During term 1, the science staff at both the Junior and Senior campuses have been busy building their knowledge and establishing new tasks for their students.

At the junior campus, the staff met after school to play ‘student’. They worked through a STEM task that the year 8 students would get in term 2. In the process they had a great time working in teams to solve a problem “Unblocking an artery”. As they did this, they were able to experience the issues that the students would face when completing this project. An excellent initiative driven by our Head of Science Fiona Trapani.

At the senior campus, the staff met to learn how to use particular equipment for year 9 electricity. Our senior Physics staff, Pascal Roulant and Lik Hua Chow, demonstrated how to use the equipment and were instrumental with problem solving issues that the students may find.

2020 brought lots of obstacles, challenges and trials but it gave us the opportunity to purchase some new equipment that we would not have been able to afford otherwise. The new Gel Electrophoresis equipment is a great investment to build the practical skills of our Senior Science students. The year 10 Genetics students have had an opportunity to use this Gel Electrophoresis equipment for the first time and completed a project called ‘Shark Attack’. They had to complete DNA analysis to determine which type of shark had bitten a surfer’s board. The students, with the help of our laboratory technician Bethaney Warren, worked well to use new techniques and solve the problem.

Our new Year 10 Forensics topic has thoroughly engaged the students with a variety of hands on activities. Emily Hastie and Belinda Carbone have worked hard to deliver an interesting curriculum that has sparked curiosity and provided the students with unique learning opportunities.

We look forward to working with your children throughout the year and to chatting to parents in our next PTSPM’s.

Leanne Attard

HOL Broadmeadows campus.