On the 2nd of April, students from Years 3 to 6 ventured to The King's School in Parramatta to represent GISS at the IPSHA Cross Country carnival. Seventeen athletes in total endured a winding, challenging course and were pushed to their running limits. Years 3 and 4 runners completed a 2-kilometre loop of the school, while Years 5 and 6 participants undertook a 3-kilometre course. Students ran over various surfaces and were challenged on the final 200 metre stretch as they pushed themselves uphill towards the finish line.
A special mention to Arelie in Year 4 who came 4th out of 124 participants in her race and has been selected to represent IPSHA at the CIS Cross Country carnival in June. An incredible effort! Well done team GISS and keep running! - Mr Crundwell
ipsha cross country carnival
science fair
We, the Year 5 and Year 6 students in the Science AG, spent weeks preparing different experiments to present at our Science Fair on April 1st. There were five groups with five different experiments, and each one was exciting and unique. As we explained the science behind our experiments, we explained the process of going from a question to a hypothesis to the actual experiment and finally to the conclusion. Everyone from Kindy to Year 6 was invited to our Science Fair and it was so much fun showing everyone what we did.
We learned how a fish bladder works by using a glass bottle as the fish and inserting a balloon as the bladder, which we then blew air into via a tube to make the fish go up and down in the water.
In the mouldy bread experiment, we explored how much of a difference it makes whether we wash and sanitise our hands before handling food or not.
We learned all about fruit and vegetable energy, as they can generate electricity through a chemical reaction. The acid in the fruit reacts with metals like zinc and copper to create a small electric current, powering things like tiny clocks, lights or fans.
Our little lava lamp was so much fun to watch! We explored how liquids with different densities behave together and watched as an effervescent tablet released carbon dioxide which moved in bubbles through oil and water.
We experimented with different chemical reactions, like baking soda and vinegar or Coca Cola and Mentos, and compared the intensity of these.
We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!
Term 1 Science AG (Ned, Ali, Eddie, Robert, Melis, Zac, Alejandro, Mila, Cecilia, Sophie, Leoni, Lena, Kira, Hanna, Jeanne and Maria-Rosa)
Am 25. und 26. März fand an unserer Schule der diesjährige Känguru-Wettbewerb der Mathematik statt. Über 80 Schülerinnen und Schüler stellten sich den kniffligen Multiple-Choice-Aufgaben, die nicht nur mathematisches Wissen, sondern auch logisches Denken und kreatives Problemlösen erforderten. Der Wettbewerb, der ursprünglich aus Australien stammt und mittlerweile in über 80 Ländern stattfindet, begeistert jedes Jahr Millionen von Teilnehmern.
Die meisten unserer Schüler hatten viel Spaß an den abwechslungsreichen Aufgaben, doch gerade die schwierigeren Fragen brachten einige an ihre Grenzen. Dennoch: Durchhalten lohnt sich, denn neben der Herausforderung winken Teilnahmeurkunden und ein Preis für den besten jeder Klassenstufe.
Sobald die Ergebnisse vorliegen, werden wir euch natürlich informieren. Wir sind gespannt, wer in diesem Jahr den weitesten Känguru-Sprung – die größte Punktzahl – geschafft hat!
Känguru-Wettbewerb 2025:
Knobeln, Grübeln und Grenzen testen
- Frau Schell
On March 25 and 26, our school hosted this year’s Kangaroo Mathematics Competition. More than 80 students took on the tricky multiple-choice questions, which required not only mathematical knowledge but also logical thinking and creative problem-solving. The competition, originally from Australia and now held in over 80 countries, excites millions of participants every year.
Most of our students enjoyed the diverse challenges, but some found the more difficult questions particularly demanding. Nevertheless, perseverance pays off, as all participants receive a certificate, and the best student in each grade level is awarded a prize.
We will share the results as soon as they are available. We are eager to see who achieved the longest “Kangaroo Jump” this year – the highest score!
Kangaroo Competition 2025:
Puzzling, Thinking, and Pushing Boundaries
Frau Schell
On Wednesday 2nd April the Year 11 cohort plus their Science teachers participated in Streamwatch as part of their Collaborative Science Project for their IB Diploma.
This day was a fabulous chance for students to develop their own research questions and collect data from the natural environment plus consider their place in the world. All students had hands on experience using a range of biology, chemistry and physics sensors, test strips and other equipment.
We have been very lucky to have Anne Lanyon from St Anthony in the field and Mark Seacombe from Streamwatch working with us on this project.
Later in the year these Year 11 students will present their findings to the incoming IB students from Year 10.
Year 11 Collaborative Science Project – Streamwatch
