On Friday afternoon, the Secondary Science Department welcomed parents, students and staff to our inaugural Palaeontology Experience in the Great Hall. The exhibition showcased the creative and scientific efforts of Years 7, 8 and 9, along with a charming dinosaur pasta artwork entry from primary classes.

Year 7 students, in teams of five, constructed and painted dinosaur skeletons mounted against custom backdrops of each creature’s native environment. Their attention to anatomical detail and artistic flair transformed the hall into a mini-museum of Mesozoic giants.

Year 8 focused on fossil replication. Teams embedded resin "insects" in simulated amber or cast shells, trilobites, and megalodon teeth. These hands-on projects taught fossilization processes and preservation’s role in reconstructing Earth’s history.

In the centre of the hall, Year 9 students presented larger-scale studies of dinosaur locomotion. Their displays included large femur models, life-size footprints and stride-pattern diagrams. Each team adhered to a unifying theme but devised unique presentation methods—ranging from backlit silhouettes to interactive trail maps—that invited viewers to explore how these animals moved across prehistoric landscapes.

The event highlighted students’ scientific understanding and their ability to communicate complex ideas through art, design, and teamwork. We look forward to building on this success next year.