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Week 3 was a very busy week, packed with highlights. We enjoyed perfect conditions for the Cross Country, with students and staff jogging or walking the 3km circuit in the beautiful Canberra sunshine.
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I enjoyed getting into classes to see some amazing teaching and learning taking place. This included Ms De Costa's Dance Class, where the students were busy preparing for upcoming performances.
It was inspiring to see the great relationship between Ms De Costa and the students and the quality learning that was evident as a result of her regular and individual feedback. Mr Ricky was also on hand to lead the students in taking their performance to the next level!
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I also spent some time in Mr Rodriguez's Year 9 Maths class, where students were busy working through Index Laws. It was great to see the peer learning that was taking place, with students working side by side to solve complex problems together. This is a great way to develop the important teamwork that is used in almost all careers.
Congratulations also to our Cert II Construction Course students, who competed in the heats of the Bridge Construction Challenge this afternoon. We look forward to hearing all about their success next week!
We were also extremely proud of our Da Vinci Decathlon Teams that represented at Canberra Grammar School with Mr Ventura this week. They competed with many schools across the ACT, demonstrating courage, teamwork and commitment to academic excellence.
We look forward to Careers Week next week, culminating in our Career Expo Day!
Have a great weekend.
Steve
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Monday 15 May
- Careers Week
- PBL Meeting - 3.15pm
- Engaging Parents/Carers in Career Conversations - 5.30pm
Wednesday 17 May
- Calwell High School Careers Expo
- P&C General Meeting - 6.00pm
Thursday 18 May
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ENGAGING PARENTS/CARERS IN CAREERS CONVERSATIONS (EPICC)
Monday 15 May, 5.30–7.00pm
Presented by Jennie Sheppard Careers Practitioner, Andrew Rowe ASBA/WEX Coordinator & Claire Moncilovic
Research Indicates that parents/carers are the single greatest influence on their young person’s education and career decisions. High Parental engagement can have a major impact on the young person’s learning. The purpose of the EPICC workshop is to:
- Support parents/carers to help young people prepare for the challenges ahead in the new economies and new jobs that none of us know very well or much about;
- Enhance parents’/carers’ ability to help young people develop skills and have the capability to manage their own career throughout their lives;
- Help shift perceptions by assisting parents and young people to understand the career journey young people are on from an early age;
- Equip parents/carers to help young people to develop and build their preferred career futures, feel less worries about the future and build a supportive network to assist them
- Aim to challenge outdated belief systems that can limit a young person’s potential
Please RSVP at the following link: https://forms.gle/TBh7K77bbhHUKhdU7
Places are limited – if the workshop is full advice will be given on the next workshop date. This workshop is for the parents and carers of young people
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CALWELL HIGH SCHOOL CAREERS EXPO
Wednesday 17 May 9.30am–12.00pm
Families are invited to attend our Career Expo on Wednesday 17 May to celebrate Careers Week! Our Years 8, 9 & 10 students will be attending during class time, but you are more than welcome to attend the expo anytime from 9.30–12.00pm in the Calwell Performing Arts Centre.
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WORK STUDIES TERM 2
This term we are finding out more about preparing for and going to workplace interviews, the future of work and how students can manage their own career journey.
Students will also have the opportunity to complete another work experience program if they wish and/or complete an online placement.
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WOOD & METAL TECHNOLOGY TERM 2
Year 8 Wood are learning about joinery and how different joints strengthen and change the structural integrity of an object as they build a decorative mirror shelf.
Year 8 Metal are learning about the different properties of metal and how to use tools and heat to manipulate its properties by building a junior hacksaw.
Years 9/10 Wood are continuing their development building on skills learnt in previous years to construct a bed side table.
Years 9/10 Metal are learning how to manage multiple tasks as they construct a toolbox out of sheet metal and a metal gear knob using a metal lathe.
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FOOD TECHNOLOGY TERM 2
In Year 7 Food Technology, students are becoming familiar with the schools kitchen layout and set up. So far they have completed three practicals, each week growing in confidence and further developing their skills.
