Technologies News
Digi Tech
Year Seven Digital Technologies
In Year Seven Digital Technologies so far, we have had two or three lessons (depending on the class) and have been focusing on using our Surface Go laptops in greater depth. Students have been orienting themselves with Microsoft 365 apps and have been introduced to the basic functions of these apps.
In our next few classes, we will be diving into our first topic of digital systems and understanding the concepts of hardware and software. The students will learn about the components that make up a computer (digital) system and how they interact with each other. We will then move on to networking and explore the basics of how devices connect and communicate with each other over a network.
I am confident that the students will find these lessons both challenging and rewarding. I have been impressed with the engagement and enthusiasm in the classroom. I am looking forward to an exciting year!
Mr Kyal Rose | Teacher
Year Eight DigiTech and Year Eleven Computer Science
Our Computer Science students in Year Eleven have had a strong start to the year. Computer Science ATAR and General are new subjects we are delivering in the Technologies Learning Area for 2023. Both our ATAR and General students are exploring units on programming and software development. This has involved brushing up on our basics, from pseudocode, through to control structures and data types. Our ATAR students are using the Microsoft VS Code development environment paired with Github for source control to build their Python knowledge in preparation for programming projects. General students are looking at the interactive visual platform MakeCode Arcade to build interactive games. We look forward to sharing more updates throughout the year.
Students in Year Eight Digital Technologies have jumped right into data representation and networking concepts. We’ve brushed up on our binary knowledge and completed various activities on data representation and communication of information (even delving into the LEGO sets!) Students have investigated how the binary number system is used to represent digital data – including images and video. We are now preparing to start our network design projects based on a series of design briefs – considering everything from bandwidth and latency to wireless networking and network hardware.
Our students across Digital Technologies are engaged and inquisitive. I am impressed with their focus and persistence, and I look forward to seeing them achieve success this year.
Mr Kieran Bailey | Head of IT Services and Digital Technologies Teacher
Hospitality
Electives
Year Seven
It’s been so lovely welcoming the Camfield class of Year Sevens into the Hospitality classroom this term. The students implemented kitchen procedures to make some healthy snacks including fruit salad in a cone, and a pizza including ingredients from each of the five food groups.
Year Eight
After reviewing the five food groups and seasonal fruit and vegetables, the Year Eight class has produced two recipes. The first one involved marinating strawberries in white balsamic vinegar, fresh basil (grown by Mrs Henderson’s Baudin homeroom), and a touch of sugar. These were used to complement French toast and the students practised presenting their meals for food photography. The school market garden produced zucchinis which were used to make vegetable fritters, and we made a refreshing yoghurt, cumin, and cucumber dip utilising fresh, curly cucumbers delivered to our class by the Sustainable Production students.
Year Nine
Homemade raspberry jam (a way of preserving seasonal fruit), food labelling, fresh scones, whipped cream, and how to make a pot of tea were on the agenda for our Year Nine students. These skills were put into practice this week when they greeted and hosted teachers as guests at their Devonshire Tea held on Wednesday.
Year Ten
How do you use stale bread and out-of-date jam? Ping-pong naughts and crosses of course. Students versed each other as a fun way to start the year-long course. Congratulations to Claire Jenkins, our inaugural winner! Seasonal food is fresher, tastier, and more nutritious than food consumed out of season. Students have preserved tomatoes and chillies from the school market garden by dehydrating them, then storing them in olive oil and fresh basil (grown by Mrs Henderson’s Baudin homeroom) for use later in the term. Delicious strawberry cordial using locally grown strawberries was another way to use seasonal fruit – students are loving having icy, homemade cordial drinks during these summer lessons! Lamingtons using homemade vanilla sponge were presented with jam and cream, a way of value adding to products.
Certificate II Hospitality
Year Eleven
Welcome to the Certificate II Hospitality journey! Work health and safety acts continue to receive attention due to the rate of workplace accidents, serious injuries, illness, loss of life and damage to property. These incidents not only impact the injured workers, but also families and friends, the employer and the economy. Our students are equipping themselves with safety policies and procedures necessary in the Hospitality industry to move forward through the units of competency of this qualification. PPE (personal protective equipment), in the form of a chef uniform, will be worn by students as they start the practical cooking units. At this early stage, the students are a little bit hesitant to be seen walking to class dressed as chefs!
Year Twelve
Cultural awareness is about realising that not all people are the same. It is about knowing that different people have different values, different behaviours, and sometimes fundamentally different approaches to life. Students have been studying why we need to be ‘culturally aware’ and used this awareness to enhance their front-of-house skills effectively at their first function for the year at the P&F Sundowner last Friday night. They presented professionally, were gracious and friendly towards their guests, and served a range of appetisers during the evening prepared by Chef Nick.
Mrs Teresa McAllister | Head of Technologies & Hospitality teacher
STEAM
Year Eight
It was great to welcome students into the STEAM programme for 2023. This year students in Year Eight (and Year Nine in 2023) are leading their learning, and have started strong in developing their program that is based on their interests. There have been discussions about what problems they think in the world need solving immediately; what do you want to do in your lifetime that you don’t think would be possible without the world progressing; and, where are your focus topics that interest you and inspire you to learn and create. These exploration topics have been enlightening to understand more about the amazing minds within the group.
As we move through the term, students will engage in learning based on these initial conversations, with our first topic being based on complex problems and puzzles (cryptography). Our program is now published in SEQTA for viewing and I encourage you to engage with your child about how they played a part in developing it.
Mr Kyal Rose | Teacher
Sustainable Production
Year Seven
The Baudin Year Sevens have made an enthusiastic start in the Market Garden. Their first job was to prepare the vegetable beds with manure and straw, so they have learned about protecting the soil so that plants can thrive. This week they researched our climatic zone and how to work out what to grow at different times of the year. On Monday they planted both seedlings and seeds into their plots and watered them in. It was wonderful seeing the student’s joy at having their own plot to care for.
Year Eight
The Year Eights are also off to a flying start in the Market Garden. Their first job was taking stock of what we have in the garden and the opportunities they can see for the space. Year Eights will choose some projects to research and work on in this space which will begin to transform the garden into a more sustainable model of growing food. Students set up compost bins in Week Two and learned about the recycling of nutrients in the garden. They have been taking the food scraps from Hospitality each lesson and returning fresh produce to the area for students to use. A few adventurous gardeners have expanded their palate by eating fresh chilli!
Both year groups were given a mystery plant to take home and care for this term and I am looking forward to seeing the plant selfies at the end of the term to see how their skills have developed.
Mrs Diane Thomas | Sustainable Production Teacher
Wood Technologies
The students across all year groups have made a great start. The Year Eleven and Twelve students are busy designing their first major projects for the year. While the Year Sevens to Tens have made a great start on their respective projects.
This year I am trying to include a few new projects with the pictures here showing the Year Eight students creating desk lamps in the shape of a dog. The students have embraced the new projects and have made a great start cutting and shaping all the intricate parts required to piece together the project.
There will be plenty more pictures to come as the students begin to create their projects.
Mr Brodie Sarre | Materials Design and Technologies, Woodwork Teacher