Academic Life & Learning
Dance Showcase - Talent on Show!
Last Tuesday our dance students performed in their 2022 showcase: XXII. Working incredibly hard throughout the year, the students performed in our purpose built auditorium and absolutely wowed the crowd. They displayed great confidence throughout their routines and left audience members in awe of their talents.
Congratulations to all students involved and thanks to all staff members that assisted to lead-up and running of the event. Special thanks also to Jodie Grieve for capturing some amazing photos on the night.
Congratulations everyone!
Taylor Robinson
Dance Teacher
Science Week 2022
Science Week was a hive of activity Monday to Friday, with our inaugural Primary Science Challenge to top off the week. See Facebook @BelridgeSC for daily posts as each event occurred. The pictures below speak for themselves!
Book Week 2022
Activities celebrating Book Week across Belridge SC were non-stop!
Monday saw the ‘Emoji and book covers’ competitions, Tuesday: ‘Make a sentence out of book covers’ competition, Wednesday: ‘Dress up as a book character’, Harry Potter Collectables and the ever-popular photo booth supplied by Adept Photo Booths. Dymocks, Joondalup gave up their time to host a book chat on Thursday and finally comic making in the library today. Thank you to everyone who supported our events across the week.
Come on down to the Food Hall!
As part of the Year 12’s Certificate II Hospitality students’ assessment by an external VET assessor, Home Economics ran a weekly food hall style lunch service for staff over a 3 week period to ensure students achieved competency in their final unit ‘Use Hospitality Skills Effectively’. Students made to order fresh sandwiches and barista coffee, which proved very popular! Congratulations to all students on successfully passing your final unit.
Micael Corless
Home Economics Teacher
Shark Conservation Incursion
Students in Year 11 Integrated Science, Biology ATAR Year 11 and the Year 7 AEP and 7.7 had the pleasure of a presentation from marine biologist and shark conservation expert Amanda Elizabeth. She was able to visit Belridge Secondary College for an incursion to discuss shark conservation on Wednesday 24 August. Amanda is the Ocean Lead Member for the United Nations Association of Western Australia and is renowned in her field for her work to conserve the drastically dwindling populations of sharks and to spread awareness about the importance of their conservation to the biodiversity of life in our marine ecosystems.
The Year 7's have been investigating different classifications of life and took away a greater understanding about how our food chains and food webs in the oceans work and the roles that different species have, as well as how humans can have impacts on these ecosystems.
The Year 11's have been investigating similar ecology themes in our study of marine biology and additionally, learnt more about shark structural, behavioural and physiological adaptations for survival and trophic relationships. All students thoroughly enjoyed her presentation and left with a greater understanding about the importance of sharks to our ecology.
Liberty Warren
Science Teacher
Amanda Elizabeth - Ocean Lead Member for the United Nations Association of WA
Year 7 AEP Science Enrichment
Perth Zoo Excursion
On the 3rd of August, Year 7 AEP Science students and staff braved the weather conditions and visited the Perth Zoo. Students explored the concept of taxonomic classification and how other types of classification such as diet and conservation status are essential in organising and caring for animals. The weather did not dampen the students’ enthusiasm, and the animals were quite active in the cooler environment, as can be seen in the photos captured on the day.
Year 7 student, Tara Diersen's response to the excursion:
“At the start of the day, we met a Zookeeper called Lauren who took the “Fantastic Beasts and How to Name them” Presentation. We learned about the Radiated Tortoise, a critically endangered species that has found a haven at the Perth Zoo. These tortoises were confiscated from someone who was illegally trading them from the wild in Madagascar. While walking around the Perth Zoo, we saw some of the animals in the nocturnal place getting fed by the zookeepers. Other animals that were fed during our excursion were the fairy penguins, meerkats, and orangutans.”
Year 7 Coordinator and AEP Rebecca Edmonds
Education Assistant Angela Ord
and 7 AEP Science Teacher Joan Orr
Year 8 AEP English
The Young Writers Collective
A focused group of Year 8 Academic Enrichment students were involved in The Literature Centre’s Young Writers Collective seminar during Week 4 on Wednesday 10 August. The workshop was hosted by award-winning novelist Brian Falkner. Brian is an esteemed author, known for his widely successful children’s novels such as BrainJack, The Real Thing, The Super Freak, Shooting Stars and the Katipo Joe series.