During the term they will be analysing recipes to determine suitable modifications to improve their nutritional value. This knowledge will then be applied to their major task creating a healthy, balanced pasta recipe.
Years 9/10 Fast Food Makeover are continuing to cook a range of dishes that can be made at home as alternatives to fast food. This term we will also be completing an Uber Eats design task.
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SCIENCE TERM 2
Year 7 are studying 'Escape from Planet Earth'. Students design an apocalypse scenario and research ways in which humans could move to Mars.
Year 8 are investigating different types of rocks in the Australian landscape. They will learn how to identify rocks and describe how they were formed.
Year 9 are experimenting with a range of different chemical reactions and will be learning about radioactivity.
Year 10 are learning about genetics and evolution. They will be investigating inheritance, DNA and the evolution of different traits.
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FIRST NATION STUDIES
Over the last few weeks in First Nations Studies, students have investigated agricultural practices relating to food security. Students have been learning about how First Nations people have ensured food supply over long periods of time, and about native ingredients used in ancient and modern dining.
Students then had the opportunity to cook kangaroo and try out different native herbs and spices. Students also had the opportunity to try a piece of crocodile meat, which was popular although they insist it was actually just chicken breast. It was a fantastic experience, and all students are to be commended on their safe and respectful kitchen practices during this practical lesson.
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ON COUNTRY LEARNING WEEK 3
This week, in our On Country Learning program, we focussed on connection. With a change of pace from previous weeks, Wednesday was spent listening to ourselves, each other and our environment. We explored connection to country, to place, and to self.
In the morning we had fantastic presentation by Kate and Lukey, First Nation residents at Birrigai who spoke to their culture and knowledge of traditional tools. Afterwards we headed out to find some individual space to connect with the environment around us.
Students found a space by themselves to sit and observe. After some conversation and reflection, and spotting some Muliyan (wedge tail eagles), we headed to the BBQs for some lunch.
Our afternoon was spent walking through the beautiful country of Birrigai with views over and into Jedbinbilla (Tidbinbilla), and making our way up to the Rock Shelter with a 26,000 year old proven history of use by our traditional owners of our land.
Our students were incredibly respectful, self-disciplined and polite throughout the day, being able to recognise when we all needed to really think and engage, and when we could be a bit more relaxed. Another wonderful day out at Birrigai with a wonderful group of students.
Tom Rodriguez
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SCIENCE
DNA Extraction
Year 10 students, along with Deputy Principal Trish Marton, performed an experiment that successfully extracted DNA from strawberries. We may have some of future forensic scientists here at Calwell High school!
A special thank you must be given to Aki for preparing all of our experiment material.
Fun facts about DNA (genetic material)
- 99.9% of human DNA on the Earth is the same.
- The first person to isolate DNA was the Swiss physician, Friedrich Miescher in 1869.
- The DNA of Dogs and humans are 80 % identical.
Riddle - What can run but can’t walk?
Water
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P&C NEWS
Hello Parents, Carers and Friends
Just a reminder that our next P&C general meeting will be held on Wednesday 17 May at 6.00pm in the main staff room at Calwell High. Everyone is welcome. Come along and hear about the latest happenings and plans and have a chat with our Principal Steve Collins.
Our meeting will take place during National Volunteer Week, which will run from 15–21 May. The theme for the week is 'The Change Makers', and we think that absolutely describes P&C volunteers!
The week-long event recognises the vital support that the millions of volunteers in our country provide to their communities and encourages people to consider volunteering. There is some good information on the ACT P&C Council website at:
https://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/get-involved/nvw/?fbclid=IwAR2rPSeCAVOSxJ4tP3F3EY_F5wttbEQe8TIj2_GV9IrPVvRLQZx5_Y3okPc
Also, part of National Volunteer Week is the ACT Volunteering Expo on Saturday 20 May, 10.00am–4.00pm at Campbell High School, 15 Treloar Cres, Campbell ACT 2612. This event is well worth attending, to see more of the great volunteering opportunities that community members can engage in.
