CURRICULUM REPORTS

SCIENCE

We re-engaged our students back into Science through practical activities with an inquiry and investigation focus.

Our Year 7s have been busy exploring iron content in cereals using magnetic separation techniques. This allowed them to finish off the unit they had been exploring through remote learning. During our last 2 weeks of term they have been collaboratively creating cardboard arcade games. This project acts as an introduction into the ‘Forces’ unit they will be continuing in Term 3. Students have been provided with recycled cardboard and materials and will be considering the forces acting on their creations as they are built.

Year 8 students have been using our new microscopes to explore the microscopic structures that make up organisms, cells! They have been developing their skills in using a microscope and preparing cells to be viewed under it..

Year 9 students have been experimenting with chemical reactions, as well as testing the pH of common household substances. This has provided them the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the concepts taught during Remote Learning.

Year 10 and our VCE students have also been busy in the classroom. They too have performed experiments, group work, demonstrated understanding through activities and tests as well as preparing themselves for their SACs.

Turtles
Our resident turtles were also excited to be reunited recently. Franklin and Sheldon have both done a lot of growing over the last few months, maybe it was the extra prawns? They have been with us now for over 2 years and it’s amazing to see how much they have both changed both in size and personality.

During Term 3 National Science Week (15-23 August) takes place and the theme this year is, Deep Blue: innovations for the future of our oceans. It will also feature the establishment of the Blue Economy CRC. The theme embraces the innovative technologies, capabilities and skills needed to achieve economic, environmental and social sustainability of our oceans. It features insights and explores workable solutions that generate healthy oceans, healthy economies and healthy communities. Science staff will be running activities for students during lunchtimes as well as in class in Science week so make sure to check Compass closer to the date for details!

Skye Jennings
Science KLA Leader

THE ARTS

Students and staff alike are glad to be back at school in D-block with access to all of our wonderful materials. It’s good to be using clay, painting on canvases, using the dark room in Photography and using the Mac labs in Media and VCD.
Looking back at Remote Learning, it was fantastic to see how well our students were able to adapt and still be creative. During that time, they created some wonderful pieces of art, as showcased on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. They should be proud of how they’ve risen to the challenge of Remote Learning.

INSTAGRAM REQUESTS

A reminder to all students that Mooroolbark College is on Instagram with posts focusing on student work created in any of The Arts or Technology subject. If you would like to submit something you have completed and possibly have it posted on the account, please email a clear photo of the work or the original digital file along with your name and the subject it was created in to socialmedia@mooroolbarkcollege.vic.edu.au.
To follow and see what’s already on the account, go to https://www.instagram.com/mooroolbarkcollegeofficial

Students at work:

Matt Neil-Holland
Arts KLA Leader

ENGLISH

We welcome Tyrone Ingham and Sarah Garnaut as English KLA Heads for the remainder of the year.

Students particularly in junior levels have been given great opportunity over the Remote Learning period, with a new and sustained approach to drafting; focusing on their creative writing pieces through powerful and direct guided lessons aiming to improve writing over time. This has resulted in some amazing creative pieces.

There are several faculty-based goals that have been introduced and discussed that provide scope and consistency for us as a team, both for our curriculum and collaborative practices that shall be developed over Semester 2.
PD for English educators surrounding a major outcome (Text Response) will be attended digitally, shaping how this outcome will be taught in future.
Teachers have shown great resilience and support of one another throughout the Remote Teaching period and there is a greater sense of trust and camaraderie within the faculty as a result.

Tyrone Ingham
English KLA Leader

HUMANITIES
Our E-block rooms are currently being decorated with samples of student work from earlier in the year. Climate change assignments, geographic concept posters, twentieth century timelines and abolitionist posters are among the displays already on view.

Senior classes have been busy and filled with keen students since the resumption of classes at school. Among topics and activities (both remotely and at school) occurring this week:

· Year 7 History students solved “pwuzzles” (word puzzles) on Ancient Rome.
· Year 8 Geography students have completed reports on a chosen megacity.
· Year 9 Making the Modern World students learnt about Federation.
· Year 10 People and the Planet students have examined the most important indicators of global well-being.
  Year 11 History students are learning about the Holocaust and will take part in a virtual visit to the Jewish Holocaust Museum.
· Year 11 Legal Studies students are examining negligence and defamation.

Chris Hanneberry
Humanities KLA Leader

HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Developing new and creative ways to engage students has been extremely challenging and rewarding for both staff and students during remote learning. Everyone both staff, students and the wider community have all done an amazing job in supporting one another during this difficult time which has allowed for students to remain on top of their learning and well-being.

Year 7 PE
Students presented their Skills Analysis CAT via video including self-assessing their own abilities and providing key coaching points that a beginner could use to learn a new skill.

They begun a Netball unit, learning the basics of catching and passing. Some students went above and beyond by filming their skills and self-assessing.

