Year 7 

Year 7 has engaged in various classroom activities in their study of Honey Spot, including class reading, group work, and discussion. They have started to examine issues of racism, reconciliation, and cultural identity. This play has introduced students to a fascinating portrayal of reconciliation between Indigenous Australian and white communities. 

Year 8 

Year 8 is working through Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night and looking at notions of identity and mistaken identity. Students are reading the No Fear version of this classic tale, which allows them to read the text in Shakespearean English with the modern translation for extra support. Students are doing well in their engagement with the original text. 

Year 9 

Year 9 is exploring issues of class and gender in their reading of The Taming of the Shrew. This week, students have looked at gender expectations and the consequences of challenging the gender expectations in Shakespeare’s time.  

Year 10 

Year 10 students examine the consequences of unchecked ambition in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The main character, Macbeth, desires power and greatness and will do anything to achieve it, even murdering his king and close friend!  

Year 11 Advanced 

Students are well and truly into their critical study of Shakespeare’s Othello, and already, they are gaining insight into racism and prejudice and the extent to which these concerns are driven by jealousy. The Advanced students enjoy the plot and the serious issues Shakespeare brings to the fore in this tragic story.  

Year 11 Standard 

Students enthusiastically study the Black Mirror texts as they prepare for their multimodal assessment task. In particular, they have begun to explore the impact of technology on humans in both positive and negative ways. Students have also started to consider their relationships and use of ethical technology. 

Year 7

Our Year 7 History students have been investigating the construction and development of Ancient Egyptian Pyramids, focusing on the materials applied and structures. As part of this unit, students have been developing  their skills to analyse historical sources to understand the battles that the ancient civilisation group also participated in during expansion and trade.  

Year 8 

Year 8 History students have been analysing  the expansion of the Mongolian empire, investigating strategies and tactics applied by the Mongols to successfully cause invasions. Furthermore, students are analysing historical sources to deepen their understanding to reflect on the occurrences of various invasions. 

Year 9

In History, Year 9 students have been examining the experience of soldiers in the trenches. Students participated in a group activities focusing on different  stations to explore the conditions and experiences of Soldiers during World War I. Students will be discovering the  occurrence of World War II  investigating the causes, effects, impacts and Australia’s involvement.  

International Museum Day

To celebrate International Museum Day, Year 10 students took part in a special excursion to the Justice and Police Museum, where they participated in the Crime and Justice program. The session gave students a hands-on look into Sydney’s criminal history, policing, and forensic investigations. They then visited the Hyde Park Barracks, exploring the stories of convicts and early colonial life. It was an engaging day that brought history and justice studies to life. 

Year 10

Our Year 10 History students have been investigating the Vietnam War, focusing on Australia’s involvement and the broader context of the Cold War. As part of this unit, students have been developing their mapping skills to locate key battles, understand the geography of the conflict, and consider the strategic and human impact of the war. 

Year 11

In Legal Studies, Year 11 students have been examining the role and powers of the NSW Police, exploring how the law balances enforcement with individual rights. Students also participated in a group activity focused on Native Title, where they worked collaboratively to analyse key legal cases, such as Mabo v Queensland (No. 2), and explored how the legal system recognises and protects the land rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Year 11

Our Year 11 Society and Culture students have been exploring the complex factors that shape personal and social identity, including culture, gender, class, and ethnicity. To deepen their understanding, they recently visited the Chinese Garden of Friendship, where they had the opportunity to immerse themselves in another culture and reflect on intercultural influences on identity. 

This term, our Year 9 unit is “Travelling Through Culture,” where we explore how travel helps broaden our understanding of the world. This week, students selected a destination to research and identified essential facts to design their travel brochures. After completing their brochures, they could present them to their classmates using Turkish. Students enjoyed discovering new places and sharing their findings with their peers. 

