Year 8 History
"I recreated one of Michelangelo's famous paintings, ‘The Creation of Adam’, and helped research Michelangelo."
Chloe
Year 8
"I contributed to this group project by conducting research, adding information to the PowerPoint and creating a video about Michelangelo's childhood."
Karley
Year 8
Year 8 Science Heart Dissection
"This term in Year 8 Science we've been learning about the body systems and what each system does. We learnt about the respiratory system and how our lungs oxygenate our blood. We then moved onto the circulatory system and dissected a heart.
We used tools such as scalpels, scissors and tweezers to make two incisions in the heart. We looked at what was inside a heart and created a diagram with the key features."
Shreya
Year 8
Jewish Museum of Australia Visit
At the end of Term 1 our Year 8 students visited the Jewish Museum of Australia. In line with the Religious Education curriculum, they learnt about the connections between Jewish culture, traditions and the life of Jesus. Each class visited the museum separately and were led by the wonderful museum volunteers who shared their knowledge and experience.
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Student reflections
On Tuesday, 7 March half of Year 8 went on an excursion to the Dandenong Ranges. We all split up into three groups and set out into the forest! While we were there, we learnt lots of things. Did you know that rainforests cover less than 7% of the land on our planet? We saw many different types of birds and so many different sizes and textures of leaves. Overall, the excursion was such fun! I’m really grateful that our school is able to do these type of things.
Sienna
Year 8
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On Tuesday, 7 March the year 8s studying Geography for semester 1, went to the Dandenong Ranges National Park for a geography excursion. When we got there, we all gathered at a shelter. We were introduced to a Ranger named Julia. She led us on a walk through the forest floor, where she taught us all about the rainforest. We learned about how tall the rainforest was, the different types of plants and trees, and it’s wildlife, such as the different types of birds that lived there. We were given booklets to record our notes and answers to the questions. We found information such as the indigenous history of the Wurundjeri people, the importance of the forest, strategies used to maintain the forest, and much more! We took breaks to eat of course and after, we went to a wide trail that was secured by a gate. There, we split up into groups and did different activities. My group measured the circumference of a tree. To do this, we used a measuring metre tape.
Overall, we had such an amazing day, and we all learned a lot about the rainforest. It was truly an amazing experience.
Teresa
Year 8
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On Tuesday, 7 March we went to the Sherbrooke Forest in the Dandenong Ranges to explore and research the rainforest. Year 8 Geography students have been learning about rainforests this term. Going to the rainforest helped us to get a greater depth of knowledge about rainforests.
We explored forest locations such as Coles Ridge and Hardy Gully. We collected data, including the temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, as well as flora and fauna species. We used different instruments and tools to collect this data. The forest was filled with wonders from the emergents to the forest floor. We spotted different animals. The forest was filled with the sound of squawking birds. We were amazed to see all kinds of plants too.
We learnt about the history of the forest, including the unfortunate logging that commenced in the 1900s and about the Indigenous inhabitants. We also learnt about a man named Tom Tregallas who escaped to the Sherbrooke Forest on weekends. He was recognised as an authority on lyrebirds, speaking and writing about them.
Overall, we saw our excursion to Sherbrooke Forest as a great learning experience and a chance to bond with our peers.
Mary and Shifa
Year 8
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On March 7, 2023, 8 Purple, Silver and Red went to Sherbrooke Forest in the Dandenong Ranges for a fieldwork day. We went there to research the different plants and animals in the rainforest. We explored the Coles Ridge Track and Hardy Gully. Our Parks Victoria ranger was Julia Pickwick. She walked us through the stunning ferns and the rainforest layers. We learned more about the history of the traditional owners, the Wurundjeri people, and how the park is managed today. We also learned about all the different rules in place to protect the wildlife and native plants of the forest.
Julienne
Year 8
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On Tuesday, 7 March the Year 8 Sacred Heart girls, currently studying Geography went to the Dandenong Ranges National Park for a fieldwork day to learn about Rainforests and their wildlife. We were all so excited to have this wonderful opportunity. We hopped on the bus for a 40-minute drive.
