Humanities and Languages
Junior Humanities
Our classes are now entering the assessment phase of the term, with all year levels and subjects submitting assignments or sitting exams. Year 7's have just finished their ‘Water in the World’ exam for Geography, and are now completing a project based on water consumption in the home. In History, Year 8's are about to move into and exam phase next week, looking at Japan during the Middle Ages. Year 9's have just finished their exam on the impact of the Industrial Revolution.
Senior Humanities
Our Year 10's have been studying very diverse topics according to their subjects, however all are important and relevant. The History class has completed their exam on the Second World War, looking at both the European and Pacific theatres, as well as the impact of the Holocaust during Hitler’s reign. Our Year 10 Economics and Business students have completed their investigation and examination looking at the impacts of COVID-19 on the Australian and Global Tourism Industry, while Legal Studies students have just finished looking at the foundation of Law and the reasons why we have them.
The Year 11 students are also entering the assessment phase, with students either submitting assessment or sitting exams this week and next. These tasks are extremely important for students as the skills learned and assessed this year will become the foundation for learning in Year 12 and then onto further education or other pathways.
Archaeology Club
This year at Ripley, Ms Andrea Everitt has started an archaeology club. It meets during lunchtimes on a Wednesday and students are engaging in activities similar to what an archaeologist may do for their job. Over the last few weeks, students have used tooth picks to extract chocolate chips from a cookie in order to show how delicate excavation can be; carved soap ‘stone’ tools in a process called knapping (shaping or fracturing) to make objects such as scrapers and spear heads. This week students looked at a pottery assemblage to answer questions about the purpose, use and manufacture of these objects in order to learn about their original owners. These activities not only give students hands-on skills and experience as young archaeologists, they also show the importance studying artefacts from History, and the many tales these artefacts can teach us!
Cecilia Hall
Head of Department - Humanities and Languages - Year 9E to 9G
Japanese
Dozo yoroshiku! Japan Trip 2025.
The whole school effort for Ripley’s senbazuru or 1000 paper cranes are hanging in our school library. In Japan, not only is the mythological tsuru revered as the bird of happiness, but it is also considered to live for a thousand years. When students go past the cranes above the Rewards Vault in the library, they are invited to make a wish. A wish from the Japanese learners is ‘peace, health and longevity for international students and exchanges.’
Year 7 have participated in an exchange online via zoom to Japan. This has provided a real-life platform for our students to introduce themselves in Japanese as well as teach the Japanese students in Chiba about school life in Australia. Students learnt the story of Momotaro. Year 8's have finished their speaking assessment and all students passed with flying iro. Year 9 continue to develop their listening and speaking skills. All students have sipped on ocha which has been a relief in the midst of students completing their assessments.
The school is planning a cultural trip to Japan during March/April 2025 for students who are in Years 9-12. Expression of interest opportunities will be available during Term 2, with the estimated cost per student to be $5000. For further enquiries please contact the Language Coordinator, Georgina Wellwood.
Georgina Wellwood
Japanese Teacher