Magis
Last week was a busy week for Magis.
This week the NCSS Challenge began, teaching students how to program in Python. Mr Joosten has been running tutorial sessions in the Library at lunchtime to prepare for the Challenge. Students need to write a computer program and ensure it works correctly.
The Philosophy Club is meeting in the Library on Thursday for the next two weeks.
Our planning is about to begin for the 2015 Philosothon.
On Tuesday night we ran an information night for the 2016 Space Camp. This is is a brilliant opportunity for students. Anybody interested needs to contact me for information.
On Tuesday night graduates from our Magis Audio-Engineering Course, Tom Paparo and Sophie Minissale, managed the audio and visual technology at the Year 8 Social. Tim Bonser managed the lighting and Jonty Binet assisted with the technology. The evening was a great success. Students were delighted by the sound and lighting on the night and were effusive in their praise.
Joides Resolution
On the 31st of July a group of Year 9 Magis students toured the ship with an IODP researcher. The ship is a deep sea drillship that collects continuous core samples from deep below the sea bed to tell the story of the planet. The students saw core samples and a whole array of different specialty laboratories for each area of scientific expertise on the ship. They learnt that the collected core samples are time capsules containing many clues about the Earth's history. Instruments on board measure properties such as rock radiation and how the layers shift in magnetic orientation. A vast amount of information is gleaned through the research done by scientists on the Joides Resolution. Our Year 9 students were inspired by this interesting excursion.
UWA Secondary Design Studio
If you are a current Year 11 student and interested in any aspect of design, or simply looking for a brilliant challenge over the summer holiday, then the annual Design Studio at UWA is perfect. Over the week students are taught design skills and given a design brief to solve. They are introduced to architecture, landscape architecture, integrated design, urban design, media and visual arts through intense tutorial sessions with academic staff, including me. It runs in the Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts from 18 to 21 January from 9am to 4pm. The Studio culminates in an exhibition. The cost is $240 per student and you may find more information or enrol on-line at: http://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/community/studio.
Library
Book Week begins on 24 August.
For Primary students there are many exciting activities:
- Scholastic Book Fair - Primary Library
- Primary School Pig the Pug colouring-in competition
- SRC lunchtime reading to primary students
- Perform Musical present "Shine A Light" Book Week 2015 tribute
We also have activities for secondary students. There will be a Library sale of books and games and local author A.J. Betts will have a residency working with students from years 7 to 9. It should be an exciting week.
