YEAR 10-12 NEWS

Year 10

Lockers

All students are reminded that they need to have a lock on their locker.

Work Experience

Any student wishing to complete work experience, please come and talk to myself or Brenna Loe in the Blue building.

Year 10 Exams

All students will complete English and Math exams in Week 9 this term. Some additional subjects will run exams with students to be informed by their teachers.

Daily Mentor meeting

Students are being reminded by their Mentor to be present in the Mentor group for the full 10 minutes at 8.50am daily. If students do not attend, they will be marked absent and parents may be notified.

Roger Conron, Year 10 LCL

Physics – DC motor

In Year 10 physics, students have been investigating motors and generating electricity. In this students were challenged to make a working DC motor from household parts and copper wire. All groups where challenged trying to design to make a working motor. Within four sessions, groups got a moving working motor!

Biology - Hot, Hotter, Hottest!

In Biology, students have been observing how our sensory system interprets temperature changes in water with both hands experiencing different temperature water, then alternating into baths of opposite temperatures. They're learning that our central nervous sytem controls what we experience overall.

Year 11

Science

In Year 11 Biology, students have been investigating digestive systems in various living organisms as part of their second area of study. They're pictured below conducting a rat dissection:

Year 12

I’d like to start by congratulating our students who went to our first ever Year 12 VCE camp at Fed Uni last week for their attitude and conduct while away. As one of the supervising teachers, it was great to enjoy the company and time with the 12’s away from WHC. 

I am sure that the information given to them about the courses and life as a student will help in their planning for the future (and hopefully they had some fun as well!).  A highlight would be the very impressive food the students cooked for breakfast in the “GREAT BREAKY COOK-OFF” in teams and the willingness to spend time with classmates outside their friendship groups (although i am sure many will say the all-you-can-eat Pizza Hut would be up there!).

Again, a massive thanks to the teachers involved, Brenna Loe and Lauren Marino, for their organisation of the camp. Joey McArlein for his help in the great Ballarat Pink Sock hunt, not to mention his shopping trolley driving skills! Jenny Gibson, Jenny Eastwood and Fiona Taylor for making the trek up to run sessions and help out as well – thank you – the students appreciated the time you spent with them!

To finish – just a few dates to keep in mind for the remainder of this term:

• Thursday 15 June – the GAT test for ALL students in Year 12 including VM students (and any student in Year 11 doing a unit 3/4 subject or scored VET). 
• Friday 16 June – Year 12 End of Semester Formal – tickets are $30 and should be available online. 
• Monday 19 - Friday 23 June – VCE practice exam week – more info to follow, but this is important for the students and teachers to set goals for semester 2.

Brett Bullock, Year 12 LCL

Year 12 VCE Camp report

Last week, the VCE Year 12 students were given the opportunity (with our coerced consent lol) to be exposed to uni life at Federation University in Ballarat for an overnight stay.

We started Wednesday by listening to a few people talk about what uni life is like and what courses, pathways and offers that Federation University provided. We also had an English lesson by our own Ms Gibson in which she broke down how to do exam prep and what examiners are looking for.

We were then treated to a round of ten pin bowling in 80’s style followed by gorging into all-you-can-eat pizza and desserts at the famous Pizza Hut.

The Year 12s were presented with their badges by Fed Uni alumni and Western Heights College Principal Ms Taylor who shared her experience of what it was like to be at Federation University and her personal experience of Year 12.

The night ended in a competitive Trivia Night where teams Pepsi Crackers, The Bald One’s Disciples, A Small Group of Unsociables, The Edmanments, Bring Back The Couches and Bullocks Babies fought hard to earn points for their group plus bonus points. The most memorable highlight of everyone's night being Amanda Briese hitting the iconic worm and fiercely being upstaged by “Matt in Pain” doing the griddy.

The next day we woke up to win the trophy of best breakfast made by each team, judged by the teachers, the winning team being the French Crepes. A few more activities filled in our day, including a visit from our mental health wellbeing team leader, Jenny Eastwood, in which we did activities that allowed us to share how we are feeling about Year 12 and the future.

Overall the camp was an amazing experience and gave us a great insight into what we might be doing next year, as well as a bonding experience for our small VCE cohort. Thanks to our teachers Mr Bullock, Ms Loe, Mr McArlein and Ms Marino for organising and coming along with us for our final school camp.

Keely Burland & Sienna McCalman

Biology

Year 12 students have been looking at rates of photosynthesis with varying light levels for a plant, Elodea. Students completed a prac on this, which is relevant to their upcoming SAC.

Psychology

As part of area of study 2 which focuses on “how people learn and remember” the VCE psychology students took part in a practical activity this week where they watched a short YouTube clip then applied the steps of observational learning to make their own chatterbox. The students enjoyed the creative break from content as well as reflecting back on the chatterboxes they had made in their primary school days. Some students even plan to use chatterboxes to help with their Psychology revision.

VCE - Vocational Major

Industry Visit

Senior VCE-VM students participated in a Building and Construction industry immersion day sponsored by Hamlan Homes, Lyons Constructions and the Gordon Tafe. Students visited both residential and commercial properties, learning how they operate and practising their brick laying skills. Students will use the information gained on the day to complete an industry investigation to be presented at the WHC Careers Expo. 

Mother’s Day Stall and BBQ

Senior VCAL students spent the last three weeks making candles, pot plant holders, cups and aprons for the Mother’s Day stall held in the library on Friday. Year 7 and 8 students were invited to purchase a special gift for loved one. Students also ran a lunchtime BBQ raising money for a new outdoor BBQ area. 

West Cafe

The West Café opened its doors for the first time on Friday, selling coffee, hot chocolates and cookies at recess. Students have been working hard on developing a business plan, logo, advertising campaign, completing a barista course, and cooking and testing out prospective products. The West Café is a student-run café and will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at recess. 

Amanda Dickson