The students travelled to the old Fremantle Prison Hospital and were spellbound by Brian’s unique and energetic approach to writing. The students were encouraged to draw upon personal experience to establish intriguing characters and imaginative (often terrifying) worlds, which links into the class’ recent study of fantasy literature and progress in developing engaging narratives. Experiences such as this will help develop an analytical and creative skillset that is transferrable among all classroom subjects.
The variety of useful strategies and insights shared by Brian will be invaluable in the students’ future academic endeavours and it was pleasing to see such exemplary behaviour and contributions from all of those involved.
Many thanks to Ms. Edmonds (AEP Coordinator) for organising such a beneficial experience.
It’s Djilba season with a mix of some cold, rainy and sunny days. It’s the time when the native flowers in the Belridge SC Bindi Bindi garden put on a great show. Although the garden is still a work in progress with a lot of trial and error, some plants have taken off nicely like the Kangaroo Paws. However, hidden in the garden are some gems that are easily overlooked. Let me introduce you to two endangered plants that found refuge in our school. A big thankyou to Michael Lun, Year 10, for the amazing photographs.
Grevillea curviloba. This plant stands out with its creamy white flowers that open in spring. The plant is slightly prickly and can grow up to 2 meters in height providing habitat for local bird species. G. curviloba only occurs in a small part of the Muchea-Bullsbrook area and is critically endangered in the wild. The plant has been propagated successfully and can be found in nurseries on occasion. It loves limestone and therefor grows well in our school garden. It can be found on the eastern side of the garden near student services.
Marianthus paralius. One of the rarest local plants in the Joondalup area. Less than 200 plants are known to grow in the wild from Iluka in the south to Seabird in the north. The plant is mostly creeping along the ground but can climb up to about one-meter high. In the school garden it’s growing on the western end along the fence. M. paralius produces masses of little trumpet-shaped red flowers in spring that are loved by nectar-feeding birds. As its natural habitat is being destroyed by urbanisation, the plant has been made available through nurseries and might survive in settings such as our Bindi Bindi garden.
Photography Credit - Michael Lun (Year 10)
Michael Werner
Science Teacher and Bindi Bindi Garden Coordinator
Blue Tree Project
The student body spoke and the student council listened. Support for the Blue Tree project topped the votes back in Term 1 for something the students wanted at Belridge to better our school community. With the support of Student Services, and on R U OK day on the 8th September, we finally delivered, and you can see our beautiful, bright blue tree on Ocean Reef Road as you drive past.
The Blue Tree project is to help spark difficult conversations and encourage people to speak up when battling mental health concerns.
By spreading the paint and spreading the message that "It’s OK to not be OK", we can help break down the stigma that’s still largely attached to mental health. Blue Tree project is also our chosen charity for our Containers for Change project, donating over $50 on our first drop off, which was only 5 weeks into collecting!
#itsoktonotbeok
Jade Wright
Student Council Coordinator
"R U OK?" Day
Home Economics Creations
Ski on over to Bricktober!
Students Ben Kay, Lachlan Barnard, Zac Greentree and Nate Allen have been hard at work since the beginning of Term 2 to create a display to be entered into the annual Bricktober event being held at Curtin Stadium from 8-9 October.
Students are excited to be participating again this year, with the theme of their 2022 display being a Ski Resort! Many hours over recess and lunch time have been put in to build their creation. This was also made possible by the generous donation of the Rotary Club of Ascot of a Lego tub.
Audra Keeble
Education Assistant
Still me, still human
Belridge celebrated ‘Wear It Purple Day’ on Friday 26 August. This day is an annual LGBTIQA+ awareness day especially for young people. Students and staff donned purple to celebrate diversity and young people from the LGBTIQA+ community.
