Around the College

Year 8 English – Author Presentation

On Monday, 23rd February, our Year 8 students were pleased to welcome author Scot Gardner. The Year 8s are currently studying a unit of work focusing on creative writing, and Scot presented some great stories and tips to inspire and guide students with their work.

Thank you to Beth Montgomery and Tracey Bugbird for setting up the Learning Resource Centre for this presentation. Also, thank you to the Year 8 teachers who supervised. 

Thank you to the Year 8 students for your engagement, questions, and shared stories.

Rahne Widarsito

(Learning & Teaching Leader – English & Languages)

Current Events: Sparks Flying in Year 9 Science

It has been an "electrifying" term for our Year 9 Science students as we dove headfirst into the world of circuits, charges, and current. Students have spent the last few weeks in the lab building circuits, testing the conductivity of various materials, and mastering the nuances of series and parallel configurations.

They’ve discovered why a single blown bulb in a series circuit can "darken the house," while parallel circuits, the backbone of our modern homes, allow for independence and reliability. We’ve discussed the battle between AC and DC power, the vital role resistors play in keeping our expensive appliances from frying, and the hidden electromagnets that power the fans cooling our smallest household devices.

One highlight was our lemon battery prac. Our budding scientists attempted to harness chemical energy to light an LED. Even with a massive chain of 16 lemons, the LED refused to glow. It provided a perfect moment to discuss the iterative process of science. Scientific progress isn't a straight line; it requires the creativity to pivot and the resilience to try again.

Physics @ Luna Park

Monday 2nd saw our Year 12 Physics students enjoy one of the year's highlights at Luna Park. 

The current topic is ‘How do physicists explain motion in two dimensions’. At Luna Park, we took on practical activities aligned with the study design, plus we noticed how many students were doing Physics (the park was closed to the public). Although it was a rainy day, we had a nice window of dryness, but the scenic railway was closed. Otherwise, students could go on unlimited rides and enjoy a rare moment amid the busy Physics schedule. 

Our students did MMCRC proud and were a pleasure to take out for a long day, holding themselves well in public and being extremely responsible. 

Thanks also, Mrs. Phillips, for coming with the office staff and us behind the scenes.

Darren Besanko