These tasks all share a common theme that they are project based and celebrate student choice. They include:

Year 7:  Selecting an Ancient Greek source and creating a multi-modal analysis

Year 8: Students studying the Vikings have a “challenge by choice” task, allowing each learner to select an activity style that aligns with their learning goals and academic aspirations.

Year 9:  Are investigating a food of their choice grown or produced in Australia and determining its sustainability into the future

Year 10:  Are creating a Google Earth Project that digitalises a student geographic fieldwork investigation in their local natural environment.

Please take the opportunity to engage with and discuss these exciting tasks with your son.

Year 9 Commerce

In other news, the industrious Year 9 Commerce students are excitedly preparing for Founder’s Day with their “From Five Bucks to Big Bucks.”

During last term’s excursion to Erina Fair, each student was given $5 to make a purchase. Now, they are putting their entrepreneurial skills to the test, turning those small investments into profitable products to sell on the day.

Students are getting creative by brainstorming ways to turn simple items, like a packet of lollies, into innovative products that can generate profit for Founder’s Day. They have discovered that by joining forces and combining their resources, they can create more appealing and marketable products.

A wide variety of products will be available for purchase on Founder’s Day and in the days leading up to the event. Students and teachers can choose from jelly cups, spider drinks, mixed lollies, raffles, guessing competitions, and many other exciting options. Keep an eye out for the promotional activities to come. Everyone is encouraged to bring cash and arrive early on the day to snag the best deals and support the students’ efforts. All proceeds will go towards purchasing women’s underwear for the Women for Women Organisation in Kenya, which Mr Bonnici and five Year 11 students will personally deliver during their trip to Kenya at the end of Term 3.

History Elective Assessment Success

This year, our Year 10 students in the History Elective have been engaged in a series of dynamic assessment tasks designed not only to deepen their historical knowledge and analytical skills but also to cultivate essential 21st-century skills that are transferable across subjects and into life beyond school.

The first task required students to research a specific aspect of the life of Ramses the Great and create an online virtual museum exhibit to showcase their findings. To prepare, students had the privilege of visiting the Gold of the Pharaohs exhibit at the Australian Museum in Sydney, gaining firsthand inspiration for their projects.

Click Here to View Student Work by Harry Barnett, Augustus Brady and Jeremy Huybrechs-Chung

The second task explored the theme of Civil Wars, where students selected a civil war from any historical period and produced a 2-3 minute podcast. In their podcasts, they outlined the main events, significant figures, and outcomes of their chosen conflict, honing their research and communication skills.

Click to View Podcast by Jeremy Huybrechs-Chung

This term, students will step into the shoes of archaeologists for a day as they participate in an archaeological dig on Oval 3. They are fortunate to have guest archaeologist Tracey Howie speak to them about archaeology and ancient Aboriginal Australia, adding a layer of real-world experience to their studies.

Australian History Competition

Earlier this year, a group of our students took part in the Australian History Challenge, a prestigious competition that tests students’ abilities to analyse historical sources through a challenging multiple-choice quiz. Our students performed exceptionally well, achieving a range of impressive scores. Notably, two students earned distinctions, and Harry Barnett achieved a high distinction. These results reflect the dedication and hard work of our students in mastering historical analysis.

Year 11 Geography

The Year 11 Geography students on the first day back of Term 3, jumped on the College bus and headed up north to the Awabakal Environmental Education Centre in Dudley to complete a fieldwork investigation of different vegetation zones in the area. This included examining the conditions of micro- climates and a walk to a stunning headland. The students also learned how to use a range of data collection tools and connect them to the importance of land management.

History Extension Major Works

Our Year 12 History Extension students have been deeply immersed in their major projects for almost a year, exploring various elements within their chosen areas of historiography. Their dedication and perseverance will culminate in a final essay that contributes significantly to their assessment for the course. Later this term, these students will have the opportunity to showcase their research and findings at the Major Work Showcase night, where they can take pride in their rigorous academic efforts.

The HSIE Department is incredibly proud of all our students’ achievements and the skills they are developing through their historical studies. We look forward to continuing to support their educational journeys and celebrating their successes.