Cheers, Geoff Puleston, Calwell High School P&C President
calwellhighpandc@gmail.com
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STUDENT PATHWAYS AND CAREERS NEWS
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2023 CALWELL HS CAREERS WEEK SCHOLARSHIP MAKER2MARKET PROGRAM
The Calwell HS P&C is generously sponsoring two Calwell High School Students to participate in an entrepreneurial small business course aimed at teenagers. Each scholarship is worth $250.
Two students will be chosen based on an application form available from Jennie or Andrew in Careers. Students will be selected on their keen interest in participating in the intensive three-day business taster program for creative teens that sees them create a small-business, logo, hand-made products and test their products at a real-world market. The program will take place in either July or September holidays.
Applications close Monday 5 June
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CIT BRIDGE CHALLENGE
The students participating in the Certificate II in Constructions Pathways have been building bridges to test their engineering skills and go up against other competing schools in the CIT Bridge Challenge.
The finished bridges, by each of the three teams, are exceptional and really showcase the talents of our students in planning, problem solving, and skills involved in completing such a challenging project.
A special thank you to Shaun Dati from our Technology faculty who gave up his time to share his professional knowledge in woodworking techniques and insights with our students who learnt a lot from the experience. We wish our teams the best when the bridges get tested to see how much weight they can hold.
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UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA
SHORT COURSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
The University of Canberra's Faculty of Arts and Design (FAD) would like to invite year 10-12 students to attend our DiscoverFAD short courses these Winter school holidays at the CIT Bruce Campus. Our short courses are facilitated by our talented academics and are a great way for high school students to experience what life is like at University, and gain an understanding of their pathways to get there. This year we will be offering six short courses in study areas including:
- Creative Writing
- Journalism
- Digital Media
- Architecture
- Industrial Design:
- Interaction Design:
When: July school holidays
Where: UC Bruce campus and online offerings
Price: up to $59
To register and find out more, please visit https://www.canberra.edu.au/discover-fad/courses-for-high-school-students.
PORTFOLIO ENTRY TO UNIVERSITY COURSES
Did you know that students can submit a portfolio of their creative works to gain admission into one of our Faculty of Arts and Design undergraduate courses? Portfolio Entry is an alternate pathway to University for creative students who may not reach the entry rank to their desired course.
Students can visit this page to find out the portfolio requirements and apply. Students can also enter the work they create in a DiscoverFAD short course to the UC Creative Competition. More information on this to come!
If you have any questions, please contact the FAD Student Experience Team via fadschoolenquiries@canberra.edu.au.
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YEAR 7 2024 INFORMATION NIGHT
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MENSLINK
For 20 plus years, Menslink have provided free counselling to young guys throughout the Canberra and surrounding region.
If your young guy is having a hard time and could really use someone to talk to, get in touch with Menslink. Now conveniently located in Holder and Kippax, our wait times are currently low so we’re ready to help when he needs it.
We provide a welcoming and supportive environment for young guys to share their concerns and worries with a male counsellor who will hear them out, work alongside them and provide tips and strategies to get them through those tough times.
Our counselling sessions are completely confidential and are available to any male aged 10-25. There are no fees or charges or limits to the number of sessions. You don’t need a mental health plan and we are available during school terms and school holidays. The only prerequisite is that he is willing to give it a try.
If you think your young guy will benefit chatting to one of our counsellors, have a chat with them and head to www.menslink.org.au, hit the ‘Get Help’ button, fill in the form and we’ll get back to you, generally the same or next business day.
If you need more info on how to have that chat with them, just email admin@menslink.org.au or call 6287 2226 and we will send you some information.
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How to Apply
- Submit the form at the link below.
- Your application will be reviewed by the Kids into Sport Committee.
- Kids into Sport will advise you of the outcome of your application within 14 days.
More details on the Kids into Sport Website:
https://www.kidsintosport.com.au/home
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