Mrs Canan Korkut, Mrs Ayse Tokyurek, and Ms Melike Turgul

Turkish Teachers   

This term has been an exciting and active period for our PDHPE and PASS students across Years 7 to 11. With a focus on both theoretical learning and practical application, students have engaged in various classroom activities and outdoor sports that support their physical, social, and emotional development. 

Years 7–10 PDHPE 

In PDHPE classes, students have been exploring important health and wellbeing topics, including: 

• Building Healthy Relationships: Understanding respectful communication, empathy, and conflict resolution. 

• Personal Wellbeing and Resilience: Learning strategies to manage stress and maintain mental wellbeing. 

• Men’s and Women’s Health Issues (Year 10): Exploring key health challenges and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. 

Students have participated in soccer sessions during outdoor practical lessons to complement their classroom learning. These sessions help improve physical fitness and teamwork and reinforce the importance of staying active and leading a healthy lifestyle. 

Years 9–10 PASS (Physical Activity and Sports Studies) 

Our PASS students have been delving into topics such as: 

• The benefits of regular physical activity on the body and mind. 

• Investigating how sports participation supports lifelong health and wellbeing. 

Students have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in Oztag as their outdoor sports focus. These sessions have encouraged the development of tactical thinking, teamwork, and skill refinement in a fun and engaging environment. 

Year 11 Health, Movement, and Science 

Senior students have embarked on an in-depth exploration of how the human body responds to movement. This term’s key focus areas include: 

• Understanding the interrelationship between body systems during physical activity. 

• Examining how energy systems and different training methods impact performance. 

• Investigating physiological adaptations to regular exercise and training. 

Through this engaging curriculum, Year 11 students build a strong foundation for understanding sports science and health promotion, preparing them for further studies and careers in health, fitness, and sport-related fields. 

We look forward to continuing this learning, growth, and physical activity journey throughout the year! 

Mr. Recep Oz and Ms Aslihan Agyar

Year 7 Science: Classifying Living Things

In Science, Year 7 students began a new chapter on Classifying Living Things. They were introduced to the concept of taxonomy—the scientific system of naming, grouping, and organizing organisms. Students learned how to use a dichotomous key to identify different species and even find beetle names based on their features. 

They explored the five kingdoms of life and compared vertebrates and invertebrates. Through hands-on activities and classification tasks, students examined the characteristics that define each group, deepening their understanding of how scientists organize the diversity of life on Earth. 

Year 8 Science: Adaptations and Ecosystems:

This term in Year 8 Science, students have been diving into the fascinating world of adaptations and ecosystems, focusing on the incredible diversity of Australian animals and how they survive in their unique habitats. 

We've been investigating how animals like the thorny devil, koala, and frill-necked lizard have developed structural, behavioural, and physiological adaptations that help them thrive in some of the harshest environments on Earth. Students have enjoyed exploring how these features allow animals to conserve water, regulate body temperature, and protect themselves from predators. 

Students recently participated in an engaging hands-on activity in the school playground to connect these concepts to the world around them. In small groups, they identified biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors in the environment, such as plants, insects, sunlight, rocks, and soil. This helped them understand how different ecosystem elements interact and influence organisms' survival. 

These activities are building a solid foundation for students to appreciate the complexity of ecosystems and the delicate balance required to maintain them. It has been fantastic to see students working collaboratively, asking thoughtful questions, and applying their learning to real-world examples. 

Year 9 Science: Food in Ecosystems & Energy Flow  

Over the past two weeks, our Year 9 students have been learning about how energy and matter move through ecosystems. We focused on photosynthesis as the starting point of nearly all food chains and the process of producing glucose, forming the basis of essential food materials such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and vitamins. Students explored how matter is recycled in nature, while energy is lost at each stage of a food chain, resulting in smaller biomass at higher levels. We discussed the importance of biodiversity and used food webs to show how populations are interconnected. A key concept covered was bioaccumulation—how harmful substances like DDT and mercury build up in organisms and move through food chains, affecting animals and humans. Students also investigated decomposers and the nitrogen cycle to understand how ecosystems recycle nutrients. 

