TAS

Mark Austin

Technology is best when it brings people together ”

Matt Mullerweg

The above quote was never more true than what has occurred in 2021 with the rise of COVID-19 and our inevitable return to home-based learning. It was another huge team effort from the TAS faculty to create new and improved online content, to keep the students engaged and not always in a way that had them sitting in front of a computer screen.

A big thank you to all the Year 12 teachers, who through their dedication have been able to inspire their students and instil resilience while dealing with all the additional stresses of the everchanging space that was 2021. Technology and Applied Studies has always been an exciting space to work and I would like to sincerely thank the entire faculty for their ongoing support, commitment and especially their professionalism during this challenging year.

2021 turned out to be a year of opportunity for one long time staff member Mr John Kershaw who decided after 22 years, that it was time to move on to greener pastures so to speak. John has retired from teaching to concentrate full time on his Lawn Mower Sales and Service business at Wyong. He began teaching at St Edward’s way back last century, 1998 to be exact, and has taken on many responsibilities during his years of service. In addition to establishing himself as

Farewell Mr Kershaw Mr Rozario

the ‘Metalwork Guru’, John held positions on the Work, Health and Safety Committee, the staff Social Committee, headed up the Founders Day Committee for a few years and stepped into a Year Coordinator role on occasions.

Building a rapport with students has been one of John’s biggest strengths. He created a relaxed learning environment enabling many of our more mechanically inclined students to learn many valuable skills and at the same time feel a sense of belonging in a trade environment. John was referred to as Kersh or Kershey by the boys who enjoyed the banter and responded well to the rough-edged approach with which he ran his workshop. If you were in Kersh’s class you weren’t just taught, you were entertained, constantly amused by his dry humour and quick wit but more importantly, you left feeling good about the skills you had learnt, confident in your abilities and valued as an individual.

John Kershaw has been a valued teacher, colleague and friend over the years, his advice, humour, support and friendship has been appreciated by many here at St Edward’s College. We wish John, his wife Natalia and their gorgeous daughter Vivienne good health and prosperity in the years to come. Thanks for the memories Kersh.

We also welcomed Mr Elliot Rozario to St Edward’s College. He graduated from Henry Kendall in 2012 and has been teaching at Holy Spirit Catholic College, Lakemba for the last five years. Nickname “Rozie” enjoys anything outdoors (beach, footy, mountain biking, basketball) and is an unfortunate West Tigers supporter.

Stage 6 Industrial Technology: Timber Products and Furniture Technologies

A challenging and unrelenting burden has faced our Senior Industrial Technology Timber students this year. It was confirming to witness that the challenges our students successfully

Kyle Graham Josh Collis Jamie Cairns

TAS

conquered will serve to strengthen not only their will, but also confidence, and therefore the ability to confront future obstacles.

Our students have developed a diverse range of Major projects this year, ranging from exquisite rocking chairs, unique bathroom vanities and bespoke household furnishings. The attention to detail through the planning stages was evident as they included specific design features and implemented a higher range of difficult processes. This was further amplified throughout the construction process in the form of testing and prototypes. These control measures allowed the students to move confidently throughout their construction processes and create high quality pieces of work exceeding expectations.

Looking in from the curriculum aspect of our seniors’ attitude and tenacity, it was a proud moment to be the teacher of these senior students. We truly adopt our school motto of ‘Where Young Men Achieve’ and this has been a true collective from all of our TAS staff that have offered their support wherever possible and time to assisting the progress of the HSC course. Our students achievements have come from their motivating dedication taking time away from friends and social lives to achieve commending results in our subject.

I would also like to commend our parents for offering their continued support throughout this challenging time, this is a gratifying aspect of our role at St Edward’s that we have such an inclusive community.

Furniture Making Major Project Work Machine Rebate Joints

Multimedia Class

William Ngyuen

Metal Fabrication Stage 6 Industrial Technology: Multimedia

“At the end of the day, multimedia is a sheer act of creative will. You have to be prepared to stick with your art no matter what comes your way.” This quote by Nicholas Ozeki (Great filmmaker) is truly reflective in many ways of the sheer will and tenacity of the 2021 HSC cohort, especially those completing their Major Project this year.

We thought 2020 was a year like no other and here yet again 2021 and COVID presented a whole new set of challenges for students to face. Among the changes of 2020 was the introduction of the collaboration with St Joseph’s Catholic College students in Preliminary Industrial Technology Multimedia and coeducational classes. This year we will have the privilege to see these students graduate along with St Edward’s standing tall and proud.

