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He Puna Pūtaiao
In term 4, six Māori Science students - Sabre Evans, Hinemaia Paringatai-Dallas, Jade Tihore, Sophie Timothy, Vanda Webber, and Kira Williams—took part in the He Puna Pūtaiao programme at the University of Canterbury for six days. Throughout the programme, the students engaged in scientific research on water quality in Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere), combining field trips and laboratory work. They also created scientific research posters, which were presented to whānau at the Pō Whakanui event.
Biology
Biology
Level 2 Biology Explores
The Rocky Shore
On Monday, February 26th two classes worth of Biology ākonga set off on a bus to Taylor’s Mistake to explore the intertidal zone on the rocky shore.
We spent the day observing the environment and counting the number of each species in 2-metre intervals. Our keen Biologists counted lots and lots of Little Black Mussels and Beaked Barnacles. They also counted some Radiate Limpets, Blue Mussels, Green Mussels and Chitons.
Most students were lucky enough to see some Sea Stars, fish and anemones in the rock pools. It was a fantastic day and some great data was collected for ākonga to use in their ecology assessment.
Year 13 Biology Trip To Orana Park
Year 13 Biology Trip To Orana Park
During July the Year 13 Biology class visited Orana Park to complete their practical investigation task.
The day we were in the classroom learning the different observation techniques was a balmy 17 degrees, whereas the observation day outside was cold and wet. However, the class persevered and gathered their data by observing their chosen animal over the course of a day.
Chemistry
Chemistry
Year 11 Ara Chemistry Competition
Year 11 Ara Chemistry Competition
On September 12th, Year 11 students Lena Norton, Neeshav Prasad, and Lizzie Stapleton Coffey took part in the annual Chemistry competition at Ara. Students were tested on their Chemistry skills by identifying chemical compounds and exploring socioscientific issues. Out of 17 teams, our Te Aratai team achieved an impressive 2nd place overall.
Lizzie earned a perfect score of 15/15 for her Engaging with Society essay, while Lena and Neeshav scored 46/60 in the qualitative analysis of solids and 48/50 in the quantitative analysis of colourless solutions for the practical components. This remarkable achievement makes us all very proud!
Earth and Space Science
Earth and Space Science
Year 12 Field Trip 1: Local Geology
Our first field trip took us to the Waimakariri River and Halswell Quarry. Here, we collected a variety of rock samples, including sedimentary and igneous rocks. By analyzing these samples, we gained firsthand experience in identifying rock types and understanding their formation processes. A highlight of the trip was constructing, and testing, a wall using basalt slabs from the quarry.
Year 12 Field Trip 2: Antarctic Adaptation
Our second field trip to the Antarctic Centre provided a unique opportunity to explore the fascinating world of Antarctic ecology. We observed little blue penguins in action, witnessing their incredible diving and feeding abilities. We also had the chance to interact with Siberian Huskies, learning about their role in Antarctic exploration and their adaptations to cold climates. To truly immerse ourselves in the Antarctic experience, we ventured into the storm room, where we were exposed to the harsh, freezing conditions that characterize the continent. This firsthand experience allowed us to appreciate the challenges faced by organisms living in such extreme environments.
Overall, these field trips were invaluable experiences that enriched our understanding of Earth's geological processes and the adaptations of organisms to extreme environments.
Junior Science
Junior Science
EPro8 Challenge
EPro8 Challenge
Two teams of four learners represented Te Aratai at the interschool EPro8 Science and Technology Challenge on Wednesday May 8th. Team 1 included Andrei Bjerkhamn, Lara Gifford, Theo Joice and Sam Koster, while Team 2 consisted of Glen Cabanero, Neil Cabanero, Ashveer Singh and George Targus.
During the competition, students had a 2-hour window to apply their engineering and problem-solving skills to tackle various challenges and accumulate points. Both teams completed a Ball Run challenge and Team 2 managed to start a Laundry Machine challenge.
We extend our congratulations to Team 2 for securing second place on the night.
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