7/8 Maths Challenge

Maths Challenge this term sees students completing their final assignment and beginning to revise for their upcoming maths exams! Each week during maths challenge we spend 45 minutes refreshing a topic that was covered in year 7/8 in term 3 or 4 so that students can start studying nice and early.

The other 45 minutes is spent with students working in small groups on their mathematics music video. Students have been asked to choose a topic that they have studied this year in maths and create an educational song or parody to help explain and demonstrate it. Not only are they deepening their knowledge in their chosen area but learning other useful skills involved in film making, editing and writing lyrics.

Hopefully we can include the final products in the next newsletter!

Year 7 – 10 Maths

This term is already flying by with student's attention starting to focus on the upcoming exams! Below is an outline of what will be included in year 7 – 10 maths exams so students know what to expect:

Girls Sports Expo

The Year 9 Girls participated in the Girls Sports Expo, run by the City of Greater Dandenong during Term 4.

This event aimed to promote physical fitness, health and wellbeing and socialisation among young women.

Students were able to have a go at different activities including netball, rugby, soccer and other various sports.

They also participated in mind, body and spirit workshops as well as enjoying a healthy lunch!

Health Project

As part of the Year 9 Health "Party Safe" program, students were asked to plan a safe party from invitations, activities, food and drug and alcohol issues associated with teenage parties.

The following shows a portion of the fantastic cartoon submitted by Zahra, Sevda and Talia.

PE

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PE

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Soap making lab

Soap making lab

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Soap making lab

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Dissection lab (sheep heart and rat)

Dissection lab

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Dissection lab

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VCE

Three facts about your ATAR

Waiting for your ATAR can be nerve-wracking. If you're worried about your score or need help sorting through your options, let us put your mind at ease. Here's what you need to know.

1. Your ATAR/OP is a rank, not a percentage

If you're disappointed when you receive your ATAR, try to remember that you're not looking at a percentage. An ATAR is a rank given in increments of 0.05 between 0.0 and 99.95, meaning that a score of 75 puts you in the top 25 per cent of your state. These ranks provide an easy method of comparison for institutions when selecting students for course entry.

2. You can still change your mind or adjust your preferences

Once scores are released, each state will run a series of change of preference periods. This gives you the opportunity to reassess your choices if you chose in a hurry, received an ATAR lower or higher than expected or have found a course or institution that's more to your liking. Before changing your preferences, chat to your school career adviser or staff at institutions of interest to sort through your options. They will be able to give you the best advice about your next steps — whether it's selecting some new courses, holding out until the first offer round or researching alternative pathways.

3. You can't 'waste' your ATAR

Courses like law and medicine have tough entry requirements, so you're wasting your high ATAR if you don't study those, right? Wrong! Although a high ATAR opens up your opportunities, you shouldn't choose a course simply because of its prestige if you can't see yourself studying and working in the field. Aside from having to slave away for years in a degree you don't love, you don't want to pay thousands of dollars for a qualification you've got no desire to use in the workforce.

AIS LECTURE

Lydia Khalil, a specialist in Middle East politics and international; terrorism, has worked in the United States and abroad for the US government, various international organisations, private companies as well as various international political and security issues.

Today (26 October 2016), we had the privilege of attending a lecture organised by the Australian Intercultural Society lead by Lydia Khalil. The lecture was based on the 'US elections and what it means for Australia and the region'. Throughout the lecture, Khalil's passion for politics was evident. The event was very classy and we had the chance to have afternoon tea prior to the lecture. Mahshid was brave enough to as a question. We had a photo opportunity and a chance to discuss the lecture with Khalil at the end.