Year 7 Digital Technologies

Students have been working on their "Quiz Me" assessment tasks. Throughout the past four weeks of learning in this topic, the class development of algorithmic thinking has progressed (and impressed!).

We are getting closer to a better understanding of one of the major pillars in computer science and will apply this in practical tasks later in the semester. Algorithmic thinking is a model of thinking used to plan and develop sequences - in the same way a cake recipe is a series of steps to make a cake, the development of the software for a digital system is founded on skills to develop the program logic. This logic is the instructions--the steps that the system will take. This is better known as code. Our end goal this semester is to have the foundational knowledge to code simple digital systems.

Mr Kyal Rose | Teacher

Hospitality

ELECTIVES

Year Seven

I extend a warm welcome to the Wilson students who have recently joined us in the Hospitality room. It has been a joy to see them have fun while learning essential kitchen procedures, safe handling of chef knives, using safe cutting techniques, and safe use of the oven to create quick and tasty snacks, such as fruit in a cone and healthy mini pizzas. Surprisingly, they even found joy in washing dishes while working alongside their friends and following safety procedures. We are eagerly looking forward to the rest of the term, where we will continue to explore the wonders of cooking in the kitchen together.

Year Eight

I am delighted that our lovely students have started this semester in the kitchen with incredible enthusiasm. Their creativity is shining through as they not only follow the kitchen and safety procedures but also have fun while learning the art of plating up and garnishing their tasty creations including French toast with balsamic strawberries, and vegetable fritters. As they explore diverse recipes, they are also gaining valuable insights into the significance of incorporating ingredients from the five food groups into their daily diet, fostering a healthy and well-rounded approach to cooking and eating. We are off to a fantastic start and look forward to the continued growth and culinary prowess of our talented students throughout the semester.

Year Nine

What an exciting start to the semester for our Year Nine Hospitality students who have been busy learning valuable skills, including the art of preserving seasonal fruit through making delicious raspberry jam. Using fruits frozen from the summer abundance, they have not only honed their cooking techniques but also delved into the legal requirements of food labelling, designing their own raspberry jam labels adhering to City of Albany guidelines. Additionally, they have mastered the art of baking scones and brewing the perfect cup of tea, culminating in a delightful Class Devonshire Tea where they graciously hosted our esteemed teachers. I am proud of the students’ dedication and enthusiasm and look forward to the cooking adventures as the semester unfolds.

Year Ten

Every year our Year Ten Hospitality students enjoy the challenge of designing original recipes for the McCormick Foods Australia Flavour Forecast Student Recipe Challenge. Each year, McCormick identifies and reports on flavour trends that are expected to drive global innovation in food and beverage. Working in three teams, the class chose one of the three trends presented as a design brief. These trends include: Full Flavoured Fats, Everyday French, and Beyond Heat. After the first lessons of brainstorming, disagreements, researching, discussion, and writing food orders, students started trialling their recipe ideas – some are working, others are not! We look forward to watching the challenge unfold during Term Three, anticipating some incredible flavour combinations and recipe development.

Certificate II Hospitality

Year Eleven

Our dedicated students recently successfully completed two units of competency and have now embarked on another unit, working together to explore the dynamic aspects of the hospitality industry, including current and emerging technologies, quality assurance, and ethical standards. Alongside this, they continue to refine their culinary prowess, honing specific knife skills, mastering various cookery techniques, and preparing and presenting an array of savoury appetisers.

Year Twelve

Our students have made incredible progress throughout the Certificate II Hospitality qualification. From mastering workflow plans to honing cutting techniques, production skills, cookery methods, and presentation skills for an assortment of salads and appetisers, their dedication to learning and growth has been commendable. Their hard work culminated in the production of a range of gourmet salads, which received overwhelming positive feedback from our staff during a lunch session this week. Over the coming weeks they delve into a research project centered around hosting a function and tackle the remaining components of several units of competency, including serving customers at two upcoming functions.

Mrs Teresa McAllister | Teacher

STEAM

Year Nine

I am excited to be working with a cozy class of six this semester. Parents are encouraged to review our course outline in SEQTA to explore the engaging topics we will cover this year, this has been developed in line with the strengths and interest areas of each of the students. The pillars are centered around the FIRST Lego League Challenge - an international Lego and Robotics competition. More on this in the coming weeks. Additionally, we have begun a major unit in Biology - specifically, the STEAM links in biological solutions. I’m looking forward to an exciting semester.

Mr Kyal Rose | Teacher

Sustainable Production

Year Seven

This term we welcome the Mokare Year Sevens into the Market Garden. In Week Two they enthusiastically prepared the soil and made walkways using repurposed pallets. They have formed into groups of two or three and each group has been given about 4 square meters to grow their vegetables in. This week they have planted lettuce, broccoli, parsley, coriander, ruby chard, kale, radishes, and onions. They have also enjoyed befriending the chooks with offerings of weeds and slaters. I am pleased to say the vegetable seedling will be watered in very well in the coming days. The Year Twelve Hospitality students were able to use lots of the lettuce that was grown by the Camfield students last term in their beautiful salad bar on Tuesday.

Year Nine

This semester the Year Nine students will be doing projects in the Market Garden. They have been introduced to the chooks and learned how to clip their wings thanks to our smallest chicken who has a knack for escaping. The students have been collecting all the FOGO caddy’s from around the school every week to give to the chickens. We have planted several different varieties of strawberries around our fruit trees. This week we commenced pruning the grape vines after a demonstration and help from the Facilities team.

Last semester the Year Eights divided and replanted the Grammar Grown Daffodils and we are now selling bunches of flowers, the funds will be donated to cancer research.

Ms Diane Thomas | Teacher

Design and Technologies, Woodwork

Firstly, I would like to welcome the new groups of Years Seven, Eight and Nine students to Wood Technologies. These groups have all hit the ground running with some already finished their first project for the course.

The Year Ten students have all almost completed their step ladders and will shortly begin designing their coffee tables. This project is a great insight and lead into how Wood Technologies runs in Years Eleven and Twelve with the design stage becoming a great part of the course. The coffee table will give the students their first big opportunity to design and then construct a major project.

The Year Eleven group is well underway with their second major project for the year. They have been tasked with designing and construction a hall table that must have one drawer. All the group has made a fantastic start to this, and I am sure the finished products will be incredible.

The Year Twelve groups are also well underway with their second and final major project. They have been tasked with designing and constructing a piece of flat-pack furniture. It has been great to see the creativity within the designs from the Year Twelves and the skills they have been developing over their time in woodwork start to really show as they all but run their own show at this stage. The desire is to have some of these projects finished and displayed at the upcoming Technologies Showcase.

Mr Brodie Sarre | Teacher

Technologies Showcase

The upcoming Technologies Showcase, on Thursday 13 September, will be an exciting event that celebrates the remarkable design work and products of students studying technologies subjects. Taking place at the end of Term Three, this event will be a fantastic opportunity to witness the impressive displays created by both students and teachers across the subjects.

Mrs Teresa McAllister | Head of Technologies

Great Southern Griffins