Year 7 News

We have started our Term Three with many ignitor activities that have launched our Term Three topic of "Journey of Discovery: This is a science based term where we are focusing on the living world. Our driving question is "How can we, as concept designers, think like scientists to investigate and design the alien bugs discovered on Planet Xylos so that they are believable and realistic? "This year we are focusing on a hot, steamy, rainforest type planet with increased oxygen levels. It is a planet of bugs only.

We started our learning with building the knowledge - each student is working through a "science degree" - looking at classification, adaptations, food webs, ecosystems and living things .

As part of our initial activities all classes have had a visit to both the Art Gallery and Museum - with a focus on the environment and living things in Natures discovery and animal attic.

Our clients for this unit, working alongside us, is Animation Research Limited. We are delighted to have them on board with us again to support this unit. Cheryl and her team from ARL including Ian McGee, an Emmy winning documentary maker who has worked on Animal Planet.

Students are now moving onto the next stage of their PBL unit starting on the design ideas and creating their bugs.

We have also integrated this unit into our literacy with a focus on reading and viewing animal texts, note taking and writing animal reports. Today our "clients" from Animation Research Limited returned to conference our groups on their initial planning ideas. This feedback is invaluable to the students and motivates them for the next stage.

Students are also training hard for next week's school cross country. This day is always a highlight on the sporting calendar and more information will come out this week. Alongside the cross country training, each house group is preparing for the house haka competition to be held on the same day.

It is an action packed term with school sport, inter-school challenges, science fair, jump jam, poly fest and the Koru games. Our students continue to make the most of the huge range of opportunities they have at Balmacewen. Thank you also to those students who helped out at our Open Night - the way you conducted yourselves, spoke to our visitors and promoted our school and it's programmes was a credit to you all.

Lisa Dixon

Year 7 Dean