Once we reached the Dandenong Ranges National Park, we went on a walk through the forest floor. Julia, the instructor, taught us about mountain ash, epiphytes and how plants grow without much sunlight. We were then given a booklet to record all our notes and information. With this booklet, we were given a range of questions to answer by reading all the signs around us. We learnt the importance of sustainability and protecting the rainforest. We also found out why there is no longer a bird feeding area. We were put into groups and my group measured the circumference of a tree using a measuring tape. After a long day, we went back on the bus and went back to school.
Amelia and Jessica
Year 8
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Located at the Dandenong Ranges, our fieldwork day was a very enjoyable experience. When I arrived, after sleeping midway through the bus trip, the things I noticed were the beautiful greens, vibrant life, the bird calls, the relaxed, breezy atmosphere, and a natural wooden café.
First, the teachers and the park ranger had a chat to us in the Grants Picnic Ground, bringing to our attention all the things that are prohibited in the forest such as littering and feeding birds. They also reminded us of the importance of nature and the forests for life on Earth. After that, we had multiple activities handed to us to complete. We read signs, listened to our park rangers' speeches, discovered the soil of the forest and wrote down all the valuable information given to us to help explain the importance of the forests. It was especially interesting and opened my eyes to the treasures of life we take for granted.
Overall, the whole experience was extremely calming. It was like a day off from school, connecting with nature again for a day, walking, surrounded by the greens, the grass, the trees, the chirping of the birds. =
Erika
Year 8
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The Sherbrooke Forest fieldwork day was great. My highlight of the day was the bus ride. I loved looking at the greenery leading up to the forest. The tour with park ranger Julia was nice as well. I didn’t enjoy being paranoid about leeches. I spotted lyrebird digging sites, wombat droppings and bugs. We got to be a part of engaging group activities such as animal spotting, checking the temperature and windspeed, soil testing and more. I believe the fieldwork day was a fun way of completing our assessment and applying what we learnt in class.
Charlie
Year 8
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On Tuesday, 7 March half of the Year 8s went to the Dandenong Ranges to research the forest. The Year 8s have been studying rainforests all term and this excursion was the perfect way to have a real-life look at a temperate rainforest.
At the start of the day, we met one of the Park Victoria rangers, Julia Pickwick. She talked to us about things that are and aren’t allowed in the park and various management strategies that Park Victoria use to keep the forest a safe and beautiful place. Then we split into three groups and did four activities. A walk through of three different parts of the rainforest, one led by Julia Pickwick, and a worksheet task about the different management strategies that Parks Victoria use in the Dandenong Ranges.
Overall, it was such a fun and educational day.
Georjenna
Year 8
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The fieldtrip to Sherbrooke Forest was nice and fun and we recommend you go there. There were animals and plants everywhere. The wildlife there is amazing and there was also a café there but we couldn’t see what was inside because we weren’t allowed to go in but it looked nice from the outside. There were a lot of trails but we only went on some of them. The view was really pretty and we could see the tall emergent which were really tall. Overall it was nice. There weren’t any bins because every day there are so many people visiting and so there would be a lot of rubbish. So, if you have rubbish with you you need to take it home.
Sophie and Nisha
Year 8
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On Tuesday, 7 March the Year 8s travelled to the Dandenong Ranges for our Fieldwork Excursion. We completed a variety of activities, which assisted in building our knowledge and awareness of rainforests. These activities included identifying the features of the environment, learning about visitor management and the history of Sherbrooke Forest, including the indigenous history of the Wurundjeri people. The forest ranger, Julia Pickwick, guided us along the journey. We were separated into our homerooms: Purple, Red, and Silver. The forest was lush and beautiful. The ground beneath us was fresh and moist. The forest was never quiet. In the back of your head, there were eerie creaks and the echoes of squawks and squeaks. We tried to be quiet enough to spot the famous lyrebirds. Unfortunately, we could not notice any. Overall, we had an extraordinary time in the Dandenong Ranges. We learned the importance of sustainability and why we must protect forests.
Hannah
Year 8
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Experiencing a day at Sherbrooke Forest was astonishing, our group leader, Julia, gave us many fascinating facts. It turns out Australia is home to the second tallest tree in the world the mountain ash. They are roughly 60-65 metres tall in Sherbrooke Forest but they can grow up to 100 metres.
