The Science Department offers a comprehensive and diverse programme. It is designed to stimulate and equip our students with a sense of wonderment, curiosity, knowledge and life-enhancing skills. These attributes are encouraged by a staff that is enthusiastic, well qualified, experienced, and dedicated to offering a quality science programme to students.
The programme is delivered in well-equipped, modern, purpose-built laboratories with extensive computing capabilities. Our students are encouraged to participate in a range of science-related activities and competitions in which they consistently achieve commendable results whilst gaining a great deal of enjoyment.
The Science programme for Years 8, 9 and 10 includes Biology, Chemistry, Electronics, Engineering Studies, Environmental Science, Marine Science and Physics. Programmes for Year 11 and 12 students include Biology, Chemistry, Human Biology, Physics, Physical Science, Physical Education Studies and Senior Science.
Science in Years 8, 9 and 10 is designed to provide relevant and interesting courses, to extend general education and to provide a sound basis for studying science at Year 11 and 12 levels. The science courses emphasise the idea of "working scientifically" as a means of introducing students to the processes and rigours of science. Our first aim is to develop confidence, basic scientific skills and knowledge, ways of learning and an enjoyment of the subject.
In Year 8 all classes undertake a common, integrated course, which incorporates knowledge and scientific skills and relates them to everyday experiences. The broad areas of study in the Year 8 course are: Working Scientifically, Energy and Change, Life and Living, Natural and Processed Materials, Earth and Beyond.
The Year 9 courses include: Investigating Reactions, Living Together, Survival, Light and Sound, Heat, Explaining Reactions, Earth's Air and Dynamic Earth, Everyday Substances, Acids and Bases, Using Electricity, Responding, Cells at Work. At the end of Year 9, students will be recommended into one of three science courses in Year 10.
The broad areas of study in Year 10 classes are: Scientific Investigation, Consumer Science, Communications, Road Science, Genetics, Species Survival, Metals and Non-metals, The Mole Concept, Chemicals in the Environment, Energy and Life, and Our Energy Future.
In addition to the core science, we also offer popular elective courses in a number of science areas. In Years 9 and 10 students can opt to study Marine Science and Year 10 students can also choose to study Electronics, Engineering Studies or Environmental Science.
Electronics is an exciting project-based elective which provides an introduction to basic electronic theory, practical skills and safety procedures. Students make a siren with flashing lights, a quiz game, electronic die, a ding-dong doorbell and intercom. Theory topics include direct current circuits, circuit symbols and diagrams, and identification of components. The course focus is practical, including soldering, drilling and related skills and practical assembly of simple electronic devices.
Students are involved in investigating and solving some of the environmental problems that currently face the local community; conserving natural resources, waste management, energy conservation, reducing pollution, endangered species, water use, landcare, wildlife care and ecotourism. Numerous excursions are held throughout and during weekend camps at Rottnest and Dryandra Forest, students are given an opportunity to get involved in applying conservation ideas to an isolated community.
Students explore the design of structures, machines, products and systems. The course provides challenging, practical ways and opportunities for students to design and make things and solve problems.
St Mary's has one of the longest running and best Marine Science programmes in Australia. The course is outlined here.
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