|
|
|
| Current Events |
|
|
|
Archbishop Visits MacKillop Catholic College
To read the full story, please visit http://www.hobart.catholic.org.au/
|
|
Gumnuts to Buttons
During July, Sharni Everett, Dayne Langdon. and Sarah Lackey brought Aboriginal history to life for a group of students at MacKillop Catholic College through the dynamic program, ‘From Gumnuts to Buttons’.
As we entered the room we were confronted with a large map of Tasmania lying on the floor. As we looked more closely we noticed there were none of the usual town names so familiar to us, but in their place were the names of the nine Tasmanian Aboriginal tribes. There were also lots of black footprints covering the map… and so we started on our journey, From Gumnuts to Buttons.
The program tells the story of Tasmanian Aboriginal people; how the Europeans took over their land and how eventually they moved remaining Aboriginal people to Flinders Island. It was a true story that was very visually presented and made an immense impact on the Year 9 World Studies students involved.
The students reflected that the history was sad and shocking; that they had little or no idea of what had gone on and that this was a great way to learn about our history in a meaningful way. They liked to hear the Aboriginal words being pronounced and hearing about the way of life they had been studying from someone whose family had lived in this traditional way.
Some of the information presented challenged us to think about the experience of Tasmanian Aboriginal people growing up in an era where their identity was called into question. “On the one hand the Europeans said that Truganinie was the last Aborigine, and then on the other the Europeans rounded all the Aboriginal people up and sent them to the Cape Barren Island to live,” said one of the students.
“Sharni told us about how difficult it was growing up, and some sad and shocking stories from Dayne’s grandparents’ time. We learnt lots of things about our history and it has made us think very differently about what we thought we knew.”
“I felt sad but also sorry for what happened to the Aboriginal cultures, tribes and families,” another student said. “I wish we knew a lot more of the Aboriginal culture and traditions today that the British tried to destroy.”
This experience was followed up by in-class drama performances where groups of students relayed their learning through a series of montages. Some of the performances were poignant and thoughtful. Others were intense and dramatic.
Congratulations to all students on their participation and attention through this learning experience and a special thank you to Sharni and Dayne for presenting this program and to Sarah for organising the experience in her role as Equity Officer with the Catholic Education Office. A special thank you goes to Sharyn Wilson for her role in organising this day for our students.
|
|
GYC challenges Tassie’s poor retention rates
Seven hundred Year 10 students from Catholic, Government and Independent schools and colleges in southern Tasmania took advantage of Guilford Young College’s Pathways Expo recently to help in their course selection for their senior secondary education and beyond.
MacKillop Catholic College was among the schools to send students.
The Expo, held in the Bosco Centre on the Glenorchy Campus, showcased the extensive range of academic and vocational courses offered by Tasmania’s only Catholic senior secondary college.
It provided an opportunity for Year 10 students, their teachers and parents to discuss with GYC teachers information about courses that will lead students into their hoped-for careers. A tour of the Glenorchy Campus was part of the experience; many of the students having already visited the Hobart Campus earlier this year.
This major event is one of several significant annual measures in GYC’s concerted effort to improve the retention rate of students between Years 10 and 11 and to help students’ transitioning process into senior secondary education.
GYC teachers will continue to be available for course advice through liaising with teachers in the Association Colleges, including MacKillop Catholic College, while the Year 10 students will return to GYC early in December for an orientation day.
Early indications for 2012 enrolments are that next year will see one of the biggest student chorts in the College’s short history.
“GYC is looking to the future, confident in the academic and service reputation it has built within the Tasmanian community,” the Principal, Mrs Bobby Court, said.
|
|
|
Try a Trade 2011
Year 9 Students roll up their sleeves to experience a career in the trades
On Wednesday, 25 May, Year 9 students from across southern Tasmania will get the chance to roll up their sleeves,
get their hands dirty and experience first-hand what it is like to work in various trade-based careers.
The World Skills Try’a Trade event is being held on Wednesday, 25 May at the Derwent Entertainment Centre.
Over 900 students from virtually every secondary school and college in southern Tasmania will have the opportunity to experience,
hands on, several of the 25 trades on offer during their session.
Vija Hughes, from Colony 47 Partnership Brokers, explained that "Try’a Trade provides a great opportunity for students to
interact with employers and training providers in a fun and interesting way while learning in a practical sense what is involved
in undertaking a trade-based career."
