To all our donors—– Thanks thanks, from the Science department
I am sitting in my office on level two of the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre for Science( the John B Hilton-Wood School of General Science), and the dappled light through the void is showing a scene of boys in the collaborative spaces.
Some are working in groups, lounging on the comfortable chairs; some are arguing about who is right, and using the whiteboards around the walls to demonstrate their points. Another couple have headphones in, and are deep in thought. There are a few who should be focusing over in the corner, but are just gazing out the windows for a while before putting their heads back down to tackle the work in front of them. Three senior boys walk past to see a teacher and get some help, before bringing the teacher back out to work as a group. The silent study next to me is a haven for Year 12 boys to work without interruption during their free lessons.
Moving upstairs to level three( the Charles Goode School of Physical Sciences), there are mainly senior boys working on the larger tables, or plugged in to the screen to share their digital content. Two boys are accessing help with experimental work in the Physics project room, and the interview room has a group in fierce debate behind the glass door. The constant reminder of Old Boys’ efforts and achievements shown on the stairwell helps to encourage the boys of today to strive for their own achievements.
On the Sir Clive Steele rooftop teaching and learning space there is a class using the outdoor classroom, and a Biology group doing an experiment with quadrats. The greenhouse and shadehouse are full of Year 8 plant projects and Environmental Science work. Earlier in the day, a photography class from the Art department came up to use the space.
Down to level one( the Ken Holder School of Life Sciences), and we find staff measuring the Sir David Zeidler Auditorium for the‘ Fizzics is Fun’ lunchtime activity, and the slot-car track and power-generating bike activities later in the term. Boys sit at the‘ Tree of Life’ table asking questions of teachers, and we are all thankful that there is more furniture coming soon for the Peter Henderson Foyer and Atrium, as the boys spill over into this space to work.
In classes, boys and teachers alike are enjoying the beautiful new spaces: experiments that could not be performed in the old spaces are now being completed in the very large and modern new classrooms and project rooms.
Demonstrations can now be completed with entire classes around the lab benches, and individual fume extractors in the senior rooms. Teachers and boys alike frequently mention the climate control and excellent air conditioning, and the acoustics that help maintain a quiet working environment in the learning spaces.
In the larger classrooms, with laboratory spaces within the rooms, equipment can be set up for longer periods than previously, and boys can transcend seamlessly from theory to practical work. The flexible set-up in the classroom allows for flexible learning such as differentiated teaching, flipped learning and Extension activities. There is room to move around for more than one teacher at a time, and for the boys to have quieter learning areas.
Teachers comment that using Widi( wireless display) they can project from any point in the class so they don’ t have to be in the front of the room, which allows greater flexibility in delivering lessons. The large experimental benches allow flexibility with experimental design, and the provision of the project rooms allows small group work, major projects, and enables senior students to undertake more challenging experimental activities.
To the donors, large and small, we say thank you for these wonderful new open, light-filled spaces that make the building so very pleasant for quiet work, and a place to which boys want to return, and learn, and make the best of their gifts. DR MARTA CASSIDY— HEAD OF SCIENCE
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