Our outstanding Year 7-12 students have had a fun and busy year, buzzing with creativity as they’ve gained lifelong knowledge and skills by designing and producing amazing work across all of our subjects.
Some highlights this year have been:
● Impressive 2022 Band 6 and 5 results.
| SUBJECT |
BAND 6 |
BAND 5 |
TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS |
| Community and Family Studies |
2 |
4 |
15 |
| Food Technology |
1 |
3 |
13 |
| Hospitality |
1 |
8 |
19 |
| Design and Technology |
|
3 |
13 |
| Engineering |
|
2 |
7 |
● Congratulations to Mrs Emma Walker-Coon who has been permanently appointed as our new TAS Kitchen Assistant. Emma is an outstanding whizz in the kitchen and a wonderful addition to our faculty.
● Hospitality students attending and gaining industry work experience at the The Sydney Good Food and Wine Show.
● A large number of students submitting exceptional HSC Major Projects Works in Textiles and Design and Industrial Technology.
● Stage 6 Textiles excursions to the Sydney Texstyle Exhibition, where they engaged in workshops and gained inspiration from the best HSC Major Projects of 2022 and to Shibori Studios, Stanmore.
● Stage 5 Textiles entering their Indigenous Country inspired wall hangings into the 2023 TEA Texstyle Art Piece Competition.
● Engaging with Year 6 students from our local primary schools to deliver practical ‘Taster Lessons’ in Food and Timber.
Our committed staff are constantly creating and revising quality student workbooks and assessment tasks to ensure all work is engaging. We are focused on communicating how to achieve learning outcomes in a clear and concise manner, so that all students learning needs are met and have the opportunity to fully participate and achieve. Our goal as educators is to engage and motivate our learners to produce and display their knowledge of the subject they are studying to the very best of their ability.
This year our Units of Work have been enriched by incorporating the 8 Aboriginal Ways of Learning into our teaching strategies. Our Stage 4 Technology students are also enjoying our revamped Units of Works across Food, Textiles, Engineering, Wood and Metal as relevant Digital Technologies have been incorporated into each design project. This has brought these existing practical mediums into the 21st century as they reflect existing and future careers in our digital age.
Our TAS (Technological and Applied Studies) Faculty at Newcastle High School offers an extensive selection of learning experiences across a broad range of subjects. These are:
Stage 4 (Years 7 and 8)
- Technology (mandatory) – Engineering, Food and Agriculture, Digital Technology, Textiles, Wood and Metal.
- Passion Projects – Dreamy designs, Weaving Warriors, Good for Body, Mind and Soul, Food Glorious Food.
Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10)
- Child Studies
- Food Technology
- Textiles Technology
- Industrial Technology (Timber)
- Industrial Technology (Metals)
Stage 6 (Years 11 and 12)
- Engineering
- Food Technology
- Community and Family Studies
- Textiles and Design
- Industrial Technology
- VET (Vocational Education and Training)
- Hospitality
- Manufacturing and Engineering
- Construction
See below for some of the student learning experienced from the above subjects.
Year 7 Technology -Food and Agriculture
In the first unit of work studied in Year 7, students learn all about the six nutrients and the nutritional requirements of an adolescent. They then apply this knowledge to complete a Design Folio, showcasing their knowledge of nutrients and designing and cooking a muffin that is low in saturated fats and high in complex carbohydrates.
The second unit studied also focuses heavily on practical cooking experiences and examines where food comes from and how to incorporate sustainable agriculture practices into food production.
Stage 4 Yr 8 Technology- Timber and Digital Technologies
Students have developed an understanding of wood and metal and associated fabrication processes. They gained experience using tools, equipment and techniques employed in the planning, development, construction and evaluation of quality practical projects. The Timber Box project involves design and modification with the use of various softwood and hardwoods and optional lid design. Students used Tinkercad to digitally design a 3D model prototype of their toolbox. With this program they learn to model objects using coding and structured data and measurements to include in their Design and Production Folio.
Stage 5 Child Studies
Learning in Child Studies promotes in students a sense of empathy for children, their parents, caregivers and those that have the potential to influence the learning environments. In each unit studied, students are presented with the opportunities to complete practical projects which are either textiles or food based. For example, making bibs for children.
Year 9 students study the following units of work:
- Preparing for Parenthood
- Conception to Birth
- Caring for a Newborn
- Family Interactions
Year 10 students study the following units of work:
- Growth and Development, Play and the Developing Child and Health and Safety in Childhood
- Diverse Needs of Children
- Food and Nutrition in Childhood
- Media and Technology in Childhood
Students enriched their understanding of these topics by learning food and textiles skills to produce a chenille cushion cover with cross-stitch embroidery, a soft little monster plushie toy, a baby bib, a bucket hat, appealing and nutritious meals for a babies, infants and toddlers, a birthday party menu for a child with a specific food allergy/intolerance and computing skills in developing brochures with communication software.
