Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
21st March 2014 volume 10 edition 7 Newsletter
Falconer St Fitzroy North 3068 Telephone 94881900 [email protected]
School grounds patrolled from 8:30am every morning
Due to traffic safety concerns, students are required to enter the school grounds when they
arrive, and not wait in Falconer Street.
school council Parents
Virginia Swanton
(President)
(mob) 0408 031 531
virginia.swanton
@transport.vic.gov.au
Jacqui Van Vugt
(Vice President)
Communications Convenor
John Melia
(Treasurer)
Finance Convenor
Robert McWaters
Canteen Convenor
Louise Dorrat
Education Convenor
Tim Dolan
Built and Natural Environment
Convenor
Staff
Bronwyn Lewis 9488 1900
Linda Mitchell 9488 1900
Erin Schroeder 9488 1900
Community Representative
Roger Smith
Executive Officer
Pauline Rice
Dear Parents/Carers/Guardians
It has been brought to our attention that a
small number of students are playing a game
called
“The Fainting Game.” We are not sure where
the idea came from but it is world wide
phenomenon. There are You Tube clips to
check out.
It is a dangerous game involving
hyperventilation and pushing on the chest until
the student involved passes out.
If your child talks about this happening or they
have seen it happening in the yard or outside
of school, please inform your child’s advisor.
We have spoken to the students in advisories
and explained how dangerous we believe the
game to be.
We hope that with your help we can stop this
game from happening from now on.
Thank you.
Lorraine Butler
First Aid Co-ordinator.
Academic Success in VCE This year Fitzroy High School was selected as
one of only a handful of schools picked to run
the brand new VCE subject entitled Extended
Investigation. Recently, students have been
developing literature reviews and abstracts,
which is part of a larger research project that
they are exploring. Students work diligently
over the course of the year to investigate a
topic of their own choosing, write a 4,000-word
thesis and present an oral defence to a panel
of assessors. Below are four examples from
the 2014 cohort.
Matt T & John H (Teachers of Extended
Investigation)
Example 1: Josh B
Q. How does the consumption of cultural
products expose our unconscious
desires?
Cultural products influence and structure the
lives of consumers, retaining a ‘specific
logic’ (Bourdieu 2013, p.xxiv) within
contemporary society. As such, the
consumption of cultural objects provides the
individual with the opportunity to ‘construct,
maintain and communicate identity’ (Elliott
1997, p.285). Consequently, cultural
consumption has become an important topic
within modern critical discourse. The argument
of this study contends that these identities are
‘symbolically conditioned’ (Stavrakakis 2006,
p.84) and linked to the unconscious desires of
the consumer. Using a methodology derived
from cultural studies, with specific reference to
Jean Baudrillard’s notion of hyperreality, this
study seeks to understand the connections
between consumer choices and unconscious
desires, and how these remain significant
within a society of objects and images that
lack ‘origin or reality’ (Baudrillard 1994, p.1). If
Baudrillard’s assertions are to be taken
seriously, modern culture is not one of clear
meaning, but of simulation and spectacle.
Therefore, interpretation of objects within such
a culture becomes an important, even
necessary task. This qualitative study will use
methods including artefact analysis, film
analysis and semi-structured interview to gain
a cogent and incisive understanding of the
links between cultural products and
unconscious desires, and the significance of
these connections within a Baudrillardian
culture of hyperreal simulations.
Key words: consumption – desire –
hyperreality – unconscious – cultural
studies
21st March 2014 volume 10 edition 7 Newsletter
Example 2: JO B
Q. Extinction of a keystone species
ultimately results in the collapse of the
ecosystem.
Ecosystems play an invaluable role in
maintaining the biodiversity of all life on earth,
interconnecting every kind of organism; however
each ecosystem is constantly under threat as
increasingly more species are classified as
endangered and the possibility of extinction
looms large. Although every individual species
plays an important role in the ecosystem, some
play a larger role than others. These species are
called ‘keystone species’ (Paine, 1969) and
consistently maintain the ‘organisation and
diversity’ (Mills, Soulé & Doak, 1993) of an
ecosystem. The survival of a keystone species
is paramount – their extinction causes an effect
‘disproportionately large relative to its
abundance’ (Power et al, 1996) on the
ecosystem, threatening its health and diversity.
