Science and Design Technology News
Beginning of Term 1:
Science Department Term 1
It has been a fantastic start to the year for Science classes at South Oakleigh College.As I walk through our Science laboratories, I have been impressed by the high levelof student engagement, as well as how calm and orderly classes have been. Weencourage all students to maintain this positive approach as the year progresses, asit will support both their learning and overall success.
A reminder that students in Years 7–9 are expected to bring a physical copy of theirScience textbook to every lesson, unless their teacher has explicitly advisedotherwise. While lessons may not always be taught directly from the textbook, it servesas an important reference for revisiting key ideas and concepts when needed.
This term, students will be exploring a range of new and exciting areas of Science.
Year 7 students will begin with the Scientific Toolkit unit, where they will learn whatscience is and develop the key scientific skills they will continue to use throughout theirschooling. Year 8 students will start the year by studying Elements and Compounds,before moving on to Energy, using this topic to strengthen their skills in scientificinvestigation. Year 9 students will focus on Atoms, Ions, and Chemical Reactions,learning how different substances interact through hands-on, practical learningexperiences.
Our VCE Science courses are now well underway, with very high levels ofengagement evident in classrooms. However, for students aiming to achieve strongresults, attendance and in-class participation alone are not enough. Success at the VCE level requires consistent independent study at home. Regular revision, reading ahead, and revisiting concepts already covered significantly improve understandingand retention. Teachers are always available to support students, and we stronglyencourage students to seek help whenever they need it.
Finally, we are currently finalising a number of Science excursions and incursions forthe year. These opportunities will be communicated to families shortly, so please keepan eye out for upcoming events you may wish to participate in
Rowan Presland
Learning Specialist STEM | Science