HSIE News

National Tree Planting Day

On Friday 26 July, the Year 11 Geography class and other interested students in Years 11 and 12, participated in National Tree Planting Day down at the Lone Pine Barracks, Singleton Army Base.

This was a wonderful opportunity for students to not only connect with nature but to foster environmental stewardship of our earth. The hands-on experience was done with the school of infantry, and collectively 130 native Eucalypts were planted by our students, with the school of infantry soldiers, down on the base.

Students were then privileged to have a tour of the base, which included lunch in the mess hall, a chat with the armies Physical Training Instructor, and a tour of the ballistics unit where they got to see a Captain practise his targets in the Virtual Shooting Range.

This was a great opportunity for defence to connect with community and interested students are invited back for an Open Day at the Singleton Army Base on 9 November, for a tour of the base and more information about the potential for a future career in the defence force. 

Society and Culture

Year 12 Society and Culture students submitted their Personal Interest Project (PIP) on Monday 5 August. This task is worth a huge 40% of their HSC mark and is often between 7,000 and 10,000 words. Students pick a social issue and conduct genuine primary research to report their findings on social changes or continuities. In previous years, student PIP’s have created change within our diocese such as the implementation of free feminine hygiene products in our bathrooms. 

A few of the focus areas this year included:

• Mustering Strength: An investigation into the roots of resilience of Australia’s farmers. What  resources are available in a countryside crisis of mental health in need of harvesting hope?
• Who’s the Voice ‘cause we don’t understand it: An evaluation of the media’s impact on the 2023  Voice Referendum. 
• Magic or Mayhem: Acceptance and Rejection of Disney film adaptations. An investigation into social acceptance and rejection of Walt Disney film adaptations.

All nine of our students submitted their PIP with time to spare and are to be congratulated for closing one of their few final doors to their senior schooling journey with their Trial and HSC Examinations to go. Well done Year 12 Society and Culture!

Mrs Rensburg

Society and Culture Teacher