Secondary School News

Mrs Chegwidden’s Year 7 Mathematics class | NAIDOC Week |
Activities involving Aboriginal symbols that are used in pattern, sequence, and art.

NAIDOC WEEK

The theme for NAIDOC celebrations this year is For Our Elders. A range of activities and events happened across Learning Areas to commence our first week of term.

Students in Year 9 and 10 Gardening and Enterprise have researched three different Bush Tucker plants to grow in the Learning Enrichment Garden. Students will plant Bush Cherry, Native Thyme and Native Plum Pine and have enjoyed learning the appropriate planting requirements for the plants to thrive.

In Year 10 Textiles and Fashion Design, students used fabric created by Indigenous artists. Students have created individual designs and have used specialised equipment and materials to create patchwork or applique cushions and bags. This has been a great opportunity for the students to demonstrate additional skills and to showcase their amazing textile designs.

The Year 8 Geology classes recently delved into the world of Australian Indigenous art by making their own ochre and decorating rocks with traditional Aboriginal symbols and artwork.

In Mathematics, students explored traditional Indigenous measurements looking at how they evolved and compared them to other common units of measurements. In addition, students examined Indigenous art, looking at symmetry and cultural significance.

The Health and Physical Education Department ran Indigenous games during their Physical Education classes, whilst our English teachers used Noongar language greetings and simple instructions in the classroom. These words have been displayed on classroom doors in The Commons. The Year 12 General English class worked with Eddie Betts’ autobiographical narrative The Boy from Boomerang Crescent. Students also interacted with a timeline of events created outside The Commons Building related to the studied text this year.

In the Humanities Department, Indigenous acknowledgement was centred around historical, political, economic and geographical aspects of Indigenous life.

In The Arts, students viewed and discussed works by Indigenous visual and performing artists related to their current projects. Visual Arts classes will be looking at Mel Spillman’s mural outside the Art room, which covers themes of Community and Inclusion in our school.

Thank you to our Heads of Department and teachers for leading the activities and events to celebrate NAIDOC Week at John Wollaston Anglican Community School.

YEAR 8 PHYSICS – REAL WORLD LEARNING

During Term 2, our Year 8 Science students embarked on an exciting journey through the world of energy during their Physics course. Exploring various forms of energy, they conducted experiments that explored energy transfer and transformation within diverse systems.

Putting their newfound knowledge to the test, the students eagerly embraced an engaging challenge: designing and constructing their own energy efficient model homes. Collaborating in teams, they researched energy-efficient home design, meticulously sketching house plans, and then turned their vision into reality through the construction of their model homes. To succeed, students had to consider various heat transfer methods like conduction, convection, and radiation, ensuring their houses met the design brief while staying within a tight budget.

This STEM-based project allowed students to apply their Mathematics, Science, and Design skills creatively. As the project unfolded, the students were amazed to discover the true cost of building a new home; a valuable lesson in financial literacy.

Not only did this assessment offer an immersive exploration of energy and its application, but it also fostered student agency, collaboration, communication and critical thinking in our budding scientists and engineers. By actively engaging in this hands-on experience, they not only nurtured a deeper understanding of energy efficiency but also developed a sense of responsibility towards sustainable living and environmental consciousness. It was wonderful to see the display of their Energy Efficient homes this week in the Technology Centre.

In partnership with the University of Melbourne, JWACS is a first-mover school on the New Metrics for Success program where students are taught the capabilities they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. The ‘Energy Efficient Home’ unit is designed to foster student agency, collaboration, communication and critical thinking providing real world contexts to our students’ learning.

YEAR 11 2024 – COURSE SELECTION AND CAREER PATHWAYS

The Year 11 2024 Compulsory Parent Information Evening and Career Expo was held on Wednesday 26 July at 6:30pm. This was an important evening for Year 10 students and parents to obtain specific information regarding course selection, course counselling and Year 11 2024 pathways. The University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University, Curtin University, Notre Dame University and a range of Registered Training Organisations and TAFEs attended the evening to provide vital course, pathway and counselling information to parents and students to support their decision-making for life beyond school.