We went for a walk with our group leader, she told us to be careful of the stinging plants that grow next to the trees. I made sure I did not go next to those. We headed down hill for the walk. It was very gorgeous. We were lucky as it was cool and shady due to all the tall trees.
Everyone had a wonderful time going to Sherbrooke Forest. We learnt many new and interesting facts. It was a great experience.
Shanaya
Year 8
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On the day we went to Sherbrooke Forest, we learnt many new things about temperate rainforests. In three Homerooms (Purple, Silver and Red) we did various activities to find out more about the rainforests. We had an amazing leader who spoke to us about the conditions and wind at Sherbrooke Forest as well as many other things. We went on a small hike, glancing up at the canopy and learning how high trees could grow here. Then we split off into three groups, focusing on the topics of animals, atmosphere and people. Overall, it was a wonderful day and a great experience.
Wynnie
Year 8
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Everyone loved the excursion to the Dandenong Ranges. The experience was really interesting and we had so much fun. It helped us understand all the layers of a rainforest and what is in each of the different layers. We started with the Margaret Lester Forest Walk and it was amazing. We saw many exciting trees and animals. We saw a really big log and we all stood on it for a photo. We even saw leeches on people’s clipboards.
We then went to the Hardy Gully walk and got a tour from Julia. She showed us all the different plants, droppings, trees and birds in the area. It was really good to see the wildlife and nature in real life instead of just in videos and textbooks. We also learnt about why it was important to keep the forest sustainable and how we can achieve that. We learnt that they do not have any rubbish bins to limit the amount of littering and we are not allowed to feed any of the animals because they could lose their hunting skills and rely on us.
We had a great day and learnt lots.
Charlotte
Year 8
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On Tuesday, 7 March the Year 8s were given the opportunity to go on an excursion to the Dandenong Ranges National Park. Throughout the excursion we encountered many different species of animals and a huge number of plants. The different paths we took led to different attractions such as lyrebirds and traces of other animals. The forest consisted of lush greenery and the tranquil gushes of wind. It created such a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere. This excursion has certainly helped us to envision what we have been learning and provided a real-world experience.
Chloe and Jessica
Year 8
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On Tuesday, 7 March we attended the fieldwork excursion in the Dandenong Ranges for Geography. We did lots of activities like walking through the forest and filling out lots of questions. One of the most fun activities was going through the forest with the park ranger who showed us and told us a lot of information about the forest. We learnt lots of new things that maybe we can use when we are older. We hope to go back to the Dandenong Ranges and learn some more exciting and fun information.
Alyssa and Sienna
Year 8
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On Tuesday, 7 March our class visited the Dandenong Ranges. We walked through the forest, identified plants and animals, and collected data about its ecosystem and how the forest functions. The forest was abundant with life; fauna and flora was everywhere. We had the opportunity to see a kookaburra on a tree branch. There we learnt about the lyrebird and its history, which directly links to the history of Australia’s rainforests. After walking through the woods, we looked at the picnic areas nearby where we observed the practices that help keep both the people and the environment safe. We also learnt about the history of the Dandenong Ranges, including the fire that had ravaged most of the wildlife and left but a husk of its original vibrancy. We saw the trees that had survived the fire, and how they reached into the sky. We observed tree ferns with a park ranger. We also learnt about the original owners of the land, the Wurundjeri people. The trip was very educational, and we enjoyed it very much.
Ellia and Hadiya
Year 8
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Yr 8 Geography
As part of their studies of Landforms and Landscapes, Year 8 Geography students undertake one day of Fieldwork in the best classroom of all, the great outdoors. The venue for this day is Grant’s Picnic Ground which is part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park. Expertly guided by a Parks Victoria Education Officer, students can wander in awe between some of the world’s tallest trees while completing a day of observations and data collection. There is also much to be learnt about the Wurundjeri people, their sustainable stewardship of this land, and how this knowledge can be applied to contemporary management issues relating to the National Park.
John Andrews
Geography Teacher
