Science High Ability

CHES Expo

Some High ability Year 11 students attended the Centre for Higher Education for a Careers Expo on Friday 31st May. 

The students connected with representatives from all major Victorian universities who answered questions and shared their insights and expertise on a wide range of courses, careers and university pathways.

Students participated in interactive workshops, competitions and networking opportunities with other high-ability senior students across a wide range of schools. They explored and learnt more about the Higher Education Study and VCE options available through CHES in 2025 and 2026.  They met the CHES team and student ambassadors and learnt the foundations for success in VCE and university.

CHES is a hub for Higher Education Studies with a wide range of first-year university courses on offer to high-achieving Year 12 students in government schools through our exclusive university partnerships. This year 350 high-ability students participate in CHES programs. To expand access to these four VCE subjects, CHES also specialises in VCE Algorithmics, Extended Investigation, English Language, and Specialist Mathematics for Year 11 and 12 students, and offers four introductory electives for Year 10 students—Research Matters, Critical Thinking for Creative Minds, Introduction to Algorithmics, and LingoLab.   For more information about this contact Julie.Mullins@education.vc.gov.au

Rotary “Science Experience” Scholarships

Eight students in Year 9 and 10 at Parkdale Secondary College have been successful in applying for a scholarship to attend a Science Experience at Melbourne University in January 2025.  They are being sponsored by Rotary to attend a 3 day program and experience university life with lectures, laboratory experiments and hands-on experiences run by our top researchers and scientists, all whilst exploring their world-class facilities. They will be exploring the secrets of the universe with the physics show; extracting DNA from strawberries and examining the science of inheritance; studying ancient fossils and minerals in an introduction to Earth Sciences; discovering how and why our weather systems form; testing what chemicals go bang and why; taste testing indigenous foods and exploring ways they can solve the world’s food crisis; exploring how mathematics plays key roles in our lives but hides right under our noses; touring the Harry Brooks Allen Museum of Anatomy and Pathology and discovering the intersection of art and science at the Science Gallery.

VHAP – Maths and English Enrichment for Term 3

Students have been selected by the Department of Education and Training for the Term 3 VHAP programs.  Each term 2 or 3 small groups of Year 7 & 8 students are selected to participate in either an English or Maths enrichment program.  This program will focus on tasks that stimulate students’ critical thinking, problem solving and creativity – enriching their understanding of English and Mathematics. The program will not focus on accelerating students through core Victorian Curriculum content. Students are pushed out of their learning comfort zone and challenged as an important part of learning.  Students meet in the Library once a week and connect with other high ability students from Parkdale and other local schools using Virtual Schools Victoria’s platform via Webex.