Secondary School News

From the Dean of Teaching and Learning, Kathryn Paul

Term 2 has continued with a strong academic focus for our Secondary students who have been actively engaged in a range of interesting activities focusing on problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and virtual reality.

Gifted Awareness Week

During Week 5, the School acknowledged Gifted Awareness Week (21 May - 29 May) through a series of House Group challenges and competitions. Gifted Awareness Week aims to raise awareness of the identification, support and learning needs of gifted children and to celebrate the dedication of individuals and educational institutions who are making a positive difference in the lives of gifted children and their families. 

The House Group activities were designed by Science teacher, Rebecca Phillips to encourage higher level thinking skills, such as problem-solving, creativity and critical thinking. Students participated in Spatial Awareness and Engineering challenges and had the opportunity to participate in a Rubik’s Cube and Periodic Table Challenge. 

Plastic Oceans Australia – Industry Collaboration

Our school has recently started collaborating with Plastics Oceans Australia to bring real world learning environments into the classroom. Plastics Oceans Australia isan organisation who works with schools to reduce their plastic use. The Year 9 Science Challenge students completed a waste audit of a Primary School bin and a Secondary School bin to obtain some data on the use and waste of single use plastics. The class did an incredible job despite being a little shocked by the mess! The data is still being processed and it will be made available to the School community during the next few weeks. The Year 9 Science Challenge class with their Science teacher, David Longman, will use this data to plan how we can further reduce single use plastics in the School.

Engaging in Virtual Worlds 

Our Year 9 Career Taster program continued this term with students experiencing a virtual look into their future careers. The Career Taster Program provides early access to career information with a range of engaging and hands-on activities to enable students to see, explore and experience various career options in a practical way. Through virtual reality technology, Year 9s were exposed to a taster in the Plumbing and Painting Industry.  Activities in the Career Taster Program are also designed to lead students through the stages of early career planning, and to help them understand the range of career options and pathways available to them.

This week our Year 7 students also enjoyed the opportunity to engage with virtual reality technology to highlight the importance of taking a stand against cyber-bullying. Hosted by Youth Choices, students gained valuable insight into making safe decisions online via VR headsets.

Year 11 2023 Pathways and Course Selection

During Year 10 VAP this week, our Year 10 students received a series of presentations by the Heads of Department and Year 11 and 12 course teachers in preparation for their pathway and course selections for next year. The Heads of Department and teachers outlined the various pathways and courses available to students in Years 11 and 12. During the weeks ahead, Year 10s will also hear from current Year 11 and 12 students to assist them with their course selections.

In addition, the Year 11 2023 Compulsory Parent Information Evening and Career Expo will be held on Wednesday 3 August in the Chapel and Technology Centre from 6:30pm. This is an important evening for Year 10 students and parents to obtain specific information regarding course selection, course counselling and Year 11 2023 pathways.

Best wishes for the remainder of the term.

Kathryn Paul

Dean of Teaching and Learning

From around the Secondary School

A gallery of highlights from the past fortnight can be viewed below:

Year 10 Hospitality Parent Luncheon

Parents enjoyed a delicious three course meal prepared and served by Year 10 Hospitality students last week. On the menu was soup, vegetarian or beef lasagne and crème caramel. 

Year 10 Psychology Forensics Challenge

Extended House Group Dodgeball Tournament

Inter-School Cross Country Carnival