Around the Senior School

Year 9 Commerce – Running a Business

From Mr Ben Ronald, Academic Staff

As part of their Commerce studies, Year 9 students recently completed the Running a Business/Promoting and Selling unit, where they worked in small groups to plan, launch, and operate their own small businesses. Each group was responsible for developing a product, pitching their idea, managing finances, and ultimately donating their profits to a chosen charity.

The creativity and entrepreneurial spirit on display were outstanding, with businesses offering everything from baked goods, lollies, and milkshakes to loaded cookies, waffles, rocky road, and even custom keychains. Students were assessed on their planning, collaboration, and ability to problem-solve in a real-world context.

Most impressively, the students’ hard work translated into a record $3,630.19 collectively raised for charity. Donations supported a wide range of causes, including the Cancer Council, Ronald McDonald House, Save the Children, Backpack Bed, the Leukemia Foundation, Mensline, McGrath Foundation, Blackdog Institute, Dolly’s Dream, Birds in the Bush, and more.

Highlights included:

• Baked raising over $400 for the Cancer Council.
• Brookie Monster donating $369 to the Blackdog Institute.
• The Rocky Spot contributing an incredible $908.40 to Dolly’s Dream.
• Fudge It! donating $367.48 to Birds in the Bush.

The project was not only a financial success but also a valuable learning experience. Students gained practical insights into teamwork, budgeting, marketing, and customer service, while making a genuine impact on their chosen charities.

Particular congratulations goes to the Rocky Spot (Sophie Caro, Georgia Tancred, Anna Orr and Millie Helyar) who were selected as Entrepreneurs of the Year for their business plan, contribution to charity and excellent team work.

Congratulations to all of Year 9 Commerce for their effort, creativity, and generosity.

Past recipients

TAS Showcase Extravaganza 

From Ms Robyn Youll & Mr Simon Lun

Head of TAS; Food and Fibre & Design and Industry 

Celebrating Student Achievement

On Friday 15 August, the TAS faculty hosted its annual Showcase Extravaganza, highlighting the outstanding work produced by students across Years 7 to 12. The event welcomed students, staff, families, and community members to explore the breadth of learning and creativity within the TAS curriculum.

Visitors engaged with interactive displays and demonstrations across a wide range of subjects, including:

• Textiles and Design
• Design and Technology
• Industrial Technology (Metal and Timber)
• STEM
• Food Technology
• Computing Technology
• Hospitality

The highlight, as always, was the presentation of HSC major works, which demonstrated the culmination of skills developed throughout the students’ TAS journey. The evening program included catering by our Hospitality students and a well-attended Textiles Parade, and the Year 12 Major Works from Industrial Technology and Design and Technology.

We extend our congratulations to all students for the high standard of work presented, and thank the TAS staff for their dedication and support in preparing for the event. The Showcase was a reflection of the collaborative efforts and commitment to excellence within the faculty.

On behalf of all the TAS staff we would like to thank all who attended and supported the TAS Showcase Extravaganza. Your involvement helped make the event a meaningful celebration of student achievement and learning.

We hope you enjoy this video of the night.

Year 9 PASS Excursion

From Mr Thomas Markey, Academic Staff

Throughout Term 3, the Year 9 PASS classes engaged in opportunities to challenge their perceptions of leisure and recreation by participating in a High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) session at Fitness Perfection and a yoga class at Movement Evolution Studio. In alignment with the PASS syllabus, these excursions to local recreational facilities enabled students to expand their understanding and awareness of potential physical activity options for the future. Students also developed a greater appreciation for these forms of exercise, with many acknowledging the level of challenge involved in completing the activities.

