Around The School
Science Discovery Day
Stage 3 students attended the Science Discovery Day at UNE where they explored a range of STEM challenges. Students had to work as a team to try and complete each of their set challenges. All students collaborated ideas, tested and adjusted their strategy within each activity. All students who attended should be proud of their efforts across the day.
National Serviceman's Day Commemoration
Mr Rathborne and school leaders, Fraser Westley, Melanie French and Dean Vickery attended a ceremony and laid a wreath to mark National Serviceman's Day on
February 14.
Year 2 Emeralds Visit to Thalgarrah
On Monday 15 March, Year 2 Emeralds set out on a journey to Thalgarrah to continue our investigation into connection to country. The children participated in a variety of exciting activities to explore how this place was traditionally used by the local Anaiwan people.
Rock Strata Excursion
On Friday of Week 4, students from the Academy Earth and Environmental Science and Academy Investigating Science classes participated in an excursion investigating geological features. The day started ominously, with overcast skies and a strong breeze, but we climbed into the van and followed Matt McKenzie (from Thalgarrah Environmental Education Centre) and Kieran Meaney (Geology expert from UNE).
Our trip included five stops:
- The Cutting at Kelly’s Plains Public School
- Basalt Quarry (Knob’s Road, Kelly’s Plains)
- Dangar’s Falls
- Dumaresq Dam
- Madgwick Drive, New England Highway underpass
At these stops, we learnt about how the rocks in these different areas formed, and subsequent movements over time, due to geological processes. This included taking measurements using a clinometer and compass to measure the angle and direction the layers had moved due to folding. Kieran also taught us about features of the different types of rocks such as chert, mudstone, basalt, granite, sandstone and conglomerate.
Although the rain did try to dampen our spirits a few times, we had a fantastic time and would like to thank Matt McKenzie and Kieran Meaney for their knowledge and time.
Science Engineering Challenge Day
On Wednesday of Week 6, students from Years 7 to 10 participated in the Science and Engineering Challenge day at UNE.
Students were presented with engineering challenges and then using problem solving and collaborative skills, they had to design a solution. This included problems such as designing and building solutions such as a water turbine, a tower that could withstand an earthquake and lightweight tables and chairs that could survive “pets” jumping on them. Other challenges included balancing power distribution to a city, developing a coding system for a communication system, solving road network problems between cities and constructing a hand that could grip and pick up objects – using only straws, string, cotton wool, a PVC tube for the hand structure and sticky tape.
The day finished, as always, with the bridge build testing. Max Cole and Aiden Smith had built a lightweight bridge, as more points are awarded for lighter bridges. The bridge stood strong for a few passes until it gave way to the cart and masses.
It was fantastic to get around on the day and see the students collaborating with one another and listening to some of them talk about how some other teams were changing their designs after seeing how well our groups’ solutions worked.
Well done all!
