Science Academic
I
n the science learning area we have always known that Ray Priskich, Head of Science, is a leader secondto-none. He is very modest about his achievements but it came as no surprise to us all that he was awarded the Inaugural Premier's Prize for Secondary Science Teaching Mr Ray Priskich - for excellence, innovation, Head of Science use of technology and curriculum development. The highly prestigious award was presented by the premier, Dr Geoff Gallop last November. Congratulations Ray - you certainly earned it. This has been a typically busy year in the science department particularly where the staff has consolidated its grasp of Curriculum Framework in Year 8 and 9. The extension of the new system into Year 10 and then upper school over the next few years is presenting a significant challenge. For some time it has been evident that a small number of students who find science very challenging would benefit from a smaller class size and a lower student/teacher ratio. In Term Three fourteen very lucky students were selected to form a small focus class under Mr Mike Slack-Smiths' watchful eye. He excels in his ability to engage and enthuse such students and his warm, personal approach enables these students to stay in touch with the discipline of science. It is proving to be very successful and will be extended progressively into Years 9 and 10. The TEE results of 2003 were, again, excellent with all four subjects achieving above the state average thanks to the hard work and dedication of the upper school staff of Mr Al Hay and Mr Jim Shackleton in Chemistry, Mr Ray Priskich and Mr Ed Clark in Physics and Mr Tim Blake in Biology and Human Biology. We hope to achieve similar results this year, particularly in Human Biology with the enthusiasm and academic rigour that Mrs Brigitte Savy-Walsh has brought to the Year 12 group. In Term Two and Three Ray Priskich took a well deserved long service leave and was replaced by Mr David Adeline who has maintained the high standards in physics. A number of new excursions were made this year. Mr Bobby Emmanuel, extending the scope of the new aquaculture topic in Year 10 Science, took all four classes to AQUA for a great day out. Trinity was invited to take part in the monitoring of the newly opened Point Fraser Wetland on the banks of the Swan River close to the Hyatt. The Year 11 Biology students make regular trips to complete a macroinvertebrate survey. The results are sent to Synrix - the designers of the wetland for analysis. The Biology program continues to extend the classroom boundaries
with other trips to the Hills Forest Discovery Centre, Star Swamp, Perth Zoo, various locations in the Perth Metro area and the pinnacle of the Year 11 course – the three day South West Excursion. We visited Dryandra, observing and trapping endangered animals and the Stirling Ranges looking at endemic plants as the students climbed Bluff Knoll. Our Year 9s visited the Geology museum at UWA as part of the Earth Science topic. This year the Sabah Expedition invited Aquinas College to participate and twenty one students and three staff had a wonderful experience. The annual series of competitions took place with students entering the National Chemistry Quiz and The Rio Tinto Science Challenge. Students have applied for the Murdoch University Science and Engineering Camp and the Siemens Science Experience – all of which are excellent experiences. The outcomes approach to learning in the middle school and our new laboratories has necessitated a cultural change. Our laboratory technicians Mr Lim and Ms Debra Renfrew have, once again, done a fantastic job with their elaborate juggling of resources and the expansion of our resource base ensuring the smooth transition. Their efforts have ensured we can strive for quality learning in science and be better able to assess the appropriate level at which each student operates. In my capacity as Acting Head of Science I have been able to observe the enthusiasm, professionalism and dedication of the science staff to the wellbeing of their students. I would like to thank them for doing a great job and also thank them for all the support they have given me personally over the last two terms. Mr Tim Blake Acting Head of Science
Biology students at Point Fraser Wetlands
149
