Year 9 Semester Exams

At the start of the term, the students were spoken to about the Semester 1 examinations.

There is an examination for each of the core subjects; English, Maths, History, Science and Religious Education.

The exams commence on Thursday 12 June and conclude on Monday 16 June. The students will receive their exam timetable next week. They were shown an example from last year and it ran like this:

Day 1: English

Day 2: Maths and History

Day 3: Science and Religious Education

The reason I show this model is to remind you that students are allowed to leave school at the conclusion of their final exam for the day if permission has been given on PAM. Potentially, on the first day, the exam could be finished by 10.40am. If permission has been given, the student is allowed to leave school to go home. If a student would prefer to study in the Library after the exam, they are allowed to do so. Potentially for Days 2 and 3 the final exam could conclude at 1.20pm.

The purpose of the examination process in Year 9 is to get a feel for what it is like to complete an assessment task for 90 minutes; what it feels like to complete two examinations in a day; to make the best use of reading time for each examination and to experience completing an assessment task in the hall with the year level and not just their Homeroom. Additionally, to test themselves on their recall of content covered in each subject over an extended period of time. A topic test assesses their understanding of the content at the time of learning. An examination calls upon a student’s longer-term recall of the material, with revision materials and lessons provided prior to the examination.

An examination is one form of assessment for the semester. As I have said to the students, there is no assessment; examination, topic test, or assignment to name some forms of assessment, that defines our students. It is their random acts of kindness, their spirit, energy, smiles and their genuine love of life which defines them and during this process they must never forget that they are and always will be more than an assessment.

On Tuesday, the Café Culture students had the opportunity to experience life in a café as their classroom experience was at Vanilla in Oakleigh. It was evident by the photos, that the students were engaged and interested in what the staff of Vanilla had to share with them. Whilst they ate the food and shared a coffee/hot chocolate at Vanilla with their peers, their task now is to design their own high-tea later this term. No doubt from their experience today, their high teas will rival the best Melbourne has to offer. Thank you to Rosa Malignaggi and Jenny Di Blasi for providing our students with this wonderful opportunity.

Religious Education Elective Subjects Commence

This term Year 9 students in their Religious Education classes have commenced their elective subject choices for their RE studies across the preferences of either Living Justice, Women Can Change the World, Cultural context or Mission in Action. Each of these RE elective subjects offer a chance to escape the traditional Religious Education curriculum and delve into subjects that offer ethical/moral thinking, social justice, the role of women in traditional texts in the bible, the various religions and comparisons of different cultures across the world and how we are living out the teachings of Jesus through our community and school life.

Student Reflections

Pastoral – Pat Cronin Foundation

This past Pastoral lesson, we had a heartfelt and significant incursion presented by Blaine Healy from the Pat Cronin Foundation. Across the year level, all the feedback was very positive, and students reflected on what they had learnt. It was saddening to hear the heartbreaking story of Pat, however, it provided us with the opportunity to learn about the dangers of aggression and violence. “Pat will always be 19. He will never have another birthday, or play another footy game, or finish studying health science and physiotherapy under the scholarship he was awarded.” This is the main reflection of the Pat Cronin Foundation. Pat will never be able to fulfil all his dreams after he was punched in the back of the head, the punch later ended his life. The Pat Cronin Foundation works with youths and schools to teach the importance of understanding violence and what it can lead to. The presentation served as a powerful reminder of the consequences of acting with violence. We thank the Pat Cronin Foundation for their heartfelt presentation, and their passion for sharing Pat’s story, and ending ‘The coward punch’.

Keira Blackmore

Year 9

Forensic Science

In Semester 1, one of my electives has been Forensic Science and I have thoroughly enjoyed the subject. I have always loved science, so the opportunity to do an additional science was very exciting. While being fascinating, Forensic Science has given me both practical and theoretical knowledge in the field. Last term, we focused on blood splatters and DNA. A lot of the content was practical based which allowed us to use the microscopes to look at fibres including our hair as well as simulated blood to test relationships such as height versus diameter. This term, we have started looking at fingerprints and the unique patterns they contain. We have used different methods, such as powder and ink pads, to investigate our fingerprints and the patterns they hold. Later this term, we will have an incursion, which will further develop our crime scene investigation skills.

Scarlett Presnall

Year 9

Excursion to the Shrine of Remembrance

This term the Year 9 students went on an excursion to the Shrine of Remembrance. At the Shrine students deepened their understanding of the history of the Shrine and its story. In the Shrine students were informed of the roles that women and men played during World War 1. We learned of the persuading methods that were used to get people to enlist. In the Shrine we got to explore the various rooms including the heart of the Shrine, where a representation of the light that shines over the word ‘love’ only one time a year on the eleventh of the eleventh month at 11am with natural light shining upon it. We also explored the balcony, the internal flame and many artifacts and piece that were firsthand from the war, bettering our knowledge of what the World War 1 was like.

Amy Chapman

Year 9

Jane Cowan

Level Leader: Year 9