Senior School

Year 12 Captains 2024

Girls in Physics

On Thursday 9th May, our female-identifying students studying VCE Physics attended a breakfast webinar in the DSC Conference Room hosted by the Australian Institute of Physics. Our students listened to a presentation on condensed matter physics by guest speaker, Professor Susan Coppersmith. Prof Coppersmith studied at Cambridge University and achieved her PhD at Bell Research Labs in the US and is now the Head of the School of Physics at UNSW Sydney.

Question: If both seashells and chalk are made of calcium carbonate, why are seashells strong and chalk crumbles? The answer lies in the fact that seashells combine its calcium carbonate with soft organic material making it less brittle. Prof Coppersmith and her team are applying this knowledge to research and create materials that will advance our use of electronic technologies, such as the development of large-scale quantum computers.

Admittedly, this was a very technical webinar on applied physics and its content was well-above VCE level Physics! But we are so proud of our students for attending the morning webinar and showing initiative in their learning. Students, take baby steps in your learning of physics and one day you too might be inventing materials that will change the world for the better!

Dive into Success: Kenny’s Marine Biology Adventure

Money couldn't buy this learning experience!

- Kenny L., Year 12

Year 12 student Kenny L. recently participated in a prestigious practical course in Marine Biology, offered by the University of Tasmania in partnership with the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies. Kenny, along with 24 other budding scientists from across Australia, embarked on a week-long journey filled with exploration, discovery, and academic rigor.

Q: Kenny, congratulations on being selected for this incredible opportunity! Can you tell us how you found out about this course?

Kenny: Thank you! I found out about the course through Ms. Vanessa Ramsay, our Careers Coordinator. She knew about my interest in science and alerted me to this fantastic opportunity. Her encouragement really pushed me to apply, and I'm so glad I did.

Q: It sounds like an amazing experience. What was the selection process like?

Kenny: The selection process was quite competitive. I had to submit an application detailing my academic background and interest in marine biology. To strengthen my application, I also completed a summer course in snorkeling, which was really helpful given the practical nature of the course.

Q: What subjects are you currently studying, and how did you manage your Year 12 workload to accommodate this trip?

Kenny: I’m currently studying EAL, Physics, Chemistry, Math Methods, and Math Specialists. Balancing my studies with this trip was definitely a challenge. I had to plan ahead and complete a lot of my schoolwork in advance. It required organisation, but the experience was well worth it.

Q: The course included a 5-day stay at Maria Island. Can you share some highlights from that part of the trip?

Kenny: Maria Island was incredible. We snorkeled to collect sediment and plankton samples, analyzed marine blooms, and noticed an increase in warm water species and a decline in cold water species. Each night, we attended lectures and reflected on our findings. It was fascinating to see how our data fit into broader environmental trends.

Q: What was it like working with professors and mentors from the University of Tasmania?

Kenny: The professors and mentors were amazing. They were so knowledgeable and passionate about marine biology. They guided us through every step of our research and were always available to answer questions. Their enthusiasm was contagious and made the experience even more rewarding.

Q: You also had to present your work at the end of the week. How did that go?

Kenny: Presenting our work was a bit nerve-wracking but very rewarding. It was a great opportunity to practice communicating scientific findings. Everyone did a fantastic job, and it was inspiring to see the different perspectives and insights my peers brought to their presentations.

Q: How has this experience influenced your future aspirations?

Kenny: This experience has solidified my desire to pursue a career in science. It’s a field that’s both challenging and incredibly important for understanding and protecting our planet. I’m aiming to continue my studies in science at the University of Melbourne after Year 12.

Q: Finally, what was your overall takeaway from this experience?

Kenny: This learning experience was invaluable. Not only did I gain practical skills and knowledge, but I also made great friends with like-minded students. Exploring the wildlife and environment on Maria Island was adventurous and fun. Plus, being awarded a unit in Marine Biology studies from the University of Tasmania is a fantastic addition to my resume!

Kenny’s journey is a testament to the power of seizing opportunities and the profound impact that hands-on learning can have on a student’s academic and personal growth. We hope his story inspires many more students to dive into their passions with the same enthusiasm and dedication.

Our Year 12 VM students have been doing a big cook up for charity every 3 weeks this year. Sponsored by Rotary, our students have been cooking food in bulk for the Carenet charity in Templestowe (www.carenet.org.au) to help with food relief for those less fortunate. So far this year they have cooked large quantities of Spaghetti Bolognese, Chicken Stir Fry, Butter Chicken with Rice, Chicken Pasta Bake and Chicken Fried Rice.

Year 10 Drama Ensemble Performance

Year 10 Drama students have been working on self-devised ensemble performances throughout this term. Groups were given the stimulus of ‘Stories of Service’, tasked with presenting a non-naturalistic dramatization of the stories of WWII heroes Sir Weary Dunlop and Nancy Wake, two Australian servicepeople who lead their peers through the challenges of war.

The process saw students work collaboratively to devise short plays that explored these stories. Developing their ability to use various theatrical conventions to help tell stories on stage, the Year 10 Drama students did incredibly well in their performance to a Year 7 student audience. It was wonderful to see them challenges themselves to step outside their comfort zones and enjoy the experience of performing.

Lucinda Dance

English & Drama teacher

Year 10 Mandarin Cooking

With the strong support from the Food Tech support staff, my Year 10 Mandarin class has been cooking traditional Chinese cuisine as a practical learning method of the Chinese food culture. They have cooked 5 dishes so far: Chicken broccoli stir- fry; Cocktail meatball, Chinese custard tart, Scallion pancakes & tomato egg stir fry, and Chicken satay curry.

Food is a very important part of the Chinese culture. Students have fully embraced the activity and thoroughly appreciated the learning opportunity. They really enjoy the experience.

Ning Zhang

Chinese Mandarin teacher

Student Reflections

In the Chinese cooking class, I felt the culture of my homeland and it was very good to let people from other countries feel our Chinese culture. I also made these five dishes very delicious and I have thoroughly enjoyed cooking.

- James W.

Today’s Chicken Satay Curry was a great cooking session, and it was worthy for me because I learn more wisdom from cooking and other culture’s food. It was a best moment of cooking and I liked it.

- Tsaqif F.

Cooking these five dishes has helped me further understand Chinese culture, for food at least.

– Carl H.

I learned a lot about the Chinese cuisine. It’s been most fun. The recipe is simple but it’s good.

– Sky C.

The cooking class was fun. I got a lot of novel experiences and learned some delicious dishes. It also allowed me to taste Chinese food in a foreign country, some of which I had never even tasted before.

– Claire Y.

I enjoyed tasting all the new foods while still learning about Chinese culture.

– Madi T., Marina S., Yoyo L.

Me and my partner really enjoyed cooking and it was a good break from doing work all day. I reckon next year mandarin students should also cook.

- Caleb W.

I found the cooking fun, although it was chaotic sometimes because of my partner (Carl- hahaha). The food was good and the cooking was fun.

– Dragon N.

Cooking was really fun. I got to spend more time with other people and build more friendships. I hope to cook again next year.

– Kyle T.

I enjoyed cooking and it was fun to do it with my partner. I would like to do it again.

– Alexis Y.

Very good organisation and the teacher was very patient and could answer our questions patiently.

– Zhuolin H.

I’ve learned a lot in cooking class – now I know how to use the sauce pan to cook steamed rice. I never cooked these five dishes before. It’s a great opportunity to let me learn how to cook.

- Peter X.