Year 7 Biology Studies

Animal Classification and Ecosystems

Year 7G were very impressed by what they saw and learned at Melbourne Zoo where they participated in the Save Our Species program. At first they were shocked to find out some statistics about how many species are in serious trouble and might be extinct by the time they go to university. Then they found out about the work of the zoo staff and were inspired to do what they could to stop this happening. We were all amazed to find out it cost 60 million dollars a year to keep the zoo running! We hope our purchases at the zoo shop will make a small contribution.

It's cool now how they have the proper environments of each of the animals instead of the old small cages animals used to be kept in. Mayera

I learnt that the animals are become endangered and even extinct because of human activity, but if many people make their voices heard, then they can be saved. Aleyna

I was shocked to find out there were less than twenty Baw Baw still alive on the planet! Yasmin

I loved the seal training show and all the 'tricks' the animal keepers taught them. It was interesting to learn that they learned these tricks so that the keepers could check the seals' health. Afreen

I loved the seals, too! Zayneb

I had a really good time and I learned more about animals. I feel really serious about doing something about palm oil now. Madina

I learned that animals are becoming extinct, like the Orangutan because of what humans are doing, like clearing forests to grow palm oil trees. Dania

I found out that if animals go extinct it will also affect us. Two interesting things were the laughing of the African Wild Dogs which was quite weird and we saw sting rays putting their faces out of the water. It was great when the elephant waved at us with its trunk! Seray

I was a butterfly magnet! One stayed on my arm for a whole ten minutes. It was strange that the big butterflies did not land on us, but the medium sized ones did. The small ones just fluttered around. Sabiha

This excursion was very inspirational. Young people can learn a lot about how to save animals and we can have hope for the future. Sabreen

We found out about the boxes along the coast line that are especially for junk fishing line that kills the seals. It is good to know we can put this rubbish in the bins and save the seals from injury and death. Nashita

Yr 7 Science excursion to the zoo

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Yr 7 Science excursion to the zoo

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Interschool Sport

Interschool Sport

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Interschool Sport

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Science Laboratory Practical

Science Laboratory Practical

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Science Laboratory Practical

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Careers

Year 12 survival tips

The thought of embarking on your final year of school can trigger a range of emotions — excitement, nervousness, stress, nostalgia, anxiety, sadness or just impatience to get out into the world. Whether you're excited to have taken the next step or are just hanging out for the end, we provide some tips to help you get through Year 12.

Ask for help when you need it

It's no secret that Year 12 can be stressful at times, and most students will find that at one point or another they start to feel the pressure. If you're struggling with something — be it a certain topic in class or just school or study in general — it's a good idea to talk to someone early, before stress starts to build up. This could be as simple as seeking out your teacher before class or chatting to your parents about your study set-up at home. Assistance can also come from your careers counsellor, year-level coordinator, head of house or pastoral care coordinator, as well as academic advisers, former students and friends.

Stay organised

This is something you've probably heard time and time again but it really does pay to be organised! Consider making up a study schedule before exams, setting aside time for each subject throughout the week, starting assignments as early as you can, setting yourself deadlines to complete work and making the most of free periods or study blocks by heading to a quiet location free from distractions.

Don't over-commit yourself

Year 12 is hard enough as it is, let alone when you're trying to balance sporting commitments, part-time work, leadership responsibilities, music or drama rehearsals, family commitments and a social life. If you find that you are struggling to keep up with your workload at school, you may want to ease up on some of your extracurricular activities. It's also important to learn to say no to things when you really have no time to spare — you'll find that most people understand how stressful Year 12 can be.

Mix up your study routine

You're going to spend a lot of time studying in Year 12, so try to mix up your study routine. This will help you stay focused and productive and allow you to absorb as much information as you can. Consider switching between different study techniques — from using flashcards or mind maps, writing summaries and watching online tutorials to getting a friend or family member to quiz you, completing practice tests under exam conditions and working through questions from the text book.

Take time to research your post-school options

Taking time to research and make plans for post-school life can provide a nice break from studies, while also helping you to stay motivated by reminding you of the bigger picture. This may include researching institutions and courses of interest, making travel plans for the holidays, organising things for your gap year and putting together course applications.

Stay calm and keep things in perspective

It can be hard to look past graduation and into the future. Our advice: Year 12 is an important year but it will not dictate the rest of your life and there is always more than one pathway into a course or career.

How to deal with loss of motivation in Year 12

1. Think of the bigger picture: Keep your dream course and career at the forefront of your mind — the effort you put in now will bring you closer to that final goal. If the field of study you're considering is notoriously difficult to enter (medicine, anyone?) try to use this to motivate yourself. You might strive to do well in a prerequisite subject or aim to achieve a certain ATAR. But remember, the bigger picture works both ways. If your study schedule is creating problems or deteriorating your health, remind yourself that Year 12 does not dictate the rest of your life… even if it seems like it now.
2. Put together (or reconsider) your revision schedule: People learn in different ways, so it's important that your schedule is based on your own needs. You might plan around exam dates or with specific subjects in mind (such as those that are more theory-heavy or those that you have struggled with during the semester). You might also find that you revise some subjects more effectively at certain times of the day.
3. Take regular breaks: Research has shown that taking regular breaks during study helps you stay motivated and can help with memory retention. This might mean going for a jog or even just sitting down to read a magazine. If you study for six hours straight (or worse, 'pull an all-nighter'), your chances of memory retrieval during a school-based assessment or exam are much lower than if you follow a sensible schedule with regular breaks.
4. Try to make study 'fun': It might not seem like it, but it is possible to have fun while studying — and in your last year of compulsory schooling you'll probably want to enjoy yourself. Although you may need to give a few parties a miss, you could consider organising a movie night with friends where you watch a film you studied while comparing notes, or arranging a lunch date with a friend in your language class banning any use of English. For something a little less elaborate, you might simply think about making slight changes to the way you study (on a picnic rug in the backyard, for example) or your revision techniques (perhaps switching from writing notes to displaying content visually).
5. Don't forget to reward yourself: If you've made a few sacrifices this year, use your achievements to reward yourself. If you've put in hours of study and achieved a high mark in a practice exam, recognise your efforts and treat yourself to something — whether it be spending an afternoon at the beach with friends or just going out for a coffee. And it goes without saying that if you achieve the score you wanted and/or gain entry into your preferred course that's justified cause for a reward too.

Big Day In

We had a great day where we had a chance to see the big companies discuss their success in IT. They all conveyed the message that we need to dream big and nothing will get in your way.