Our Learning

Year 7 Camps

Year 7 Camp at Murray Field was amazing. The photos show the beautiful sight and the amazing beach and opportunities. Students had a great time; they watched penguins at night from the boardwalk, star gazed, engaged in amazing walks and one group even got the opportunity to see a wheel change on the school bus. Overall it was an incredible experience with friendships formed and moments shared that they will look back on fondly.

Students arrived back at school after camp exhausted but glowing. Thank you to everyone involved it was incredible and very enjoyable.

"Camp was an experience to be quiet and calm, as well as giggling and making new friends. It was challenging to be away from the comfort of home. Out of this experience, I've learnt to visualise what is around me." - Jenna, Year 7

Kindergarten learn about the Rose & Waratah

Our Kindergarten students have been learning about belonging to The Friends’ School. We belong to two learning groups called Roses and Waratahs. We used these symbols as they are part of the school crest and the children notice every time they wear their school uniform.

These are the children’s comments when we were investigating the school crest:

Audrey: Our emblem looks like the sunshine

Oliver: I can see a flower

Pepa: The Friends’ School belongs to everyone. I can see a rose.

Patrick: It’s a spiral shape

Jayden: My nanny has roses.

Looking at a waratah. The Tasmanian waratah only grows in Tasmania. The Friends’ School is in Tasmania. What do you see? (Children looking at the image of a waratah)

Fletcher: Seeds

Oliver: They’re bendy petals and spikey on the ends.

James: There are curly things that go up.

Adelaide: I see petals. Some are bigger.

Ben: Some petals are bending out.

Looking at a rose. The rose comes from England and symbolises the Quakers who helped The Friends’ School start in Hobart a long time ago.

Evelyn: It’s a spiral.

Henry: It’s red.

Arabella: The petal has a bit of a point.

Max: I counted 10 petals.

Moses: 54!!

Sophia: The petals are smaller in the middle.

Henry: How about we draw the petals and paint them red.

Jack and the NYSF

I was introduced to the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) by my Physical Science teacher in Year 11, and thus owe her one of the most incredible experiences of my life.

While on NYSF, I was particularly captivated by a lecture on the astrophysics research being conducted on campus at the Australian National University (ANU), and a video conference we had with CERN (The European Council for Nuclear Research). I also got to visit the CSIRO Black Mountain campus, the ACU for an introduction to a double degree in nursing and paramedics, made my own hydrogel used in brain tissue repair as part of a biomedical engineering experience and a workshop on DNA Profiling used by Forensic sciences. We were also able to speak to partners of NYSF, where I got to speak to representatives from Lockheed Martin, and Megan Clark of the Australian Space Agency, who recommended me for future space medicine careers I didn’t even know existed. There were also many applications of STEM to creative activities such as music and art, as well as being able to interact with such a diverse yet like-minded group of individuals from across the country is an opportunity in itself.

What I had wanted to gain from NYSF was an insight into what STEM careers besides medicine would be like. The NYSF did just that to a degree I could never have expected. While there I discovered a great passion for astrophysics, as well as interests in forensic science, biomedical engineering and a desire to explore careers in Australia’s new space program, some of which don’t even exist yet.

My studies were a major help with getting accepted into the NYSF. The Friends’ School promotes and creates exactly what NYSF looks for; inspired students with the passion to do their own research and the ability to form queries and opinions of their own. With opportunities ranging from agriculture to particle physics, I cannot recommend the NYSF enough to any and all Year 11 students who are interested in careers in STEM, and experience the same life-changing experience.

- Jack Roland, Year 12