Page 65 - Southwell School Year Book 2021

SCIENCE
Science is always a highlight at Southwell. Whether it’s chemistry, electricity, the natural world or materials, you can always count on Science, and Mr Velzian, to make it fun. It’s a unique experience and we are very privileged to get to have a chance to do it.
Chemistry was my personal favourite topic of the entire year. From testing out what different elements made what colour in the fireworks, to finding out what metal would be best for a frying pan, to figuring out which atoms made up the molecule, it was all super fun. Even watching a video on blowing up a toilet with chemicals (because it was too dangerous to do in the lab) was exciting!
Unfortunately, with lockdown, we were all unable to do our experiments in the lab. With electricity (the Year 8 topic for Term 4), we had to make do with the resources we could find online. However, with Mr Velzian guiding us through with weekly hangouts, we were able to make series and parallel circuits, and learn about electrical currents and electrons.
Lockdown also meant that the Science Fair was unable to happen face-to-face, and so the boards had to be sent into the Fair to be marked and judged. Even though we were unable to be there and have the experience, it was still worth it and we all learnt a lot about our chosen topics.
Opportunities like these have helped us to extend our learning in so many different ways and directions, providing us all with a better understanding of the things around us in life today. We are so grateful to have the apparatus and knowledge that we have at Southwell. Overall, we can all agree that it’s been a great year and all of the Year 8s will be sad to leave it behind.
Hayley Penn Year 8 student
Science has been a huge game-changer for everyone at school. From learning about human digestion to why plants grow in the light and not in the dark, and so much more.
The thing about Science is it never gets old and the reason for that is because the teachers are AMAZING. Mr Velzian and Ms Voss make Science so interesting. Science has been a huge part of my life at Southwell and I will never forget it!
Logan Norman Year 6 student
Mark Liao and Hayley Penn
Science Fair Awards
Congratulations to the following students:
• Mark Liao
Feel the Heat
Runner up - Year 7 Physical World at Waikato Science Fair
• Hayley Penn
Reducing Carbon by Producing Oxygen
Overall winner of Southwell School Science Fair
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