Specialists

Secondary 11/12 Term 3

Digital Tech

The Secondary 11/12 students are very interested in making their own 3D objects in the ‘Print it 3D’ unit. So far, we have dived in to the TinkerCad software to virtually design our own 3D objects, including a bookmark, dice, magnet and pen holder. We are busy printing what we have designed so far while learning how to use the 3D printers safely. Watch out for the objects as they come home!

Music

Elective groups have been doing some outstanding ensemble work this term, playing as class bands. Song choices from different classes have been quite diverse, including ‘Free’, ‘Ordinary’, ‘Cheerleader’ and ‘Soda Pop’. Elective classes have done such a good job—their finished products have been very impressive.

Section bands have done some amazing rehearsals and performances this term!

PE

Students who chose the Target Sports elective completed an introduction to golf, trialling different ball-striking skills such as putting, chipping and driving. Students refined their ball-striking techniques to improve the accuracy and distance of their shots. Students enjoyed attending the excursion to Swing and Serve, where they practised putting at the mini golf and driving using the Trackman simulators.

Selected students also joined the Track and Field team, where they competed in 100m, 200m, 800m, 1500m, Shot Put and Long Jump events at School Sport Victoria (SSV) Northern Metro Region Track and Field Championships. Many students qualified to compete at the SSV State Track and Field Championships in Term 4.

Social Competencies

Our Secondary students have been exploring the different types of relationships in their lives. We began by looking at their closest connections and then moved outwards to the wider community, recognising the many ways relationships can differ. Students also discussed and role-played scenarios to practise strategies for staying safe, including recognising body warning signs such as butterflies, a racing heart or wanting to run away. We also introduced the importance of consent across different settings and explored the difference between public and private spaces, along with what behaviours are appropriate in each. Through activities such as role-plays, scenarios, sorting tasks and cut-and-paste work, students strengthened their bonds with one another while building valuable life skills. Each week, students showed respect and thoughtfulness in their discussions.

Their maturity and engagement throughout the term deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated.

Visual Arts

Art for us all, the topic for semester two. Freedom of choice and independent expression has been the driving force behind the Secondary 11/12 Art elective program. With a large collaborative legacy piece currently in progress, alongside a range of smaller-scale passion projects, it’s been a creative and diverse collection of learners at work. That’s certainly one way to describe the energy unfolding across Mondays and Tuesdays.

Food Technologies

Students in Secondary 11/12 have worked really hard this term using winter seasonal vegetables. We have used a variety of cooking methods and recipes to use as many seasonal vegetables as possible. We made pumpkin soup, zucchini slice, jacket potatoes, cauliflower fritters, sausages and mash, and one-pot chicken pie. Students will celebrate their learning this term with Churros and chocolate sauce.

Science

Students participating in the Secondary 11/12 ‘STEM Lab’ Science elective have explored chemical and physical reactions in a short series of student-chosen experiments this term. These experiments have included Boom Bags, Coke and Mentos, Skittles Rainbow and Elephant Toothpaste. In the last week of term, students will make fruit clocks and work together to plan technology and construction-based projects to be conducted in Term 4.

Outdoor Education

This term, students have been actively participating in the swimming program at La Trobe Indoor Sports Centre. Throughout the sessions, they’ve developed essential water safety skills, including the correct use of life jackets. The students have also been practising techniques such as treading water, refining their swimming strokes and learning both kneeling and standing dives. It’s been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they’ve built endurance and successfully swum the length of the pool. Overall, it’s been a fantastic and rewarding term in the water.

Drivers Education

Students in the Secondary 11/12 Drivers Education elective have been focussing on what it means to be an empathetic young road user.

Topics covered so far this term include common road safety issues, driver distractions like mobile phones, and navigating the VicRoads website.

Students have watched videos, engaged with interactive websites, participated in role plays, and created posters and videos about road safety issues.

Students have been regularly practising their Learners Permit Test and Hazard Perception Test online, with some outstanding results—keep up the hard work!