Senior Classes The Certificate 1 Furnishing course was again popular with students this year and Mark Mattioli (12.1) was awarded the prize for the Most Outstanding Student work. The surfboard photo frames, using a variety of timbers, produced some excellent models from students in the class. This year in the Materials Stage 1 Metals class the boys improved on the status of last year’s ‘drifting trikes’ to design and manufacture motor mini-bikes. Two students were responsible for making each mini-bike so that teamwork was an important factor in the completion of each unit. Cody Leggett (12.1) was the prize winner in the class demonstrating excellent practical skills. The Stage 3 Design (Technical Graphics) students completed comprehensive design folios during the year which will no doubt be used to help them gain entrance to university courses or employment in the future. Andrew Steere (12.4) was the award winner in this course for his excellent classwork and folio. In the Stage 3 Engineering Studies class, specialising in systems and control, students learned to build and program robotic models such as a model solar tracker operated by a Picaxe microcontroller. The boys also programmed robotic arms, designing and manufacturing complex electronic circuit boards in this process. Alex Majewski (12.5) was the overall academic prize winner in the class, with excellent results, narrowly outperforming his classmates.
New Machines To complement our two laser cutting machines we now have two 3D printers in the department. These machines will allow us the flexibility of enabling our students to design and make artefacts using the latest technological tools. We have also purchased three new woodworking lathes to complete the equipment used in the Middle school materials room. These machines are already proving to be popular with our students when making bowls, dishes, decorative table legs and wooden pens. I take this opportunity to thank my colleagues in D&T for their efforts during the course of this year. It is a pleasure to work amongst a group of talented and dedicated professionals who always encourage our students to strive to do their best. Mr Ray Archibald Head of Design and Technology
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