Secondary 

National Science Week

This week is National Science Week and to celebrate students have been getting involved with various science related activities in class and displaying them for the rest of the school during the lunch breaks.  Students have been busy decorating and making rockets, on Tuesday they tested their rockets to see whose could "fly" the furthest.  Wednesday saw the student sampling "Space Food", they made sherbet and felt the fizzing sensation of an acid-base reaction occurring in their mouths.  Thursday students tested their designs for an "Egg Drop Challenge". Students and staff have been tasked with designing and creating a system that will protect an egg from cracking or breaking when dropped from a height.  There are lots of interesting designs that have come in.  All week students and staff have been working with their creative flair and have made space themed artworks, which will be displayed in the hall on Friday for the school to admire and vote on their favourite pieces.  Finally Monday next week students and staff will bring their best science jokes to a stand-up comedy show.

Miss Moorby l Science Teacher

Agvision Expo at Homebush

Last week, all of Year 9,10 & 11 boarded a coach bright and early and ventured down to Sydney Olympic Park Showground for the Agvision Expo. It was a great day that opened our students eyes to some of the possibilities that exist for careers in Agriculture. Students selected workshops that interested them and worked their way around the park to various talks. 

Some highlights were the Veterinarian workshop where students had to work on a dead horses leg and flush out a wound after shaving it. 

Another was the Vet nurse where students performed CPR on a dog. At the RSPCA workshop, we learnt skills of how to help animals being neglected. There were also workshops on drones in Ag, Beekeeping, rural doctor, stock horse trainer, working dog training, careers in the horse industry, farming edible flowers, sustainable ag and many more.

During the lunch break Abbie, Nathan, Jemma and Zara completed in the young farmers challenge where they had to compete against other schools by whipping a stock whip, naming root vegetables, stacking hay bales and teamwork. The students came 4th and did us proud.

Overall it was a long day for us all, with the crazy Sydney traffic but we would recommend it for future years to come.  We would like to thank Mr Corcoran, Mr Beadman, Ms Moorby, Ms Thomas, Mr Keighley and Mr Howlett for putting up with us for the day and allowing us to go on this great experience.                                   by Abbie Grant l Yr 9 Student

History

​Year 7/8 are learning about the History of the Polynesian expansion into the Pacific Ocean. During this topic students explore  many different Polynesian cultures including Samoa, Tonga, Easter Island and New Zealand. Although we all wish we could travel to Hawaii for the mandatory Site Study, instead we are able to explore the Polynesian Cultural Centre in Hawaii online where many different Polynesian cultures are exhibited and explained. Aloha, Talofa and Kiaora are the different words of welcome to people visiting these amazing islands.

Logan Mears and Joshua Dean enjoyed trying to perform a Pukana. This is a way you are welcomed when visiting the New Zealand section of the Polynesian Cultural Centre in Hawaii. It can be intimidating to have a Maori man greet you by sticking out his tongue and rolling his eyes often very close to your face. It is one of the many interesting historical and cultural experiences the students are learning about as they progress through the site study.

Mrs Debra Eustace l History Teacher

TAS

The workshops have been a bit quiet this week with Year 10 students doing work experience. This left the Year 9 students working hard on the early stages of a carry tray with different joints and bowl turning.

Graham is preparing his timber for the tray to be cut then planed to width, while Nathan works on one of a pair of bowls on the wood lathe.

Mr Blomfield l Head Teacher TAS

Year 10 Work Experience

Our Year 10 students have been out and about in the community this week getting hands on experience at local businesses for work experience.  We look forward to hearing their work experience feedback.

Mrs Julie Poplin l Careers