Senior School

Year 10 End of Semester Reflection

We are thrilled with how much growth our Year 10s have shown in their first semester in Senior School. We celebrate the following.

• 96% of students are tracking to achieve above 90% attendance, 
• 18% of student currently have 100% attendance.

Revive day this term was a huge success and student feedback showed the importance of connecting as a cohort and embedding respectful relationship practices in our community. It is humbling to see the increasing number of students requesting to host activities on these significant days. 

The continuing Inspiring Girls program has, yet again, been valuable to our young women that have reported the mentoring program has given them motivation and resilience to reach their goals.

Year 10 students that participated in inter-school sports this term demonstrated our school values which made us incredibly proud. We also continue to have a fantastic turnout every Tuesday at Hoops!

After a long bus ride, our Year 10 Central Australia campers have made it to their destination and are having a brilliant time.

Stay safe and warm over the well deserved break. We cannot wait to see you back at the start of Semester 2 on Monday 15th July. 

- Ms. Jeanine Innes and Ms. Vanessa Lattanzio

Year 11 VM Community Health Promotion 

This term the Year 11 Vocational Major students have been investigating health concerns in our community. Our focus in class has been on the amount of sugar we consume in our food and drinks and the long-term impacts of overconsumption of sugar.

Part of our investigation involved students cooking at home takeaway then comparing the taste and sugar content of our homemade products to premade and purchased products, students enjoyed cooking (and eating!) hamburgers, butter chicken, chicken enchilada and muesli bars. 

The class then selected an area of health to improve our DSC community. They have created pre surveys, to gather data to see if their health promotion can create change in our community. In term 3 they will complete their follow up surveys. 

Below is some of their work. 

Katharine Anderson, Health & PE teacher

Increasing Active Transport - George and Mikkel 

We are focusing on increasing active transport and the benefits of riding your bike or walking to school. 

• Physical Health: It's a great way to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine, helping to improve cardiovascular fitness, maintain a healthy weight, and promote overall physical well-being.
• Mental Well-being: Physical activity like walking or riding can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, promoting better mental health. It can also improve concentration and mood throughout the day.
• Environmental Impact: Choosing to walk or ride a bike reduces carbon emissions and contributes to a cleaner environment by decreasing the reliance on fossil fuels and reducing traffic congestion.
• Cost Savings: Walking or biking to school can save money on transportation costs, whether it's gas for a car or public transportation fares.

Two serves of fruit a day - Matthew and Issern

Hello there DSC students. We all know fruits are delicious, but did you know they're also superheroes for your body? Packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, fruits help you grow strong, have more energy, and fight off sickness. 

Two servings give your body the nutrients it needs to function at its best. Fruits are full of vitamins like A and C, which help you see clearly and fight off germs. They also have fiber, which keeps your tummy happy and helps you feel full throughout the day.

Here is the suggested amount of fruit and veggies you should have per day:

Sugar drinks – Zac and Brodie 

Let's chat about why some sugary drinks might not be the best choice. Drinks with lots of sugar can taste super yummy, but they can also make you feel jittery and tired after the initial burst of energy wears off. 

Too much sugar isn't great for your teeth either, it can cause cavities if you don't brush your teeth well. That's why it's a good idea to enjoy these treats in moderation and balance them out with plenty of water.

For this term break try to check the label of your drink before drinking.

• Did you know 4 grams of sugar is equal to one teaspoon.
• Did you know a can of coke have 9 tsp of sugar. Stay healthy and happy this term break by making smart drink choices. Cheers to a sip-sensational time!

Importance of 60 minutes of physical activity each day - Dylan and Sebastian 

Hey everyone! Did you know that the national activity guidelines recommend kids and teens get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day? Let's set a goal to not just meet but exceed this recommendation by aiming for 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity! 

Being active boosts your mood, keeps you fit and strong, helps you focus at school, improves your sleep, and is a fun way to hang out with friends. Over the holiday get out there with your friends each day and do some physical activity.

Year 10 Mandarin Class Practical Assessment

Last week my Year 10 Mandarin class was very fortunate to do a practical assessment. Language students came into the kitchen to experience another practical assessing method of their learning. Students researched the recipes and used their numeracy and literacy skills. Upon researching recipes, they planned a spreadsheet with different food categories. This data was then given to the support staff in Food Tech department for approval.

Each recipe has a minimum of 15-20 ingredients. Some students learned the hard way – the ingredients they ordered did not work. But it was good life skill practice. Some made traditional recipes handed down by family members while others tried the new recipes. Some students used online dictionary to translate the recipe from Chinese to English. The support staff and I found translation was humorous. i.e. was it pork ribs, pork belly or pork steak? It was a total guessing game. In the end, we got it right.

Throughout the double periods, students worked individually from collecting ingredients, following the recipe to cook and cleaning. They were successful of executing the process. They demonstrated a lot of confidence gained through the previous five cooking sessions.

The benefit of having a practical assessment is hands on. It was a great experience in students’ learning. I look forward to doing it again in the future due to its success.

In the end, I would like to give special thanks to the Food Tech support staff. This assessment has involved so much work. It is only because of them this event could proceed.

Ms Ning Zhang, Chinese Language Teacher