Issue 5 2023 - Tades & Training
Trades & Training
Mark Boynton
Open Day:
Trades and Training areas had a fantastic Open Day with lots of energy and action on the day. Equine easily took the top spot for action whereas our beekeepers had a great day for showcasing their efforts and products to the public.
The Autos workshop looked very professional and ready for work. Forestry students sorted the firewood and chainsaw displays and the metals students hammered out some new fire pokers. All in all, we had a lot to show the public. We are proud of our students and their achievements and predict getting better and more active every year.
Trades Club
Tuesday Trades Club appears to have been a success so far with numbers steadily growing, it's great to see many different students getting involved for many reasons. Some are taking extra time to perfect their projects whilst others are getting hands on skills with TIG and CNC Equipment. All of these great skills will help in the development of confidence and employment skills. We are open every Tuesday until 5PM for any student to drop in for a chat, practice or get some help on their projects.
Metals
Year 12 Certificate II in Engineering Pathways students are so close to the finish line, with only a few tasks left to complete. By the time we publish this newsletter I predict some students will have their Certificate II in Engineering Pathways already done! We are very happy to hear that some students have now secured employment and further training opportunities in this area. We are fortunate that our local area has many innovative businesses that can offer our students a positive start in an exciting industry.
Year 11 students are working hard towards the completion of the minor projects many of which you may have seen on Open Day. These students should now be thinking about the major projects they hope to complete in Year 12. We now have so many excellent project ideas, it’s important to make sure we plan and prepare to ensure we fully understand the demands of the build. On Open Day some families asked about costing projects. It is worth noting that a big project doesn’t get better grades or more units of competency, equal success can be achieved with smaller, less expensive projects.
Due to limitations on floor space in our current set up, it may be that some larger projects such as trailers and ute trays will have to be limited to Year 12 projects only.
Materials, Design and Technology
Projects in Materials, Design and Technology were on display on Open Day and now are on display in the dining hall foyer. We aim to show the comparison of the ‘Old Collegians’ display of tools compared with the 2020s projects. There are many similarities in what we do. Many students, then and now, make basic tools and clamps to demonstrate their skills. Our access to technology and 3D printing certainly makes things a little faster.
Design and Technology projects are always set apart from the Cert II Metals projects by the amount of important planning and development of ideas involved. The Design and Technology course demands a wide range of planning, materials analysis and evaluations of work once completed. These critical skills and processes help students to reduce mistakes and costs in the final build of their projects. The skills shown in the Design and Technology program make our students very employable and capable of operating in a range of industries.
Forestry – Written by Mr Adams
Year 12 Forestry:
On 25/7/23 we visited the Bastiani Blue gum Plantation managed by PF Olsen to participate in a commercial forest re-establishment (tree planting) exercise which counts towards the "Plant trees by hand" unit of competency that students are enrolled in.
On 5/8/2023 we had Open Day. The preceding week was taken up preparing our displays, firewood for the raffle and practicing for our demonstrations. The day was a great success and the students enjoyed and were proud to showcasing their skill.
With Open Day, our annual big tree planting excursion and participation in a commercial forest establishment exercise out of the way, the big push is on to get students signed off on as many competencies as possible. For much of the rest of this term, we will be concentrating on completing written Questions for outstanding competencies and where necessary filling in any gaps where students have missed out on undertaking Practical Demonstrations for the completion of units.
Year 11 Forestry:
Year 11 students enrolled in the Forestry course are concentrating on getting the administrative part of the competencies that they are enrolled into for this year completed.
The 3x chainsaw-based units; Maintain chainsaws, Trim and cut felled trees, and Fell trees manually (basic), are being assessed.
For the rest of the term we will be concentrating on getting student levels of confidence up so that we can start doing Practical Demonstration assessments for the Fall trees manually (basic) unit.
Students enrolled in the course also took part in the tree planting excursion and in the preparation and presentation of Open Day as described above.
Year 10 Conservation and Ecosystem (CEM):
Students enrolled in this course have received nearly all the classroom-based knowledge component of the 3x units of competency that they are enrolled in.
For the rest of this term, we’ll be concentrating on students improving their understanding and gaining the experience required to systematically be able to identify and classify flora and fauna taxonomically.
With the wildflower season upon us, it is the ideal time to take walks along the multitude of trails through native bushland that we are fortunate to have near the College. We’ll be concentrating on native plant and wild bird identification.
So far this term, students have been introduced and have been participating in the use of various species-specific weed control methods and techniques in a range of different natural habitats on and surrounding the College farm.
We’ve also been pressing, drying, identifying/classifying and mounting plant specimens that have been collected in the field.
Equine
Equine continues to be a hive of activity this time of year- weather aside! The Year 12's make up almost a third of the whole group of equine students and so like many other study areas, the emphasis has been on chipping away at the various components of their qualification, finalising observations, assignments and tests.
With a new Certificate II Horse Care on scope, our Year 11’s are working hard to tick the boxes in preparation for a busy 2024. We are aiming to achieve at least 5 units of competency before the end of the year, focusing on lunging, float loading, riding skills and basic day to day care.
Academic rigour aside, like every other discipline at the College, one of the main objectives this term has been preparing for Open Day. It took a lot of effort and I'm thrilled that the students performed so well. A massive thank you to Denise Legge (Level 1 Pony Club Coach) for all her help in the lead up. In addition to the static displays, we had 2 x 30-minute slots which consisted of Interschool riders doing a show jumping display, pairs freestyle dressage, barrel racing, western bending and mounted archery, plus the chance for our Year 12’s to be part of the Grand Parade.
The community comments indicate that it was a great display, so I am thrilled to credit all those students who performed and worked alongside in the background; thank you!
Bees
Mrs Dufall and her students have been out inspecting the hives and checking the bees to gauge how they have been going over the winter period, all is looking good and our hives are in good shape.
Open Day was a big event for Beekeeping this year with students not only displaying and selling our honey but they were also able to show off their creative talents too in the form of the new labels on our honey, wax candles and lip balms all made in house! Very innovative stuff!
With the better weather coming in now students are working on new bee boxes and branding them with the help of the Metals area forge equipment. New bee boxes are being painted in a range of funky colours and we hope the bees enjoy their new homes.
Trades and Training Staff:
Automotive – Mr Kemp
Bees – Mrs Dufall
Design & Technology – Mr Toon
Engineering (Metals) – Mr Hamilton & Ms Pepper
Equine – Miss Pagan
Forestry – Mr Adams/Mr Spencer
Mark Boynton
Program Coordinator – Trades and Training
WACOA - Denmark