Teaching and Learning

General update

As we approach the end of the Term, students have been engaging in a variety of excursions, in-school assessments as well as a range of hands-on activities as part of their learning programs. We are proud of the way that students have navigated new learning with curiosity and tenacity. All students are encouraged to continue persisting with their best efforts as we head to the end of Term 3. It has been a massive term and both students and staff have contributed to sharing some of the learning in the classroom for this edition of the newsletter.

Sandale Ambegoda- Assistant Principal (Teaching & Learning)

English

In Year 7 English this term, we were able to take advantage of the nicer weather and collaborate outside in our literature circle groups. As the term progressed, students were finishing off our literature circle unit with group presentations and beginning our unit on debating. It is really exciting to see the students are thinking outside the box and exploring ‘worldly’ topics in debating such as ‘Nuclear Power Plants Should be Banned’ and ‘Teenagers Should Have a Curfew by Law’! The students are working towards their CAT where they will participate in mini debates within the classroom.

In Year 10 English, students have been exploring the novel The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.  This unit has provided students with the opportunity to explore broader social issues such as economic inequality, ethnic and racial stereotypes and systematic inequality.  Students have also focused on the influence of family and community support, the theme of identity and belonging and the notion of rising up and speaking out against injustices.  Students have embraced the opportunity to collaboratively explore their learning and understanding of the language devices incorporating ICT tools into the production of classroom displays of their learning.  In the coming weeks students will undertake their summative assessment and put their paragraphing skills to good use.

Suzanne Higginbottom- Acting Learning Specialist 

Health

The Year 10 Health students are concluding their Personal and Community Safety Unit with Research-based CAT focused on Vaping.  The task requires students to investigate the health outcomes related to using vapes.  With the increased prevalence of vapes in the youth of our community and the recent law changes related to the import and sale of vapes, this is a timely and relevant topic for students to demonstrate their research skills.  The final part of the CAT is a creative task that provides students with the opportunity to create a campaign of their own to prevent or stop vaping.  Students are highly engaged in the task and the conversations in class have focused around student’s expressing their disbelief at what is contained in vapes, such as bug spray, weed killer, rat poison, paint thinner, nail polish remover- just to list a few.  A stand out fact for students has been that ‘vaping is the equivalent to smoking 50 cigarettes and that ‘vapes contain nicotine’.  This task has been successful in engaging students in their understanding of the dangers of vaping and the development of an appreciation for smoke and vape free zones, such as schools. The Year 10 Health teachers look forward to sharing the campaign the students create as part of this task.

Physical Education

Currently in Year 7 Physical Education the students’ have been applying their numeracy but also their technical skills to prepare for Athletics day. Students supported each other by assisting each student's shot put and discus attempts by giving peer feedback and recording results. Students have also been engaged with their learning through practical participation in a basketball unit. This consisted of learning about the history of the sport, watching instructional videos on technique and participating in modified games. Next unit of work is Badminton which we know our Year 7 students are very keen to begin.

At Year 10 the students are currently enjoying the use of the college’s new oval as they take part in a softball unit. The students have investigated the rules and worked on their skills by making instructional videos for their peers. Each group also created their own assessment rubric for the assessment task. The Year 10 students will also be taking part in a Badminton unit for the remainder of Term 3. 

Jessica D'Lima- Learning Specialist

Science

This term in Year 10 Science, the students have been focussing on Chemistry. Throughout this unit they have explored the behaviour of electrons through flame tests, modelled different chemical bonds through building of molecules and investigated chemical reactions through creating their own plastic.

Students are currently working on an extended practical investigation for their assessment where they are evaluating rates of reaction between magnesium and hydrochloric acid.

National Science Week

Thank you for all the support and organisation for Bemin Secondary College’s first ‘National Science Week’ on Species survival-more than just sustainability. The Science team created an engaging weekly program that consisted of a colouring competition (Congratulations to Tvisha Patel 7B) and an Amazing Race around Australian States looking at different species from animals and humans (Congratulations to Munazza Ajaz 7B, Anushka Tyagi 7B, Avni Sharma 7D, Manreet Grewal 10B, Helice Parmar 10B, Mannat Puri 10F and Ayushi Chauhan 10C.) Students also learnt about Fun Facts and took part in Check and Connect activities from word searches, trivia and true and false questioning. We would also like to recognise the support from our Lab technician for setting up the amazing race and allowing us to meet her pet lizard. The students displayed great enthusiasm when participating in all activities. It was wonderful to watch the dedication, engagement and thrill on the students' faces when success was seen in competing the amazing race.

Danni Ryan- Acting Learning Specialist

Art & Technology

Throughout the Year 7 Art and Technology classes students have been busy from cooking rice paper rolls and pizzas in food technology, drawing landscapes and learning about Art of the First Nations people in visual arts, learning about mime in drama and how to generate a digital game in digital technologies.

In the year 10 electives, art students have been introduced to clay and begun creating a ceramic sculpture representing the Great Barrier Reef. In Fabric Finesse we are responding to a design brief and producing a hand sewn plush toy from felt. Students had to research the competitors before planning and producing their own toy design and are currently in the midst of them materialising.  In Drama students have been focusing on character development.

Inquiry Innovations

In Year 7 Inquiry, students have been exploring how to develop a campaign focusing on an endangered species. Prior to beginning this task, students were lucky enough to visit Werribee Zoo. During their visit, students were asked to become Gorilla Doctors and completed a workshop learning about the real life Gorilla doctors and how Zoos Victoria campaigned for the Gorillas.

Claudia Khoury- Learning Specialist

Humanities

Students and teachers have been busily working across Term 3, exploring various topics. 

On the Everton campus, Year 7 students have been exploring the world of business and economics. Students have built their financial acumen, working through various case studies and hypothetical scenarios. Students have also enjoyed learning about the role they play in the economy, and the power they have as consumers to influence businesses. 

On the Morris campus, Year 10 students recently completed a unit on politics, learning about Australia’s legal system and the role they play as active and informed members of society. A highlight of this unit was students participating in a mock trial, which allowed students to assume the roles of judge, jury, lawyers and parties. Students showed off their dramatic skills as they performed in the mock trial, with many excited to explore the criminal justice system in VCE Legal Studies next year!

Ignatius Zanetidis- Learning Specialist