KWS Magazine 2013 Issue Two - Kinross Wolaroi School

Codey competes with state’s best“Interesting”, “exciting” and “mildlyuncomfortable” were some of theadjectives Year 10 student CodeySwadling (pictured right with hisproud mum Tania) used to describehis day at the Australian Brain BeeChallenge NSW State Finals.Codey was among more than 130of the state’s brightest Year 10students when he participated inthe neuroscience contest hosted bythe University of Western Sydney’sSchool of Medicine.The competition rounds includeda text book quiz and a brainanatomy challenge, before studentsexperimented on themselves byusing electric pulses to stimulatenerve reactions in their fingers: “Amildly uncomfortable sensation,”according to Codey.Codey said a tour of the university’sresearch laboratories was thehighlight of the day.“We were able to watch liveexperiments on how electricity cancause uncontrollable reactions, andsee the impact of strokes on realdissected human brains,” he said.“This was a great finish to aninteresting and exciting day.”Hands-on geography lessonOur intrepid Year 9 Geographystudents took on the elements inTerm 2, heading to KosciuszkoNational Park for the annual SnowyMountains Geography excursion.Six teachers accompanied 120students on the three-day excursion, asthey studied ‘Australian communitiesand environments’ first-hand.Highlights of the trip includedthe Yarrangobilly Caves tour andswimming in the naturally heatedthermal pool, and, of course, theannual trek up Mount Kosciuszko.This year all but three students madeit to the top – a Year 9 record!It was also the first time in the annualexcursion’s history that studentshadn’t encountered snow on themountain and all were able to enjoycrystal clear views.The students also learned about theSnowy Mountains Hydro Scheme,before heading home via a tastylunch break at Canberra City Centre.7