We shared messages of support ‘Still me, still human’, engaged in education, started important conversations, and worked to create a community where all young people know they're loved and supported. Also, the ‘Rainbow Club’ (a LGBTIQA+ community at Belridge), ran a very successful bake sale - raising an impressive $199.50.
Grae Hastings
English Teacher
Music to your ears...
A shout out to our classical guitar students who performed at the annual WA Classical Guitar Ensemble Festival this month. It was an absolute pleasure to watch them perform and I am pleased to announce that they received an Outstanding Award, the highest of the four awards offered. In addition to performing ensemble pieces, Dexter Cooper and William Hyder also performed solo pieces as a part of the Festival. Both students were pleased with their performances and received positive feedback from the adjudicators. A massive thank you to Kylie Walpole, the ensembles director, for all her work with our students.
Zachary Offszanka
Music Teacher
Geography Fieldtrip
On Thursday 11 August, the ATAR and General Geography students undertook fieldwork activities in Perth's Central Business District (CBD) and Inner Mixed Zone (IMZ).
The students departed from Edgewater station at 08:45 and made their way (via train and CAT bus) to Claisebrook Cove. It was here the students observed and recorded the features that makes this area one of the most desirable inner-city locations surrounding Perth but also evidence of East Perth's industrial past, culminating with a field sketch of Optus Stadium from the picturesque Victoria Gardens.
Departing Victoria Gardens (again on CAT bus) the students then headed to the cultural hub of Perth, Northbridge. Students made their way through Yagan Square and then along James, Lake, and Aberdeen Streets, witnessing the sights, smells, and sounds of the diverse food scene, independent retailers, and a thriving arts and entertainment scene.
Students then made their way past Boola Bardip, across Wellington St, through a maze of arcades to end up in the financial core of WA, St Georges Terrace. It was here students observed and recorded various urban processes, as well as appreciating Perth's global position in the resources sector before making their way through London Court and into the Hay St Mall for lunch.
During lunch, which gave students free-range of the malls, they were able to observe and make note of all the factors that make this area the retail centre of Perth, including undertaking some retail therapy of their own. Once lunch concluded, we made our way to the Perth Underground and headed back to the suburbs.
A special thanks to both classes for their exemplary behaviour on the day.
Mr Stevens
HASS Teacher
CO2 Dragster event
On Friday 9 September, the state-wide CO2 Dragster Competition was hosted at Belridge Secondary College.
This is the first year Mr Cox’s Year 9 Mechatronics students and his Education Support class had entered CO2 Dragsters into the competition and the results were very pleasing. Whilst our students did not win in Category A, one of our entries came in a close second in the races.
I would like to thank the organiser, Mr Peter Pooley, for letting us host the event, Mr Paul Bennett, for allowing us the use of the gym for the event, Ms. Cheryl for catering, the Education Support staff who supported their students through the process of developing their CO2 Dragsters and Mr Dean Cox, for making this idea a reality for our school and students. A special mention for Jodie Grieve for the awesome photos of the event.
Our Year 9 students Mechatronics class represented the College very well.
Finally, we wish to extend our sincere thanks to the Rotary Club of Northbridge for their financial donation which enabled this STEM project to go ahead.
Lucius Chen
Head of Learning Area
Technology & Enterprise
Career and Enterprise Excursion
Perth’s Annual Skills West
Careers and Employment Expo
On Thursday 25 August Year 11 and 12 students attended the annual Skills West Careers and Employment Expo, held at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre. The annual event is WA’s biggest careers and employment-based events, The Expo hosted over 140 organisations and employers, which allowed students to directly network with a wide range of training and employment providers. Attendees also got the opportunity to:
- Gain free career advice;
- Enjoy the daily Career Seminars;
- Learn how to write a winning resume;
- Talk with key organisations at the Construction Training Fund’s Construction Hub;
- Speak with members of the Australian Defence Force;
- Experience the Try a Skill Interactive Displays; and
- See the WA WorldSkills Regional Competition
The excursion was organised and supported by the College’s Career Practitioner, Mr Mouritz, who teaches the Year 11 and 12 subject, Career and Enterprise. As expected, all students in attendance represented Belridge Secondary College proudly, as student behaviour was exceptional.
