From the Principal Class Team

Science activity make Geology Fun

Over this last week students in Year 8 have been using a tasty twist in studying how conglomerate rocks are formed.  Ms Di Phyland has introduced students from all science classes in Year 8 to an activity where melted chocolate and small jelly lollies are used to demonstrate how conglomerate rocks are formed in nature. Conglomerate Rocks are formed when sediments of various kinds (the lollies) are forced together and then bound together by a chemical cement (the chocolate) found in nature. From the photos you can see students happily creating their rocks and then cleaning their mixing bowls and spoons - yum. Learning new things can be so much fun and tasty too.

The School Camp at Strathbogie - a favourite with Year 7 & 8 students

The Year 7 & 8  camping Program using our campsite at Strathbogie (about 2 ½ hours from Melbourne) continues to be a favourite destination for our students. The Year 7’s enjoy visiting the various sites around the camp including a visit to a farm where they can see goats, horses and watch a sheep being sheared. The camps are run on a class group basis so students develop new friendships with their classmates and learn to cooperate together in managing camp tasks. The campsite is a slice of Australian bushland where birds, koalas, echidnas and kangaroos can be seen. At Year 8 the students are keen to return and extend their experience by having canoe lessons on nearby Lake Nagambie followed by a canoe trek down the Goulburn River. Again students get to experience life in the bush and visit interestin local attractions such as Gooram Falls and Polly McQuinns where shallow rock pools can provide a refreshing cool off in mountain fed waters.

A special thankyou must go to Mr Micallef and a dedicated band of teachers, ex-teachers and educational support staff who take our students to camp each year. They are a enthusiastic group who make camp such an enriching experience for all who attend. Also a big thankyou to our on-site Camp Manager Ms Roz Willis and her husband Ron for their outstanding management and custodianship of this vital aspect of the school experience at St Albans Secondary College.

And finally thanks to our office staff for their support in running he camps, the external users who generate vital funds to run the camp, Bunnings Warehouse for providing BBQ opportunities for fund raising and last but not least our fantastic students, who are credit to themselves and their families in the way they conduct themselves on camp.

INTERACT Club – Supporting The Smith Family Organisation

The newly formed INTERACT Club of St Albans Secondary College presented a cheque for $318.00 to The Smith Family at a small presentation ceremony last Thursday morning, This money was raised through a sausage sizzle held at the school during late October and it was a great success. Club President Tony Micallef, Club Secretary Vanessa Duong and Club member Natalie Truong were on hand to hand over the cheque to Suzy from the Smith Family.

The money will be used to finance programs in schools that support students to participate fully in their education and work towards successful futures.

Thanks to all involved in the INTERACT Club this year. Our year ends on a real highlight on Friday evening where the Rotary Club of Brimbank Central inducts our club into the Rotary family at a special Charter Ceremony.

Club President,  Tony Micallef,  handing over the cheque to Suzy from Smith Family together with Club member, Natalie Truong (left) & Club Secretary, Vanessa Duong (right).