Senior Cyber Career Excursion 

By special invite, and due to our strong connections with the Queensland University of Technology, Whites Hill State College were invited to bring 5 senior students (Year 10-12) along to a cyber career panel discussion where students could learn about future pathways in the IT industry. Students were selected based on their current career planning documents and interests, and after requesting to bring a few more than 5 (9) Mrs Russell took them into the city this week to visit QUT at the Gardens Point Campus. This was a valuable day for the students involved, and allowed them to imagine life as a university student and a career in IT. 

Year 12 Biology start learning about DNA 

Year 12 Biology students have turned their focus on to Unit 4 and an exploration of DNA over the last few weeks. In this unit, students investigate different factors that affect cellular processes and gene pools. They examine different patterns of inheritance and the genetic basis of the theory of evolution through natural selection to analyse the use of predictive models in decision-making. Recently their studies have included making models of DNA (that were edible!) and extracting DNA from strawberries and kiwifruit. 

Hands on learning like this really helps solidify concepts that are less concrete and tangible, in this case due to their microscopic size. 

Year 7 Kick of Unit 2 

Year 7s this term are focussing on states of matter and correct terms for different types of mixtures. Students are applying this knowledge into an assessment where they will focus on filtering a mixture into its simple parts. To further prepare for this assessment, they have started experimenting with and learning about how filter paper works. This week’s investigation is “which folding technique made a more effective filter”. 

Emma Scotney
Head of Department - Science and Technologies