Year Seven

Mathematics

The Term started with Year Seven students revising the ‘Introduction to Probability Unit’.

Students completed a Post Test on Essential Assessments to assess their understanding of the Probability Unit.

In Week Two, students commenced the Geometry unit focussing specifically on measurement.

They were introduced to metric units of length and how to convert between units using conversion factors. They also looked at how to read scales, to interpret them and measure lengths.

Students learnt about Perimeter and Area and how to calculate both for given shapes.

Next, they will look at the Area of Composite shapes.

The Year Sevens were very excited to have ‘Talk Money’ visit them for an incursion . They were involved in the 'Spending and Saving Money workshops'.   They explored how spending and saving choices today can affect future finances. 

 We hope students found this information useful and it will support them to make good choices when dealing with money in the future. 

Wood Technology 

This Term, Year Seven Wood Technology elective students have been exploring health and safety in the Wood Technology room. They have been learning to identify hazards and their potential risks and how to prevent injury to ourselves and others. Student's have also learned the Safe Operating Procedures and the steps needed to be taken when using wood working tools such as the Tenon Saw and Bevelled Edge Chisel safely. 

In the coming weeks, students are beginning the process of constructing their products for the Term, the Cerberus Lamp. Students will use the Design Process to plan, produce and evaluate their products and practice their newfound wood working skills. 

Spanish

In Term Two, students continued their Spanish learning journey by learning the personal pronouns in Spanish and how to use 'ser' according to different personal pronouns in present tense such as yo soy, tú eres.

Also, students learnt how to use the verb 'gustar' (to please) to express their likes and dislikes, and how to use 'gustar' with different personal pronouns, such as me gusta, te gusta. In the future, students will keep consolidating their knowledge and learn how to use 'porque' to ask why and give reasons to justify their likes and dislikes. 

Humanities

In Year Seven Humanities this term, we are exploring ancient Australia. We were privileged to have the unit launched with a visit from Uncle Ron Murray, a Victorian First Nations man, who spoke to all Year Seven students about Australia’s history prior to 1788. Uncle Ron played the Yidaki (didgeridoo) for us and showed us why he is considered a master musician and storyteller. He shared stories and answered questions about the culture, lifestyle, and offered students insight into what to look for while they were investigating the ancient Australian civilisation. It was an excellent experience enjoyed by all. 

Our Learning about this topic will be drawn from people, such as Uncle Ron, our textbooks, class-based activities and own research.  Ancient Australia is a topic that invites cross cultural understanding as we discover the complex nature of Australia’s pre-colonial First People’s societies and the ingenious strategies that have made this culture the longest continuous culture on our planet.     

On the morning of the 10th of May the Year Seven students were privileged enough to have guest speaker Ron Murray, of the Wamba Wamba tribe, visit our school.  He spoke of his family history, including the story of his grandparents who managed to save the family from being stolen, by bundling the children into a horse and carriage and sneaking away in the middle of the night.  They travelled from their home near Border Town in South Australia, through Ballarat across to the Lake Boga.  Unfortunately, one of the younger children died of pneumonia during this tiring journey.  

Ron has achieved many accolades in his career.  These include, but are not limited to, playing the didgeridoo for the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and the Queen.  He also created a didgeridoo for Cassius Clay (aka Muhammad Ali), a wombat trophy for a tennis competition, Yarra Valley Classic, won by Ash Barty which she then gave to her parents for safe keeping.  Ron’s passion lies in sharing the stories of his people, raising awareness of injustices to Indigenous Australians as well as sharing his cultural knowledge with a variety of people.  One of our highlights of the visit was when Ron discussed with us the blankets created from kangaroo pelts.  The kangaroo blanket that he used as a demonstration was over one hundred years old, he mentioned that one of the pieces was from a kangaroo that could not be identified, assumed now extinct.  This led Ron to talk about the Dreamtime stories about the origins of different native animals, as well as how we need to take action to protect our dwindling native fauna population.  Ron concluded his visit by telling us the story of the platypus, which was created with parts of all the different animals.  Ron made a connection to this story and how people use cultural or physical differences to bully one another.  The story helped us realise that everyone is united by our humanity.  - by Adhunya Justine, Veda Patil, Nimrat Saini - 7A