In Week 7, students in Year 9 had a break from traditional classes and participated in a week of learning based on Projects. Many HSC subjects now have Projects as a central aspect of the learning that students undertake. This includes Major Works in subjects such as Visual Arts or Design and Technology, or Depth Studies in the various Science disciplines. As HSC syllabuses are revised, we know that most subjects will end up with some type of project that students will need to complete.

There are many skills that students need to develop if they are going create successful projects. They need to be able to set clear goals, develop plans, reflect on their progress, and adapt their plans. Many of these skills directly align to the College Learning Culture, and the development of these skills was the underlying goal of Project Week.

All students were involved in two projects. They selected an individual project within a subject area of their choice. Each project enabled students to develop their skills within their chosen area. The feedback from the students was that they enjoyed having the ability to choose a topic that was of interest to them. Here is a list of the projects that were available.

• French Fashion
• NRL 18^th Team
• Road Safety
• Sustainability
• Creative Writing
• Visual Arts
• Performing Arts – Music or Dance
• Engineering – Race and Chase Design Project

The students also worked in groups to solve a problem relevant to College life. Specifically, our students constructed advice that they presented to Year 6 on How to help Year 7 students be Safe and Happy on the Internet. As part of the Group Project students engaged with the now passed legislation that will see social media banned for students under the age of sixteen. It was fascinating to hear the advice that our Year 9 students provided to Year 6.

I would like to thank all the teachers involved in this week. Special thanks to the students who enthusiastically participated in the inaugural Project Week.

Mr David Collins,
Director of Teaching and Learning (7-12).