It is my great pleasure to share with
you that the science laboratory at my school is developing very well.
Developing a science laboratory was a
shared dream created by an Unley High School Science Maths teacher and me, when
I visited Unley High School in 2011 and observed some practical science
lessons. Teaching science in a laboratory was a new experience for me and I
became excited about this. After much
discussions with the Science, Maths teacher and Year Level Co-ordinator Charlie
Marino, together we created a shared dream.
To construct a science laboratory at Blue Sky Public School and to
develop suitable science programmes for The Blue Sky students. This dream
became bigger when it was shared by both the Unley High School and Blue Sky
Public School Communities. It was also skilfully guided by the late David Rusk
who contributed plenty of energy to make this happen.
At Unley High School a group of
students and staff united and pioneered a committee The Blue Sky Unley High
Link Committee which accepted the goal of making the dream become reality. They
shared this with Unley High School Student Voice Committee who have now taken
this committee as one of their responsibilities. After much detailed communication, planning
and sharing of ideas by Skype, email and phone as well as resource collecting,
fundraising and strong effort with the challenge of transporting and sending
items, the goal of developing the laboratory was started. Now the laboratory is
in good use with many resources that we have received through the generous
efforts of Unley High and Pulteney Grammar Schools. Thank you to these schools
and to Art for supporting the science laboratory.
Thank you also for all of the help
from The Blue Sky Unley High Link Committee started by Charlie Marino and the Unley High School
family. This committee raised funds to build the laboratory and has also sent
us microscopes, plenty of useful science equipment, science books and
dictionaries. They raised more funds that enabled us to buy racks, chairs,
aprons, safety goggles and other equipment. They also sent laptops and more
funds to buy a projector screen and other useful teaching items.The Blue Sky
Unley High school Link Committee also spent time researching and developing
simple science experiments that were inexpensive and effective. This was
suitably named the David John Rusk Blue –Sky Unley High Science Project” to honor him for his guidance in this project. This committee developed a bank of
experiments now in use at Blue-Sky
I would like to thank the Unley High School
family for all of their help in making this possible.
At this time I am pleased to write
that The Blue Sky Public School Science Laboratory is the most developed school
science laboratory in this area.
In early January we were pleased to
welcome Charlie from Unley High to Blue Skye Public School. During his visit
Charlie presented a Book of Encouraging Messages to the Blue Sky family from
the Unley High School family written by the staff and students of Unley
High.
During his visit Charlie taught
science in the new laboratory. The children and the community enjoyed the
rocket balloons constructed and tested by the students. Another group studied
air pressure and flight and constructed paper helicopters which they released
from the balcony of the fourth floor. Everyone enjoyed this experience and it
was wonderful to see the helicopters flying high in the sky. Teachers,
students, parents and neighbors came out to watch the flying helicopters. My
students are very happy and were satisfied for having experienced practical
science.
Thank you to Charlie for offering
some training to the teachers on the topic of motivation and behavior which
the teachers found useful.
Thank you to everyone who supported
this project.