Year 9 Food Technology
Each term students gain knowledge and practical cooking skills in a different focus area. These have been ‘The Hunger Games’ – Food Equity, ‘Foodie Adventures’ – Food in Australia, ‘Snack Founder’ – Food Product Development and ‘Hello Eats’ – Food Selection and Health.
Year 10 Food Technology
Students began the year preparing and presenting foods for that were commonly served in the Food Service and Catering industry. They enjoyed seeing how easy it was to make their own strawberry jam and embraced making their own meringue. The fun part was using the blow torch to caramelise the meringue.
Y9/10 Textiles Technology
Students have gained textile knowledge and skills in the following units of work:
Students learnt about wool fibres, carding, combing and dyeing. Our wool was sourced from a rescue sheep farm, so we had many textures of wool from different breed to have fun with. We learnt how to needle felt by making little critters. We then learnt how to wet felt by designing and creating an enclosed case.
- Textile Art Wall Hangings
Students gained skills in many forms of fabric colouration and embellishment. They then applied this knowledge to create their own wall hanging inspired by ‘Country – identity, purpose, belonging’ a story telling of their local precinct from an Aboriginal standpoint. This experience was very enriching for all of our students. It allowed them to authentically understand the local and surrounding Indigenous lands, people and practices. Works were then judged and selected to enter the TEA NSW Textile Art Piece Challenge.
This final unit is a mini major work – a culmination of all skills learnt, where students choose their own item to construct. It focuses on being able to read patterns and finessing manufacturing techniques to complete a professional end product. Students also present a digital mood board of their design inspiration, allowing them to develop their fashion illustration hand and CAD (computer aided design) skills.
Stage 6 Food Technology
Year 11 Food Technology
Assessment Task 1: Nutrition
Students had to design a healthy lunch for a middle age man who was suffering from obesity and high cholesterol. Students had to research nutrient dense foods that were high in fibre and low in cholesterol that could be prepared either the night before or on the day for a nutritious lunch. All students did an amazing job preparing and presenting their meal.
Year 11 and 12 Community and Family Studies (CAFS)
I have always known the value of this subject for students but when past students text me the following messages, it just reinforces what I believe.
“I am working three jobs and CAFS comes up in life more than I can count”.
“I am really glad I took the CAFS course because it is just really, really helpful in everyday life”.
“Relevant, logical, useful, practical, easy to do well if you apply yourself, it is about the people around you and people you interact with".
During this course we undertake a variety of activities to build skills in working as team, communication and problem solving.
This course explores a diverse range of issues affecting the lives of all individuals and their unique roles in groups, families and communities. Students discover the importance of managing individual and group needs and resources to help satisfy wellbeing. In addition, CAFS allows student’s an opportunity to investigate a variety of groups within the community and the impact that individuals can have on the betterment of the groups, families and communities to which they belong.
Studying CAFS will assist young people to become a responsible citizen who functions effectively in contemporary society within their family and community. Students who experience CAFS gain valuable research skills that they can further develop post school and career pathway. CAFS is one subject that students will learn valuable knowledge and skills for life.
Y12 Industrial Technology
Congratulations to Year 12 for completing their schooling in what has turned out to be another eventful and challenging year.
The main component of the Higher School Certificate course in Timber Products and Furniture Technologies is for students to research, design and produce a timber project of their choice, together with an accompanying folio that documents its production.
It takes a great deal of determination, persistence and a high level of time management skills to be able to plan and construct a project to the standard required. This year’s cohort produced a variety of projects that showcased their proficiency, skills and knowledge of woodworking. The standard of work overall was very commendable, with an open night being held for family and friends to view the submitted works by the students.
The amount of time, effort and application shown by the class , as a whole, was highly appreciated by the Faculty and teaching staff. Overall results in the subject will be just deserved for these efforts.
We wish all our students well in their upcoming HSC exams and future endeavours.
VET Hospitality - Sydney Good Food & Wine Show
This year our Hospitality students had a wonderful opportunity to gain experience in the industry, by working both front and back of house at the Sydney Good Food and Wine Show. Over four days the students participated in many learning experiences such as prepping food for chefs to use in their onstage shows and plating food for paying guests in several of the exhibition areas.
One of our students was also lucky enough to share the main stage with celebrity chef Manu Feildel; Maddie’s enthusiasm and natural charm was a perfect match for Manu, who included her in his whole show. To hear the chefs speak so highly of our students is a credit to both the students and the dedicated staff at our school for the time and effort they put into making this event such a success. To see their huge smiles at the conclusion of the event is a testament to how much they value this unique opportunity. I wonder who will join us next year?