Viewing the issue through a scientific lens, this
qualitative study aims to investigate the idea that
the loss of a keystone species has catastrophic
consequences, leading to extinction of other
species and significant changes in the structure
of the ecosystem. The paper will use data
collection and analysis of semi-structured
interviews, photographic evidence and past
experiments to determine whether the keystone
species is so invaluable that its extinction will
ultimately lead to the collapse of the entire
ecosystem, risking the stability and survival of
life on earth.
Example 3: Maya
DRR
Q. How does
popular culture
limit adolescent
gender identities?
This research
explores the role of
popular culture in
shaping and
influencing gender
identities, roles and
stereotypes in
contemporary
society. Specifically,
it focuses on the
limited hyper-
sexualised nature of the female identity and the
limited hyper-masculinised nature of the male
identity, as promulgated through different
mediums of popular culture. This qualitative
study examines the narrow perceptions and
privileges popular culture inculcates in
adolescents and how popular culture changes
the behaviour and attitudes of teenage girls and
boys. It also considers the detrimental effects of
these perceptions and privileges and its direct
relationship with the development of gender
identity. An amalgam of semi-structured
interviews and artefact analysis methods are
employed and interpreted through a feminist
lens alongside a gendered reading of popular
culture. Iconic 21st century pop-cultural products
are closely analysed for overt and subconscious
reinforcing of limited gender identities. This
research explores ways in which popular culture
shapes the values, perceptions and behaviours
of adolescents.
Key Words: gender, identity, popular culture
Example 4: Freja KO
Q. Do we have an obligation to protect the
great white shark?
This study investigates the obligation to protect
the great white shark from extinction, with a
focus on the moral and scientific implications of
protecting a dangerous predator, and the impact
of human perception on efforts to do so. The
great white shark is listed as ‘threatened’ and
regarded by scientists to be a keystone species
that is vital to the marine ecosystem, but human
perception can greatly affect the efforts to
protect a species, meaning that this must be
mark your calendar
Year 10 Work Experience
when Monday 24-
Friday 28 March
where Various
who Sandra Dickins
Last Day Term 1
when Friday 4 April
3.00pm
where FHS
who Pauline Rice
FHS Athletics Carnival
when Thursday 24 April
where Collingwood Athletics Centre
who Neil McLean
21st March 2014 volume 10 edition 7 Newsletter
investigated alongside the scientific evidence.
This is particularly important when considering
deadly animals, which have a stigma
surrounding them that will be explored in this
research. In the case of the great white shark
this involves the public understanding of shark
attacks and the demonization of sharks in
popular media. The methods used to conduct
the study are qualitative in nature. They consist
of an analysis of previous scientific studies
through a consequential lens to determine the
need for intervention, as well as semi-structured
interviews to provide evidence of both public
and expert opinion around a case study to better
understand how these opinions can affect
conservation attempts. This is of current
relevance due to the recent re-introduction of
shark culling in Western Australia, which has
become a high profile, controversial issue,
especially in the public eye. This will be used as
the case study around which interviews will be
conducted, as an effective means of bringing
light to human perception of these creatures and
how it affects their conservation.
Digital Photography Nicole T in Year 10 has been using
compositional techniques learnt in Digital
Photography Excel on a hike to the Cathedral
Ranges.
School Council: A fabulous opportunity for FHS parents! Have you ever wondered how this amazing
school operates? Do you want to know what
goes on behind the scenes?
Well here is your opportunity.
School council is made up of Pauline, teachers
and parents and we currently have two parent
vacancies. You could choose to be a general
member or be part of a subcommittee;
Communications and Events, Finance,
Education, Canteen or Built and Natural
Environment.
You will hear the students present about their
school camps, approve fees, discuss canteen
food, gym hire and of course hear the Principal’s
report each month that includes all the great
things happening at the school.
Meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of each
month from 6.30pm to approximately 8.30pm.
If you are interested, please see the office staff
for a nomination form and contact me if you
have any questions.
Louise Dorrat
(Parent on Education Subcommittee)
0411678391
21st March 2014 volume 10 edition 7 Newsletter
Tenth Anniversary Garden Project Our VCAL class taken by Linda and assisted by
Tim Dolan and his apprentice Rory (a past
student), have built the seats in our new design
at the front of the school. The class has
assembled the seats made from Cypress Pine,
a timber chosen for its strength and ability to
withstand the weather. A few students were able
to use “Steve the Dingo” a digger used in the
transportation of the crushed rocks that helped
to level the seats, that were assembled “off site”.
The next step is to sand then varnish the timber
so it keeps it’s colour.
Andrew C C
