Senior School 

VCAL - Bottle Rockets 

Student learning is categorized into four groups comprising of Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing and Kinesthetic/Tactile.   

Only around 5% of the population require Kinesthetic/Tactile (hands-on) learning in order for them to develop cognitive skills, and whilst this number does not seem to be excessively large it does typically translate to around 30 to 40% of students in a school classroom at varying levels of neural development. 

VCAL classes are designed for students who are more hands-on learners and who are seeking to develop hands-on skills which they can then take into the workforce later on if they choose to. 

Mathematics is one of the least hands-on subjects taught in secondary schools; however, some aspects of math can be linked to hands-on activities. 

The Yr 12VCAL students pictured are using numerical concepts such as measurement, ratio’s and aerodynamics, to try and launch various shaped and sized bottle rockets into the air. 

Their experiment determined that the force needed to push fluid up through the rocket bottle in order to propel the rocket bottle needed to be a specific ratio, that is, 1:3 water to pressurized air. 

They also discovered that the size of the bottle played a crucial role in determining air pressure and air resistance needed to propel the object. 

These activities are necessary for students who are hand-on learners and we aim to provide these students with as many opportunities as we can to learn in this way. 

Careers Day 

On Tuesday 11 October, our Yr 12 students celebrated 'Careers Day'. Students came dressed as the career they wish to pursue, with a touch of fun! Here are some photos from the day: