AROUND THE COLLEGE & BEYOND
What's happening?
St Augustine's College Cairns
Year 10 Food Technology – MasterChef Challenge
Year 10 Food Technology students are currently preparing for their upcoming MasterChef practical exam in Week 9. In the lead-up to this challenge, the boys have been exploring a variety of professional plating techniques and learning how presentation can elevate a dish.
During their weekly cooking practicals, students have been putting these skills into action, carefully considering colour, texture and arrangement to create visually appealing plates. It has been fantastic to see their creativity and attention to detail develop as they work towards presenting dishes that look just as impressive as they taste.
Year 12 Chemistry Students Showcase Innovation in Electrochemistry Experiments
Our Year 12 Chemistry students have recently completed their internal assessment student experiments, a major milestone in their senior science studies. This task required students to design and carry out their own practical investigation based on a research question within electrochemistry.
Over a focused three‑hour practical session, students put their scientific thinking to the test. Rather than following a pre‑written method, they were responsible for developing their own procedures, troubleshooting issues as they arose, and making real‑time adjustments to improve the accuracy and reliability of their results. This process demanded genuine problem‑solving skills: discovering why something wasn’t working as expected and figuring out how to fix it safely and effectively.
Throughout the session, the boys demonstrated impressive enthusiasm, determination and resilience. They showed a strong commitment to their learning, embracing the challenge with maturity and a positive attitude. Staff were particularly proud of their tenacity and teamwork as they navigated the complexities of experimental design.
The skills and concepts explored during this assessment connect to real‑world applications such as electroplating (used to coat jewellery and metals), battery technologies and hydrogen fuel systems that support emerging clean‑energy solutions. Understanding these processes equips students with valuable insight into technologies shaping our future.
We congratulate our Year 12 students on their hard work, curiosity and scientific creativity. Their effort in tackling this demanding assessment is a credit to each of them, and we look forward to seeing their final results.
