Secondary School
Curriculum Reform Planning in English
The English Faculty is planning for the new English Syllabus (Years 7-10) which will be rolled out across the state in 2024. We are excited about the changes and the opportunities to improve the teaching and learning opportunities in our subject. With a stronger focus on speaking, reading and grammar, programs are being developed with student engagement as our number one priority.
Year 8
Year 8 History – The Polynesian Expansion
In Year 8 History students have been studying The Polynesian Expansion. Their most recent Assessment Task asked them to create an artefact from the traditional culture of one of the Polynesian Islands. The results have been outstanding and students have certainly been able to demonstrate their creativity with this task. Here are some samples of their work.
New York Milkshakes
Mrs Pinson's Year 8 classes have been demonstrating great creativity and having a lot of fun while building their New York Milkshake creations. Students had just under an hour to prepare, serve and photograph their milkshakes - the results were colourful and VERY decadent!
Year 9
Mrs Carmody's Year 9 Forensic scientists investigated the effect of 'angle of impact' on the shape & size of bloodstains.
Year 10
Year 10 Chemistry
Year 10 Chemistry students investigated the effects of surface area and agitation on the rate of reaction between an acid and calcium carbonate.
Year 10 History – Ten Pound Poms
In Year 10 History this term students have studied the topic ‘Migration Experiences’. We have focused on the experiences of early immigrants from the gold rush era through to the Australian government’s current policies on Immigration and Border Control. One key feature of our learning has been the period post World War II whereby then Prime Minister Ben Chifley embarked on an immigration strategy to ‘populate or perish’, a program designed to increase Australia’s population. One key initiative was the ‘Ten Pound Pom’ program, where citizens from the United Kingdom paid ten pounds to board a ship and embark on a new life in Australia. We were very fortunate to have Ms Sian Turner, a teacher here at MAG, who came to Australia with her family as a Ten Pound Pom when she was just five years old. Ms Turner talked with Year 10 students about why her family made the decision to emigrate, what it was like to travel for six weeks on a boat with her four other siblings and her mother’s reaction to arriving in Gunbower (their new hometown) after living amongst the rolling hills of Wales. Ms Turner brought one of her father’s trunks in with her, telling the students how her family had stuffed their entire life belongings into six of these cases. We were very grateful to Ms Turner for sharing her experiences with the class; bringing to life the learning experiences we have been undertaking.
Year 11
Biology
Mrs Lane's Year 11 biology class dissected a sheep heart to learn about its structure and function. The students observed the heart's chambers, valves, and blood vessels, and how they work together to pump blood throughout the body. This hands-on experience allowed the students to apply their knowledge of anatomy and physiology to a real-life scenario, providing a unique learning experience.
HSC
Our HSC visual art students have been busy polishing their final preparations for their upcoming submission. Alexandrah has examined the culture record-cover design, and the popular music euphoria of the 1960s record companies. Finn has explored the beauty of the natural marine world and human agitation of this natural enclave through industrial expansion by corporate energy companies. Nate has explored the intensity of feeling regarding well-being, focussing on youth under pressure to accomplish and conform. His series of portraits is a tribute to those that empathise with the vulnerable among us. These students have really investigated their artwork with integrity, compassion and respect for the role of the visual arts in our world.
SIMs
With the weather a little better this week during our horseriding Student Interest Module (SIM), the students had the opportunity to get out from under cover and start working on their trail riding skills.
