Tag: Duncraig

VET Induction Day

November 29, 2017

As part of their VET Induction Day today, Year 11 and 12 Duncraig and Carramar students were joined by past St Stephen’s School students who discussed the benefits of learning through VET. Patrick Middleton, AKA DJ Miiddy, and Miss Tara Roberts, who is now a teacher at Carramar Kindy, spoke to students about how their VET experience set them on amazing career paths.

What is VET?

VET is Vocational Education and Training.

  • Work (Vocational) Education in a particular field that they have chosen.
  • Training in skills that they need for this particular field by an experienced trainer/teacher.
  • Practical (skills) assessment based education.

“As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom…” – Daniel 1:17

 

Fishy Excursion

November 29, 2017

The Year 10 Marine Science students spent today at AQWA, exploring the various marine habitats of the Western Australian coast which we have spent the term studying.

The students also had the opportunity to Discover SCUBA Diving for the first time in AQWA’s new purpose-built tank. This was a fantastic opportunity for them to experience breathing underwater and the change in pressure which is often daunting for inexperienced divers.

After an immensely successful day there looks like lots of them have caught the SCUBA-bug and will hopefully be taking part in an Open Water Course in Year 11 or 12!”

Mrs Hudson, Mr Boland & Mr Nicholson

Science Teachers

 

“Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.” God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good.” – Genesis 1:20-21

Grease is the Word

November 28, 2017


Over 100 students across both campuses auditioned to be a part of next year’s musical, Grease. Our Drama teachers have been blown away by the sheer talent of our students, which will make for a slick production.

“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!” – Psalm 27:6

Sport Achievement

November 28, 2017

Year 9 student Louise Gishubl has been selected to represent Western Australia in the 2018 Australian Futsal Association National Championships.Louise’s fancy footwork has earned her a spot in the West Coast Futsal Under 13s State Team who will jet off to Sydney for the tournament in early January. However, next year’s Championships won’t be the first for the Futsal veteran – Louise has previously travelled to Sydney and Brisbane to represent WA in the unique sport. “Because I was the youngest in my team a couple of years ago, I learned a lot from watching them play,” she said. Playing in previous National Championships has helped Louise develop her skills and refine her Futsal technique. “When I got on [court], I would use what I’d seen in my game and that helped me improve,” she explained. Futsal is an adaptation of soccer, played on a hard court with five players on each team. Played indoors on courts slightly smaller than a soccer field, Futsal enables players to refine their skills and be a little more creative in their gameplay. “Because the ball moves so fast, you can learn to control your skills,” Louise said. St Stephen’s School Principal Mrs Donella Beare is proud to see St Stephen’s School students like Louise take part in unique extra-curricular activities. “Reaching the National Championship is an outstanding achievement for Louise. We are thrilled to see her not only represent Western Australia in Futsal, but represent St Stephen’s School in the wider community,” she said.

The Australian Futsal Association National Championships will run in Sydney from 5 – 10 January, 2018.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1

Combined Campus Languages PD

November 27, 2017

Our Duncraig campus hosted a languages PD on Monday which involved teachers from both our Duncraig and Carramar campuses. The PD was lead by Kate Reitzenstein, the languages consultant from AISWA, and focused on deepening student engagement with languages through a range of innovative teaching methods. The PD also involved teachers from the primary and secondary schools. I’m sure our students will benefit from this excellent PD opportunity.

Howie Jakeway

Head of Learning Area- English and Languages

“Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.” – Psalm 119:66

Mousetrap? Year 9 Science

November 27, 2017

As part of their study of the Scientific Method, the Year 9 Science students planned, designed, built and tested an original Rube Goldberg machine, with the aim of catching a mouse!

 

 

The students incorporated a number of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics principles to make the machine work. After multiple test runs and various last minute adjustments, the students were ready for a final attempt. There were a few little hiccups, but on the whole it was a success.

Ben Nicholson

Science and Mathematics Teacher

 

“For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.” – Hebrews 3:4

 

Yumilicious Learning

November 27, 2017

The students in Year 10 Foods were required to research a functional property of food and choose a recipe to demonstrate thi

These budding Chefs, created the most sensational cakes, worthy of selling! 

