Hospitality Students Explore the Industry

Stage 5 and Stage 6 Hospitality students recently enjoyed an exciting industry excursion, exploring a range of hospitality environments and discovering the many career opportunities available within the industry.

Our first stop was the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), where students toured the commercial kitchens and gained an insight into the facilities, training and career pathways available to those considering a future in hospitality. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to see professional kitchens in action and connect their classroom learning with the skills required in the industry.

Students then enjoyed an immersive dining experience at Sin Sen Teppanyaki and Odan Korean Restaurant. These unique food service environments provided students with the opportunity to experience different styles of service, try a delicious range of dishes and compare the food and techniques with those they have been preparing in their own commercial kitchen classes. There was plenty of excitement as students challenged themselves to try something new!

The final stop was Tootsie's in Yass, where students explored a truly unique hospitality setting. They discovered how the business has developed strong connections with the local community and how its menu has been designed around the facilities and resources available. Students particularly enjoyed the quirky décor and the huge range of gelato!

The excursion was closely connected to the units currently being studied by our students, including Food Service and Catering in Stage 5 and Serve Food and Beverage and Interact with Customers in Stage 6 Hospitality. Seeing these concepts operating in real hospitality businesses helped students understand how their classroom learning translates into the workplace.

It was a fantastic day filled with new experiences, delicious food, plenty of laughs and lots of learning. Everyone had a great time, and for many students, trying something new was a highlight of the day. Tootsie's quirky atmosphere and enormous gelato selection were certainly a memorable way to finish the excursion — definitely worth the visit!

Mrs Golden, Mrs Corcoran, Mrs Riles and Mrs Englert

A report from High School English

Congratulations and well done to Year 12, who have just completed their Trial HSC examinations. It takes grit to make it through this series of tasks which can be up to 3 hours long each, and the students this year have prepared diligently, and brought a real sense of focus and dedication to the Trials. Now they are knuckling down to another 6 weeks of hard work in the lead up to the final HSC examinations. In English, the students are creating study charts, constructing essay skeletons on Keats, Austen and Lawson, whizzing through collaborative revision activities, and brainstorming brain breaks to ensure they maintain a balanced approach. Well done, Year 12!

Year 11 are just ramping up their study, with the Preliminary Examinations just around the corner. The Advanced class are immersed in a critical study of the classic dystopian novel 1984, while the Standard class are analysing the experimental and nail-biting 2018 film Searching. English Studies have completed their recent unit on acing Resumes and Job Interviews and are now reading the real life story of A Street Cat Named Bob. Going in depth with these challenging texts is the final step towards preparing the students for the increased complexity they will face in their HSC courses next term.

In Stage 5, our English classes have the good fortune to be exploring the works of Shakespeare through a comparative study of the iconic film Ten things I Hate About You, as well as the original text, Taming of the Shrew. The students are working towards an in-class essay on the topic, as well as their Yearly Examinations, which will set them up for success in their subjects of choice as they move into Year 11.

Stage 4 have been exploring the world of Biographical Texts, from comic-based memoirs like Hyperbole and a Half, to the stories of comedians such as Bill Bailey. This week in English we have started watching the award-winning ABC program The Assembly, examining how the students might shape an effective interview with a person of their choice. Watch out for some incisive questions coming your way!

Around the Farm

It has been a quiet but very wet winter at the school farm. While the rainfall has been welcome, the resulting mud has presented a number of challenges for students and staff completing practical activities. Despite the difficult conditions, preparations have continued across the farm, with new livestock arriving, crops beginning to respond to the warmer weather and students developing their skills through a range of practical projects.

Stage 5 Agriculture students have been working in groups to establish and manage their own market gardens. As part of this project, each group must make decisions about what to grow and the production methods they will use. Students are learning that decisions about crop selection, planting times, garden space and growing methods can have a significant effect on the success of a market garden.

The garlic crop planted by Stage 5 students at the beginning of Term 2 is beginning to grow rapidly as the weather warms. The garlic is expected to be ready for harvest from late November into December.