Year 8 PE
In Health, students finalised their work on risk taking behaviours and continued with Respectful Relationships work in the final weeks.
Students finalised their ‘Skills CAT’ which saw them video and self-assess 2 skills of their choosing and provided coaching points that would aid a beginner to learn that skill.

In Physical Education students began a new unit on Volleyball once they returned to school as their soccer unit comes to a close (please refer to the social media page for fantastic evidence).

Year 9 PE
Students completed weekly recreational fitness sessions (Tabata, Yoga, HIIT and Pilates) and reflected on their experience.
Students also completed ‘Skills CAT’, choosing 3 skills they would like to perform and deliver coaching points for.

Outdoor Education and Environmental Studies

The positive response from the use of Microsoft Teams has been massive including personal messages and feedback of revision and SACs was all delivered through TEAMs.
Students worked through booklets sent digitally and then reflecting on tasks including scavenger hunts to get them out into the local community.

Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Ed completed their Know, Love and EAT the world CAT, where they look at contemporary issues within society and consider how they can help to tackle these issues.
They are given an endless amount of money and need to come up with a number of ways in which they can help resolve the root cause of these issues.
They need to consider what they could do as a current Year 9 Duke of Ed student to help.
Whilst completing this, students looked into meal preparation and food storage whilst hiking and completing gratitude journals.

Sports Leadership

Students also have been working on completing online First Aid question plus the test paper they would normally do.
They have also been in teams planning and writing up their lesson plans. Exactly what they would have done in class except I created chat rooms to talk and plan in instead.

Stephanie Todd
Health/Physical Education KLA Leader

TECHNOLOGY
In Digital and Systems Technology, we have welcomed new computers to the Labs in C4, A7 and T8. In Year 8 we have finished up exploring programming with Microbits and have moved onto to programming in Minecraft Education to finish off the semester. In Year 9 we our finishing construction on the Stomper Robots in Robotics and finalising our Games in Game Design. In Year 10 we have programmed a variety of applications in JavaScript in Software Development and finishing up building out amplifiers in Systems Engineering. In Year 11 Systems Engineering Unit 1, the great dragster build-off is in its final stages, with the open design round about to commence.

In other news we have officially announced the launch of the schools Minecraft Club, with the servers going online shortly.

Since the return to normal schooling, the workshops have been very busy with students aiming to finish practical work before the Semester ends. The workshops have been open at lunchtimes and students have been able to use the extra time to finish projects. The Year 11 students in particular have made use of the extra time available.

Andrew Dingey
Technology KLA Leader

LANGUAGES

As the end of this extraordinary term rolls around, there is much ado in our Language department: We have farewelled, if temporarily, Mrs Jiaqi Tan who has left us to go on maternity leave. By now she has become a proud mother and we wish her and her family well. This has meant a new addition to our staff, and so we welcome Ms Yi Jiang to the position of Mandarin Teacher. She will be taking over all of Mrs Tan’s duties and she is looking forward to meeting the Mooroolbark School Community. In our German classes we are finishing the term with units of work that combine culture, history, geography, even politics, with language by investigating an ‘Inspector Rex’ episode in Year 7, the movie ‘The Book Thief’ after a book by the Australian author Markus Zusak in Year 8 and ‘Treffpunkt Berlin’ in Year 9. Students are collecting stamps for excellent work and participation for small prizes and Resilience Merits at the end of the term. What better place to be at the end of the term than in a Mooroolbark College Language class!?

Jonas Bahlo
Language KLA Leader

MATHEMATICS

Like all corners of Mooroolbark College at the moment, Mathematics would like to welcome back all of our students!
Whilst we have seen great resilience, creativity and independence in learning from our students during Remote Learning, we are all excited to be back in the classroom. This is where we can compete in fun, hands-on activities, discuss our thoughts and share our questions and ideas. Something we missed during our time at home.
As we welcome the year 7’s (again) just like we did at the beginning of Term 1, we can reflect on all the exciting things that do really happen in Maths.
The opportunities are endless;

NUMERACY

Our Numeracy classes provide students with the opportunity to practice their problem solving skills with open ended tasks and their ability to work collaboratively and share ideas. Year 7 and 8 students complete their Numeracy Lessons during Period 1A or 1B on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. These periods are vital for the development of critical and creative thinking as well as resilience and creativity in Maths. Students are provided with a variety of problems and scenarios in these classes, of which they need to find appropriate solutions.

Targeted Learning Program
Additionally, for our Year 7s, every fortnight we combine a number of Year 7 classes and divide them into sub groups where they will work on different problems that are relevant each student’s level of understanding.

Assistance, Extension and Club ¾

We offer so many things in Mathematics, this includes Assistance and Extension Programs for Year 7-9 students that run on Tuesdays 3-4pm, which will resume next term, as well as Club ¾ every Tuesday and Thursday also.
Please speak to your Maths teacher if you are interested or would like any more information.
What a great return to the College all students in Mathematics have had and we look forward to what next term brings.

Jade Hubben
Mathematics KLA Leader