In the classrooms
Year 9/10 Foods for Life & Global Foods
This term Foods for Life 1 have began looking at the topic of influence to our food choices in particular we have discussed the 'Environmental and Ethical' factors, living off the grid, sustainability & organic farming. The students visited a passionate and forward thinking local family living off the grid right in our town and learned first hand about the impact we have on our community and environment with the way we live out lives. Definitely food for thought!!
Global foods 2 have began the term looking at the Australian Food Culture with Indigenous and Multiculturalism impacting on todays cuisine. Students have used indigenous ingredients in their recipes; Kangaroo Chilli Con Carne, Wattle Seed Steamed Puddings and made authentic 'Aussie Meat Pies'.
Year 9 Humanities
This term, Year 9 Humanities students are undertaking a history unit on World War One. We are focussing on exploring the lesser-known experiences of wartime including women on the home front, conscientious objectors and the millions of animals who sacrificed their lives for the war effort. We have also examined the experiences of soldiers living life in the trenches and the terrible conditions that they endured. While examining the nature of warfare, we played the trench warfare game, operating a series of drills designed to demonstrate the various strategies undertaken by allied and enemy soldiers. We learned that trench warfare is an excellent defensive tactic, with each team being able to hold their trenches, but not a very good offensive tactic, with neither side being able to capture the other team’s flag (without cheating, anyway!). Students were able to understand in a practical and hands-on way why so little territory was gained on the Western Front during World War One. Well done who all students who participated in a very noisy but fun lesson!
Year 11/12 Legal Studies
On the 14th of August the Year 11 and 12 Legal Studies students travelled to Melbourne to visit some of the key Legal institutions for creating and enforcing laws: the Victorian Parliament and the Melbourne Magistrates' Court. The early 6am start meant a quiet trip down to Melbourne with only a few snores emanating from the back of the bus.
At Parliament House the students were greeted by our local member for Lowan, Emma Kealy who spoke about some of the issues facing the electorate and the South West Region. Sophie Paterson quizzed Emma about the state of the roads.
A Parliament House guide showed the students through the upper house, the Legislative Council. It was in session but without much action taking place. We then were briefed about the issues on the agenda for the Lower House - the current recycling issues across Victoria, flammable cladding in childcare centres and the Mildura Hospital. The group then viewed the theatre that is Question Time. A few members came close to needing to be sent to RP for their behaviour but all acknowledge that besides Question Time, the Parliament is quite civil.
Steph Forsythe and Tegan Overton then peppered the Parliamentary Guide with some tricky questions about the representation of women in Parliament.
After lunch the group then attended and viewed court sessions in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court. There were mixed bag of cases that were viewed, from a retired teacher who had a habit of not paying for goods when shopping to a man going through a committal hearing for some serious charges of violence and criminal behaviour.
With a quick stop for dinner on the way home, we all returned at 8:00. Whilst it was a long day, it was rewarding to see in action the content covered in both Year 11 and 12. The following morning it was interesting to see that the news headlines and stories referenced many of the issues and cases the students observed the day prior.
