SENIOR SCHOOL LEARNING

YEAR 10 CHALLENGE

There is nothing quite like the Year 10 Challenge to bring out the wit, creativity and competitive streak in our Year 10 cohort. In a kaleidoscope of themed costumes, the 2021 Year 10 Challenge teams had to complete an array of obstacles and activities while navigating their way around the campus and the Kirribilli neighbourhood. A celebration of friendship and support within this close-knit year group, the day concluded with an energetic dance-off between teams.

FUTURIST INSPIRES OUR SCIENTISTS

During the Term 3 holidays, students with a passion for physics, STEM, robotics, and droning were excited to attend a Zoom presentation with Dr Catherine Ball PhD, scientific futurist, tech influencer, author, champion of diversity, drone expert, and creative thinker. Dr Ball is an Associate Professor within the School of Engineering at the Australian National University. Her highly engaging presentation included excellent advice for women in STEM. School Captain Harper Gracie said, “Catherine’s projects are ground-breaking and interesting. After hearing Catherine speak, I feel excited about our future, possible careers, and opportunities in STEM.”

YOUNG HISTORIANS FINALISTS

The National History Challenge gives students a chance to be a historian, emphasising quality and analytical research on a topic of their choice that reflects a historical theme. This year that concept was ‘Significance: Why does History Matter?’ All Year 9 Elective History classes took part in the competition, producing a wonderful diversity of topics. Six students were presented Bronze certificates and progressed to the next stage. Two of those students, Lily Kevans and Jessica Kovacs, were presented with Young Historian Silver certificates. This means they are NSW finalists and runners up for the NSW winner. The judges applauded them on their level of research, historical enquiry and written presentation.

MONSIGNOR DOHERTY PRIZE

Year 11 Visual Arts students were awarded the prestigious Monsignor Doherty Prize at the 2021 Clancy Religious Art Prize and Exhibition. Their collaborative project Twenty Decades was a mixed media work exploring 200 years of Catholic education. As a finishing touch, the students collectively decided to donate the money from the prize to the Fred Hollows Foundation.

Senior School Learning

PRINCIPAL’S WRITING AWARD

The Principal’s Writing Award is an annual prize recognising outstanding writing from each year group in the Senior School. The task this year was to write persuasive texts around the theme of Felicity. The standard was outstanding making the choice of award winners very difficult!

YEAR 7 Letter to Mrs Dickinson Runner-up: Hermione Meridores Winner: Ciara Noble

YEAR 8 Persuasive speech: Feeling helpless about climate change? It’s time to embrace a felicitous attitude to help lift us out of our funk. Runner-up: Alice Barry Winner: Romy Elliott

YEAR 9 Discuss how your study of international film has allowed you to appreciate the quality of Felicity across a range of global contexts. Runner-up: Tara Miller Winner: Emily Booth

YEAR 10 Write a persuasive text to convince your audience that felicity is better than happiness. Runner-up: Lucy Hui Winner: Sophie Nixey

YEAR 11 Considering the essential value of felicity, explore the proposition that the pressures we face make it difficult to achieve a rich inner life. Runner-up: Audrey Van Den Bos Winner: Joanna Carey

YEAR 12 Felicity is achieved through a rich inner life and rewarding relationships with others. Standard Runner-up: Emma Jones Winner: Olivia Keen Advanced Runner-up: Emily Tooher Winner: Sarah Munstermann

THE POWER OF ENGINEERING

The Power of Engineering was the theme for our Year 10 scientists who were out and about in Sydney in early June. Students visited both UNSW’s Solar Industrial Research Facility and the visionary design firm ARUP to gain an insight into different applications of STEM and some possible career opportunities.

Senior School Learning

Q STATION MODERN HISTORY EXCURSION

For over 150 years the Quarantine Station at North Head Manly, now part of the Sydney Harbour National Park, was for many the beginning of a new life in Australia after making the arduous and lengthy journey from their homelands.

Modern History students spent the day exploring the various precincts of Q Station as part of our Investigation of Historic Sites and Sources component. Our wonderful and highly knowledgeable guides shared with us the many tales of love and loss, death and disease, which played out alongside themes of cultural and social change. Students particularly enjoyed visiting the hospital and wharf precincts on site.

2021 MACROECONOMICS Q&A PANEL DISCUSSION

Years 11 and 12 Economics students participated in the 2021 Macroeconomics Q&A Panel Discussion. The expert panel consisting of Su-Lin Ong (Chief Economist, RBC), Paul Bloxham (Chief Economist, HSBC) and Besa Deda (Chief Economist, Westpac) discussed the challenges facing the economy from an internal and external perspective. The girls were challenged to critically think, question, discern and wonder.

Senior School Learning

MODERN HISTORY INVESTIGATIONS

Year 11 Modern History students had a taste of publishing as part of their Historical Investigation Projects. After choosing a history topic of personal interest, the students constructed an essay and magazine article, with Time magazine covers used to highlight their subject matter.

YEAR 8 COAL LOADER EXCURSION

The inclement weather did not dampen the spirits of Year 8 students, who visited a number of sites around Sydney Harbour as part of their fieldwork case study on landscapes and landforms. Highlights included the Coal Loader Sustainability Centre and a cultural cruise on Tribal Warrior.

YOUNG WRITER’S AWARD

Congratulations to our award winning young writers who excelled in North Sydney Council’s 2021 Nan Manefield Young Writer’s Award. From left, Ariane Saywell won the 14-15 years category with her entry about an artist’s obsession with their creation, Sophie Nixey was Highly Commended in the 14-15 years category, and Alannah Youssef won the 13 years category for her sobering environmental tale.

Senior School Learning

YEAR 8 STUDENTS ADDRESS THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT

Science, Mathematics & Technology teachers engaged Year 8 students in an interdisciplinary STEM unit of work addressing real world transport issues in Sydney. Student solutions were entered into the NRMA Future of Transport Competition open to students from Years 7-10 in NSW. Romy Elliot, Emily Maas and Isabelle Bannan were selected to present their innovative solution ‘RoadGoGrip’ to a panel of industry experts at the Youth Eco Summit which took place in November. They pitched their innovative and sustainable solution to a panel of distinguished judges.

The students were up against some tough competition from Year 10s around the State. I am proud to say that the girls achieved Runners-Up for 'RoadGoGrip', a layered road surface installation that increases friction in poor weather conditions.

The students’ presentation was persuasive and informative. They answered questions articulately and I was so proud when they spoke about being young women with the power to create change in the world.

Rachel Noonan Coordinator of STEM, Technology & Applied Studies

YEAR 10 SCIENCE GO WILD

Dr Vanessa Pirotta, wildlife scientist and renowned science communicator, was warmly welcomed to share her expertise with Year 10 students. Dr Pirotta is a globally recognised marine animals expert, and uses innovative technologies for wildlife conservation. After her talk, the students went to the Australian Museum to see a range of natural history exhibitions.