Science

Wow! What a phenomenal start to 2025 at Marian Catholic College.

The Year 7 students have been exploring what it means to be a scientist and the branches of science that come together to improve our understanding of how things work and how we can use our resources and make sure our use is sustainable. Students have been exploring the micro world with the digital microscopes and having some great fun with their learning. 

This year is a new syllabus for Year 7 so we have provided online learning in science with Jacplus. This has proven to be an excellent resource with an AI tutor being available for students. This means that students can ask the AI tutor, Koala, for help when they don’t understand and the tutor will explain but won’t give them any answers. I am really looking forward to using it in the lessons and evaluating the success of this capacity. Students will also be asked to give their feedback. 

We are very happy to welcome Mrs Katie Fletcher to the Year 7 science teaching team. 

Year 9 students are also following the new syllabus this year and also have access to Jacplus and the AI tutor. 

They are studying Energy this Term with a big focus on electricity. 

Year 8 and 10 will start the new syllabus next year so they are on the old syllabus this year. Year 8 are studying the Growing and multiplying unit which will be the basis for their student research project this term.

Year 10 are studying the genetics unit and will do their student research project on their own personal inquiry question and area of interest.  In the lab this week, some students looked at the chromosomes in split peas and the results were very impressive while others modelled mitosis and meiosis. Eloise did a brilliant, very well detailed model of telophase in mitosis while Krinal, Bavleen and Annabelle were superb at extracting the chromosomes from the split peas. 

Mrs Morrison is teaching the Year 11 Biology class and has been teaching some microscope skills with meiosis and onion root tips. Since Year 10 students are also studying meiosis, Mrs Morrison’s  biology class will teach 10.1 students the skills that they have learnt. 

It is nice to be back with so many great teachers, students and learning activities. The laboratory technicians, Mrs McIntosh and Mrs Geddes have also been very busy being a wonderful support for lab lessons and making sure everything is ready and working for student learning.

We were very sad to say farewell to Miss Eliza Ammendolia who accepted an offer to play soccer in Melbourne. Mrs Fletcher has taken most of Mrs Ammandolia’s classes and Mr Channa Phillip has joined us to teach senior Physics. 

We are all looking forward to an exciting and enjoyable term with you,

Best wishes

Esther Dumbleton ( Science Leader of Learning)