gravity, friction and contact forces, and exploring how balanced and unbalanced forces influence movement.
Our Year 8 students have been learning about electrical circuits, developing their understanding of how current and voltage behave in series and parallel circuits. Students have been applying their learning by building and testing circuits and investigating how changes to circuit components affect their operation.
Our Year 9 students have been exploring the immune system, developing their understanding of how the immune system protects the body from pathogens and how diseases can be prevented and controlled. Students are also exploring ethical decision-making in science and healthcare, considering how different ethical approaches can be applied to complex issues.
Science Club
This term at Science Club, we have had a lot of fun completing a range of exciting practicals and demonstrations. Each Friday lunchtime in the DLC, students have had the opportunity to explore science beyond the classroom through hands-on activities.
In recent weeks, students have explored forces by designing and testing paper aeroplanes, investigated fluorescent liquids under UV light, and observed the dramatic reaction between sodium and water. We finished the term with a crowd favourite: making ice cream in a bag! Students used ice and salt to create temperatures cold enough to freeze their ice cream mixture, putting science into action to produce a delicious result. It was a fantastic way to finish another busy term of Science Club.
Science Club will return in Term 4 with plenty more exciting activities planned. Keep an eye out for advertisements in the Science Club Team for upcoming sessions.
Monash Tech School – Superhabitats
Over Weeks 5 and 6, all Year 7 students had the opportunity to spend two days at Monash Tech School participating in the Superhabitats program.
Superhabitats challenged students to investigate how technology and sustainable practices could be used to protect the environment. Throughout the program, students used design thinking, robotics and ARCKIT physical and digital prototyping to design ecological and resilient habitats.
The program built on what students had been learning in Science while also providing them with the opportunity to develop their design-thinking skills and experience a range of new and emerging technologies.
Our students had a fantastic time across the excursions and embraced the opportunity to learn in a different environment. They represented South Oakleigh College exceptionally well, demonstrating our school values throughout the program through their enthusiasm, teamwork, respect and willingness to challenge themselves and try new things.
Rowan Presland
Learning Specialist STEM | Science
Celebrating Success in ICAS Science
We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of our students who participated in the 2026 ICAS Science Competition. ICAS provides students with an opportunity to challenge themselves and apply their scientific knowledge, thinking and problem-solving skills.
We are incredibly proud of all students who took part and congratulate everyone on their achievements.
Year 7
High Distinction: Ethan L
Distinction: Alex O, Ben P, Rikza R
Credit: Isla C, Harry G, Oscar L, Victoria M, Jim M, Rishaan N, Jasmir S, Krishiv S, William T
Participation: Rawya B, Ellen H, Reyansh K, Zehna M, Konstantinos N, Ryan P, Noah T, Anshi T, Ivana T, Matthew Y, Aman Z
Year 8
High Distinction: Harry McKinnon
Distinction: Alexander Archer, Kazuya Binks, Kintan Chakraborty
Merit: Jet Nguyen, Divyam Setia
Credit: Carlos G, Rory M, Ada W
Participation: Ayra H, Anastasia P, Ashane P, Aarohi S, Aariya T, Ethan T
Year 9
High Distinction: Hongyan S
Distinction: Aathithya T
Merit: Mars C
Credit: Marcus B, Ayman C, Rafael C, Aarav K, Aryan K, Revan P, Ryder R, Zachary T
Participation: Ali C, Anusha K, Jessie P, James S, Zac S, Aaliya V, Kyryl Y
Year 10
Merit: Dhruvi C, Jacob O
Credit: Andrew M
Participation: Kirrily R, Amitoj S
Congratulations to all of our ICAS Science participants! Your willingness to challenge yourselves, think scientifically and extend your learning is a wonderful achievement. We look forward to celebrating more student success throughout the year.
Celebrating Success in ICAS Digital Technologies
We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of our Year 7 students who participated in the 2026 ICAS Digital Technologies Competition. ICAS provides students with an opportunity to challenge themselves and apply their digital technology knowledge, problem-solving and computational thinking skills.
We are incredibly proud of all students who took part and congratulate everyone on their achievements.
Year 7
- Merit: Oscar Larkin, Krishiv Shah
- Credit: Harry Guo, Alex O'Donnell, Ben Perry, Rikza Rahman
- Participation: Jim Moschoyiannis, Rishaan Nandur, Ryan Pavone, Jasmir Safwan, Anshi Timilsina
Congratulations to all of our ICAS Digital Technologies participants! Your willingness to challenge yourselves and extend your digital technology skills is a wonderful achievement. We look forward to celebrating more student success throughout the year.
The Year 7 results also highlighted strengths in areas including programming and digital systems, with students demonstrating strong skills across a range of digital technology concepts.
Amanda Tate
Accellerated and Enhancement Coordinator | English | Humanities
Physics
Year 12 physics students attended the Australian Synchrotron in Clayton. They completed several experiments that demonstrated the particle and wave properties of light.
Afterwards, they completed a tour of the synchrotron and observed how a range of scientific disciplines use the synchrotron to conduct research.
Finn Clonan
Physics Teacher