4 minute read
Science
Science MRS FRAN BRAZIER, HEAD OF SCIENCE
This year the implementation of the new QCAA Senior Curriculum in Year 11, including the new subject offering of Psychology. The Science Department staff were kept busy with professional learning for unit and assessment planning. Also, new assessment tasks were included in Year 9 and 10, to reflect those in the new senior syllabuses and that will help better prepare students for what lies ahead in Senior Science subjects.
The inaugural Year 9 Camp to Hastings Point Marine Environment Field Study Centre took place in Term 1. This Science-based experience focused on Rocky Shore, Mangrove and Coastal Dune ecosystems, their communities of interdependent organisms, abiotic components of the environment and human impact on these ecosystems. Agricultural Science students continued to propagate plants and produce excellent harvests at the ‘Ag Plot’, culminating with their plant stall at the College’s Spring Fair.
A Year 8 Robotics extra-curricular opportunity continued again this year with Mr Whittle in Semester 1. The Middle School Robotics Club initiative focuses on:
developing the interest and enjoyment of girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects teaching coding promoting innovative design and construction reinforcing the scientific process and collaboration. This project was in response to the Australian Government’s Department of Education and Training ‘Restoring the focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in schools initiative’. The Science Department continues to utilise more Information and Communications Technology, specifically the MyFairholme Learning Management System platform, for the improved design and delivery of engaging learning across Science subjects and to enhance studentteacher communications within these subjects. Also, the extensive use is made of data loggers that enable in-depth data analysis of student experiments.
As always, our aim is to immerse the students in the Engineering Design Process that incorporates innovative, analytical and critical thinking, to solve problems in collaborative teams. Seventy-five per cent of students in the classrooms now will work in a Science and Technology-related field in their lifetime. The Science Department’s focus is to develop and consolidate the skills necessary to achieve success in STEM-related subjects and careers.
Learning experiences beyond the classroom included:
Year 8 Science Excursion to the Old Toowoomba Basalt Quarry in order to examine the Toowoomba Regional Council’s Bridge Street Quarry Feasibility Study that outlines the proposed rehabilitation/redevelopment of the site. This formed part of their assessment in the Earth Science unit. SolarBuddy School Program. Year 9 Science students investigated whether small solar panels are a feasible option to help solve energy poverty. The project culminated in students providing SolarBuddy solar lights to students living in energy poverty throughout the South Pacific, South East Asia and Africa, to study after dusk.
Three-day Year 9 Camp at Hastings Point in Northern NSW. This gave the students the opportunity to practise field skills used in Senior Biology (e.g. data loggers, organism distribution patterns and field sketches).
Australian Federal Police Presentation ‘Science with a Twist’ for Year 10 students. Crime Scene Lead Forensic Investigator (Fairholme Old Girl, Nikki Keighran, nee Deery, graduated 1998) discussed where a Science degree can take you, applying Science in Law enforcement, Women in Policing and AFP Operations Case Studies. There was also a practical session that investigated the scientific processes behind Illicit Drug Seizure Examination.
Year 11 Agriculture, Biology and Psychology students attended the University of Queensland Statistics for Senior Science Lecture held at the College. This 45
335314
Year 7
33
52141 3351+16 Junior Academic Results
Year 8 Year 9
2043+34+3
Year 10
Senior Academic Results 11 Agricultural Science 11 Biology 11 Chemistry 11 Physics 11 Psychology 100300500100 10 1030 50 30210700+60 3 21 70 6 210420370 21 42 37 550340110 55 34 11 260610130 26 61 13
A B C D
LA VHA 9 56332I Year 12 Biology HA 56% 9% SA 33% 2%
VHA 4% 4 3957I Year 12 Chemistry HA 39% SA 57% 4456I Year 12 Physics HA 56% VHA 44%
presentation focused on dataanalysis techniques using Excel, required for the new senior science syllabuses.
Year 11 Biology students attended the ‘Experience Ecology Day’ presented by The University of Queensland at the Gatton Campus. This event gave students the opportunity to participate in activities based on mandatory field practicals in the new Senior Biology syllabus and practise using and analysing authentic data.
Year 11 Psychology students attended University of Southern Queensland Senior Psychology Lectures o Introduction to Psychology o Diagnosis and Treatment of Abnormal Psychological
Disorders.
Year 11 Psychology Mandatory Practical on Emotional Responses and Visual Cues presented by Professor Jerry Tehan from the Psychology Department of the University of Southern Queensland.
Accolades/Competitions
• Fairholme College was awarded two Certificates of Credit in the 2019 Royal Australian
Chemical Institute’s Chemistry
Competition: Laura Craft (11), and Jasmine Perrier (12).
Laura Craft, Zoe Crooke and Olivia Ross were selected by Rotary District interview, to attend the National Youth Science Forum in January 2020 in Canberra. Rene Beci and Maggie Grigg experienced the Forum in January 2019. These Forums provide valuable opportunities for students interested in a career in Science, Technology and/or Engineering. The girls visited laboratories, industry and research sites, talked to researchers, debated impacts of science on our community and formed friendships with students from all over Australia. Rene Beci also experienced the International Youth Science Forum at the Imperial College London earlier in the year.
In this year’s International Competitions and Assessments for Schools – Science Competition, 3 Distinctions, 10 Credits and 4 Merit Certificates were awarded to Fairholme students. The following students received Certificates of Distinctions: Ciara Teahan (7); Lilly Biernoff (8); Janithya Dharmawardhane (8).
