As we approach the middle of the term, our Year 7 students have achieved so much. Most significantly, they tackled NAPLAN testing in the last fortnight with fortitude and vigour.  We congratulate them on their efforts and their ability to show their SPIRIT values in Perserverance, Respect and Responsibility.  Well done, Year 7.  We eagerly anticipate your results, which will be released later in the year.

Reminders

Or College has a very strict 'hands off' policy. Sudents who are found to have 'hands on' other students in jest or in aggression will be subject to consequences. All too often play fighting turns into incidents where children become angry and injuries occur. Hence our low tolerance. Consequences for 'hands on' includes, lunch time, after-school or Saturday detentions and in the incidence of physical aggression and possible suspension or exclusion.

Winter is almost upon us. Please be advised that students are required to wear a Foxwell wattle coloured knit jumper or a Foxwell sports jacket. No other jumpers or jackets are acceptable.

Dianne Russell

Year 7 Deputy Principal

Camp Update

Thank you to those families who have expressed interest for their child to attend camp this year. Please ensure that your invoices for the depoist are paid by the due date. For most of you, that was today. For those of you who have only just added your interest to the EOI form, you will be invoiced ASAP.  Letters of consent will only be distributed  to those children who have paid their deposit. This letter will contain further details of the camp itself and details about the opportunity to set up payment plans for the remaining cost.

If you have any questions about camp, please email Head of Year 8, Mr Bryce Berrell bdber0@eq.edu.au

Night at The Museum - Wednesday 25th May

I am excited about the amazing opportunity our Year 8 students have to showcase their Physical World work next week at our Annual Night at the Museum. Please ensure that you have returned your child's consent form or have been in contact with Head of Department, Ms McClymont nmccl31@eq.edu.au if your child is unable to attend.

The event will be open to parents, carers and guests from 5.00pm to 6.30pm. Students will need to arraive by 4pm to set up and are required to stay after 6.30pm until no later than 7pm to pack up.

I am looking forward to not only seeing the great work but also having an opportunity to speak with the children and the parents/carers in attendance. I invite you to make yourself known to me, if we have not already met so that I can build better partnership with you in the interest of your child.

Reminders

Or College has a very strict 'hands off' policy. Sudents who are found to have 'hands on' other students in jest or in aggression will be subject to consequences. All too often play fighting turns into incidents where children become angry and injuries occur. Hence our low tolerance. Consequences for hands on includes, lunch time, after-school or Saturday detentions and in the incidence of physical aggression and possible suspension or exclusion.

Winter is almost upon us. Please be advised that students are required to wear a Foxwell wattle coloured knit jumper or a Foxwell sports jacket. No other jumpers or jackets are acceptable.

Zana Schroeder

Deputy Principal

Activate 

Over the next 4 weeks, we will be welcoming a number of guest speakers during our Year 9 Activate lessons. These guests will share their expertise and provide information for students to consider as they prepare and refine their social entrepeneur pitches. This week, Chris Lampard shared with students and staff his experience, insights and advice as a business analyst. Students were able to engage in practical exercises and ask questions pertinent to them. It was interesting to hear how Mr Lampard developed his consultacy business by pursuing his passions. 

Ceramics

Recently our Year 9 Ceramic students participated in a workshop with local artist Michelle Le Plastrier.  Michelle’s practice is centred around the desire to always be expanding on the technical skills and knowledge to explore the balance between sculptural and functional ceramic forms.  Our students were challenged to create a clay vessel in under 2 hours using slabs construction techniques.   We can’t wait to see these pieces glazed in the coming weeks!

Film Production

In Film Production this term, students have been analysing how film makers create and develop their stories and views audiences see through the lens. We have looked at technical elements of film/media and will start to develop our own skills using 4k DSLR equipment and editing software in preparation to developing our own fantastic films.

Sound Production

Using Garage Band and recording equipment, students in Sound Production have created sound scapes, film underscores, and short songs using fun effects and sounds on Garage Band, as well as recording themselves using instruments. We have looked at how music has developed over time through the use of technology and how music elements have been manipulated to convey meaning. Students are excited to start work on their own compositions and perform a piece of their choosing towards the end of term. 

Youth Justice

This term in Year 9 Civics and Citizenship, students are learning about vulnerable youth in the youth justice system, factors that are contributing to youth crime and how to provide support and opportunities for these youths to be become active and positive citizens within our community. The students were privileged to hear from Gold Coast Youth Services about the services they provide to young people experiencing disadvantage and who are at risk of entering the youth justice system. This was a great learning opportunity for students to explore what community groups are doing to try and help the life outcomes of young people and to consider what other support services are still required to help these vulnerable youth.

