New Science Lab Development

                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.