Secondary News

Sweet Science - Year 10 Kicks of Biology with Candy DNA 

The Year 10 Science classrooms were transformed into "genetic laboratories" this week as students dove straight into their new Biology unit. To master the complex structure of life’s blueprint, students traded traditional diagrams for something much tastier: Gummy Bears and Snakes.

The goal was to build a 3D model of the Double Helix. While it might look like a snack-fest, the activity required high-level thinking and precision. Students had to:

• Identify the four chemical bases (Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine) using different colored Gummy Bears.
• Apply the rules of base-pairing, ensuring that only specific colors are linked together across their toothpicks.
• Construct the sugar-phosphate "backbone" using candy snakes, which provide the flexibility needed to create that iconic DNA twist.

NSW SCHOOL VACCINATION PROGRAM

Each year NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for adolescents as part of the school vaccination program. In 2026, the following vaccines will be offered: YEARS VACCINE NUMBER OF DOSES

Year 7

Human papillomavirus (HPV9) vaccine Single doseDiphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (whooping cough)vaccine

Single dose Year 10 Meningococcal ACWY vaccine Single dose. Schools will distribute a URL and a QR code to all Year 7 and Year 10 parents at the beginning of the 2026 school year, which will provide access to an online Parent Information, privacy statement, and consent form. To consent to the vaccination of their child, parents/guardians are advised to: Enter the URL into your browser, select the School Vaccination Program tile, and follow instructions. Read all the information provided, complete the online consent form, and give consent for which vaccine/s they would like their child to receive. Ensure that their child eats breakfast on the day of the school vaccination clinic. To improve vaccination completion, students whose parents/guardians have providedconsent while in Year 7 or Year 10 and who miss vaccine doses at any clinic, will beopportunistically offered these vaccines at each clinic visit throughout 2026 (Year 7 or 10) &2027 (Year 8 or 11).Parents/guardians who wish to withdraw their consent for any reason may do so byamending their student’s online consent. The Procedure for Withdrawal of Consent is available on the NSW Health website athttp://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/withdraw_consent.aspxA Record of Vaccination will be provided to parents by SMS once a student has beenvaccinated. Parents/guardians should not assume that their child has been vaccinated ifthey do not receive this SMS notification.NOTE: If you experience difficulty with accessing the online consent package, please speakwith the School Vaccination coordinator at your school.Providing consent

Marley Swan - Student Success 

In a heartfelt address at secondary assembly this week, Sports Captain Marley Swan shared the news of his selection into the prestigious Northern Tigers Under 16s rugby league team.  Marley spoke about the pride he felt representing his club, the town of Moree, as well as his school. Marley made mention that no matter your goal, it can be achieved through dedication, consistency, and effort. What an inspiring start to the year and a great encouragement for his peers.

TAFE - Automotive

Hello Parents, Carers and Students.

I wanted to touch base with you all regarding TAFE for 2026. 

Your child will be completing the Certificate I in Automotive each fortnight throughout the year. TAFE begins on Thursday, the 19th of February at 9 am and ends at 3 pm for Automotive students. You need to ensure your child wears long pants and short or long sleeve shirts (no synthetic clothing) and ensure they wear fully enclosed footwear (ie work boots) as per workshop requirements. They need to also take a notebook and pen to each TAFE session. 

Monday the 9th of February, is the billable date for EVET, so if your child has decided they no longer wish to be enrolled in this course, please let me know before then so I can withdraw them. If they are not withdrawn by then, there are no refunds for the cost of the course. Keeping in mind that this year there will be a cost to families for TAFE courses. If you have any questions, or concerns, please feel free to contact me. 

Kind regards

Amber Clarke