NEWS FROM SCIENCE
My highlight of the day was when we arrived at our first station and we were approaching the lions. They charged at us and we all were scared.
Remm McKenzie
It was great walking around and learning about the animals, and I liked when we saw the monkeys.
Jaya Pimm
The highlight of my zoo trip was seeing the monkeys climb and jump around their enclosure. I liked seeing them use the tools like rocks, to try and bust open the nut to eat it. I also liked the farm animals like the sheep and goats.
Fionnbarr Sweeney
Our Year 8 students have started their new unit called Deadly In STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). The program takes a community-driven approach to deliver and support activities, drawing connections between Indigenous STEM knowledge and local STEM industries.
Deadly in Generation STEM helps students strengthen connections to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander STEM knowledge, and develops problem-solving and leadership skills. Classes have started to look at the importance of Eucalyptus in bush medicine by extracting oils from Eucalyptus leaves, how bushfire management allow for the regeneration of our native plants, the physics behind the didjeridu and making sounds in nature for the telling of stories and communication, understanding the best woods for starting a fire and implementing engineering views on weapons creation for both cooking and hunting.
Our Stage 5 students have been working hard and focusing on consolidating stage learning outcomes in their end of year examinations in knowledge and skills, with the goal of completing units for 2023 to ensure students can have the best start to their learning in 2024.
In Stage 6, all sciences are well and truly underway, with many of our senior students preparing to undertake their first school based HSC assessment task. Working collaboratively and demonstrating that their hard work and consistent engagement pays off.
We would like to announce Charlie Coulson-Knight has been chosen to join the 2023-24 cohort of the ABE Master Teacher Fellowship. As one of several teachers selected from a variety of international sites, this program will support Charlie Coulson-Knight in collaborating with experts from STEM fields, develop curriculum infusing research-based pedagogy, inclusive classroom practices, and cutting-edge biotech concepts and technologies.
Awardees were chosen based on their contributions to student learning, leadership skills, communication skills, and support of ABE and the ABE community.
As an ABE Master Teacher, Charlie Coulson-Knight will work with other Fellows from around the world to develop classroom, curriculum, or professional development resources in areas of personal interest. Fellows will also serve as ambassadors to other teachers, providing peer advice and guidance on using the LabXchange platform to support ABE while encouraging other ABE teachers to grow in new, innovative directions.
Charlie Coulson-Knight will begin the Fellowship this December 2023.
Ms Valerie Lewis
Acting Science Coordinator