Student Activities
Year 9 Geography Field Excursion
Our Year 9 Geography students recently had the opportunity to take their learning outdoors on an engaging field excursion to Lake Guyatt, led by Sharon Ray from the Wellington Shire.
The day provided students with a hands-on opportunity to investigate the local environment and apply their geographical skills in the field. Students conducted water testing, looked for aquatic invertebrates, examined the characteristics and quality of the water, and considered the factors that can influence the health of aquatic environments.
Birdwatching was another highlight, with students observing and identifying a range of birdlife and developing a greater appreciation for the biodiversity supported by local wetlands. Students also completed field sketches and maps, recording the features of the landscape and developing their ability to represent geographical information accurately.
The students also investigated the vegetation around Lake Guyatt, identifying different plant species and considering the important role vegetation plays in supporting wetland ecosystems.
Following their time at Lake Guyatt, the group travelled to the Heart Morass, where students had the opportunity to learn about the important biodiversity work being undertaken by Sale Field and Game. This provided a valuable insight into local conservation efforts and demonstrated how community groups can contribute to protecting and restoring wetland environments.
Overall, the excursion was a fantastic opportunity for students to connect classroom learning with the real world. Through observation, data collection and fieldwork, students gained a deeper understanding of the importance of wetlands, biodiversity and environmental management within our local region.
Bringing Ancient Egypt to Life!
Our Year 7C and 7F Humanities students have been hard at work bringing their Ancient Egypt research to life! As part of their Ancient Egypt unit, students have created detailed models to support their research reports on an object or aspect of Ancient Egyptian life.
Students have combined their historical knowledge with creativity and modern technology, using 3D printers, engravers, cardboard, plastic and modern adhesives to recreate artefacts from thousands of years ago.
Their creations include usekh collars, scarab beetle amulets, ancient weapons, cartouches, pyramids, canopic jars, the Weighing of the Heart ceremony and models showing the geography of the Nile, amongst many other fascinating artefacts.
It has been fantastic to see students experimenting with different materials and techniques while developing a deeper understanding of the beliefs, culture and daily life of Ancient Egyptians. Their impressive creations demonstrate that learning about the past can be both hands-on and creative!
VCE VM Students Building Community Connections
It has been a great term for our VCE VM students, getting out into the community, making connections and taking part in excursions focused on developing their employability skills.
VCE VM students also continue to make a great contribution to school events by helping with set-up and making visitors to the College feel welcome.
Industry Visit
Year 11 VCE VM students visited Tequa Plumbing & Civil - Gippsland to explore career pathways, work experience and potential apprenticeship opportunities within the local trade industry.
They were fortunate to meet with General Manager Trent and Plumbing Department Manager Charlie, who shared their experiences in the industry and spoke to students about the Tequa Academy, what employers look for in young people entering the workforce, and the many different career pathways available within the business.
It was fantastic for our students to hear that Tequa has employed five Catholic College Sale students over the past 12 months - a great example of where strong connections between schools and local industry can lead.
We greatly value our industry partnerships and sincerely thank Trent, Charlie and the Tequa team for taking the time to welcome our students, share their knowledge and support them as they explore their future pathways and transition into the workforce.
Canoeing at Blue Rock Dam
Our Year 12 VM students headed to Blue Rock Dam for a day of canoeing and outdoor learning.
Despite the chilly conditions, students embraced the challenge, working together to navigate the water before hiking to the lookout for lunch. The day was a great opportunity to develop communication, teamwork, paddling and problem-solving skills while enjoying the outdoors.
It was fantastic to see students supporting one another, challenging themselves and making the most of the experience.
Science Week
Year 9 Science - Atoms in Action!
Our Year 9 Science students have been getting creative while learning about atomic structure! As part of their recent assessment task, students were challenged to create a representative model of the atomic structure of a chosen element.
We were so impressed by the creativity and originality on display, with students producing a fantastic range of unique and imaginative designs. A great way to bring science to life!
Year 11 Biology - Genetics in Action!
As part of National Science Week, our Year 11 Biology students are getting hands-on with genetics by planting Fast Plants to investigate a real dihybrid cross.
Over the coming weeks, they’ll observe how two traits appear in the next generation, collect data and compare their results with the classic Mendelian ratios they’ve been learning about in class.
It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to see genetics come to life — not just in a textbook, but in the plants they grow, measure and analyse themselves.
A brilliant mix of curiosity, experimentation and a little green-thumb science!
Year 9 Science - Wind Turbine Challenge
Our Year 9 Science students took on a group challenge to design and build the most energy-efficient wind turbine they could using simple, limited materials.
Once completed, the turbines were put to the test using a sensor to measure the amount of current each design was able to produce.
Students will now reflect on their designs and use what they have learned to make improvements and build an even more efficient model in their next lesson.
A great hands-on activity combining creativity, collaboration, problem-solving and scientific thinking!
Year 7 Science - Growing Beyond Earth
Our 7A Science students recently had the exciting opportunity to take part in a program led by visiting scientists from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Plants for Space and botanists from the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.
Students learnt about current research into designing plant-growing pods to produce food on the International Space Station. They then put their scientific skills to work, using all five senses to investigate plants as they explored the Seed Community Garden and Sale Botanic Gardens.
Inspired by their observations, students designed a plant engineered for multiple modes of productivity, imagining what plants might need to thrive beyond Earth!
Students have also been invited to participate in the Growing Beyond Earth for Australian Schools program, giving them the opportunity to conduct their own research and contribute their findings to an international space science initiative.
What an incredible opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world science and the future of food in space!