Year 10 Science: Periodic Table, Element Symbols & Properties of Groups 

Over the past two weeks, our Year 10 students have explored the Periodic Table, learning how element symbols often come from Latin or Greek names, such as Na from natrium and Au from aurum. They studied the historical development of the table, focusing on Mendeleev's contributions, and completed comprehension tasks to understand how scientists classified elements over time. Students examined the properties of Groups 1, 2, and 14, and discussed patterns in chemical reactions. A highlight of this unit was the creative task where students designed their Periodic Table cards and worked together to build a giant Periodic Table display on the classroom wall. Through hands-on investigations and fun activities like building a diamond model from fruit lollies, students deepened their understanding of the atomic structure, bonding, and the similarities among element families, such as the noble gases and alkali metals. 

Year 11 Chemistry  

Over the past two weeks, our Year 11 Chemistry students have been engaged in a series of hands-on investigations and problem-solving activities related to quantitative chemistry. They began by estimating Avogadro's Number using a cube of metal and applied the mole equation (n = m/MM) to calculate the amount of substance involved in reactions. Students designed and conducted experiments to determine the molar mass of magnesium oxide and silver nitrate, using combustion and gravimetric analysis to calculate empirical formulas based on mass and mole ratios. These investigations reinforced the Law of Conservation of Mass and the importance of balancing chemical equations. Students explored limiting reagents through an engaging "s'mores" analogy to understand how the reactant ratio determines the reaction's extent. Additional activities involved calculating solution concentrations through practical experiments, converting between grams per litre, per cent composition, and parts per million (ppm).

Year 11 Investigating Science

Our Year 11 Investigating Science students are working through Module 2: Scientific Models, with a strong focus on understanding the role of assumptions in scientific investigation and thinking. This module is designed to develop students' critical thinking skills and their ability to evaluate how science represents and interprets the natural world. 

The key inquiry question guiding our learning in this part of the course is: 
"How do the consequences of assumptions made in scientific models and processes affect the validity of results and conclusions?" 

Students have been learning how assumptions are necessary in science to simplify complex systems, but they also have limitations. Through class discussions, case studies, and collaborative activities, students have explored real-world examples where assumptions influence outcomes—both positively and negatively. 

This critical thinking will feed directly into their upcoming Depth Study, a significant task scheduled for later this term. The Depth Study allows students to investigate a scientific question or problem of interest in greater detail. It encourages independent thinking, research, data analysis, and scientific communication—key skills for the HSC and life beyond school. 

As we approach this critical assessment, we encourage parents to speak with their children about their ideas for the in-depth study and support them in managing their time effectively. This is a valuable opportunity for students to explore their interests while developing the core skills of a young scientist. 

Year 11 Biology

This term, our Year 11 Biology students have been actively engaging with the content of Module 2, closely following their course booklets to guide learning. In Chapter 5, they explored the differences between autotrophs and heterotrophs and studied the structure and function of vascular and nonvascular plants, focusing on the root and shoot systems. Students also investigated gas exchange structures in mammals, insects, and fish, learning how each organism adapts to its environment. The mammalian digestive system was another key topic, with students examining the organs involved and their roles in digestion and absorption. 

We have now begun Chapter 6, diving into the transport systems in plants and animals. Students explored the functions of the xylem and phloem in plant nutrient and water transport using labelled diagrams, images, and animations. They also examined key theories such as transpiration and translocation. The transport system in animals was introduced, providing students with a comparative understanding of internal systems. These lessons not only strengthened their knowledge but also built their scientific literacy and inquiry skills, as outlined in their course structure. 

Year 11 Physics

Our Year 11 Physics students have been delving into the foundational topic of waves, an essential part of their studies in Module 2: Waves and Thermodynamics. This unit sets the stage for understanding various physical phenomena, from sound and light to seismic and water waves. 