Creating a Business

This term in Year 9 Business and Economics, students are learning about the risks and rewards of various financial decisions and how to create a financial strategy for investment. The students were able to get first-hand knowledge and experience from Brian Managbanag the owner and manager of Bank of Queensland, Beenleigh. Brian spent a lesson with our Year 9 Creating a Business students providing them with the tools and information they need to be able to manage their finances successfully. This a great learning opportunity for our students to start with their budgeting and looking at future financial goals and investments.

Earlier this term, Year 9 History students had the privilege of attending the Queensland Museum in preparation for the creation of their own museum exhibit. Students had the opportunity to handle a kit containing replica items from a WWI soldier’s backpack.  We couldn’t believe how heavy the backpacks were and we discussed the usefulness of the overly thick and uncomfortable bandages. We spent a lot of our time in the Anzac Legacy area of the Museum exploring the many artefacts on display and discussing how we could take ideas from the exhibits to use for our own assignments. Students were tasked with a scavenger hunt to answer riddles on each floor of the museum to ensure they looked closely at each display. We had a very educational and enjoyable day and are looking forward to taking next Semester’s History students to the museum for their experience.

Our Changing World

In Geography, as part of the investigation into Sustainable Fishing, students had an opportunity to investigate the local waterways on EduCat with the Aquatic staff from Jacobs Well Environmental Education Centre.

During the day students participated in trawling for live catch with Alexander Amos working the winch to drop and haul in the trawling net. After the net was hauled in all students helped to identify all the different species caught to be recorded by Miss Griffin. This data is sent to Queensland Government Department of Agriculture & Fisheries as part of their research into local fisheries.

Searching for bait and some rod fishing finished off the day with a couple of students catching some legal fish that were returned to sea. A great day was had by all. 

It is fantastic to see many of our students working in our practical spaces this term whether it be in kitchens, workshops or our coding and robotics labs. A massive thank you to our team of Technologies teachers who go above and beyond to provide exciting opportunities for our students.

Across Year 7 and 8, our students rotate through a series of Technologies units, many of which have a practical component. Not all students will be accessing practical activities at the same time, or in the same term.

For students to be able to access learning in these practical spaces they must:

• have their Student Workplace Health and Safety Induction Log up to date and signed off by their teacher
• have returned their signed Safety Contract and their signed Activity Consent form.                                                                                                           NB. If you have not yet returned your child's forms  to their classroom teacher please do so, to ASAP as they will be unable to enter a practical space until then. This will have an impact on their ability to build their skills and complete their assessment.
• must arrive at class with the correct footwear - black full leather shoes [sport style or formal]

Year 7 Technologies - students are working across one of two units depending on their class. Some classes are working on programing a Sphero RVR to navigate a pre-determined course, whilst other students are engaging in designing and creating a healthy breakfast menu.

Year 8 Technologies - students are working across one of two units, depending on their class. Some classes are designing and creating drag-racers, complete with a motor to compete in an end of term race to see which is the fastest, whilst other classes are delving into Sustainable Development Goal 12 through their Economics and Business Unit investigating how governements can use their actions to promote responsible consumption and production.

Year 9 Personal Endeavour Courses

• Food and Nutrition - this week students have had an amazing opportunity to create and taste an unusual muffin. Students cooked cricket protein banana bread muffins! Yes, that is correct CRICKET! They tasted surprisingly lovely and on top of that cricket protein is incredibly more sustainable than other protein sources. Great taste and enrvironmentally friendly - win-win!

• Food and Hospitality Practices - this week students have been in the kitchen cooking. The highlight of their week was designing and creating their burgers for lunch.

• Build It and They Will Come - students are working through the design thinking process for their collapsible chair which they will be producing for assessment. Students have been honing their skills in preparation for the producing and implementing phase of the process.

• App Development and Game Design - students are working through the design thinking process for the 2D Game demo which they will be designing. Students are using code to create a game demo which has potential to be expanded to create a single or multi-player game.

Making Healthy Choices in Year 8 Healthy World

This term, students of Year 8 Healthy world have been investigating their own personal nutrition and movement habits, as well as exploring widespread health issues facing Australia. 

Students have been critical of daily eating and movement habits, fitness testing, and monitoring sleep and screen time patterns to identify areas of personal health improvement.

By continuing our investigation and referring to the Australian Guidelines to Healthy Eating and the 24 Hour Movement guidelines, students are drawing connections between Australian health concerns and proposing health plans to improve specific areas of own and others health.

Did you know?

By eating the recommended amounts from the Five Food Groups, and following the Australian Guidelines to Healthy Eating, children will get enough of the nutrients essential for health, growth and wellbeing. This is essential for learning and reaching potential!

Childhood is a time of learning and children who grow up in families that have healthy eating and movement habits are more likely to make their own healthy choices as they get older.

