Class 9 Dragon Boating

Class 10A Drama Main Lesson - MacBeth by William Shakespeare

Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies and one of the best-known plays of all time. It has been adapted and performed continuously around the world since being first performed in 1606. This classic tale of ambition, witchcraft and evil will be performed at PWS in a hybrid contemporary and traditional setting. A major theme of the play is the death of sleep, and we have adapted our Macbeth to reflect this.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth check themselves into an insomnia clinic, run by a malevolent group of hospital employees. Once in their beds, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth dream of life in dark age Scotland, and spurred on by prophecy, embark on a journey of cheating their way to the top. The line between dreams and reality becomes blurred and “nothing is but what is not.” The actions we see the Macbeths take on stage might really be happening in the world of the hospital, or they might be imagined. It’s up to the audience to decide what is real and what is not.

Macbeth is a dark play, but we have approached this production with a sense humour to lighten the tale and to stimulate thought and feeling.

Class 10A have shown deep thought, commitment and enjoyment throughout the Main Lesson process. I am proud to have worked on the production with this group, and many of the creative ideas you will see come from the students. This would not have been possible without the magic collaboration of theatre, of many minds working on a story together.

PWS staff have worked professionally to make this production happen: Anna Dymitr Hawkes, Eva Rinaldi, Thomas Chandler, Anna Rohan, Sarah Boyle, Shanelle Schramm, Jodi Bassett Scarfe, and all other staff members who assisted the process. 

Performances will take place in Williams Hall:

Cast 1 Wednesday 20 September 9.00am

Cast 2 Wednesday 20 September 6.30pm

Cast 2 Thursday 21 September 9.00am

Cast 1 Thursday 21 September 6.30pm

Austin Castiglione
High School Drama Teacher

Class 11/12 Physics Elective Projects

During the first three terms of this year, the Class 11 and 12 Physics elective students have engaged in small group and independent projects. The aim of the Physics Project is to give students a chance to explore an individual interest on a deeper level, while learning to apply their knowledge and skills in physics to a real-world endeavour. This process would culminate with a presentation of their work at Open Day.

Students were given the briefing to use as many reused, recycled, and repurposed materials as possible. Students were encouraged to explore topics that resonated with their own interests but were given the freedom to explore their ideas. With ideas in hand, students had to plan and budget for this project, including completing a thorough risk assessment. Early Term Two, students began sourcing and collecting their materials, then adjusted once they realised, they didn’t have all the parts and/or skills they needed to complete the project.

Across the whole process, this project has required problem solving skills, resourcefulness, resilience, and skill and knowledge acquisition – some required some very strict safety protocols. It was fantastic to see four groups present their projects at Open Day, in varying stages of completeness, but all functioning. As with each year, we had a wide range of ideas, though surprisingly no attempts to motorise something. We did have two different forms of engine be built: a miniature jet engine and a Stirling engine; in addition to a wind tunnel and a nuclear fusor.

It has been wonderful to be part of their efforts across the year, and see them present their projects to friends, family, and community members at the Open Day.

Brett Kranz-Little
Physics Teacher