DRONE V DOG EVENT

Last Wednesday the General Year 11 Career & Enterprise students visited Muresk College near York to participate with nine other schools in the Drone V Dog interschool competition.

Tom Darlington was our enthusiastic drone pilot who represented the school along with his cheer squad. Students got to see how science and technology play an important part in the agriculture industry.

Muresk Institute’s Drone vs Dog Trials is an opportunity for schools to encourage and promote education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and the pathways to an ever widening range of career opportunities.

This excursion was a fun way of exposing students to the agriculture industry and the innovative ways to use modern technology in agriculture and beyond. Hands on activities introduced the relationship between drones and the technology.

Students also learned about:

• the basic anatomy of a drone (UAV);

• UAV industry opportunities;

• other technologies used in agriculture;

• careers in agriculture; and

• agriculture course options – short courses, articulation pathways from vocational courses to TAFE and university.

Tom Darlington our pilot undertook drone pilot training, and was led by a professional instructor to participate in the timed competition flying a drone through an obstacle course.

The pilot who completed the course in the fastest time wins a drone for their school. Spectating students cheered on Tom, but unfortunately we did not win the prize of the $1200 Drone for our school. Maybe next year!

Julie Reed

Work Place Learning Coordinator

More photos can be found on our Facebook page

Well done Applecross SHS students and staff.

On 07 April 2018 twenty students of French accompanied by Mr Paul Leech, Ms Caroline Crofton and Ms Charisma Valérie travelled to Amiens, France for the 2018 French Exchange Program. On arrival to Charles de Gaulle (CDG) International Airport in Paris, the French host families enthusiastically welcomed the Australian group and it was a great way to start their 19-day journey in the Belle Hexagone.  The students were billeted across the city and in some local villages. They embraced the idea of staying with a French family over the next 13 days. They experienced French school life and the daily routine of the French people. At the welcome supper, the students introduced themselves in French and Mr Leech and Ms Valérie read the official speeches in English and French, respectively.

Beyond improving their French and learning about the French culture, the students of Applecross have discovered the gems of Amiens like the Hortillons (Floating Gardens) and the Amiens Cathedral which has been listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. They have also bonded with their host while on excursion to Parc Astérix and the 3 hour walk across the Bay of Somme. During the weekend, the different French families organised a wide range of activities. Some went skiing in the Alps, spent the weekend at the family’s beach house and others went to London for the day or had fun at Disneyland.

Mr Paul Leech, a former History teacher, organised a private ANZAC ceremony at the Australian War Memorial just outside of Villers-Bretonneux. The students read poems and laid flowers at the memorial site. On the last day at Sainte Famille High School we attended a farewell party and the students sang an English song (Count on me by Bruno Mars) and a French song (Les liens de l’amitié by Kids United). They invited their host sister and host brother to sing the French song and they performed beautifully. Each student gave a speech in French to their host families and a small gift to thank them for their hospitality. The sadness of parting was evident that evening and during the goodbyes at the train station of Amiens the next day. We left for Paris and the second part of our journey began.

Besides walking the paths of Molière, Stendhal, Volaire, Balzac, Zola or Proust we did some sightseeing by boat in “La Ville de l’amour”. We visited La Dame de Fer (The Eiffel Tower), the Musée D’orsay, the Louvre, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Sacré Coeur Church in Montmartre, walked along the Champ Elysées and discovered hidden treasures of Paris. We enjoyed the shopping and the gastronomie Française in the little bistrots and cafés.

The students have gained a lot in experience and like in the Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the stars have become their friends and they will set off to new adventures in the near future. We now eagerly await the French to come to Perth to return the favour.

The French Exchange will be on again in 2020 so make sure to attend the information night in May 2019 if you want to participate.

Charisma Valérie

TIC of French and Exchange Co-ordinator

More photos can be found on our Facebook page.

More photos are available on our Facebook page.