The Industrial Technology Multimedia course at St Edward’s College offers those students who wish to be creative, an avenue that is backed with the technical skills and design elements required in the Graphical arts, Multimedia and Animation industries. As predominately a practical based subject, the move to home-basedlearning during the final months of their Major work submission, students demonstrated intrinsic motivation, negotiation and determination to complete some impressive projects. The projects ranged from animation and graphic design to cinematic, music and short films. There were projects on social youth culture, The Mist, What is Art and Who We Are, the 5 senses and illusions, dreams and motivational and a dystopian world.

Seeing both the St Joseph’s and St Edward’s students working together to explore, develop and achieve success in their own right will be a highlight of 2021. As psychologist Leonard Sax states “boys and girls have marked physical and psychological differences and hence they have to be educated differently”. Teaching both genders has demonstrated my new love and connection for teaching again. Explaining key terms in both an abstract concept as well as more visual and with

TAS

application has allowed for a deeper knowledge and understanding of content to both genders. It is clear to see that boys enjoy doing risky things, whereas girls are likely to underestimate it, which is evident in the completed Major Projects.

Stage 6 Engineering Studies

This year’s HSC Engineering class has been a group like no other before them. With such a large class showing interest and passion for the subject it has been a competitive environment in our lessons with the boys heading into the Trial Examinations with only a few marks between first and tenth position in the cohort and Byron Bird and Lennox Taylor having not lost a mark. The boys have shown tremendous character despite the challenges and context of the year, with many of the highest performing members of the class willingly helping others to sharpen their understanding and prepare for the HSC. While there has been plenty of banter in the room this year, the focus and drive has remained in the boys throughout all the year has thrown at them. It is refreshing to see a number of boys including Jamie Zocher, Tom Owen and Byron Bird receiving early entry and pursuing engineering degrees at their chosen universities and I feel incredibly proud to have been their class teacher this year.

VET – Construction

Construction continues to be as popular as ever, with six classes across Stage 6 engaging in competency-based learning as they work towards completing their Certificate II in Construction Pathways. The Preliminary course for Year 11 has students complementing their knowledge of tools and processes from Year 10 Industrial Technology, completing projects in Carpentry Tools and Equipment, Planning and Organising Work and Conducting Workplace communication – great introductory units before their mandatory seventy hours of industry-based work placement. Work placement opportunities were presented with a variety of trades including carpenters, plumbers, builders and landscapers. Major projects included toolboxes and oil stones for future use in their trade profession and their major project of constructing a timber frame room on bearers and joists.

Certificate II VET Furniture Making Pathways.

2021 proved to be a very challenging year for students undertaking practical subjects and those engaged in Furniture Making certainly had their fair share of setbacks. Despite the lengthy interruption caused by the COVID-19 lockdown these students have maintained a high level of motivation and are now working enthusiastically in an attempt to complete the armchairs they began working on back in February this year. I have nothing but respect for this cohort who have

welcomed the challenges of learning intricate new skills and have demonstrated great resilience in overcoming the challenges that arose along the way. Great work boys, I look forward to putting the finishing touches on these projects in coming weeks.

Stage 5 - IT Metal

Senior students in our Manufacturing and Engineering course have hit the ground running this year by working on their major projects. A variety of different projects have been undertaken including industrial work benches, tool cabinets and some students have even taken a creative path by fabricating a replica of Thor’s hammer. With the cold weather settling in, Year 10 students have been working on camp stools and fire pits to settle into a perfect campfire scenario. Year 9 students have been introduced to the senior Engineering workshop for the first time and are working on a toolbox. Milling machines, sheet metal guillotines, oxy/acetylene sets and welding machines are just a few of the processes Year 9 have been learning to use and their welding practise is paying dividends.

Stage 5 – Graphics Technology

The study of Graphics Technology develops in students an understanding of the significance of graphical communication and the techniques and technologies used to convey technical and non-technical ideas and information. They learn about the application of these techniques and technologies in industrial, commercial and domestic contexts.

Stage 4 - Year 7 and 8 Technology Mandatory

Technology Mandatory engages students in design and production activities as they develop solutions to identified needs and opportunities. In Year 7 students spend a semester studying Digital Technology and Food and Agriculture. In Year 8 students cover Materials Technology and Engineered Systems. The TAS faculty have been extremely impressed with how well Year 7 and 8 were able to transition back into Home-Base Learning, in what has been a very challenging year. Well done!

Year 7 Agriculture Year 7 Agriculture Year 7 Food Technology