Academic Life & Learning
Thank you Edith Cowan University!
Belridge students were delighted to receive a gift box filled with Micro:bits, breadboards, connectors, sensors, wheels and other robotics components. The items were kindly gifted to us by the School of Science at Edith Cowan University. Students in our Digital Technologies classes are having a wonderful time discovering their creativity and extending their skills. We would like to thank the School of Science at Edith Cowan University for their support of our school. Our working relationship has provided many opportunities for Belridge students and staff, in the form of workshops and lab sessions, as well as in providing classroom resources.
Liz Cassidy
Head of Technologies
Lockers - Physical Education block
The school has purchased 120 new lockers which have been placed on the outer gymnasium wall. These lockers are for a period use only. If a student requires a locker permanently (for the year), they can organise this through Student Services. The permanent (year-long) lockers are located in the Mathematics and English block.
Guidelines for the use of these new lockers are:
- These lockers are solely for use by students during physical education lessons and recess/lunch breaks.
- Year 7 students should make use of these lockers to store their laptops during Physical education lessons. Other students may also use them.
- The use of these lockers is solely for one period.
- Students must bring their own lock, place it on a locker at the start of the period and remove it at the end of the period with their belongings.
- Any locks left on lockers at the end of the school day will be cut off. The contents of the locker will be taken to reception.
Mario Pisano
Vice Principal Middle School
Bush Tucker Garden ... Progress so far
From little things, big things grow.
Our bush tucker project, initiated from Year 7 Academic Enrichment students in 2019, is progressing rapidly this term. All the hours spent behind the scenes, designing, creating, researching, discussing, investigating, engaging with others, involving students, staff and community, complying with restrictions and volunteering time has been extremely successful. Our garden space is taking shape – utilising native species, many found locally in the Yellagonga Regional area, and other edible native plants.
This is an inclusive whole school project which will continue to grow and transform over time as the plants grow and the needs of students and staff evolve. Without the generosity and investment to our project from the following staff, students, local organisations and businesses, our project would not survive.
Mr Njegich expresses his thanks to Jason Leahy from Galvins Hardware in Osborne Park for the donation and free delivery of the large soak well lid that will be used as a base for one of the murals that are being completed by students from the art department.
A special thank you to Tyler Henderson a parent of three students at the school, from Response Civil Equipment & Machinery Hire for giving away his time and equipment on a Sunday morning to move the pavers from the back of the Design Technology to the Bush Tucker Garden area near Student Services ready for the pavers to complete their work.
Adrian Ilies and his amazing team from Imperial Paving & Landscaping for the great job they did in record time of the pathway through the garden. Well done guys on some excellent workmanship.
Thank you also to:
The 2020 Year 8 Academic Enrichment class for the initial idea and continual involvement from research of each plant species to weeding the area in preparation for planting. Thank you to Joan Orr, Maddi Dimitroff and Kerry Clarke for investing time within your learning curriculum to engage students in this project.
Scott Amy, Chairperson BSC Board, for workshopping the initial stages of this project with students.
Lorraine McFarlane from Bunnings Warehouse, Joondalup for donating many of the edible plants for this project.
Ciara McIlduff, Volunteer Coordinator from Yanchep National Park for donating many native plants, species which are representative to our local area.
Sue from Native Landscapes for the donation of one large grasstree and several natives to complement our garden.
Dr Michael Werner and Narae Howard for donating 350L of soil improver to provide our plants with the best chance of survival.
Mark Spencer, parent, who worked tirelessly at our Busy Bee digging holes to plant the plants.
Kai Spencer, Shae Kavanagh, Mia Cain and Meeka Abdullah for volunteering their time after school at our Busy Bee.
Lloyd Silva, Phil Leenman and the MSEP students for installing the bunting to protect this area.
Darren Vernham our school gardener for supporting and adapting to our requests for this space.
Mr Denis Simmons for providing Aboriginal perspective for garden design, form and function.
Jodie Grieve for volunteering time to capture photos of our project as it grows and changes.
Bush Tucker Garden Team for their passion and dedication to the project: Rebecca Millett, Pietro Papasergio, Hannah Sanders, Made Dimitroff, Lazo Njegich, Ms Cheryl, Micael Corless, Maddy Jones, Kerry Clarke, Chloe Ironmonger, Rebecca Edmunds, Tiffany Bresnan, Janneke Markovi, Brett Crosbie, Dr Michael Werner, Narae Howard, Bridgid Lafferty, Hal Spedding and Glynne Bartle for volunteering at the Busy Bees.
BSC Executive Team for ongoing support for this project.
Again, a big thank you to these supporters of a worthy project; without the help of parents and the community, projects like these would not be possible.
Glynne Bartle
and The Bush Tucker Team Committee
Academic Enrichment STEM Focus:
Preparing our Students
Students have been challenged as they engage their critical and creative thinking to work through the self-paced online Introduction to Python Programming within their science curriculum. As with learning any new language, students may experience difficulties, however, this group of bright young minds are relishing the rewards of their efforts as they progress through each level. Soon, they will enter the National Programming Competition and pit their skills against other students across our country. A huge thank you to Mrs Narae Howard for embracing this new initiative which will benefit our students of the future.
Glynne Bartle
Academic Enrichment Coordinator
Home Economics
Our Year 8 students also continued developing their cooking skills by practicing different ways to cook eggs in preparation for cooking a healthy breakfast as their main assessment on return to school. They were required to demonstrate safety and hygiene while preparing their eggs at home. As you can see we have some of budding chefs in the making.
Home Economics Teacher
Middle School Engagement Program
During Term 1 Our Middle School Engagement Program was held with 7 of our Year 9 boys undertaking a number of projects, with the main one being the restoration of an old utility table from the Design and Technology learning area. With the assistance of Mr Silva from the D&T department the boys measured, cut and dressed the timber using the heavy equipment available and then reassembled the table making it a handy addition to the D&T department. Another aspect of the program was to build relationships and spend some time exploring relationship building with male role models, communication skills, tolerance, understanding decision making and consequences, emotional regulation, building resilience and respect.
Phil Leenman
Chaplain
New Performing Arts Centre
