Attendance Goal

The goal: Make Mrs Baxter “zooper dooper´ proud with the highest-class attendance rate at the end of the term. Term 1 winners = 9D.

Current class attendance %:

9A – 82%

9B – 80% (but we did win the highest Year 9 attendance for cross country!)

9C – 81%

9D – 83%

9E – 82%

Student movements

New to 9A - Maddi

New to 9C – Cayla

New to 9E - Violet

Staff movements

Mr. Eeles – out for the remainder of Term Two (9A + Maths WINN)

Mr. Schmidt – in for the remainder of Term Two (9A + Maths WINN)

Maths

A new unit started this week: Quadratics! Students are learning how to expand and factorise monic expressions, and they are diving into the world of quadratic equations. This includes understanding the standard form of a quadratic equation, solving them using various methods such as factoring, completing the square, and the quadratic formula.

In addition to these foundational skills, students will explore real-world applications of quadratics, such as projectile motion.

A group of enthusiastic Year 9 students recently had the exciting opportunity to attend a mathematics incursion hosted by the University of Melbourne. The session focused on the fascinating world of optimisation—the art and science of finding the "best" solution to complex problems.

Through hands-on activities and expert guidance, students explored real-world applications of mathematical thinking, learning how optimisation plays a crucial role in fields like engineering, economics, and computer science. It was a fantastic chance for our students to stretch their problem-solving skills and gain insight into how maths is used beyond the classroom.

We’re proud of our students for representing the school so well and embracing this enriching experience!

English

Poetry in Action – at the end of this term, the members from Poetry in Action will be visiting our school to perform for all of our Year 9 students. We have been lucky enough to have them perform in previous years, and are looking forward to seeing their ‘Words of War’ performance this year. This will lead us into our Poetry Unit next term.

Science

We are continuing with our Earth Science unit. In Year 9 Science, students are diving into the carbon cycle—a vital Earth system that connects all living and non-living things. This cycle shows how carbon moves through the geosphere (land), biosphere (living things), hydrosphere (water), and atmosphere (air).

Key processes like photosynthesis, respiration, and combustion play essential roles:

Photosynthesis: Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into energy, storing carbon in the biosphere.

Respiration: Animals and plants release carbon back into the atmosphere as they break down food for energy.

Combustion: Burning fossil fuels releases stored carbon from the geosphere into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

By examining these interactions, students gain a deeper understanding of how Earth's systems are interconnected—and how human actions can impact the balance of this delicate cycle.

HaSS

Our journey through the Industrial Revolution continues as students begin their final assessment: Source Analysis. This task challenges students to apply their historical thinking by analysing primary and secondary sources. To support their success, we are emphasising the importance of accurate in-text citations, APA referencing, and strong inferencing skills. These focus areas will help students build on their previous assessments and demonstrate their growth as critical thinkers.