Earth & Space Science This year, Earth & Space Science was taught at NCEA Level 3, Level 2, and Diploma prep level. Unfortunately, with fewer students taking Level 3 Earth & Space Science, a joint Level 2/Level 3 class was run. Despite this, we successfully completed a wide range of topics and assessments. The Level 3 students successfully completed four internal assessments (16 credits), with most gaining Excellence. There was a high level of engagement from this group, with six boys opting to sit Earth & Space Science Scholarship. The Level 2 group also studied a wide range of topics, including rock and landscape formation, survival in extreme environments, and the popular star and planet formation topic. Both year levels studied atmospheric processes and had the opportunity to sit the Level 3 external assessment Atmospheric Processes paper. The Diploma Earth & Space Science prep course ran in both semesters. It provided learning about fundamental underlying environmental processes
We continue to have a fantastic technician, Sally Kersey, who has sourced several inventive and engaging resources and practicals to enhance the learning experience of the boys. Kirsty Howatson HoD Biology Chemistry In Chemistry, the year began with acknowledgement of the successes of our highest-achieving students from 2023, with the awarding of the New Zealand Scholarship in Chemistry to Angus Gifford, Mathew Brett, Sean Jang, Jack McKeown, and Greg Robertson. This was topped off with an Outstanding Scholarship Award achieved by Oliver Glossop. Throughout the year, we had a range of success in various competitions. In the Chemistry Olympiad selection examination, Aaron Kwak achieved a Gold Award, while Ryan Gu achieved a Bronze Award, with both invited to enter into the wider training programme. In the International Chemistry Quiz (ICQ), 15 boys received Distinction awards across the
various year levels, with an additional four boys receiving High Distinction awards. These award recipients were Bill Li and Paddy Newton in Year 10, Ericsson Ye in Year 11, and Lester Lai in Year 13. Finally, Aaron Kwak in Year 12 received a High Distinction Excellence Award for achieving 100% in the ICQ. He received a special
award as well as a global mention from the ICQ organisers, as one of only three boys who achieved this award in New Zealand in 2024. Finally, in the Otago Science Quiz, Ericsson Ye achieved 2nd= in New Zealand in the Year 11 category. This year, we further evolved our College Diploma courses, exploring
new assessment opportunities and learning progressions, while
senior students placed 2nd in the New Zealand Engineering Science Competition. In the NZ Physics and Mathematics Competition, Christ’s College was 1st in the South Island junior division and 3rd in the senior division. The department continues to teach to NCEA Level 3 and Level 2, as well as the College Diploma programme. The Physics Department has re- crafted the Diploma to provide a comprehensive grounding to the Physics knowledge and skills required in the prevailing NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 courses and University Entrance. The motivation of rangatahi to be at their best appears to be consistent with previous year groups. Student numbers electing to study Physics continue to grow year on year, reflecting recognition of the need to be technologically literate. The Physics team continues to enjoy stability in retaining staff in spite of a nationwide shortage of trained teachers. David Newton HoD Physics
continuing to refine our senior NCEA courses. We farewelled Sidinei Teixeira at the end of 2023 and welcomed Amy Fisher to the Chemistry Department in a permanent capacity at the start of this year. She has brought her passion for Chemistry to a range of classes, while also sharing her expertise with the Biology and Mathematics departments. The remainder of the department staff remain unchanged, with Dr Briar Wait, Dr Craig Aitken, Scott Franklin, Head of Department, and Vicki Bennie, technician, continuing to work hard to develop the engineers and scientists of the future.
Scott Franklin HoD Chemistry Physics
Physics students continued to earn very good pass rates at Excellence and Merit levels in the 2023 NCEA examinations, commensurate with published national decile 10 results. Three College students were awarded New Zealand Scholarship, placing them in the top 2.76 % of the national cohort. Our team of four
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