Over the past few weeks, students have been developing a strong conceptual understanding of wave motion. They have explored the differences between distance and displacement and how to interpret distance-time and displacement-time graphs for waves. We've also been reinforcing key terminology, including: 

• Wavelength – the distance between two consecutive points in phase on a wave 

• Period – the time taken for one complete cycle 

• Frequency – the number of wave cycles per second 

To consolidate their understanding, students have been provided with a wide range of practice questions via Microsoft Teams. These are designed to challenge their thinking and prepare them for higher-level applications later in the course. 

As we look ahead to the end of Term 2, students will be undertaking an in-depth study. This significant independent research task allows them to investigate a physics-related concept in more detail. More information will be shared in class soon, but this will be an excellent opportunity for students to apply their research, data analysis, and scientific communication skills. 

Mrs. Derya Koc Kalkan, Ms Beyza Nur Çelik, Ms Anureet Kaur 

This semester, we were thrilled to welcome an external educator to our school for a unique math incursion designed for students in Year 7-11. The session blended team collaboration and individual critical thinking, allowing students to explore how mathematics applies to real-life situations—and how it can be used to solve everyday challenges. 

Through interactive games and activities, students gained hands-on experience in practical problem-solving, deepening their appreciation for math beyond the classroom. Their performance was outstanding in every session, and under the guidance of our instructors, they absorbed new knowledge in a fully immersive learning experience. 

Learning from the Companions: Our Role Models in Faith 

In Year 9 Islamic Studies lessons, we’ve been exploring the lives of the Sahabah (Ashara-Mubashara / The ten to whom Paradise was promised) the noble companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). These men were not just historical figures; they were the first to embrace Islam, support the Prophet through hardship, and spread the message of Allah across the world. 

Studying their stories helps us understand how ordinary people became extraordinary through their faith. It reminds us that being close to Allah is not about perfection but effort, sincerity, and a willingness to grow. 

Learning about the companions, students will reflect on how they can apply their lessons in their daily lives, at home, at school, and in our communities. 

Qur’an Studies 

Group Quran reading and memorisation are potent tools for students to deepen their understanding and strengthen their connection with the Quran. Students are developing their fluency in Qur’an recitation and pronouncing the letters correctly.  

Students are memorising chapters and dua’s from the memorisation book and listening to them during the lessons. 

We look forward to continuing this meaningful journey and sharing more of what students learn in the coming weeks. 

This term in Design & Technology, our Year 9 and 10 students are embarking on a significant and thrilling challenge—designing and developing a major project that showcases their creativity, problem-solving abilities, and hands-on skills. 

Before diving into construction, students have been laying the groundwork with a series of scaffolded lessons, including designer research, Indigenous Australian innovation, and enterprise thinking. Through classwork and homework tasks, they've explored the impact of cultural backgrounds on design and the evolution of tools and techniques. They also deeply understood the importance of sustainability and user needs. 

Some of the key areas they've covered: 

• Individual vs. Team Designers – Students researched well-known figures like James Dyson or teams such as Dyson Ltd or IDEO, reflecting on how teamwork, culture, and innovation shape the design process. 

• Indigenous Knowledge Systems—From Brewarrina fish traps to firestick farming, students learned how Aboriginal practices reflected advanced environmental control and systems thinking long before modern technology. 

• Enterprise Skills: They investigated how marketing, entrepreneurship, and product design intersect in real-world industries.  

Emerging Technologies—Exploring concepts like AI, 3D printing, and automated control systems (like smart fridges or irrigation setups) has ignited new ideas for how their projects can be more efficient and forward-thinking. Now that theory and planning are in place, it's time to bring ideas to life. Students are sketching out final concepts, preparing materials (including recycled goods!), and beginning to prototype their designs. 

This primary task is more than just a build — it's a culmination of knowledge, creativity, and real-world application. We're excited to see how each student's vision shapes in the coming weeks. Already, we've seen significant progress and impressive designs taking shape, a testament to the students' hard work and dedication.