The Social Sciences are all about encouraging students to be creative and critical thinkers, engaging with our local and global society to become engaged and active citizens. Throughout 2024, teachers provided students with a myriad of opportunities to move outside the four walls of the classroom and to apply their theoretical knowledge within the community, hopefully to ensure students are able to appreciate the wonders of the natural and built environment.
Accelerated Geography
2024 saw students from the first Accelerated Geography Program complete their HSC one year earlier than normal. Starting the Stage 6 course in 2023 whilst in Year 10, this was an opportunity for selected students to experience a senior subject providing them with exposure to the workload and expectations of Year 11 and 12 subjects. The three students who took part in this trial performed exceptionally well in their HSC, all achieving marks well above the state average and being in the top four of the class cohort. This is an outstanding performance and now gives them valuable experience and an understanding of expectations for undertaking their other HSC courses this year.
Due to the opportunities that the Accelerated Geography Program provides, nine new students started the Year 11 course whilst still being in Year 10 last year. They are relishing the opportunity and will complete their HSC for the subject later this year.
Senior Geography Fieldwork Excursions
Fieldwork is an integral component of Geography as it allows students to experience firsthand the theory from class by applying it to the real world. It is also a very effective method for students to enhance their knowledge and understanding. For this reason, senior Geography students are given many opportunities to undertake meaningful fieldwork.
Year 12 Geography – Port Macquarie
In November, the new Year 12 class visited Port Macquarie to explore Sea Acres National Park; a rainforest ecosystem. Guided by NPWS rangers, we learnt about the biodiversity of the area, how it functions, the ecological and human stresses placed upon it and the management strategies utilised to conserve the park. It was a very informative and enjoyable walk through the canopy of the forest. Later that evening, students were treated to a wonderful dinner atop of North Brother Mountain, one of Australia’s most beautiful lookout views before bonding together over some fun games later that night. After a well-rested night staying in Bonny Hills, we visited Kooloonbung Creek Nature Reserve to compare this intertidal wetland to other ecosystems. All students and staff thoroughly loved their time away in such a beautiful environment.
Year 12 Geography – Sydney
Year 12 students visited Sydney in May as part of their ‘Urban Places’ topic studied. After observing the city’s landscape from Sydney Tower, a tour of the CBD’s economic activities and shopping took place, where students enjoyed browsing expensive shops such as Gucci, Prada and Tiffany & Co. We then completed a walking tour of Barangaroo from the commercial towers down through Barangaroo Reserve to understand this urban renewal project. A walk back to Central Station via Haymarket was also a highlight to explore this urban village.
Year 11 Geography
Year 11 Geography students explored Blackbutt Reserve back in May. This was undertaken as a way for students to explore the local environment through conducting fieldwork and using geographical equipment. After a lot of observation, discussion, soil testing and measuring different aspects of the environment, the class explored the geological formations along the coastline from Nobbys Beach through to Merewether Beach. It was a great day out utilising the equipment for the first time for many and applying the content covered in class to a real-life local setting.
Bizfair – Year 9 Commerce
In early Term 4, Year 9 Commerce hosted the annual Bizfair Market Day Stall as a part of their 'Running A Business' topic. It is a highly-anticipated event on the school calendar every year as the whole school can purchase some delicious products created by the class. It was an outstanding opportunity for the Commerce students to sell their own creations after undertaking market research, an advertising campaign and the production of their goods. Every group made a profit with the winning team nearly tripling their investment. The class had a blast during the whole process whilst also learning about valuable components of businesses and how they run. For the record, the brownies were a massive hit!
Year 8 Geography VLE
The opportunity for students to engage with fieldwork is essential within the Geography course. Year 8 students were able to participate in fieldwork along the Warners Bay Esplanade to assess the liveability of the area. Skills such as observation, field notes, discussions, and photography were all components of their VLE task. Students were able to demonstrate their understanding across a number of means including through field notes, a slideshow and a report, many able to do this with a high degree of skill and a testament to their application to their studies.
Year 8 Marine Studies - Sea Life aquarium
Always a showstopper, Sydney’s Sea Life aquarium again hosted our budding marine scientists. Students were immersed in key ecosystems of the underwater world and could journey into the deep blue. The penguin expedition boat ride allowed students to get up close and personal with the colony of King and Gentoo penguins, while the journey in the underwater tunnels enabled students to marvel at spectacular sharks and rays. The excursion enabled students to build greater connections to learning undertaken in the classroom.
Year 9/10 Marine Studies – Whale Watching
The marine world never fails to disappoint, and our Stage 5 students went to explore the vast blue in the hopes of seeing the majestic whale in its natural habitat as they engaged in their annual migration. Most students were able to gather their sea legs and were on the lookout for that telltale ‘blow’. Poseidon was with us we managed to witness the majesty of these creatures up close, while our informative guide enhanced our understanding of these majestic mammals who face issues of hunting, pollution, loss of food sources, loss of habitat and climate change. We were able to marvel at a beautiful pod of dolphins and enjoyed accessing the beauty of our local natural world.
Year 9/10 Marine Studies - Shark and Ray Centre
Any opportunity for our students to appreciate the marine creatures we examine in class, is important to further connections with the real world and theoretical learning. Our Stage 5 Marine Studies classes were fortunate to experience the wonder of sharks and stingray in Port Stephens at Irukandji Shark & Ray Encounters. Students loved the opportunity to feed and touch these magnificent animals, even getting in and swimming with some sharks!
Marine Studies – Fishing
A huge component of the Marine Studies course is building an appreciation of and care for the local fishing industry and ecosystem. Students are instilled with this philosophy and appreciation for the beautiful location in which we live by heading to the Warners Bay esplanade and engaging with fishing practices. Across the year students were able to be wonderful ambassadors for Warners Bay High as they threw a line in, and some students were even fortunate enough to catch something.
