Class

Animal and Plant Production Systems

The Year 12 ATAR PPS class has been monitoring their fertiliser trial in the paddock this term. The trial was seeded in paddock 34 with various different rates of fertiliser banded with the seed and as a foliar application. 

They have completed crop observations identifying any weeds, disease or pests that may be present in the canola, barley, wheat crops and vetch pasture on the property such as a budworm in the vetch and minimum crop damage caused by red legged earth mites and lucerne flea. The students found some spot type net blotch in the barley and familiarised themselves with any weeds present. 

The Year 12 ATAR PPS class has also been involved in a crop challenge trial in York, at Living Farm, involving industry representatives and WA universities. The trial is a competition between all participants to tailor their application and treatment decisions to the seasonal conditions to achieve the highest financial return. 

On Tuesday 8 August, the students travelled to the site of their trial to observe their crop in comparison to all the other competitors crops and so they can make informed treatment decisions for the rest of the season e.g. fungicide treatments or another fertiliser application etc.  

The Year 12 APS and PPS classes have been studying Breeding and Improvement focusing on GM technology, conventional breeding techniques, AI and ET technology and how this can be implemented in your breeding system to improve genetic gain rapidly to meet the producers breeding objectives. 

The APS general class used EBV data from the annual Gingin Bull sale to select the bulls that would be their top 3 picks for purchase to meet the scenario breeding objective. The students from both ATAR and General were lucky to witness the removal the CIDR devices, prostaglandin injections to restart the cow cycles and the AI’ing process which linked in with the topic of breeding that both classes were studying.

This term the Year 11 ATAR and General APS students have started their chicken trial. The school received 30 x day old chickens on 2 August 2023 which were randomly selected and separated into three brooder pens. Each pen is being fed a different feed ration with the main difference being the protein percentage available. The control group is being fed Milne chick starter crumble which has 18% protein and for the two other groups the students have created rations at 20% and 22% protein using a Milne chick starter crumble and meat meal combination. The students are in charge of checking the chickens, creating their rations and ensuring they have water and adequate warmth. The students will complete their trial on 30 August 20 and the chickens will be for sale on Open Day. All proceeds made from the sale of the chickens will be donated to the student's charity of choice.

EXAMS - Year 11 and 12 ATAR

Year 12 Mock Exams - Term 3

Week 9 Thursday 14 September - Plant Production Systems - 9am

Week 9 Friday 15 September - English - 9am

Week 10 Monday 18 September - Animal Production Systems - 9am

Week 10 Tuesday 19 September - Mathematics Applications - 9am

Year 12 WACE Exams - Term 4

Week 4 Tuesday 31 October - English - 9:20am

Week 4 Wednesday 1 November - Mathematics Applications - 9:20am

Week 5 Monday 6 November - Plant Production Systems - 9:20am

Week 5 Thursday 7 November - Animal Production Systems - 9:20am

Year 11 Semester Two Exams - Term 4

Week 6 Wednesday 15 November - English - 9am

Week 6 Thursday 16 November - Plant Production Systems - 9am

Week 7 Monday 20 November - Animal Production Systems - 9am

Week 7 Tuesday 21November - Mathematics Applications - 9am

OLNA Round 2 Year 11

The second round of OLNA for our Year 11 students will be held during Week 8 and 9 this term.  We only have a two-day window for the Writing, so it is imperative that students sitting this are at school on Monday September 4 (or Tuesday September 5 for catch up sessions).

Writing

• Monday Week 8
• 4 September
• Day 10 (flipped week) Period 3

Numeracy

• Wednesday Week 9
• 13 September
• Day 3 Period 1

Reading

• Thursday Week 9
• 14 September
• Day 4 Period 1

Results from Round 2 Year 12 will be released on Monday 28 August 2023.

Sarah Aynsley 

Head of Curriculum