Around the School
Year 11 Bushfire Trip
A big thank you to you all for making my Bushfire field trip this week such a resounding success! I love getting the students out of the class room to experience and learn the content with some real context instead of learning it all from a textbook. Your collective knowledge is spectacular and enthusiasm is contagious. My students were telling while still on the camp, that it was the best they had ever been on for a subject, all thanks to you all. I have included some images and a newsletter piece below that you can use for your various newsletters or social media accounts.
As part of their Year 11 Geography course, Ringwood Secondary took 21 students up and around the Victorian Central Highlands to learn about the nature of a bushfire hazard and its impact on nature and humans, and the response and recovery of fire alongside the management of possible fire threats by a range of agencies.
Monday saw us driving through the pouring rain to Cockatoo to visit ex-CFA Captain Graham Simpson at the brand-new Ash Wednesday Bushfire Education Centre. Here we learned about the devastating 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfire in an informative and engaging presentation.
Next, we drove to Lake Mountain Resort to meet Environmental Officer Sue Parry, who had created a primary data collecting exercise for the students, counting the basal regrowth and seedlings from the 1939 and 2009 bushfires. Here the students were able to extrapolate how the forest structure has changed and hypothesise what might happen if we see another fire here in the recent of distant future.
When then drove over to Toolangi and stayed at a local campsite and had a bush walk with campsite owner Brendan Ricci who pointed out trees hit by lightning strike and how bulldozers were used to create a fire break to protect his property in the days after the 2009 Black Saturday fire.
We were then visited by researchers Dave Blair and Lachlan McBurney from the Australian National University who took us out that night to do a Stagwatch and spot light search for rare and wonderful native animals that live in the Toolangi State Forest. Students got to see and hear animals like the Mountain Brush Tailed possum, the Yellow-Bellied Glider, the Sugar Glider, the Greater Glider, Antechinus, and the Boobook Owl, and learn how these animals’ habitats and genetic diversity are impacted on by bushfire.
Tuesday saw us meeting with Toolangi local Steve Meacher who played a large part in the response of citizens to the Black Saturday bushfire. He also gave us a guided tour of the Toolangi State Forest, showing us the impact of the bushfire and how logging can contribute to future bushfire intensity.
We then drove up to Marysville and met with the Marysville Black Saturday Education Centre coordinator, Barry Thomas and Murrindinid Shire Council Emergency Management Coordinator Chris Price, who gave us an insight into the social impact of the fire on a community like Marysville that lost 33 locals and 95% of the towns buildings in 2009. They also gave in-depth information into the Council’s role in response to bushfire and the strategies of future management of Bushfire hazards and disasters.
Finally, Wednesday saw a visit to the school by the MFB Bushfire Unit, led by Acting Senior Station Officer Neil West, who taught Bushfire behaviour by lighting a burn table that the student had to plan for and control a real fire based on key elements like wind direction, fuel load and topography.
Benn Jamieson
Year 11 Geography
Extension Programs
Year 7 ACE Program Parent Information Evening:
The first Year 7 ACE Parent Information Evening was held on Thursday night (March 2). The evening was very well attended, with parents of most students in the class attending. It was an opportunity for parents to hear more about the ACE program, its structure and learning approaches, along with detailed information about the core subjects of Englsh, Humanities (History/Geography), Maths, Science, and French, followed by an opportunity to ask questions and have an informal chat.
Feedback from the parents on the night was fantastic. They found the session to be valuable and informative, and commented favourably on the timing of the session, now that they are more familiar with the school as parents.
The new intake of Year 7 students have settled in well to their first year of the High Achievers (ACE) Program, and are developing a good rapport with each other and their teachers.
Year 7 Da Vinci Decathlon:
The 2017 Victorian da Vinci Decathlon for Year 7 students will be held at MLC on May 17. This “decathlon with a difference” is an academic interschool gala day run in the spirit of an Olympic Decathlon, with events of an academic nature. The theme for 2017 is “Power”. Ringwood SC will be entering a team of eight Year 7 students. If students are interested, they need to contact Ms Annette Niven at school. Students will be involved in training sessions at school to prepare them.
Year 9-10 Da Vinci Decathlon:
The 2017 Victorian da Vinci Decathlon for Year 10 (and 9) students will be held at MLC on May 26. Like the Year 7 event, the theme for 2017 is “Power”. Schools can enter a team of eight Year 10 students or a combined team including both Year 9 and Year 10 students. If students are interested, they should contact Ms Annette Niven at school.
Rotary Youth Programs 2017:
On the evening of Feb 28, I attended a Rotary Youth Services Seminar, to explore the range of extension programs available for students in Year 9-12. Please read details below:
Year 11 National Youth Science Forum (NYSF):
This fantastic program is for current Year 11 students who are interested in Science. This 2-week program held in a variety of universities provides students with a fantastic opportunity to experience science activities and careers in science. Universities will often use this program to help select students into their courses. The program is held in January 2018.
Applications are now open, and close in May. Interviews will be held in July.
Ringwood Rotary Club will sponsor successful students, train students for the interview, and cover part of the cost. If interested, students should contact Ms Annette Niven at school.
Rotary Youth Exchange:
This year-long program for 15-17 year students provides a brilliant opportunity for selected students to live and study in an overseas country while living with approved host families. There is a two-stage interview process.
Applications are now open, and close on 15 April. Interviews will be held shortly afterwards.
If interested, students should contact Ms Niven at school or go to www.rotaryyouthexchange.org.au
Ms Annette Niven
ACE Program Coordinator