CURRICULUM MESSAGE – SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

The Science department offers general science to students at junior and middle school levels (Years 7-10) and biology, chemistry, physics and psychology at senior levels (VCE), as well as electives including research science and farming for students at junior and middle school levels.

The significance of science to students and the society at large cannot be overemphasised. Needless to say, science does not only empower us to understand human behaviour and mental process, look across the universe, see atoms, fly across the Earth or to the moon, perceive moving mountains, and harness the energy of the sun but also, can make us feel big and special for understanding the age of the Earth, the nature of stars, and the size of the universe, even if those things dwarf us and in the long run, is the only reliable way to figure things out in a world that is so seldom fair and impartial. Science saves lives. Our students are challenged and taught a rigorous curriculum devised by the competent staff of the department.

Over recent years there have been some consistent improvements in our VCE results with most of our students focussing on science subjects with career pathways in engineering, medicine, pharmaceutical, research sciences and so on. Such demonstrated outcomes are the result of the rigorous teaching and learning initiatives that promote student engagement with lots of practical activities, planned excursions in collaboration with organisations such as University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, Melbourne museum, Ecolinc at Bacchus Marsh and so on. The science department each year is involved in the celebration of the National Science Week through a series of planned activities, organisation of Science Fair activities, as well as engagement in science projects and competitions at the local, state and international levels.

The science department has made some significant contributions to project the school’s image within the community and the realisation of the broader mission/vision statements of Sirius College.