Faculty News
Mathematics Faculty
It has been an extremely busy term in Mathematics. Years 7 – 10 (Stages 4 and 5) completed their Term 2 assessment tasks in weeks 3, 4 and 5 and have since engaged in feedback and self-reflection processes. All students have access to an online mathematics program called MathsOnline, which involves practicing skills and concepts learnt in class in order to deepen understanding. Students are encouraged to utilise this resource for further revision opportunities at home.
Year 11 and 12 (Stage 6) mathematics students have also just completed their Term 2 Assessment Tasks and results will be distributed to the students first week back in Term 3. Students are expected to engage in a feedback process to determine where weaknesses lie and what areas need further revision in order to attain a deeper understanding of skills and applications. Students are welcome to make appointments with their class teacher in order to help determine the most suitable form of revision as we lead up to the next assessment tasks. For Year 12, the next assessment task is the Trial HSC and all students are strongly advised to treat the upcoming holiday period as a break to STUDY/revise/refine skills. Similarly, for Year 11, this break should be utilised to engage in revision for the upcoming Year 11 Final Examinations at the end of Term 3.
Ms Jo Knight - Head Teacher Mathematics
English Faculty
It has been another busy term in English, and I’d like to start this report by thanking the English faculty for their dedication to ensuring quality teaching and learning in the classroom. We have seen some incredible work across each year group this term and we’re all excited to see what our students can produce in the second semester.
I’d like to congratulate Stephanie Peterson in Year 9 on competing in the state public speaking competition. Her dedication and effort amounted to an engaging and moving speech that impressed the audience. Unfortunately, Stephanie did not progress. She is motivated to return next year equipped with passion and perseverance.
The Year 7 and 8 YAP classes have been writing engaging and inspiring tales of perseverance as part of their study of Marsden’s ‘Tomorrow, When the War Began’. They have also been working on their speaking and persuasive skills in preparing their TED-style talks for their PBL assessment tasks.
Students in Year 9 have just finished their study of global poetry. Their essay writing skills have improved, and their teachers have been really impressed by their profound poetic insights. Our Year 10 students were discerning in their analysis of different documentaries. Some loved our core text, ‘Man on Wire’, and some thought infamous tight rope walker Phillipe Petit was just a little too confident! Year 10 teachers wouldn’t be surprised if we see some documentary makers among the group in a few years’ time!
Our Year 11 students are to be commended for their outstanding multimodal texts. The new English syllabus requires the creation of multimodal texts as an assessment task, and our students did not disappoint in the aesthetic or analytical quality of their products. Below are some links to two English Advanced students who both created a multimodal text analysing the critically acclaimed film, Citizen Kane.
Katie Lewis – https://spark.adobe.com/page/QMSuY26AxwBPD/
Alexandra Sidiropoulos - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIS_MimErh0
Finally, our Year 12 students are creeping closer and closer to the end of the course, and the end of their schooling here. It is extremely important that they continue to revise and draft essays over this holiday break. We are here to support them as much as we can.
Until next term,
Mr Blake Wawrzyk
Relieving Head Teacher English
Science Faculty
This term has flown by almost breaking the sound barrier. This was lucky as we avoided the consequences of sonic boom!
Year 7 and 8 YAP have learnt that all the solids, liquids and gases they have around them are made up of the elements they see in the periodic table. They have enjoyed extending themselves, most students were able to complete work covered in Year 11 Chemistry. It was impressive to watch their resilience as they tried, made mistakes and tried again until they mastered the concepts. Understanding that learning occurs when mistakes are made is a hard but valuable lesson. Well done Stage 4 YAP!
Year 8 had fun studying energy this term, investigating the different forms and how they transform from one to another. They finished the term designing and testing Rube Goldberg machines.
Year 9 examined the human body working to understand how the body is co-ordinated through the nervous and endocrine (hormonal) systems. They finished the term gathering information on infectious diseases and how the body tries to protect us from them. They also studied the link between our lifestyle, genetics and the environment to non-infectious diseases.
Year 10 started the term by learning about DNA and how this translates into who we are and why we may or may not look similar to our family. Part of this topic was also spent looking at advances in this area of science and the ethical and social implications for how these could be used. They finished the term investigating Newton’s Laws of Motion and how they can apply these to explain what they see in their own day to day lives.
Year 11 are steadily working through the new syllabi and are enjoying being able to study courses which that have an interest or passion for. They are realising the demands of Stage 6 means they need to follow a regular and comprehensive study program at home, especially leading into next term where they will have to complete an end of course exam.
Year 12 are working efficiently to complete their courses and are currently preparing for the Trial Exams, which are scheduled for early next term. We wish them all the best for these and offer our assistance to ensure they comprehensively prepare and perform to their capacity.
Ms Louise Watkiss - Head Teacher Science