Hospitality

Our Year 11 and 12 Hospitality students have begun Pre–School Perks, a coffee club that operates out of our Home Economics room. Five days a week from 8:00am to 8:30am students prepare and serve espresso coffee and interact with customers, the most loyal being Mr MacMahon and Mr Stephens. Throughout the term, all hospitality students will have the opportunity to be the daily barista, supervisor and delivery person.

Herb Garden

Our fresh herb garden was planted earlier this month. After weeds were cleared, soil conditioned and reticulation installed, a large array of herbs were planted for use in our Home Economics classes. Special thanks to Rebecca Hartley and Pauline Hull for making this happen.

Cooking Classes

Our Year 8 students have begun cooking this term and are learning to make an array of healthy lunches and our upper school classes are creating complex seasonal dishes. The Year 10 Vocational Food’s classes recently learnt how to make fresh pasta, using the pasta machines to create fettucine which they stirred through a delicious Sicilian chicken dish.

Kristie Wintle
Home Economics Teacher

HASS Week 2021

Last term, Week 9 we celebrated all things Humanities. Across the year groups and in classes, students were able to participate in a number of activities relevant to the curriculum they had been studying. Year 7's enjoyed designing the inside of tombs, using the traditional Ancient Egyptian methods of tomb writing and story telling. They then cut out the shape and created pyramids fit for the next Pharoah. The Year 8's who are currently studying Liveability for Geography built 3D models of buildings within cities and placed them according to the rules of city planning. The Year 9's enjoyed getting creative with wreath making for our Anzacs for the World War One curriculum and used tissue paper to create masterpieces that then went on display in the library for commemoration of Anzac Day.

We had a wonderful time celebrating all things HASS and there was some amazing work created, well done.

In the Ancient Egypt curriculum in Humanities, Year 7's have been learning about burial customs and mummification. Following the instructions for mummification, minus the removal of organs of course, we practised traditional wrapping of the body after the embalming process. In pairs or groups of three, the self nominated mummy lay down on the table, ready to be wrapped. The wrapper learnt first hand just how difficult the wrapping process and the mummy learnt just how hot being wrapped up in bandages can be! Everyone had so much fun either doing the wrapping or being wrapped and we all gained a better understanding of such a complex procedure. We followed up with a 'how to' poster for the entire gruesome process.

Jade Wright
HASS Teacher

Guitar Masterclass

On the 28th of April our guitar students and their tutor, Kylie Walpole, had the opportunity of a lifetime when Jonathon Paget, Head of Guitar at WAAPA, came to the school to give a masterclass. The one-and-a-half-hour session was an occasion for these students to be inspired by seeing the very best of what can be achieved on their instruments and was well received by all who attended.

We were very grateful to Jonathon for giving up his time to come and share his knowledge with our students. 

Zachary Offszanka 
Music Teacher

Year 7 - Academic Enrichment

The Year 7, AE HASS class have been investigating Ancient Egypt. Over the past few weeks they have had the opportunity to use their STEM skills to investigate and create. They were given the challenge to create a pyramid using only toothpicks and clay. In small groups, they brainstormed and overcame challenges to build some impressive structures and artefacts to be ‘buried’ in their pyramids.

The class also learnt about the mummification process and participated in an experiment to see what salt combination was best for mummifying an apple slice. They predicted what they thought would work and then left their slices in the salts for just over a week. It was very interesting to see the results of how mixtures of table salt, epsom salt and bi-carb soda work to draw out moisture and preserve these apples.

Rebecca Edmonds
HASS Teacher

Inspiring students - Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research (HPIMR)

Year 12 Biology ATAR students from Belridge SC joined students from Lynwood SHS, and were given the opportunity to observe and interact with scientists at HPIMR. Forming part of an assessment, students took part in the BioDiscovery Centre Biotechnology Program.

They were guided by medical research scientists to use laboratory techniques and knowledge utilised in medical research. Sessions included amplifying a DNA sample in search for the BRAF gene that codes for melanoma, loading a gel for electrophoresis to make a DNA profile, and taking a tour of the labs to better understand the work involved in scientific research.

HPI is a world leading medical research hub, conducting innovative research that translates into lasting health benefits. A key focus of the institute is to engage school groups into the world of medical research through the Lotterywest Biodiscovery Centre.

“I found the experience to be very informative as we performed a wide range of scientific skills that are used in the field of Biological Science. One of these was learning the skill of micro-pipetting. Overall, I would highly rate the excursion as it was also an enjoyable activity.”
-Nic Harrold

“It was very interesting to work through the scientific processes of PCR and gel electrophoresis, and link them to real life applications, such as treating cancer. A fun and informative excursion.”
-Felix Longworth-Baker

Joan Orr
Year 12 Biology ATAR Teacher

Celebrating Science Ambassadors

Sharing your passion with others, not only provides joy but can also infect others with your passion. Five recent Academic Enrichment graduates volunteered to be our resident Science Ambassadors at our recent Taster Day for the 2022 STEM AE Program offered at Belridge SC for Year 5 and 6 students.

The excitement of learning biological classification through playing fishing games, utilising technology to create augmented reality focusing on the ocean sustainability and engineering, building and racing ships balancing speed and buoyancy exuded a buzz throughout the classroom. I’m not sure who had more fun; our Year 5 and Year 6 participants or our amazing Year 10 Science Ambassadors?

Thank you Ethan Gordon, Georgia Lanchbury, Kynan Sharpe, Danny Stewart and Aliesha Thorpe for inspiring the next generation of scientists. Thank you also to Ms Joan Orr, Ms Karen Lopez and Ms Melanie Hudson for initiating this exciting STEM experience for all. 

Glynne Bartle
Academic Enrichment Coordinator 

Applications for the AE STEM Program 2022 'first round offers' have now closed.  However, applications are still welcomed to be placed on our waiting list. 

https://belridgecollege.wa.edu.au/future-students/forms-downloads-and-useful-links/