Social Science

What’s happening in the Social Science senior school?

10 Commerce: students are exploring the topic of Towards Independence, where they are learning about the legal requirements of a lease, creating financial budgets and making major purchases for independent living.
12 Geography: the boys are learning about management plans of urbanisation in Singapore and they will soon begin their floriculture unit of work.
12 Business Studies: students are learning about finance, more specifically, financial ratios, the influence of financial institutions and regulators on businesses and strategies to manage liquidity and profitability for business success.
12 Economics: the boys are currently learning about economic issues including, economic growth, unemployment, inflation and income distribution. A key to deep understanding in this topic is monitoring the state of the economy and analysing policies governments use to maintain economic objectives.
12 Legal Studies: students are exploring the complexities around international law in relation to human rights. Questions that are hotly debated include, Is international enforceable and do political relations between nations come as a cost to promoting and protecting human rights?

Echo Economic Conference

On Tuesday (28th of October), myself and 50 fellow Year 12 students had the opportunity to attend the Echo Economic Conference at the University of New South Wales. Guest speakers included a video presentation from Gina Rhinehart the owner of Hancock Prospecting, The ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb, Australian Financial Review editor Cosima Marriner and finally Andrea Brischetto the head of financial stability for the Reserve Bank of Australia.

The conference provided the opportunity to be inspired by the future directions a career in Economics can provide us. Additionally to this, some key issues and challenges facing the Australia Economy were discussed which provided us students with valuable insight into the practical aspects of the HSC Economics course.

I thought the editor of the Australian Financial Review, Cosima Marriner, had the greatest insight as she had the greatest scope; being a journalist on economic issues. Her commentary on the Australian Economy gave me a greater understanding of the issues in the Australian economy and the ways which policy, regulatory bodies and businesses help tackle key economic issues.

The final presentation was from UNSW’s Professor of Economics discussing the various undergraduate degrees in the field of Economics that the institution has to offer and further opportunities at UNSW. I would personally like to thank our teachers Mr Kinsky, Miss Doshi and Mr Thompson for providing us the opportunity to attend this event.

Gavin Y - Year 12 Economics student

Year 8 Geography Excursion

On September 18 and 19, Year 9 ventured to Collaroy Beach to explore its physical history and the effects of natural weathering and erosion. We discovered coastal protection strategies to sustain the natural environment moving into the future and learnt about different geographical terms and features, which we had to record in a booklet we were given. From the moment we arrived at Collaroy Beach to when we left, winds and gusts were minimal and rainfall was low…but it hadn’t always been that way.

We started by overlooking the beach, identifying protection strategies such as sea walls and revetment rocks from afar, and understanding their benefits by recognising the state of the beach at different points in time. A key period we investigated was June 2016, when an East Coast Low brought gale-force winds, heavy rainfall, and intense storm surges. We examined the devastating effects of the storm which were massive coastal erosion and houses knocked down, some left with only pillars holding them up. This dive into the beach’s history helped us recognise the importance of coastal protection strategies. After the significant storm in June 2016, the Northern Beaches Council and local residents took charge by implementing a large seven-metre seawall, emergency rock revetments, sand replenishment, and several other processes to protect the environment.

These applications proved effective as we walked along the coastline from Collaroy to Narrabeen, gaining further insight into the damage and protection strategies. We identified stormwater or drainage chutes and fences with large gaps that allowed waves to pass through while still minimising damage. These innovative strategies amazed our cohort as we observed the beach’s stability, comparing it to the destruction from nine years ago. This part of the excursion was especially enjoyable as we entertained ourselves by skipping stones in the ocean and chatting with each other while walking through the sand.

During lunchtime, we relaxed on shady ground and completed more of our booklet, guided by a Northern Beaches Council representative. The information we learnt that day was highly important and relevant to understanding our environment and how we can protect it. Soon later, we had time to unwind as we ate our lunches and spent quality time with friends. We were also encouraged to ask questions about what we had learnt, giving us the opportunity to become more knowledgeable about protecting our land.

Finally, we trekked along sidewalks to reach a park, where we gathered sand samples from different levels of the beach. The sediments varied in colour and size as we moved further from the ocean.

Overall, our experience at Collaroy Beach was informative and valuable in helping us understand coastal areas, providing us with a chance to step away from artificially lit classrooms and immerse ourselves in the beauty of the beach. We would also like to thank Mr Dewane for organising the excursion and the Northern Beaches Council for providing helpful guides who supported our exploration of weathering and erosion and made the experience so enjoyable.

-Morgan V and Reuben S, Year 9 students

Aida Ghorayeb

Relieving Head Teacher Social Science

Aidan Bondfield

Relieving Head Teacher Social Science