Learning Updates -

School of Possibilities

Workbench challenge tackled with teamwork

Your mission Michael and Stephen, should you choose to accept it, is to build six multipurpose workbenches for Project 1. Challenge accepted! With the 2021 school year nearing the end and with nothing commercially produced meeting the design criteria, it was time to bring in a really heavy lifter in our Grounds and Facilities Caretaker Michael Sorbello. A person of many talents, Michael specialises in metal fabrication and not only has he welded up the frames for these workbenches, he has also demonstrated to the Year 10 Product Design and Technology students the various skills and techniques required for such a production. 

With the metal work done, it was now up to Year 10 students to undertake the finishing and installation of the timber components. This required a great deal of sanding, filling, re-sanding and, finally, varnishing. Despite the repetitive nature of the work, our students worked diligently toward the goal of producing a high-quality finish. With the tops, shelves, vices and castors ready to install, it was then time to bring out the tools; drills and drill bits, spanners and ratchets, nuts, bolts and screws and a great deal of teamwork. 

Without prompting, our students quickly allocated jobs amongst themselves, selected appropriate equipment and problem solved challenges, including suppressing their frustration (mostly) when the Learning Mentor asked that nuts be tightened and then loosened off three times as he grappled with the number of washers needed for the castor wheels. With the final workbench due to be completed next week, St Anne’s College students will finish the term with six collaboratively designed and constructed multipurpose workstations, completed with an authentic sense of ownership.

 - Stephen Kealy, School of Possibilities Learning Mentor

Hands-on approach to learning about DNA

Biology students have been taking an in-depth look at the structure and function of DNA. This week they tested their patience and resilience by creating these beaded models of DNA structure which doubled as a keyring. 

 - Chelsea Nicholson, School of Possibilities Learning Mentor

Chiara reflects on leadership conference

On Tuesday, March 1, 10 students were given the opportunity to attend a leadership conference in Melbourne with School of Innovation Leader Pat Noonan and Wellbeing Officer Mel Formica. The event was hosted by the Youth Leadership Academy Australia at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre with over 1000 other students from Victoria. 

During the day we listened and learnt about other young people’s experiences and what their leadership journey has looked like. There were three main presenters who all had diverse, interesting stories and lessons to share. My favourite presenter of the day was Wil Massara, the CEO and founder of YLAA. It is inspiring to know that at such a young age he is able to organise large events like the one we attended. The main piece of advice that I took away from the day was, ‘You create your own future path and it is up to you to determine what that is.’

 - Chiara Villani, Year 10

Career options to be explored 

School of Possibilities students will have presenters from La Trobe University coming in to run "Future World, Future You" during a Careers session later this term.

During the presentation, students will explore a range of career options through futuristic hypothetical scenarios. They will look at skills required for specific jobs and specific situations. Students will be prompted to recognise transferable skills and imagine how existing jobs might change in the future. 

The session will provide students with information about a range of possible careers and the qualifications required to pursue them, some that exist now, and others that may exist in the future. They will be encouraged to consider their future career paths and how the current job market may influence their own career planning. 

 - Belinda Gleeson, Careers Practitioner

After-school study sessions reminder

A reminder that all students in the School of Possibilities (Year 10) are invited to attend an after-school supervised study session. During this session, staff are available to support students to complete home learning tasks as well as to help develop effective study habits. Learning spaces are available for quiet study and for students to meet and work within study groups. This session runs each Thursday afternoon concluding at 4:30pm. Students are encouraged to have a short break between 3:15pm and 3:30pm and be ready to begin the study session at 3:30pm. 

Attendance is voluntary and students are welcome to access this session as they need. As all bus services to the college will have ended, students will need to make their own way home after 4:30pm. 

Please contact me if you have any questions. 

 - Sarah Baglin, School of Possibilities Leader