Angela Robertson

Home Economics Teacher

 

“Heap on the logs, kindle the fire, boil the meat well, mix in the spices…” – Ezekiel 24:10

Service Tour of India

November 27, 2017

The inaugural trip to India has been an eye-opening experience for staff and students. After a long journey they finally made it to Woodstock School.

Students are immersing themselves in India’s rich culture on the once-in-a-lifetime India Service Tour. On day four at Woodstock, students spent the morning painting the new library at Kaplani Village School, before setting off on an Indian food safari to the town of Mussoorie.

What an amazing opportunity.  Follow the students’ blog here: http://bit.ly/2jUon5K

Below are just a few of the photos from the trip so far:

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” – Matthew 25:35

Library Lifeline

November 24, 2017

With the increased reliance on devices, it is more important than ever for us to offer charging amenities for our students. Devices like laptops, iPads and phones have become important educational tools that facilitate a productive learning environment. As the popularity of such devices continues to grow, keeping a device charged can be an issue. A dead battery limits student productivity.

The Secondary Library has installed a Charging Station with a multitude of different chargers.  Charging stations are fixed units that feature separate locking compartments where a student can leave their device to charge safely.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” – Thessalonians 5:11

 

SEQTA – what to expect and some guidelines

November 23, 2017

 

Dear Parents

SEQTA is an amazing tool for schools and I would encourage both students and parents to check it regularly.

Please note that SEQTA is a resource to supplement teaching NOT an online substitute for the relationship between a teacher and student. Your child spends 320 minutes a day in personal contact with their teachers – and your child has every opportunity to receive help, ask questions and take ownership of their work. I would encourage parents to  grow the independence of their children rather than to expect SEQTA to be the prime source of information.

SEQTA is a great insight for parents – but again, the conversations that are then initiated between parents, teacher and student are of the most value.

I would encourage parents and students to ensure that they are aware of the documents attached to each course: course outlines, assessment schedules and other resources are available in SEQTA for reference, saving or printing at any time. I would also encourage parents to ask for help and to keep an eye out for the SEQTA information evenings which are often run at the start of each year.

Teachers will on occasion deviate from their teaching plan because students may require extra time for understanding and consolidation. That is part of good teaching and might disrupt a plan previously put in place.  We all know that parents and teachers constantly adapt as the needs of children evolve. Individual teachers will decide the format or formats for the submission of work – sometime these may be in hard copy, sometimes they might be uploaded to SEQTA, emailed or handed in on USB. This will depend on the nature of the task and the format the teacher feels is best. Teachers are striving to meet the expectations below. Some teachers already exceed these and use SEQTA very extensively. The expectations below are our target and while many staff will go beyond these, staff are not expected to.

 

The SEQTA experience for parents

Duncraig and Carramar Secondary

 

Cover Page

The purpose of the cover page is to contain an overview of the course. It should be an easy reference for information about the entire year of work.

It contains a copy (or a link) to the assessment schedule, program and syllabus.

 

Assessments

  • The assessment schedule should be developed at the start of the year. Lower school students are to have the entire semester of assessments visible to parents and students. Year 11 and 12 are to have the entire year’s assessments visible
  • Assessment titles should include the weighting and clear labels that are succinct.
  • Task sheet/assessment description and marking guide/rubric are to be added at an appropriate time.
  • Marks for summative assessments should be made visible, within three weeks of the assessment being finalised.
  • If there is more than one class, all marks are to be made visible at the same time.
  • Exam marks are to be released at the end of the exam period.
  • Formative assessments can be visible with a weighting of zero.
  • Assessment feedback will be placed in the Marks Book on a regular basis.

 

(Lesson) Planning

Students, parents/carers and other staff should be able to see what has been planned on a week-by-week basis (as a minimum). Clarity in lesson naming is essential.

 

Lesson Resources

It should be clear where students can access resources and links. Students may be required to enter homework themselves on occasion.

 

Documents Section

This is used to store documents that parents/carers might need to access at any point of the year.

Documents include anything from a Parent Information Night slide show, Curriculum Handbooks, and the Assessment Policy.

Bruce Titlestad

Head of Secondary