Below are some of the ebooks Year 7 students have created in Science this year.
Year 11 Prize Winners
Year 11 Prize Winners
Year 11 Prize Winners
Year 11 Prize Winners
Year 11 Prize Winners
Year 9 Class Photos
Year 9 Class Photos
English Language Learners
Science
The Science Department has had a difficult year with the passing of our former Head of Science (2013-2021) Helen Mora. Helen had a major impact on the Science Department during her years here - she was a driving force with curriculum development following her time with the LENS Institute in Auckland and our units of work reflect this. Helen had a passion for plants and spent many an hour developing our school garden. She also designed an integrated programme with a Year 9 class that was based around horticulture and digital technology. She is fondly remembered as a passionate teacher by both staff and students and is sorely missed.
On a happier note, our replacement Head of Science, Taryn Caley, is currently on maternity leave having given birth to the gorgeous Hudson in May. We look forward to Taryn returning in 2023.
The big highlight of 2022 was moving to our new site. This has meant that teachers are able to collaborate with each other more effectively and share resources. Unfortunately we have outgrown the space allocated to our department and are now actively planning a new space in phase two of the rebuild.
Biology
Year 12
This year, the Year 12 Biology students completed some great work in the hardest of circumstances. During Term 1, with the disruptions with covid and rostering home, we had three internals on the go at once, but students showed resilience and managed to achieve well in this course. A highlight for me this year was the 'gas exchange' topic and watching students complete the dissections of cockroaches, fish and pig plucks. Good luck for Year 13 Biology or whatever your pathway might be.
Year 13
This year we were lucky to have two Year 13 classes with Ms Caley and Ms Johnson taking one each until Ms Caley left for maternity leave in term 2. The highlight of the year for the students has to be the trip to Orana Park where students spent two days investigating animal behaviour.
My highlight would be the happy faces after the external exam. All the students I spoke to felt confident that they had answered all the questions and would have passed!
Chemistry
Year 12 Chemistry - Finding The Concentration Of An Unknown Substance Using Titrations
In term 1 we worked on titrations, which is how we find out the concentration of an unknown substance. As you can see in the photo it is a magenta colour.
That was unfortunately not the colour we were looking for. It has to be a pale pink (clear sort of pink). We tried our best and with help from Ms Blomfield, we are all looking forward to achieving high marks.
Physics
Year 12
The Year 12 Physics class worked well throughout the year. We were disrupted by covid and moving. Highlights were the trip to the university for nuclear physics and Kade’s various mishaps with experiments involving eggs. I look forward to seeing student results in January.
Year 13
We had a lovely class of enthusiastic students this year. They gained some great results for internal assessments and are hopefully well prepared for the examinations. I really enjoyed seeing the confidence of these students grow during the year. My highlight is getting a “shout-up” in the Head Student’s speech at the end of the year. Good luck everyone for next year!
He Puna Pūtaiao
He Puna Pūtaiao is a programme for Year 10 Māori students from a selection of Christchurch schools.
Puna means to well up or to flow, so symbolically represents youth or rangatahi. Its meaning may also incorporate research because in a sense research is meant to flow out and create meaningfulness so as to fill the kete or baskets of knowledge. Pūtaiao is science, so He Puna Pūtaiao connotes research, youth and science.
He Puna Pūtaiao engages students in the culture of science by involving them in scientific research. Using the context of water quality
in Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) the students are mentored in literature reviews, and collecting and analysing data in the field, before presenting their findings both in e-book format and as a research poster displayed at a Pō Whakanui at the end of the programme.
This year six students (Taorai Tihore, Dacota Davidson, Pou Manawatu, Ebony Burchett, Isis Carruth and Mana Te Maari) represented Te Aratai College at the He Puna Pūtaiao programme along with teachers Ms Chamberlain and Ms Johnson. Past student representation has included Phoenix Evans (Head Boy 2021) and Orion Tipuna (Dux 2019).
Puhoro/STEM Academy
The Puhoro/STEM Academy philosophy is to develop rangatahi to be active participants in the STEM economy of tomorrow. They work to develop a community of future Māori technologists, engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, innovators and thought-pioneers. They aim to produce leaders who will excel in high value careers and be the producers and developers of cutting-edge future innovation as kaumātua envisioned. It is hoped that these rangatahi will become self-determined empowered leaders who can bridge both worlds simultaneously.
Recently there was a graduation ceremony for Year 13 students who are leaving the Puhoro programme and transitioning into the tertiary sector. Three students from Te Aratai College attended this ceremony - Harmony Rayner (Kāi Tahu), Maddie Wilmo (Tainui) and Te Ati Chambers (Kāi Tahu) and we wish them well in their future endeavours at university.
