The past week has allowed a range of year groups and key subject areas to engage in activities that complement the day to day work of classroom teaching and learning. On Wednesday, approximately 85 students and 3 staff attended the Year 11 Investigating Science and Biology excursion to Bicentennial Park at Homebush. The purpose of the excursion was to investigate changes in past ecosystems,  the role of changing climate on ecosystems and to explore practices used to restore damaged ecosystems. Year 9 Physical Activity and Sports Studies (PASS) students took part in a Wheelchair Basketball Incursion. This opportunity supported their current area of study relating to Physical Activity for Specific Groups. 

Yesterday saw all of Year 10 attend the Bstreetsmart program at Qudos Bank Arena. Bstreetsmart is a driver training initiative established by the Trauma Unit at Westmead Hospital, where young people aged between 15 – 30 are disproportionately represented in road trauma. The purpose of the Bstreetsmart program is to reduce the fatality and injury rates of young people by promoting safe behaviour as drivers, riders and passengers through the provision information and strategies aimed at avoiding serious injuries and the reduction of  risk taking behaviour through greater awareness of the consequences of distracted driving, inattention, speeding, drink and drug driving and driver fatigue. The program supports the unit of study completed last term on Road Safety. Thank you to the staff who organised and supervised each of these activities and to our students for the manner in which they engaged and supported the opportunities to put some of their classroom learning into a practical reality.

Next week will see further co-curricular activities including:

• Year 12 HSC Major Works exhibition on Tuesday evening
• Year 9 & 10 Elective Music excursion to the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday
• Year 8 Science Incursion on Thursday
• Bangawarra Cultural Day excursion to Kiama for Indigenous students on Thursday
• 2024 SRC Induction Day on Thursday
• MISA Year 10 Public Speaking competition on Thursday
• MISA Chess Championships on Friday.

As usual, thanks in advance to all staff and students involved in these various initiatives that support Student Learning and Wellbeing.

Finally, a couple of reminders for students and carers. 

• Please check-in at the Front Office if you wish to drop things off to your son or daughter during the school day. We have a duty of care for all students to ensure that all interactions with people from off site during the day are signed in. 
• Both Interline and Busabout are experiencing some issues with bus numbers and students tapping on and off in the morning and afternoon. The use of cards is compulsory and ultimately the responsibility of the student to ensure that they are being used. The cards are also important for tracking bus use so that companies can lodge an application for extra services, particularly in our area which is still experiencing rapid population growth. Could students and carers please ensure that they have an Opal Card and tap on and off each time that they use the free travel to and from school. If you have any issues regarding the acquisition or use of an Opal Card, please go to  School Student Opal Card.

Thank you for your assistance with these matters. Please contact the College if you have any questions regarding them.