Vija also said that, "The students provide preferences for which trades they are most interested in and get to participate
in hands on activities in up to three different trades. Students are also deliberately allocated one trade which is not high
on their list of preferences so that they can be exposed to career options that might not have previously been on their radar.
It's a great way for the kids to identify at an early age what career pathways they might be interested in and, equally,
it can help them to identify careers which may not suit their interests."
Will Byard, a Year 9 student from MacKillop, said "I am really looking forward to the opportunity to see what there is to do.
I've chosen agriculture as one of my preferences as I'm keen about the possibilities of a career in landscaping."
Elise Yaxley, also from MacKillop, said "I really want to try new things and see what you can do in different trades.
I want to know what subjects you might need if you choose a certain trade. I'm looking forward to talking to some of the employers
and apprentices that will be at Try’a Trade."
Vija went on to add that "students will also have the opportunity to meet and talk with Jason Bryan, the 2010 Tasmanian
(and Australian) apprentice of the year, during their time at Try’a Trade.
Try’a Trade sets itself apart from other career - based events by ensuring that it is hands on and that everyone has the opportunity
to get in and have a go. The careers that are on display at Try’a Trade range from building and landscaping right through to patisserie,
hair and beauty. It's not about picking up brochures and filling up show bags with information but instead about interacting with
real-life employers and completing activities that would typically be required of you if you were to be employed in one of the jobs
that are on display.
Stuart Harvey from Guaranteeing Futures, Department of Education, and Roger Toombs from MacKillop, both members of the southern
and state steering committees for Try a Trade, noted that "the running of the Try’a Trade event is organised by a number of community,
industry and government partners who contribute extensive time, resources and finances to ensure that this opportunity can be provided
to our young people. The event would not be possible without the valuable time and effort that many local businesses and employers
voluntarily contribute through setting up booths and running activities for the students."
|
|
|
We Have The Technology
MacKillop Roboclub Students Design Bionic Arms
Once a week, a dedicated team of researchers, designers and engineers gathers together to explore new technologies,
designing and building robots to perform a variety of functions - from dancing droids to robotic soccer stars - and even bionic body parts.
No, it’s not an episode of the Six Million Dollar Man, but the regular meeting of MacKillop College’s Roboclub.
Recently, the team took on the real-life challenge of designing and building a bionic arm, inspired by Tasmanian engineering businessman
and inventor Mark Lesek.
Every week, this inspired team of students gathers to learn about robotics and put their learning into action. A group of MacKillop teachers
has worked with students over the past few years.
Chris Bracken decided to put a real-life challenge to the team. “Last year, Mark Lesek, an arm amputee who is an engineer and inventor, came to
visit my Year 9 Science Extended class to talk about the emerging field of biotechnology."
"His presentation to the class was really inspiring, and
gave me the idea to put the challenge to our highly motivated and talented Roboclub students to design and build a robotic arm."
Several years ago, Mr Lesek was involved in a car accident that resulted in the amputation of his arm. Due to the nature of the amputation,
regular prosthetic limbs were unsuitable for Mr Lesek. His quest for a durable, functional robotic arm resulted in him taking on the challenge of
designing his own. Mr Lesek’s design has attracted international attention, and has proved so successful, he has been asked to present at conferences
all over the world including the US Military Hospital in Washington.
 Like many arm amputees, Mr Lesek faced the prospect of being fitted with a prosthetic limb that would provide limited function and eventually lead
to weakening of his bone structure due to underuse. He saw a program on the Discovery Channel about a man in Norway, who has since become a friend, who
had undergone a radical procedure to have a bolt screwed into bone so that a more functional robotic limb could be attached. Mr Lesek found that this
procedure could not be done in Australia, so he self-funded surgery in Sweden to have a bolt attached, despite the 50% risk of the procedure failing.
He went on to design and built his own components to create a highly functional bionic arm. As he explains, "I did what I had to do in order to get
function back again."
Mr Lesek puts his original prosthetic options into perspective. "Normally in a situation such as mine, given the nature of the amputation,
only about 1% of people continue to use the limb, as the quality of life is better without the limb. I had to think outside the square." With
the full support of his family, and against advice of his doctors in Australia, he went to Sweden for the procedure. The surgery is now mainstream
technology in Australia.
Following Mr Lesek’s inspirational visit to the school last year, robotics teacher Chris Bracken put the challenge to this year’s Roboclub students
to design and build a robotic arm.
"Students embraced the disability aspects of the exercise," Mr Bracken explains. “They independently created additions that would make their arm useful to amputees."