Bundanon Visual Arts Excursion for Stage 5

From Mr Andrew Orme-Smith, Head of Visual Arts

Years 9 and 10 Visual Arts students recently attended an excursion to the extraordinary Bundanon Museum and Art Facility. Situated in a valley surrounded by steep forested hills, Bundanon overlooks a bend in the Shoalhaven River inland from Nowra. It is a spectacular setting in which to create art, and is complemented by equally stunning architecture by well-known architects Kerstin Thompson and Glen Murcutt. The site and surrounding landscape were gifted to the people of Australia by artist Arthur Boyd and his family and is administered by the Bundanon Trust. The world class gallery is open to the public, and when education groups are not using the site, the very comfortable accommodation is available for hire. With such healthy numbers in Visual Arts, we were able to take over the whole site for the two nights.

An early departure from school had us arriving after lunch amid torrential rain, the surrounding hills enveloped in mist and clearly the place of inspiration for Boyd’s often vast, paintings. Luckily it is well set up for such weather, and the wonderful instructors, all practicing artists, soon had us all (teachers included) making art inspired by our arrival in this other-worldly place. A visit to the gallery was also part of this process, and it was gratifying to see how engaged the students were, with insightful questions and receptive mindsets. The three artists on display, Arthur Boyd, Betty Kuntiwa Pumani and David Sequeira were all united in their love of colour, and this became the theme for the lessons and activities that would follow over the next two days. 

The format was three hours of practical workshops interspersed with very good food to recharge depleted brains. Groups were rostered to set up and clean up meals, and the uncomplaining, competent efforts were fantastic. 

The wonderfully helpful Gap students who attended, Alexa and Poppy, were not the only ones to be thrilled to see wombats and wallabies roaming the grounds. There was also prolific birdlife, and one of the exercises had students climbing up into the forest to create watercolour works based on the bird song!

It is a long journey, and we had a late return on Friday. However, the feedback has been so positive, and the amount of artmaking crammed into the two days was extraordinary. Two of the venues that we stopped at for meals commented on the lovely manners of the students, and that behaviour extended to our time at Bundanon. 

I would like to thank Beck Wansey and Angela Malone for all their efforts, and Matt Thomas for assisting with the planning. This was a very worthwhile excursion. 

Year 10 Geography Fieldwork Report

From Mr Winston West, Head of Social Science

Last week, Year 10 Geography students travelled to Gaanha Bula - Mount Canobolas to carry out a field investigation into the potential impacts of a proposed mountain bike (MTB) park on the surrounding area. This excursion formed part of their study into environmental change and management, with a particular focus on balancing recreation, conservation, and community needs.

The day began with students exploring the surrounds of the mountain, which is home to diverse ecosystems, cultural sites, and a range of recreational users. Guided by their teachers, the students considered the environmental implications of developing MTB trails in a sensitive area, including issues such as erosion, biodiversity protection, and long-term sustainability.

To understand the social and economic dimensions, students discussed how such a facility might influence the local community, tourism, and businesses in nearby Orange, they considered both the positive opportunities for growth and recreation, as well as the challenges of managing increased visitor numbers and preserving the natural environment.

A highlight of the excursion was when the students took to the bikes themselves, experiencing the trails first-hand. This gave them valuable insight into the appeal of MTB recreation and allowed them to reflect on the importance of designing trails that are safe, sustainable, and enjoyable. 

This field trip was a highly engaging and hands-on learning experience, encouraging the students to think critically about the relationships between people, place and environment.

Dudley Cup Success

From Mrs Kate Rohr, Academic Staff

On Monday 15 August, we entered the Dudley Cup which was held at Orange Christian School. In a busy but rewarding day, our team won all three debates against other schools from the district including Orange High School, Orange Christian School, Blayney High School and Orange Anglican Grammar School. 

The team, Lucy Campbell, Poppy Warren, Maisie Cooper and Chaitra Avirneni (with supporting act, an injured Georgie Simpson) will now complete against Orange High School at Duntry League Gold Club in the final. They could win $500 which Liam Callaghan and I suggested to donate to a worthy charity but we could very well lose against them, as the negative team, in a debate entitled “That debating winnings should go towards a debating snack cupboard”.