All Technologies subjects are fully underway this term. As you can read below, there is lots of exciting work being completed by students and much learning occuring. For some, the importance of good literacy and numeracy skills is becoming evident, and for others, it's the ability to listen to instructions and think critically about their actions. The steady flow of learning activities and assessment tasks also means students are continually working to given deadlines which may require homework tasks or the use of WIN time for additional support. We ask for parental support in coaching students to show you their work and discuss their achievements no matter how small.

This newsletter, we wish to recognise Mr Smithers for his efforts at the College during Terms 2 and 3. Mr Smithers has decided to take personal leave for the remainder of the year. We therefore wish to welcome Ms. Vivian Kam as our newest member of the Technologies team. Ms Kam has a keen interest in design education. She will fill a number of classes while we continue to find additional staff.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our parents in support of our Health and Safety requirements. Over the past weeks, we have have achieved footwear compliance and a surge of Safety Agreements submitted by nearly all students participating in Technologies education. It is fantastic see that everyone is putting safety first.

My special mention and appreciation this newsletter goes to our Year 10 Cafe Culture students who produced some delicious muffins for the staff dinner during the student led conference night. The staff very much appreciated the gesture and found the muffins extremely satisfying.

In my previous newsletter article, I mentioned that a description of each Year 9 and 10 subjects would be provided. Since that newsletter, I thought it better to provide live snapshot of what our subjects are up to. So, here is a summary of what’s been happening in many of our studios, kitchens and workshops in the past week.

Year 7 Materials Workshop

Students are learning to draft technical drawings using orthogonal (2D views) and isometric (3D) projections. They have also reviewed their safe operatoring procedures for the vaious tools and equipment they will use in the coming weeks. Most classes have now entered the workshop and are learning to cut and shape time to reflect their drawn plans.

Year 8 Economics and Business

Students this week researched the demands placed on an entrepreneur and what it takes to design and develop a new product.

Year 9 Food and Nutrition

Students continued to develop their knife skills and used a varius kitchen implements to prepare the vegetables required for their Healthier Sausage Rolls. They made sausage rolls and furthered their understanding of the different nutrients required to develop a teenager's balanced diet.

Year 9 Industrial Technologies

Students conducted interviews with their identified clients/users to better understand their design problem and need. They then drafted their design brief and evaluation crtieria. Both documents will then be used to guide their generation of design ideas and possible solutions. In their practical session, students explored the use of different drill bits to create thru holes, counter-sink holes, counter-bore holes and system-32 pin holes. Students were also shown operating procedures for a biscuit jointer.

Year 9 – Mechanical Engineering Principles and Systems.

Over the course of the week, students have explored the fundamental concepts that power our complex machinery. Through a hands-on tutorial using cardboard, lego and other equipment, students have uncovered the secrets of gears, levers, and pulleys. Some students worked consistently to progress onto circuits, energy conversion and design.

Year 10 Circuits and Mechanisms 

Students are continuing to develop their coding and robotics knowledge using Micro:bit controllers. They continued to practise their circuit diagram drawing skills through sketching and annotating the Micro:bit and its components. Students were also able to work through tutorials using block-code and scripting.

Year 10 Amazing Materials

Students investigated the hardness of timbers by conducting a bindell hardness test of three different species of timber. With great amusement, the students dropped small steel balls through plastic pipe in order to create an indent in Balsa, Pine, Tasmanian Oak, and Merbau from different distances ranging from 500mm to 4 metres. The students recorded their findings and will now calculate depth of indentation to identify the hardness of the timbers. Students will also use their findings to discuss why differnt materials

Year 10 – Design User Solutions

Students are developing their folios to problem-solve their identified design problem. They explored the use of timber, plastics, and metal materials in the design of products. While in the workshop, students learnt correct tool use to mark out and shape timber.

Year 10 Café Culture

Students this week produced vanilla cupcakes and assisted with the dessert for the student led conference night. They had to consider the exact weighing and measuring of the required ingredients, understand the specific terminology of the Standard Recipe Card and use the equipment as specified as well as time manage effectively. They evaluated their finished products.