From the Senior School
This week the Year 12s celebrated with the annual Trivia Night! As you can see from the photographs, lots of fun was had by all. The competition was fierce as the students and their teachers battled through the rounds, stretching their minds and mining their trivia memory. Many thanks to all the staff who organised the event, the staff in attendance and the Year 11 students who volunteered to help run the night.
All funds raised will be donated to Taldumande Youth Services, a not-for-profit organisation that supports vulnerable and homeless children and young people aged 12 to 24 years and their families from all across Sydney. On any given night, Taldumande has 65 children and young people in residence.
Arnhem Immersion Information Night
The information night for the 2023 Arnhem Immersion will be held on Wednesday 17 May from 6.00pm to 7.00pm in the David Macfarlane Centre (DMC) (near Marden Lawn, opposite the Boarding House) for Year 10 and 11 parents and students who have expressed an interest in this trip.
Justin Porter, the CEO of Culture College Arnhem Land, will be presenting and answering questions. Lamia Rockwell and Kate Howie (Indigenous Education Leader), as well as students who were involved in the 2022 immersion, will also be in attendance.
If you have you have not previously expressed an interest but would like to do so, please contact Allison Chambers (achambers@pymblelc.nsw.edu.au) for further information.
Year 12 Geography Excursion
In Week 2, our Year 12 Geographers travelled up to the Hunter Valley to participate in a range of fieldwork activities relevant to their HSC Exam. On Tuesday, we visited the Hunter Estuary Wetlands. Here, we learned about the intertidal wetland ecosystem, focusing on the biophysical interactions that contribute to its functioning, human threats, and management.
We also conducted several fieldwork methods to collect primary data at three sites in the wetlands. Learning about primary fieldwork methods is a key component of the Stage 6 Geography course and these techniques will be applied to various scenarios in the HSC examination. Tuesday evening was spent in Lovedale, where we stayed overnight at the Crown Plaza and enjoyed a delicious meal at Twine Restaurant.
On Wednesday, we visited Tamburlaine Organic Winery to investigate the factors that affect the operation of the local business. This case study is a critical component of the HSC Course and the engaging and hands on experience at the winery has provided the students with a detailed understanding of the People and Economic Activity topic.
Participating in fieldwork is vital to be a successful Geographer and the experiences provided by the GBE department are broadening the understanding students have of the world around them.
2022 Young Geographer of the Year – STEM category – 2nd place
Year 11 students Carrie Luo, Sara Bruce, Season Lam and Kimberley Spencer have been awarded 2nd place in the STEM category of the Geography Teachers Association of NSW Young Geographer of the Year Awards 2022.
The students won their award for their Elective Geography project called ‘Vertigrow’. Vertigrow was a concept designed by the students as part of their Urban Living Lab STEM challenge, which uses aeroponic technology in buildings to collect and store air moisture in hydrogels from nappies.
This moisture is then used to grow crops that can be used to feed the people living at the Sydney Science Park. The group were awarded $250 for their project. Huge congratulations to the students from everyone in the GBE department.
Term 2 Key dates
Tuesday 9 May – Year 12 Trivia Night
Friday 12 May – Mother’s Day Breakfast
Thursday 25 May – Athletics Carnival
Monday 12 June – King’s Birthday Public Holiday
Tuesday 20 June – Senior School Knit In
Thursday 22 June – Last day of Term 2
Nikki Wyse
Head of Senior School