St Francis de Sales

Stage 1 Earth and Environmental Science – Fossil Excursion 

The Stage 1 Earth and Environmental students travelled to Port Willunga Beach and Hallet Cove boardwalk to explore fossils and ancient geological formations. The trip prepared students for the final assessment task and incursion presentation from Palaeontologist, Dr Felicity Coutts.  

Here are some words from the year 11’s:  

I thought the excursion was a fantastic opportunity to visualise real fossils and discover more about how current life came to be. I have definitely learned more about various rock layers, and I how to decipher where fossils may have lived and how they moved. -Sasha 

I really enjoyed the Earth and Environmental excursion! I forgot how much I love rocks. It’s another kind of feeling walking around and looking at the same places that weird little unicellular organisms were in millions of years ago. And you really feel like an explorer and a scientist finding and investigating fossils. There were way more than I expected, every random rock I picked up was actually a fossil! It really makes you think about how many pieces of history you step on every single day, which is mind-boggling to me. I also loved looking at the natural scratches on the cliffs and the beautiful rock formations by the beach. I hope that others stop underestimating the importance of them and nature as a whole. I hope I get another chance to go on an excursion like this, or else I might just do it for fun myself!  -Poppy  

My experience on the Fossil Excursion was very enlightening, unforgettable, and enjoyable. I learnt so much about both the history and present state of our earth. I was able to see and explore the several beautiful beaches around us, something that would otherwise not be a possibility at school as well as gain interesting knowledge about the area and why it appears the way it does. While there was a lot of walking, I would overall recommend this excursion- as it gave me many insights into the history of fossils and got to see some extraordinary views as well.  - Louisa  

The excursion was very fun. I loved the walk and it gave me a lot of extra knowledge to help with the incursion. I found the layers of the rocks very interesting. I also found the cast moulds interesting. I enjoyed the walk and the cafe. The fossils on the beach were fascinating and I

collected a few photos for my project!! -Hayley 

Our fossil excursion to Willunga was an unforgettable experience filled with discovery, learning, and fun. Spending the day exploring ancient rock formations and searching for fossils made me feel connected to a time long before us.  

What made the day even better was sharing the experience with my friends. We helped each other find fossils, asked questions, and had a lot of laughs along the way. Working together as a team made it more enjoyable and exciting.  

Overall, the Willunga excursion wasn’t just educational, it was genuinely fun. It opened my eyes to the wonders of palaeontology and made me appreciate how much we can learn from the past. I’ll remember this trip, not only for the fossils but for the memories made with friends. - Matilda  

The fossil excursion was very interesting I love seeing the different layers of what the rocks created. Also, when we were on the beach all the different fossils imprints of how the shells made their mark. The views from the top of the hills looking down onto the black like fossil rock where I saw the water wash up at different levels. Overall, I loved the different kind of designs and ways the fossils were created- Alicia 

Stage 2 Earth & Environmental Science – Oaklands Wetlands Field Investigation 

On Wednesday 26 February, our Stage 2 Earth and Environmental Science students participated in a field investigation at Oaklands Wetlands as part of their studies into sustainable water use. 

The aim of the excursion was to explore the wetlands and evaluate how effectively the site functions as a natu

ral filtration system for local stormwater. Throughout the day, students collected primary data from several locations around the wetlands, measuring a range of environmental indicators to help them assess the health and performance of the system. 

This hands-on experience forms a key component of their summative assessment, with students using the data gathered to analyse real-world environmental processes back in the classroom. 

A highlight of the day was the opportunity to work alongside a guide from Flinders University, who supported students in understanding the scientific techniques used in field research. Students enjoyed the practical nature of the investigation and valued the expert insights shared throughout the excursion.