School of Leadership
News from the School of Leadership
Teachers and leaders in the School of Leadership keenly anticipate the promises of the upcoming term. Students across the year groups will experience a variety of opportunities including but not limited to; a Year 8 History Medieval Incursion, a Year 7 Zoo Excursion, where they will witness wildlife wonders and learn about conservation efforts, each opportunity will broaden their horizons.
Representative sport will nurture camaraderie and sportsmanship, while the Stage 3 Voice of Youth Finals will showcase persuasive communication skills. Celebrations of Learning Assemblies will allow students to share their achievements, and the Write a Book in a Day Incursion will foster creativity and collaboration. Stage and College liturgies will provide meaningful reflections on faith and values, while the annual Book Week festivities will immerse students in the magic of literature. The Collective Shout incursion will challenge media stereotypes and promote critical thinking.
We look forward to each of these opportunities and embrace the promises of a new term, empowering our SOL students to thrive and flourish!
Stage 3 Tour to Canberra
Stage 3 students, teachers and I have returned from our much anticipated tour to Canberra and I am delighted to share the remarkable experiences of our students. This trip aimed to deepen students’ understanding of our nation's history, government, and cultural heritage. Accompanied by dedicated teachers and staff, our students embarked on a chilly journey through the heart of Australia's capital city.
We explored iconic landmarks such as the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House, and the National Museum, gaining valuable insights into Australia's past and present. The students actively participated in interactive workshops, engaging discussions, and hands-on activities at Questacon that enhanced their knowledge and fostered critical thinking skills. Witnessing the democratic process in action at Parliament House was a highlight for many, igniting their interest in civic engagement.
Beyond the educational aspect, students also enjoyed team-building activities, fostering friendships, and creating lasting memories. I commend our students for their exemplary conduct, their curiosity, and their active engagement throughout the tour. I would also like to express my gratitude to the dedicated teachers and staff who made this trip possible and ensured its success. Very special thanks must go to Mrs Carmel Cuneen and Mr Scott Carroll for their meticulous attention to detail and their tireless effort in making this experience come together. It is important to note that this trip was 12 months in the making.
The Canberra Tour has undoubtedly broadened the horizons of Stage 3 students, leaving an indelible mark on their educational journey. We now look forward to Voice of Youth school and cluster finals and kicking off our careers education program - Become Me!
Mrs Kate Kelly - Head of School, School of Leadership
A Note from The SOL Assistant Principal
Term 3 has been a busy time in the School of Leadership. There have been many initiatives which have provided hands-on learning experiences for your children, including, excursions and incursions, from trips to the zoo and Canberra to experiencing Medieval times. We are very lucky to have such committed teachers within the SOL who spend much time outside of the classroom planning, organising, pricing, deliberating and implementing such experiences so that your child can have meaningful learning opportunities.
Our SOL Soccer Tournament has continued this term with our semi-finals and grand final due to be played in Week 4 (Tuesday and Wednesday at lunch). The support on the playground to support their peers has been a privilege to lead and witness. Well done to all participants and the students who qualified for these finals. This proactive initiative has seen a significant decline in negative interactions between students within the SOL and I look forward to planning the tournament, a Basketball competition, followed by a Handball competition, to continue developing a culture of connectedness and promoting a sense of belonging within the SOL.
Mrs Josephine Camilleri - Assistant Principal, School of Leadership
Stage 3 Stories…
Riley Celebration of Learning!
Stage 3 teachers and students gathered during Week 2 to acknowledge and celebrate the learning of Riley throughout Term 2. Riley showcased their many talents using work samples in the forms of video, writing, art, problem solving, ideating and via their public speaking skills as presenters!
The Celebrations of Learning are a valuable part of the School of Leadership culture and are hosted each term by a different Stage 3 class. We look forward to Malala’s Celebration of Learning later this term.
History - Parliament and Australia
Coming into Term 3, full swing, Stage 3 have been engaging with discussion around decisions made in Australia and how they impact our nation. Students were to strongly agree, strongly disagree or be somewhere on the fence when statements were presented to them relating to our personal impact on decisions in Australia. It was interesting to hear the justifications from our critical thinkers in Stage 3, particularly their opinions on rights to vote and who these powers should be given to. We are looking forward to seeing how the Stage 3 students engage with real-life contexts on our Canberra trip and how they reflect on these experiences, applying this knowledge to learning through the remainder of Term 3.
From Year 7…
Mathematics
Some time has passed since Year 7 received their Skittle packets for the Rates and Ratios Project. This enabled for each student to have a unique submission, as no 2 packs are the same.
This task required students to make as many ratios as possible with those values per colour Skittle in their packet, comparing between ratios and finding the cheapest option for providing a 1 KG worth of Skittles for their next party.
The Maths team is proud of Year 7’s growth in seeing the application ratios in their daily lives. Students are requesting for the next project we do Chicken McNuggets!!!
Science
Zoo Trip -
Year 7 started off their term with an exciting trip to Sydney Zoo to kick start their unit of work on classification and adaptations. Students had a great day participating in a hands-on workshop exploring the adaptations of various animals, before exploring the Zoo with their teachers.
Religious Education
In this Stage 4 Learning Cycle, students will explore ways to find how God is revealed in our world. Students will explore scripture and prayer so that they can develop a relationship with God through personal encounters in order to reveal their understanding of the Mystery of God. They will complete various artefacts throughout the course of the term that will lead to responding to the driving question: “How can our personal encounters reveal the Mystery of God?”
From Year 8…
History
Year 7 Archaeology
Students have been exploring the processes involved in the world of archaeology. They have been investigating the different excavation techniques and how the artefacts discovered can tell us about the ancient past.
Life Design
Term 3 sees students engaging with a personal Stretch and Flow project. After exploring what Flow means to them and others, how one might experience flow, students will be planning experiences where they can be stretched in an area of interest in order for them to experience Flow.
In the first five weeks of our term, the students will be engaging in a series of experimental workshops, matrix tasks, and creative research projects designed to help them learn what flow means to them, who role models might be that they might learn from, and how to access it in any environment.
Below, we have attached some photographs of Year 8 students journaling their thoughts on Flow in a targeted reflection task.
We as teachers of Life Design are so excited to take this journey with the students as they explore this powerful concept!
Religious Education
Students will be learning how to connect with God in and through the messiness of life. They will be examining different areas of growth within their own lives as they consider potential ways of connecting with God through the ordinary events of daily life. Students will be learning about Biblical examples of people who experienced the presence of God, along with how the gifts of the Holy Spirit assist us in living out the will of God. Students will then develop their own plan of how to enhance their connections with God. Students will be looking at both Old and New Testament scripture passages to learn more about encountering God and what living for God means in their lives.
CAPA:
In Semester 2, CAPA is so excited that our Stage 4 students get to switch and transition from Visual Art to Music, and vice versa!
In Visual Arts this term, Year 7 will unleash their creativity in the Off the Wall unit, applying key elements of art. Watch this space for progress for their ‘totally rad’ personalised end products!
In the unit famously named after Marie Antoinette - Let them eat cake! Our Year 8 artists will indulge in exploring the delectable world of food as art. Get ready for an artistic feast that will leave you hungry for more!
In music this term, our talented Year 7 musicians will be setting the right tempo and hitting all the key notes as they embark on a melodious journey exploring the Elements of Music.
For our Year 8 music maestros, it’s time to hit the high notes in the Concepts of Music unit, where they will rock their listening and performing skills through various keyboard and guitar pieces.
