The Black Swan

Science News

The Ag Corner

We have had an exciting and productive year in the agriculture plot! Year 10 Agricultural Technology students finished up the year by planting and selling succulent bowls for Christmas gifts – they were more popular than we expected, and we sold out quickly! Look out for these again next year. To all who purchased these bowls, thank you for your support. 

Year 7 students have been getting a taste of our agriculture curriculum, an elective that they can choose to study in Years 9 and 10. Students have learned about the structure and reproduction of plants, and got some great photos of the pollen and ova cells inside of a flower. They have also investigated different diets and sources of protein, comparing the nutritional value and the environmental footprint involved in producing these. For fun, they tasted some flavoured crickets and mealworms on sale in Australia – YUM?!

We are already excited and planning for next year. We will once again be competing in the Schools’ District Displays, and have plans for our display that span across the Science, Technologies and Creative Arts key learning areas. Stay tuned!

We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday! See you in 2020.

Marine Mania

We have had a busy Term 4, with our Marine & Aquaculture Technology students lucky to get out and enjoy the beautiful summer weather!

Year 7 students had a day at the Lake Illawarra foreshore, working with staff from the Illawarra Environmental Education Centre, learning how to safely kayak, canoe and stand up paddle board. This was especially challenging in windy conditions, but it was a great opportunity for students to learn how to stay safe in this kind of weather. Year 7 students also spent some time catching bait with nipper pumps and fishing off of the pier. Some very cool animals were spotted and caught, including a massive jellyfish!

 

The IEEC staff wanted to publicly acknowledge the wonderful time that they had with our lovely group of Year 7 students; we are proud to have you at Lake High!

Congratulations to the Year 10 students who have successfully acquired their boat licences through the Boat SMART Program. Our external providers are always happy to return to Lake and work with these enthusiastic students. We hope you will safely and responsibly enjoy the water this summer!

Science News

We have wrapped up the year with some wonderful projects coming out of our Science department!

Year 8 students have been hard at work planning and conducting experiments that demonstrate evidence of a chemical reaction. We’ve seen so many cool ideas, ranging from exploding eggs and fire in water, to smoke bombs and sugar snakes. Well done to students who worked so well in researching and completing these experiments – we hope to see your enthusiasm and hard work continue next year!

 

The Science KLA also welcomed Year 6 students from Mount Warrigal and Warilla North primary schools into our labs for the past few weeks. Students worked through a STEM project based learning unit, with their final product being a sales pitch and working prototype of a self-propelled boat that could be used as public transport on Lake Illawarra. We were so impressed with the range of ideas and the creative thinking from these students, and can’t wait to have you at Lake High next year! 

 

 

 

Year 7 students have been learning about different aspects of the marine environment, with a particular focus on sustainability and single use plastics. Students have been appalled at the amount of plastic found in the oceans, the stomachs of sea animals and birds, and even us (did you know we consume about a credit card’s work of plastic a week?)!!

Students investigated some alternatives to traditional, petroleum-based plastics, and made some biodegradable plastic from simple ingredients found around the house. 

As we move toward the holidays, students also discussed and brainstormed ways to be more sustainable this festive season. Top tips from our budding environmentalists include:

  • Use and wash real silverware, dishes, etc. instead of plastic
  • If you must use disposable plates and silverware, opt for paper plates and bamboo cutlery
  • Ditch the plastic-coated wrapping paper and ribbons – reuse gift bags, fabric bags, wrap in fabric or use brown paper packaging decorated with twine and greenery
  • Trade in sticky tape for masking tape or paper tape
  • Waste less – shop carefully. Take your reusable shopping bags with you.
  • FOGO (compost) what you can and recycle properly (contaminated recycling goes to landfill)
  • Tell other people about these alternatives to plastic!

2019 has been an exciting and productive year for everyone in the Science faculty. We wish you a safe and happy holiday and look forward to seeing everyone in 2020!

Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute School Science Awards

We are so proud to congratulate the 2019 recipients of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute School Science Awards. Jordan Cady and Remy Marsh are two science students of exceptional calibre, and are very deserving of these awards. The award recipients were presented with their awards at a local ceremony, and also attended a tour of the institute in Sydney.

JORDAN CADY

Jordan is a diligent and dedicated Science student whose commitment to learning and enthusiasm for the Sciences is reflected in her outstanding performance, achieving 1st place in both Preliminary Biology and Chemistry. Jordan has built a solid foundation of scientific knowledge and skills that should see her achieve great things as she works toward the successful completion of the Higher School Certificate.

 

Jordan is a friendly and conscientious student whose dedication and work ethic have always seen her achieve outstanding outcomes in her academic and personal pursuits. Her passion and enthusiasm for the Sciences has always been evident, and she has routinely displayed leadership and a willingness to support her classmates in their learning.

 

REMY MARSH

Remy is a meticulous and enthusiastic Science student who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievements in Preliminary Biology, Chemistry and Advanced and Extension Mathematics, reflecting her commitment to learning and enthusiasm for these subjects. 

Remy is a friendly student who always strives to achieve at a high level, quietly demonstrating her enthusiasm and passion for the Sciences. Her dedication and work ethic have allowed Remy to develop scientific knowledge and skills that will provide a sound base for her future studies.