Year 7 - Science Safety

Ms Batka’s Year 7 students have been learning about safety in the Science lab and have demonstrated safe Bunsen Burner skills.  Pictured here are students proudly receiving their Bunsen Burner licence!

Year 7's now ready to go!

Year 10 Science
Cementing Knowledge Recall...

Ms Batka's Year 10's General Science class have made a creative start to the year by demonstrating their 'knowledge recall' on parts of the atom - great work!

Year 12 Integrated Science

On Wednesday, 14 February 2024, the Year 12 Integrated Science students travelled to Neil Hawkins Park on an excursion to investigate the water quality and macroinvertebrate life of Lake Joondalup. Throughout the day, we conducted various exciting tasks, including conducting a site survey of the area and completing water quality tests. Some students even braved the muddy shores and got their hands dirty whilst searching for macroinvertebrate life in water samples from the lake.

We had the opportunity to work with Mariah, a skilled volunteer in the ecology field thanks to the ‘Nearer to Nature’ organisation, who specialise in delivering environmental based educational programs, which focus on conserving WA’s unique biodiversity.

Overall, the day was a success with students braving the heat, and many earning real world experience in the ecology field. To add to the experience, we even sighted some long-neck turtles in the lake!

Charlotte Vinson
Year 12 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Archaeology

On Wednesday afternoon, students from HASS 7.2 became cookie archaeologists as they completed a “dig” of chocolate chip cookies. Students were given a sheet of paper with two grids containing a section for artefacts (chocolate chips) and a section for sediment (cookie crumble). Students had to plot on the grid where they found the chocolate chips and excavate the artefacts (chocolate chips) delicately with a toothpick, trying not to break the any. A few cookies crumbled, but in the end all the chocolate chips and cookies were eaten.

Cookie archaeology allows students to discover how an archaeological dig is conducted, with archaeologists sometimes having to remove delicate artefacts from the ground, where they may have been hidden for centuries. Plotting the information on a grid allows archaeologists to keep a record of where artefacts are found during the dig. These records, as well as different scientific techniques used to date artefacts, can be used to uncover mysteries about people who lived in the past.

Mrs Lisa Manning
Humanities & Social Sciences Teacher

Vocational and Education Training (VET) News

Term 1 has seen a very positive start across the various VET opportunities that we offer here at the College. In addition to the six Certificate Programs we deliver on site, we also have over 40 students completing numerous qualifications at our partner Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) through the VET Delivered in Secondary Schools (VETDSS) Program. This includes carpentry, music-based programs, electronics, screen and media, health related courses and many others.

Our most recent addition is the Certificate IV in School Based Education Support. A group of Year 11 students have enrolled in this qualification as part of their senior school studies and completion of this course, which has been fully funded, can create immediate employment opportunities and gives students direct university entry options.

Well done to all students who have made a positive and proactive commitment to their respective Certificate qualifications and thank you to all the trainers and teachers who continue to support and develop our learners.

Mr Adam Smith
Program Coordinator – Senior School Pathways

Year 9 ‘Construction Futures Centre’
Career Taster

The first Year 9 career taster for the year took place on Friday, 23 February (Week 4), involving 29 students interested in finding out more about career opportunities in the construction industry. Career Practitioner, Mr Mouritz and Senior School Pathways Coordinator, Mr Smith escorted students to the Construction Training Fund’s purpose-built Construction Futures Centre (CFC). The Construction Futures Centre, which is funded by the state government and is designed to educate and encourage students to learn about the diverse construction career options through immersive experiences. Excitingly, Belridge students were the first in the state to visit the recently improved facility this year.

During the excursion students participated in a range of hands-on activities at the recently renovated centre. Students had the opportunity to explore construction-based opportunities in the commercial, residential, mining, and civil sectors. The construction industry is very diverse, and students explored a range of trade based, professional and para-professional opportunities that they can pursue on completion of their studies. Students also received information about the importance of exploring and planning their career pathway journeys by being involved in future College based events, such as specific construction and trade-based career tasters, applying for Vocational Education delivered to Secondary School Students (VETDSS) TAFE certificates for Years 10 to 12; as well as participating in construction safety training (White Card), Try-a-Trade programs and Workplace Learning once they are in Years 11 and 12.  At the end of the day students were praised by CFC and Belridge staff for the impressive way they conducted themselves during the event. The career taster opened students’ eyes to the many trade-based pathways they can follow once they complete their studies at the College. Attendees are now encouraged to continue exploring their career pathway options and to begin making career development-based decisions.

This career taster was the first of many career-based excursions and incursions that have been planned for the year. A maximum of 40 Year 9 female students have the opportunity of participating in a ‘girls only’ version of this event next term. Potential careers taster attendees are requested to regularly visit the ‘Year 9 Career Taster Program’ Connect community so that they can receive news and updates of future career taster opportunities.

Mr Ashley Mouritz - Career Practitioner; and
Mr Adam Smith - Senior Schools Pathway Coordinator

Year 9 AEP - ECU CREATE

On Friday, 23 February 2024, 32 Year 9 AEP Science students travelled to ECU, Joondalup to participate in the ECU CREATE program.

CREATE is a “hands-on” experience offered by the School of Engineering at ECU, specifically designed to introduce engineering and technology products and processes to young secondary school students who might be contemplating upper school subject choices in STEM.

Students had a short Q&A presentation from an ECU “Future” student, discussing the types of engineering available at ECU, the world class facilities, student clubs and the multiple pathways into the School of Engineering.

We split into two groups, completing two activities. The first, Engineering Mechanics, was based around the fundamentals of designing a truss bridge, and the tension and compression forces in components of the bridge. Students tested their designs through trial and error, making modifications and changes to produce the most cost effective design. Two students managed to meet the cheapest and most efficient design produced.

The second activity, Automation, was the process of using physical machines, computer software and other technologies to perform tasks usually done by humans. Students developed control systems for operating a mechanical arm. Different tasks with different requirements challenged the students and enhanced their understanding of critical thinking skills.

Mrs Claire Green and Mr Benjamin French
HASS Teacher and Mathematics Teacher