Merewether High School

Scientia Ac Labore - Success through knowledge and application.

Telephone02 4969 3855

Emailmerewether-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Science

... science is a way of life, science is a perspective, science is the process that takes us from confusion to understanding in a manner that’s precise, predictive, valid and reliable – it is a transformation, for those lucky enough to experience it, that is empowering and emotional ... BRIAN GREENE

Overview

Science provides a distinctive view and way of exploring and thinking about the world. The study of science has led to a constantly evolving body of discoveries and knowledge organised as an interrelated set of models, theories, laws, systems, structures and interactions.

It is through this body of knowledge that science provides explanations for a variety of phenomena and enables sense to be made of the biological, physical and technological world. An understanding of science and its social and cultural contexts provides a basis for future choices and ethical decisions about local and global applications and implications of science.

Science is mandatory for all students from Year 7 to Year 10. In Year 12 students who are studying at least one other science subject may also choose to study Science Extension.

Goal

To cultivate, lead and inspire gifted Science students in developing their abilities in order to realize their full potential as innovative scientific thinkers, through challenging curriculum and authentic learning experiences.

Activities

  • Nuclear Reactor Lucas Heights
  • Shortland Wetlands
  • Newcastle Coastal Geotrail
  • Astrodome
  • Snake Tails
  • A Case of Conspiracy
  • Nyholm Lecture series
  • ICAS Competition
  • Other external competitions

Team

  • SMITH Stephen HEAD TEACHER
  • ADEI-CARDWELL Priscilla MON TUE FRI
  • BAEGER Carolin 
  • BELL Philip 
  • CARROLL Jacob 
  • DAY Ayden
  • DISKIN Alison 
  • DICKINSON Karen
  • HANSEN Stuart
  • MALBY Robyn 
  • McHUGH Justin 
  • PENSON Ros
  • TIMMINS Denise

Courses

STAGE 4: Y7 & Y8

  • Y7 develop knowledge, skills and understanding of the nature of Science through theory and participation in practical work. Students learn about laboratory skills, separation techniques, living things, states of matter, rocks and minerals and cells. They develop research and practical project skills via guided investigation tasks
  • Y8 continue to develop their scientific knowledge, understanding and skills. Students learn about body systems, chemical elements, forces, energy, plants, ecosystems, and astronomy
  • students in year 8 complete a detailed student research project that demonstrates their ability to conduct investigations
  • our Stage 4 science outcomes are assessed at school and externally through the VALID online end of stage 4 examination, which is undertaken by all students in NSW

STAGE 5: Y9 & Y10

  • Y9 develop knowledge, skills and understanding of Science through participation in theory and practical work ... students learn about, electricity human disease, atomic structure, plate tectonics, evolution, electronic structure of atoms and radioactivity and waves ... they develop research and practical project skills through guided investigation tasks
  • Y10 continue to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding. Students learn about genetics and heredity, chemical reactions, Newton’s laws and motion and cosmology with a strong focus on preparation for stage 6 programs ... they complete a detailed student research project that develops their capacity to undertake depth studies and demonstrates their ability to work scientifically

STAGE 6: Y11 & Y12

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Earth and Environmental Science
  • Physics

Achievements

  • in 2020 McKenzie G. 2nd in NSW Physics, 16th Chemistry
  • in 2020 Christopher B. 13th in NSW Chemistry, 10th Physics
  • in 2020 Liam P. 20th in NSW Chemistry
  • Biology's exceptional results: 6 times the state average in the top band.
  • in 2020 HSC our Science students achieved 70 Band 6 and 104 band 5 results
  • Year 8 VALID results of overall school performance placed us with 16.3% of students in the level 6 (State average 1.9%) and 77.2% in Level 5 (state average 25.1%)