GENERAL NEWS
Student Council
Science Club
For term 3, Science Club investigated how different organisms interact with each other as part of our Species Survival unit, which was the 2024 National Science Week theme. Clubbers conducted a range of activities which included:
- Observing preserved organisms and shells to describe features allowing them to survive in their environment. One of the benefits of Science Club is that students get to use different scientific equipment like microscopes to make observations.
- Dissecting a prawn, focusing on how specific structures like their appendages and mouth parts allow them to live in an aquatic environment and feed.
- Conducting a Bird beak lab, where clubbers used different utensils to pick up different food to investigate how bird beak shape allow birds to eat their food.
- Participating in a symbiotic matchup activity to determine the type of relationships between organisms from a desert environment.
- Playing a game of Species Conservation Crisis as a scientific model of species change within an ecosystem, driven by natural environmental conditions and human actions.
- Making a closed terrarium, a small self-sustaining ecosystem where water and nutrient cycles, along with the addition of springtails to feed on mould and decaying matter, will keep it surviving for a long time.
- Going to David Fleay Wildlife Park where clubbers participated in a ranger-guided tour of the park, attended a Keystone Species Wild Ed program workshop, along with other presentations at the park. That is another benefit of coming to Science Club, as each term we try and organise an incursion or excursion for clubbers to attend.
- Assisted with science events, in particular with Science Week activities held in August.
The last week of term is always a party, where clubbers finished their terrariums, ate party food, and shared reasons on the board why they enjoy coming to Science Club. Reasons shared were – ‘I love the interesting and engaging activities!’, ‘I love learning new things! (and making terrariums)’, ‘The experiments, learning new things’, ‘Using the microscopes, ‘We learn good stuff and I really like the experiments. It’s really good fun. I would recommend science club to anyone even if they don’t like science’, ‘Literally everything, from the engaging activities and using my scientific knowledge, to the fun excursion and socialising (because it’s amazing here), and Science Week activities’, ‘I get to do fun things with my friends’, ‘Learning new things and doing experiments with my friends!, ‘It’s fun’, ‘Meeting new, like minded people (and the candy), ‘I love the different activities and opportunities’, ‘Fun activities, excursions and I get to spend time with my friends’, ‘Do things that are not done in normal science classes’, and ‘The excursions and experiments’.
Science club is always keen for new members to come along and join in on the fun each week, and participate in other extra-curricular activities. The term 4 topic is ‘Chemistry Matters’, where students will conduct experiments to investigate the physical and chemical properties of substances. Science club is held every Thursday during lunch 1 in E2, so just bring your lunch and come along and join in on the fun – there are door prizes each week too!
Did you know PBC has a Youth Health Nurse?
Duke of Edinburgh
Palm Beach Currumbin High School is an Award Centre that has obtained an operating authority licence to deliver the Duke of Edinburgh International Award to participants.
To achieve an award in Duke of Edinburgh, each young person must learn a skill, improve their physical wellbeing, volunteer in their community and experience a team adventure in a new environment. All participants are supported by the PBC DUKE team which meets weekly on Fridays second lunch in the library.
The key elements of our program are:
- Open to Years 9-12
- Three levels: Bronze (1 QCE pt), Silver (1 QCE pt), and Gold (2 QCEpts)
- Four Sections: Physical Recreation, Skills, Voluntary Service, Adventurous Journey plus Gold Residential Project (Gold Level only)
- Achieving an Award recognises individual goal setting and self-improvement through persistence and achievement
This program looks to recognise the efforts students are already making in developing themselves into the best self they can be.
For further information visit https://pbc-shs.eq.edu.au/co-curricular/other-activities/duke-of-edinburghs-award
For more information contact Tammy Burns – email: tburn87@eq.edu.au (Award Leader).
Borneo Expedition 2025
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN STATE HIGH SCHOOL is excited to be offering students an immersive-learning expedition to BORNEO in SEPTEMBER 2025.
This is a life-changing opportunity for students to explore BORNEO with expert guides, while developing their life skills, confidence, and independence. We’re partnering with World Challenge to offer this 13-night trip, which complements the GOLD Duke of Edinburgh award (2 QCE points); For direct entry into GOLD students must be 16 years of age.
All the information about the trip can be viewed here:
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN STATE HIGH SCHOOL EXPEDITION TO BORNEO
Barry from World Challenge will be hosting a 30-minute presentation online at 6pm Tuesday 26th November 2024. If you wish to attend, please register for parent & student presentation here.