Learning Across the
Senior School

Research Project 2023

First Semester results for the Research Project were released by the SACE Board last week. We are pleased to advise that 100% of our students who submitted work achieved the required passing standard, and over 65% of the students received an A. Special congratulations to the following students who received an A+

Hallie Anderson – To what extent did employment-based mandates for COVID vaccination affect working Australians and was it an ethical decision?
Alexandra Donato – To what extent does unaided congenital mild-to-moderate hearing loss impact the academic performance of primary school aged children?
Laura Fitzgerald - To what extent are peanut allergies in children correlated with environmental or genetic factors?
Charlotte Hamilton – To what extent does Preimplantation Genetic Testing improve pregnancy rates in IVF.
Teagan Johnson - To what extent are Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) effective as an alternative therapeutic modality for anxiety management?
Alexandra Seal – To what extent do Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI) affect the individual and their immediate family, physically, socially, and emotionally, and where can those suffering access support?
Jessica Simmons - To what extent is the COVID-19 pandemic challenging the way society approaches globalisation and international production?

Students are free to choose whatever topic they wish. As can be seen from above, these topics are varied and innovative. Well done to the Year 11 and Year 12 students who completed the Research Project, and to the teachers who guided and mentored them along the way.

Particular congratulations to Alexandra Seal who created a video for her project. The charity with whom she worked, Families4Families, officially published her video. She is now in the process of creating shorter videos for them to use as well. The video will be sent to Families4Families affiliates and rehabilitation programs. This illustrates, as do many of the topics, that the Research Project is not just for SACE grades, but can have very valuable and practical applications.

Mr Michael Boots

Assistant Principal: Learning and Innovation

Year 9 Science: Body Coordination

Our skin has built-in touch receptors. The girls discovered that receptors in our skin are not distributed in a uniform way around our bodies. Some places, such as our fingertips, have more touch receptors than other parts of the body, such as our shoulders. Given how often we use our fingers, that extra sensitivity makes good sense.

Mrs Patty Warrender

Biology/Science Teacher

Year 7 Science: Exploring Forces

Our Year 7 Science students enjoyed observing a range of forces in action in our Exploring Forces Unit this term. They were required to record the changes in the motion, direction or shape of an object whilst performing the specific task and to determine what produced the force. Using a reverse functioning vacuum cleaner to balance a table tennis ball was the highlight!

Mrs Patty Warrender

Biology/Science Teacher

Year 7 SEAD: Enlighten Education

The Year 7 students participated in a series of engaging workshops facilitated by Enlighten Education, called ‘The Journey’. This program further supports the transition into the Senior School and complements the work undertaken in our Social Emotional and Academic Development (SEAD) Program. Topics that featured included journal writing and stress management, navigating friendships and the influence of media on body image. The girls were extremely grateful for this 'enlightening' and very worthwhile experience.

Mrs Patty Warrender

Year 8 Science: Cell to Body Systems

The Year 8 Science students undertook a sheep’s heart dissection late last term whilst studying the Circulatory System. The sheep's heart is very similar to ours, so it gave the girls a tangible opportunity to learn more about what a human heart might look like, especially on the inside. By dissecting into a heart, the different parts were identified including the aortic valve and the thicker left ventricle muscle. The students were also fascinated when asked to inflate the lungs found in a sheep’s ‘pluck’ having earlier researched the Respiratory System.

Mrs Patty Warrender

Biology/Science Teacher

Red Cross - Even Wars Have Laws

On Friday the 28th of July, a small cohort of Year 11 Legal Studies students participated in the Red Cross workshop “Even Wars Have Laws”, held at Parliament House. Together with students from other schools, we engaged in introductory exercises exploring the evolution of warfare and the significance of the Red Cross - its inception and purpose. Interacting with the panellists from the Red Cross, Defence Force, Intelligence Agencies and those who have fled war torn countries allowed us to delve deeper into the field of humanitarian law and its evolving nature.

During lunch, we were fortunate to receive a tour of Parliament House by Tony Piccolo MP, providing us with an opportunity to apply our knowledge of the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly. One of the highlights was participating in the “Orangeland Blueland” activity, during which we discussed the impact of breaking International Humanitarian Laws on civilians.

As a concluding activity, we divided into two groups and received a Bill centred around Adelaide's involvement in a potential war, with a focus on what should be prioritized for safeguarding. Working together, we analyzed the bill, proposed amendments, and refined it. The culmination of the day was an extraordinary experience, as we had the privilege to sit in the House of Assembly, present our proposed amendments, and inquire about others' suggestions.

This workshop provided invaluable knowledge to the participating Year 11 Legal Studies students and solidified the concepts covered in our classroom lessons. It offered a profound insight into the possibilities of pursuing careers in international humanitarian law or politics.