Science Domain 

It has been a great start to the year in Science. We are excited to be in our new facilitates and having our students experimenting to support their learning. We can hardly talk about our new home without an acknowledgement of the staff who went over and above during their December/January holidays to help prepare for the new school year. 

Our Year 7s have started 2022 learning about laboratory safety, the equipment we use and the foundations of conducting experiments. The skills they developed in this topic were applied to their assessment, where they had to design their own experiment using paper towel. Students chose topics such as comparing absorbency and the strength of the paper towel, to investigate. 

The Year 8 students have been exploring the structure, function, and specialisation of cells. They have applied their understanding to how specialised cells contribute to the function of the digestive system. As part of their studies students learnt about the internal structure of the cells and their functions, they observed many different types of cells under a microscope, created cell models and finished by viewing a rat dissection to see the structures of the digestive system, linking this to the functions of each organ. 

Investigations have been the focus for our Year 9 cohort. After having little opportunity to conduct experiments over the last two years it was important to reinforce these skills and maximise practical time in Term 1. To build their understanding of key science skills students undertook a series of small investigations, focusing on different aspects of research. They then applied their findings by designing their own investigation, in a topic of their choice. They made decisions about what to investigate; what they needed to changes and how; what needed to be kept the same; what would be measured, as well as how to do this. The best designed experiments were then completed by groups in the class. 

In Year 10 students are able to choose an elective. In Biology, they have been looking at the structure and function of DNA; in Chemistry, the focus has been the structure of the period table and reactions that occur between elements; Physics students have been studying and investigating motion; the Psychology students have been learning how our brain and nervous systems affect our thoughts and behaviours. 

VCE students have also been heavily involved in practical work to support their theory, and are enjoying the opportunities provided. 

It is also exciting that the development of the Agriculture and Horticulture area for the school has commenced. Thank you to Charlotte Drinnan who has worked to secure funding to assist with the planning and development. Also a massive thank you to Pete Cantlin, Marcus Priestley, Trevor Wilson, Hassam Saraf, Hassam Al-Mugotir, Aqeel Zaydi, Kathryn Hocking and Joanna Gall - who all put in a huge effort, at short notice, to acquire materials from our old campus sites to be repurposed in the Ag and Hort area. 

We are looking forward to Term 2 and inspiring further curiosity in Science within our students. 

Sarah Beattie

Science Domain Leader