Careers

VCAL and Life Skills Community Garden Project

The VCAL students working on this project were: Susan Martin, Jessica Zuel and Marisa Ghneim, with

help from the Life Skill girls and the experience of Tony, we developed a community garden. The first thing we had to do to our garden was to clean and remove the dead weeds and rubbish. This was our least favourite thing to do throughout this project.

We grew parsley, silver beet, mint and coriander, We also planted plants in the garden, which made it look so beautiful. These vegetables were all dug out of the garden, and taken to the kitchen to be cleaned. A portion of these vegetables were given to the kitchen to be used in cooking classes and some of the vegetables were sold in the staff room. Our prices ranged around $2.00 - $4.00.

We are very thankful for having the opportunity to help our good friend Tony and Ms Brunt. We all enjoyed working together as a team and getting along with one another.

Community Garden Committee 

VCE Biology Excursion

On Tuesday 25th of June all the Unit 1 Biology students went to the Melbourne Zoological Gardens to complete fieldwork to consider the interdependencies which exist between species and their habitat and ecosystem as well as what happens when these are thrown out of balance. After the workshop about the Southern Corroboree Frog and the Philippine’s crocodile, the students took part in a discussion about the process of artificial insemination in the Zoo’s international captive breeding program for the Asian Elephant. Over the day students learnt:

• how to apply what they’re learning in class to a real-world context
• the scope of skills needed to protect an endangered species and the role of zoos in preserving species biodiversity both in zoos and in their natural environment
• about the global amphibian crisis, from the cellular level through to the flow on effect on ecosystems

The students had an enjoyable day as they wandered the zoo checking out the range of animals on display. It was great to see the young lions out basking in the sunshine, the streamlined penguins gliding through the water, the elegant giraffe’s strolling their enclosure and the giant tortoise slowly munching on its grass. Most girls found the animal they had selected to observe. They will present a short presentation about their chosen animal, its habitat and distribution, its adaptations and the impact of humans on the species to their peers back at school.

Some Student Reflections:

Kelly: I learnt the difference between an Asian Elephant and African Elephant – Asian elephants

are smaller, lighter in colour, have smaller ears and only the males have tusks. I also thought

the elephants were pretty.

Cindy: The experience was educational as the zoo teachers explained the threats and dangers

to many of the animals as a result of human actions.

Julia: The butterfly room was fun and really warm and comfortable.