The snow pea green manure crop is also growing well. Rather than being grown primarily for harvest, the snow peas are being used to improve the nitrogen levels and organic matter in the soil. Once incorporated into the garden beds, the crop will help prepare the soil for a new potato crop.

Seeds are now being sown in the hothouse in preparation for spring. These include tomatoes, pumpkins, cucumbers, zucchini and a range of herbs. Many of the spring crops are being grown with the aim of entering produce in the 2027 Boorowa Show. Our Farm Assistant, Aaron, has also constructed two new garden beds specifically for growing dahlias and tomatoes for next year’s show.

We also hope to have a large selection of vegetables and a wide range of tomato varieties available for purchase early next term. Anyone interested in purchasing plants or produce is encouraged to stay tuned for further updates as the growing season progresses.

The wet conditions have made it particularly difficult for the Primary Industries class to prepare the giant pumpkin patch. Students had planned to plough the area using the tractor as part of their tractor operations unit, but the waterlogged soil has prevented the tractor from being used safely and effectively.

This has provided students with a practical example of how weather and soil conditions can affect farm operations. Using machinery on soil that is too wet can cause compaction, damage the soil structure and create additional safety risks. The class is now waiting for suitable conditions before continuing the preparation of the patch.

Three new cattle have arrived at the farm and students have begun working with them during lunch breaks, in preparation for the Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza.

The new team consists of Wattle, a red Limousin heifer from Sarana Limousins; Nigel, a black Limousin steer also from Sarana Limousins; and Grug, a Simmental steer supplied by Sean Dwyer of Belview Simmentals and Fleckviehs. Students will work regularly with the cattle to develop their skills in animal handling, leading, grooming, feeding and general livestock care.

In preparation for their arrival, Primary Industries students upgraded the fencing near the cattle yards. The new fence permanently separates the steer induction paddock adjacent to the yards, making the area safer and more practical when new cattle arrive at the farm. This work has given students another opportunity to apply their fencing and farm maintenance skills in a genuine workplace setting.

We sincerely thank Sean Dwyer and Belview Simmentals and Fleckviehs for supplying Grug, and Sarana Limousins for supplying Wattle and Nigel. We also thank Dane Rowley of Spring Waters Poll Dorsets for once again generously donating oaten hay to support the feeding and preparation of our show cattle. This continued support makes an important contribution to the school’s livestock and show programs.

The school farm is also eagerly awaiting the arrival of six lambs on Monday. Their arrival has been arranged with the assistance of Gary Apps from Duncombe Livestock.

The lambs will provide valuable practical learning opportunities for Agriculture and Primary Industries students. Students will be able to develop their knowledge of sheep handling, animal health, nutrition, growth and routine livestock management. We greatly appreciate Gary’s assistance in organising this latest addition to the school farm.

Twelve Leghorn chicks have recently arrived and are thriving in the new brooder box constructed by Aaron. Primary Industries students are weighing the chicks each week and recording their results. This allows students to monitor growth rates, compare changes over time and identify whether the chicks are developing as expected. It also demonstrates how regular livestock monitoring can help producers make informed decisions about animal health, nutrition and management.

We thank Aaron for constructing the new brooder and garden beds, as well as for his ongoing work supporting the many activities and improvements taking place around the farm.

With new cattle and sheep joining the livestock program, chicks growing rapidly and spring crops beginning to emerge, the school farm is preparing for a busy and productive season.

Wear it Purple Day

Today is Wear It Purple Day! This year's theme is Colours of Courage, which recognises that sometimes it takes bravery to stand up and be proud of who you are. You can also be brave by standing up for other people and making our community a safer placer for everyone, regardless of their identity.

Thank you to everyone who is wearing a wristband or a sticker or has added a little bit of purple to their outfit today! If you're someone who sometimes finds it tricky to stand up and be proud of your identity, notice those people today who are showing you that they see you, they support you, and they respect you. Let's celebrate diversity in our community!

Wellbeing Matters