Students spent the afternoon travelling to the city on a chartered bus to allocate an hour and a half navigating their way through each exhibitor’s stand. Students benefitted from the opportunity to directly source tertiary course information from a range of TAFE, university and private training providers; as well as directly network with some of Australia’s well-known government and private employers. It was great to see so many of our students confidently ask for information, advice and access resources to take away with them for future reference.
Year 9 Career Taster Program
‘Let’s Get Technical’ Excursion
On Friday 26 August I was fortunate enough to accompany 12 enthusiastic Year 9 students on a 'Career Taster' excursion to North Metropolitan TAFE’s East Perth campus, for the ‘Let’s Get Technical’ Information Technology (IT) based Career Taster excursion. Students spent the day in lecture theatres and a range of IT studios, which exposed them to what studying in an adult work environment is like, as well as how gaining skills and a TAFE qualification can lead to meaningful employment in a range of IT based industries and workplaces. Students from five other schools attended the excursion and it was great to note that all Belridge students conducted themselves in an exemplary manner. The purpose of the day was to expose students to information technology-based activities, delivered by a range of TAFE lecturers, and to get students to explore the range of career pathway options available in the Information Technology and Digital Technologies industries.
Students spent the day being exposed to an adult work environment and got the chance to experience real world application of skills and qualifications gained via Tertiary and Further Education (TAFE) pathways. During the first session of the day students were briefed in a lecture theatre and were provided with information regarding pursuing studies and employment in Cyber Security, Computer Programming, Digital Media, and Networking. Students were made aware of the different student options available to them in the future, including Certificate and Diploma courses, as well as opportunities to complete IT based TAFE courses in Year 11 and 12, one day a week, combined with their secondary studies.
Highlights of the day included listening to students address lecturers and TAFE staff by their first names, as well as students being involved in a workshop with Lindsay, who delivers Certificates III and IV in Screen and Media at North Metropolitan TAFE’s Joondalup campus. Students were amazed that the lecturer had used their digital animation skills to work on the animation for the hugely successful films, The Matrix and Moulin Rouge. Students also really enjoyed their afternoon workshop with lecturer, Ingrid, who exposed students to computer programming with Python and using micro-nodes to complete a range of computer coding tasks.
Feedback from students was positive, as many Year 9's commented that the day’s activities encouraged them to think about the many study and career pathway options available to them in the IT industry.
This event was only one of a range of ‘career tasters’ being made available to Year 9 students during the year. There will be a number of opportunities for Year 9 students to be involved in career taster events throughout Semester 2.
“Ready VET Go” Excursion to Pentanet Stadium: Home of the West Perth Falcons WAFL Club
On Tuesday 6 September, 16 Year 10 Belridge students recently attended the first ‘Ready VET Go’ Careers Presentation and Expo, held at Pentanet Stadium, home of the West Perth Falcon’s WAFL Team. The event was organised by the recently created Wanneroo Industry Training Hub, designed to support young people - including Belridge students – to engage with industry representatives and explore their Vocational Education and Training (VET) options. The excursion was supported by Associate Principal, Carlos Notarpietro and Ashley Mouritz, the College’s Career Practitioner.
Prior to the excursion students were briefed about VET pathway options and provided with up to date labour market information, such as the industries that are currently experiencing widespread skills shortages, including health and community services and construction. Once students arrived at Pentanet Stadium they actively listened to a range of industry representatives and current VET students explain the importance of exploring VET career pathway options and choosing a pathway that you ‘love’. Students then had the opportunity to directly network with approximately 30 representatives from a range of companies and training providers. Many Belridge students embraced this networking opportunity and had several of their career pathway related queries addressed by industry and training providers. Bakers Delight staff were in attendance. They were a very popular exhibitor, as they were providing free iced buns if you engaged with their staff!
At the end of the event students were reminded of the importance of making informed career related decisions and to continue to seek out resources they can use to develop a suitable and meaningful individual career pathway on completion of their secondary studies.
Ashley Mouritz
Career Practitioner
E: Ashley.Mouritz@education.wa.edu.au
P: 08 9408 8015
