Science News
The science classes have started the month with superb learning and the opportunity to show just how they are building their brains by completing AFL tasks and preparing for AFL topic tests for their current units of work. These will give the students and teachers feedback on how to improve the learning for individual students.
Year 7 have had a wonderful introduction to Science, earning their Bunsen burner licence and working with the apparatus in the lab. They are now looking at Forces, such as gravity, and will show that they can act like a scientist and communicate like a scientist when they do their first assessment due early next term.
Year 8 are well and truly into showing that they can be independent and do their own experiment from their own questions. They are involved in plants and are utilising the last of the growing season to develop their Research Project and report on it.
Year 9 have been developing some very important chemical skills and understanding the world of the electron and how atoms are held together to make metals, salts and molecules. Some classes have moved on to study the electricity unit of work which is again following those little electrons and the energy that they have and that we can use.
Year 10 are considering the ethics and magnificent scientific achievements of genetic manipulation and biotechnology. They have been given their Student Research Project to develop and report on by the end of the term so they are focused and working hard.
The Year 11 Biology class had their field work at Darlington Point looking at the Ecosystem for the Red River Gum and the Year 11 Chemistry students have been distilling oil from different biomass. Both classes are working on their Depth Studies and their first assessment as a senior scientist at Marian.
As you may know, David, my husband of 48 years, passed away on 12th February. He had COVID-19 but that was not the culprit. He was vaccinated, but only against COVID-19 and not against the Japanese Encephalitis virus which did take his life.
My wonderful children agreed for a brain autopsy for the benefit of the community. So, it is the results of that autopsy that gave this valuable information for the community and David’s family.
The Japanese Encephalitis virus is transmitted from pigs to mosquitos and then to humans via the blood. It can also be carried by the water birds on the rice crops via mosquitos. With many families in the community breeding pigs for salami, and living near magnificent rice crops, it is important that the information is given to the community so that they can take measures to protect themselves and their families.
Only 1% of those infected die from the virus, according to the neurologist that spoke to me, and there is a vaccine available for it. There have been a number of cases in Griffith and the NSW Health Department are investigating the occurrence of it in this area and looking at the availability of the vaccine for those working and living on the land.
Be aware and keep safe.
Best wishes
Esther Dumbleton (Science – Leader of Learning)
HSC Biology Course
As part of the HSC Biology course, students investigate genetic technologies and their effect on society. Ms. Davis' Biology class conducted an experiment to simulate the process of DNA fingerprinting, using gel electrophoresis techniques. Students were able to determine the composition of mystery samples by comparing them to known standards. 10.2 Science also completed this experiment successfully.
Ms Davis
Biology Teacher