Year Nine
Business Studies
In this edition of our newsletter, students delved into the different levels of organisational strategy – corporate, industry and firm level strategies. Understanding how these strategies interact and align with one another is crucial for the success of any organisation.
Additionally, students explored various aspects of organisational behaviour, including how individuals and groups within an organisation interact, communicate, and make decisions. By understanding these dynamics, we can improve employee satisfaction and productivity.
Ethics play a vital role in shaping the culture and values of an organisation. Students discussed the importance of ethical decision-making and how it can impact a company's reputation and long-term success.
Lastly, corporate social responsibility (CSR) was another key focus of this term. Students explored the ways in which companies can contribute positively to society and the environment, while also benefiting their bottom line.
We hope that this newsletter provided valuable insights into students’ growth and success. Look forward to sharing more valuable content with you later in the term.
Visual Art
As we step into Term 4, our Year 9 Visual Arts students will begin by finalising the work they started last term, refining their abstract self-portraits and personal projects. Once these are completed, we will transition into a new and exciting unit focused entirely on developing the technical skills they will need as they prepare for senior secondary school.
This term, students will participate in weekly technical workshops aimed at honing their ability to create photo-realistic images. Each week, we will focus on mastering a different medium, providing students with opportunities to practice and refine their techniques. One key element of this unit will be the integration of mathematics and art, where students will use their math skills to accurately scale images and apply their technical art skills to transform these enlarged images into realistic, photographic-like artworks.
We are looking forward to seeing the growth and development in our students as they refine these essential skills!
Drama- Delving into Elements Of Theatre Composition
This term, Year 9 Drama students embarked on an exciting journey into the world of improvisation, with a specific focus on the elements of theatre composition. We began by exploring the element of tension in performance. Through various exercises and activities, students learned how to create and sustain tension, an essential skill for any performer.
The term kicked off with warm-up exercises that encouraged spontaneity and creativity. Students practiced responding to unexpected prompts, which helped them think quickly and react in the moment.
In small groups, students crafted improvised scenes centered on themes like conflict, suspense, and uncertainty. They learned how to use body language, vocal modulation, and pacing to heighten tension in their performances. After each performance, feedback sessions allowed students to reflect on their choices and consider the impact of their work.
Looking ahead, we will continue to explore other elements of theatre composition while building on our understanding of improvisation.
English
As Term Four progress, we are excited to update you on the progress of our Year 9 English students as they dive into Unit of Inquiry Four, centred on the statement of inquiry: "The purpose of demagoguery may be to communicate power and authority at the cost of freedom."
In this unit, we are focusing on how media platforms use persuasion and demagoguery tools to shape public opinion and influence the decisions individuals make. Our students have been exploring various forms of media, including news articles, political speeches, social media posts, and advertisements, to unpack the ways in which power and authority are communicated.
By looking at real-life examples of persuasion and demagoguery from both historical and modern times, students are developing the skills to critically evaluate media messages. They are learning to identify the techniques that manipulate audiences, such as fear-mongering, scapegoating, and emotional appeals, and understanding the broader impacts these tools have on personal freedoms and societal perspectives.
Through their studies, students are being challenged to think critically about the media they consume every day. They are starting to analyse the literary tools used by demagogues and media outlets, such as tone, imagery, and persuasive language. These insights are helping students recognise biases and the subtle ways media can influence their thinking, behaviors, and choices.
This unit is not only equipping them with essential literacy skills, but also fostering their ability to navigate an increasingly complex media landscape, supporting them in making informed, independent decisions.
We look forward to continuing this engaging journey with the students, as they further refine their ability to dissect media messages and understand the power dynamics behind them.
Maths
Most of our students have come to a realisation that we have about 10 weeks left after which they would be in senior secondary school and the demands of independent work would be great. This term has begun with a focus on statistical investigations and representation
Students have begun looking at representing data in frequency tables and then transferring this data into histograms. They were introduced to the new concepts of bimodal, unimodal, symmetrical, and skewed representation of data.
As we progress through this unit students will collect, record and present data on different graphs. They will gain a better understanding of “side by side stem and leaf graphs.” Using that knowledge, students will read, understand, and interpret information from the graphs. The next step would be to calculate the measures of spread of data i.e the mode, median and range.
As we progress through the rest of this term and approach year 10, students are becoming more aware of the importance of time management in completing their work
Science
Welcome to our final term of Science together!
We’ve kicked off this term with an exciting physics unit, starting with Sound. The students jumped right into a hands-on experiment called "Dancing Salt," where they created different sounds and observed how the vibrations influenced the movement of salt grains.
In addition to this, students have been exploring the relationship between amplitude, wavelength, and frequency. They’re also developing their skills in interpreting longitudinal wave graphs, deepening their understanding of sound waves and how they work.
We will be moving on to learn about light and performing an eye dissection.
Visual Communications
This semester, the Visual Communications students are hard at work, turning their ideas into captivating portfolios that reflect both their creative flair and technical skills. From sleek print designs to imaginative advertising concepts, these students are showcasing their ability to communicate through visuals.
In the classrooms, students are developing a range of projects, including magazine layouts, posters, and branding materials for both real and hypothetical clients. Each piece tells a story—whether it’s a bold advertisement for a local business or a meticulously designed brochure highlighting the importance of print in a digital world.
The students are using industry-standard tools like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, gaining hands-on experience in what it takes to succeed in creative industries. Meanwhile, they’re also experimenting with different print techniques, learning how to make their designs not just look good on screen, but stand out in physical form as well.
Their portfolios will serve as key pieces for college applications and job opportunities, showcasing their talents in both print and digital media. As the semester progresses, we can’t wait to see what these budding designers and advertisers create next!
Images by: Louwie Zhao & Jazz Williams
Food Technology
Greetings to our school community and welcome back to Term Four. As we dive into Term Four of Food Technology, we're thrilled to share the exciting culinary journey our students are embarking on. This term, our focus is on exploring the rich tapestry of flavours from around the globe, as we bring the world to our plates one recipe at a time.
To kick off Term Four, students excitedly delved into the heart of Australian cuisine with an iconic dish loved by many across the nation: the classic Schnitzel served with a trio of vibrant vegetables. This Aussie favourite provided us with a perfect introduction to the art of tenderising, breading, and frying – essential techniques in the culinary world. From mastering the perfect golden-brown crust to balancing the flavours of our vegetable sides,
our students demonstrated skill and creativity in the kitchen.
Throughout the term, our students will continue to journey across continents, discovering new ingredients, techniques, and cultural traditions with each recipe.
Stay tuned for more mouth-watering recipes, culinary tips, and stories from our Food Technology class as we embark on this delicious journey together.