The students researched and reflected on the movement and flexibility of the human hand. They then applied this knowledge into their design and creation of the robotic arm.
Mr Lesek was asked to judge the designs and presented awards to the Roboclub students. The students heard from Mr Lesek about his experiences as an arm amputee living with a robotic arm and the many aspects of designing and constructing his own robotic arm.
The winning entry was designed by Year 9 students Jeremy Kunz and Jesse North. Jeremy designed the hand, while Jesse built the base and elbow joint. Jeremy designed a touch sensor to control the strength of the robotic hand. Mr Bracken explains that Jeremy’s clever design was based on a very innovative structure.
"I was blown away by the quality of work and innovation. Mark was also highly impressed and might have even got a few ideas for future designs!"
The runner up was Bill Van den Bosch, Yr 8, whose arm featured two ranges of movement and an innovative touch sensor system operated by the wrist.
Jeremy enjoyed the unique challenges or designing a robotic arm. "It was really interesting to think about how our arms and hands work and to try and think of ways of recreating their function through robotics," Jeremy said. "It was a really good experience and Mr Lesek was fantastic," he added.
Jeremy now is aiming for a career in engineering, and has been planning his career pathway during Personal Development time at school.
|
|
|
Freemasons' Home Bus Launch
MacKillop Catholic College continues relationship with the residents of Freemasons’ Home, Lindisfarne
On a fine Thursday afternoon, 28 April 2011, staff from MacKillop and
the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office attended the presentation of a bus to the residents of Freemasons’ Homes in Lindisfarne.
No one who lives in a nursing home is hungry or cold but the days can be long and residents can feel isolated.
Ease of access to suitable (wheelchair-friendly) and affordable transport is a real solution for those feelings of isolation.
The Aged Care Foundation of Freemasons' Homes in Lindisfarne was created to enhance the quality of life for its residents.
The Foundation accepted the challenge to raise funds to provide a bus for the nursing home.
As well as local businesses helping to sponsor the bus, The Foundation offered to “sell” the naming rights to seats on the bus to
raise further funds. A number of residents have chipped in to have naming rights to a seat on the bus.
Amidst the fun and frivolity of the presentation, conversations with residents showed just how beneficial the bus will be.
Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia (CSYMA)
MacKillop students involved in CSYMA for 2011 will again be working with residents of Freemasons’ Home documenting personal histories.
This project was first undertaken during 2010 and proved a wonderful experience for both the residents and our students.
|
|
|
Southern Touch Grand Finals
 Mens Division 2 Premiers: Condors
On Saturday March 5, the Southern Touch summer 2010/11 season grand finals were held at Wentworth Park, Howrah.
Two MacKillop students, Jordan Hampton and Trent Hope, were part of the Condors Touch team who beat the Phantoms 5-2 to take out the Premiership for Mens division 2.
The Condors, who had been the underdogs all season, put together a stirling performance, to topple the favourites and take home the flag.
This contributed to a clean sweep by the Condors Touch club, who won every division. The Condors mens 2 side's performance would not have been possible without the great work of these two boys, who had shown huge development throughout the roster season, and who both played a stellar game.
|
|
|
MacKillop student surfers catch results at Bruny Junior and Longboard contest, 15 January 2011
In initially consistent, but small, surf at Middle Beach, Cloudy Bay, Bruny Island, MacKillop students acquitted themselves well
in the Red Herring Surf Junior and Longboard contest.
Kyle Cooper, former MacKillop student (2010) showed his usual flair, tail turning to win the junior longboard final.
Kyle and Pierre Van de Vusse surfed well in the U18 Boys final, but Tom Gray edged them out managing to catch the best wave of the session.
The consistency of the surf started to fail for the U16 Boys and Girls but brother and sister, Jake and Tabbie Fasnacht, put in solid
performances to take out 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.
Tabbie, who is in Year 7, also managed a third position in the combined U14 Boys and Girls division.
Results:
| Junior longboard: | 1st - Kyle Cooper, | 2nd - Jake Fasnacht |  |
| Under 18 Boys: | 2nd - Kyle Cooper, | 4th - Pierre van de Vusse |
| Under 16 Boys: | 2nd - Jake Fasnacht, | 4th - Pierre Van de Vusse |
| Under 16 Girls: | 3rd - Tabbie Fasnacht | |
| Under 14s Boys and Girls: | 3rd - Tabbie Fasnacht | |
|
|
|
|
|