You can help by teaching your whole family to:

• Choose ‘everyday foods’ for home and school from the Five Food Groups.
• Save discretionary choices for special occasions.
• Provide a variety of types and colours of fresh vegetables and fruit
• Enjoy reduced fat varieties of milk, yoghurt and cheese
• Eat mainly wholegrain cereal foods and breads.
• Drink plenty of water instead of sugary drinks like cordial, and soft drink.
• Eat a healthy breakfast every day.
• Learn about how foods are grown and where they come from.

For children and young people, being active every day has many social, emotional, intellectual and health benefits, including:

• a chance to have fun with friends and family
• reduced antisocial behaviour
• stronger cooperation and teamwork skills
• better self-esteem and confidence
• lower anxiety and stress
• better concentration
• healthy growth and development
• strong muscles and bones
• improved fitness, including coordination and movement skills
• lower risk of disease
• lower risk of unhealthy weight gain.

We recommend children and young people do at least 60 minutes each day of moderate to vigorous physical activity that makes the heart beat faster. More is better. It doesn’t have to be a full 60 minutes at once – several shorter sessions through the day work too. At least 3 days per week, children and young people should incorporate vigorous activities and activities that strengthen muscle and bone in the 60 minutes.

For more information about our nutrition and movement recommendations for children and young people, see:

• 24-hour movement guidelines for the children and young people
• Tips for eating well

Students in G-STEM have begun their Wonder of Science investigations, as part of their inquiry-based learning for Term 2. We continue to be blown away by the amazing minds in these classrooms!

Year 7 G-STEM students are exploring separation techniques in any format of their choosing, which include ideas such as separating milk using a centrifuge, removing water from orange juice, removing water from energy drinks, extracting sugar from soft drinks, extracting caffeine from tea, electrolysis of water, DNA extraction from fruit, and blood filtration. They have utilised the skills developed in Term 1 G-STEM, in order to independently research and plan these investigations.

At the end of Week 10, Year 7 G-STEM students will travel to the Queensland Museum SparkLab, and then to the University of Queensland to meet with their individual PhD mentors in preparation for Term 3.

Year 8 G-STEM students are exploring energy transformations within the realm of renewable energy, in any format of their choosing including ideas such as solar powered cars, elastic powered boats, and the design of catapults, rollercoasters, and parachutes.

In Week 2 of Term 3, Year 8 G-STEM students will travel to Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre, where they will partake in a full-day program on the boat Inspiration, adopting the role of Citizen Scientists and Environment Managers to observe marine debris and investigate possible impacts of this on marine environments.

Year 9 G-STEM students are exploring whether chemical reactions always release energy, designing and conducting their own experiment to answer this question.

At the end of week 9, Year 9 G-STEM students will participate in the Griffith University Science and Engineering challenge 2022.

All G-STEM students will present in their groups at the Wonder of Science Regional Conference in Week 10, hosted at our very own College. Winners of each year level will proceed to the Wonder of Science State Conference, hosted by the University of Queensland in Brisbane.

Inter School Sport commences soon! 

Permission notes and invoices will be distributed next week. 

We cannot wait for our Teams to begin the competition.

For all Inter School Sport enquiries please speak with Mr Taylor. 

Our Foxwell debating teams have had a great deal of success during our first two rounds of debates.  We are incredibly proud of them and the work that they put in during their own time to improve their skills and teamwork.  In debating, teams of 3 students are assigned either the affirmative or negative side of a topic and must convince their audience that their case is stronger.  During short preparation rounds, teams are given a topic and side and have 2 hours to prepare their case before presenting it.  This is very difficult, as you can imagine, but our debaters are always keen to learn, develop their skills and have a go!

This year we have teams in both Junior A and Junior B.  Unfortunately we were unable to field a team in Intermediate this year, but we hope to rectify that in 2023.

Our Junior B teams have debated the prepared topics ‘Sweet is better than savoury”; “Everyone should have to learn a foreign language” and “Single-sex schools should be abolished”.  They start their first ever short preparation debate on June 1st. 

Our Junior A teams have debated the topics “Influencers are more harm than help” and “Tourism poses an unacceptable threat” and had their first short preparation debate last week where they prepared and debated the topic “Schools should teach more about how our government works”. 

If you would like to come along and support our wonderful debaters, the dates and venues are below.  All debates are on a Wednesday night, begin at 6:00 pm and are usually finished between 7:00 and 7:30 pm.

Junior A           Round 4          Short Prep       Saint Stephen’s College, Coomera     25^th May

Junior B           Round 4          Short Prep       King’s Christian College, Pimpama     1^st June

Junior A          Round of 16    Short Prep       Somerset College, Mudgeeraba 8^th June

Junior B           Round 5          Short Prep       King’s Christian College, Pimpama     15^th June