YEAR 7 GUIDE TO BALLY BOYS
HUMAN SOCIETY AND IT'S ENVIRONMENT (HSIE)
TEACHER INTERVIEW
Interview with Mr Stringfellow, Years 7-12 HSIE teacher
Daniel: Which do you prefer, history or geography?
Mr Stringfellow: That is a tough question, a very tough question to answer, but if I’m going to be completely honest, I’d have to say geography, I would. All of my interests and hobbies like surfing and snowboarding include some kind of interaction with the physical environment which allows me to connect to the subject on, I guess, a deeper level. Yeah, so, geography would be my answer for that one.
Harry: What is your favourite thing about being a teacher?
Mr Stringfellow: Alright, my favourite thing about being a teacher would be having the potential to have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of young people and the choices they make beyond the walls of the classroom.
Daniel: Why do you like working at Bally?
Mr Stringfellow: There is a few things fellas aside from being five minutes up the road, for me working at Bally means a lot more than just having a job. It's, I guess as an old boy of the school, I feel a deep connection with the core values and future directions this school is heading. To see this school come very close to being completely shut down, with I think, you know when I was back in year eleven and twelve there were 300 students here, to what it is today is pretty cool to be a part of it and to continue to be a part of it they are the main reasons I like to work here.
​
Harry: Why did you choose HSIE as your teaching subject?
​
Mr Stringfellow: Alright I guess I already answered this one before, but looking at the world through the eyes of a geographer, or through studying geography or teaching it, it allows and empowers you I guess to question, explore, inquire and understand about the relationships and connections within and between nature and humanity.
Daniel: How would you improve Bally and why?
Mr Stringfellow: Alright, for me an improvement in bally I would like to see is, and as a non-indigenous person, I have a very deep interest and appreciation of Australian Aboriginal culture. I would love to see more of a school wide celebration of aboriginal culture in the form of artworks displayed in common areas along with other ideas that we will achieve in the very near future. Hopefully you guys could be a part of that.
​
Harry: What are your two best experiences at Bally?
Mr Stringfellow: Two best, there is a lengthy list here boys and it’s hard to go past the ski trips and taking the boys surfing every Wednesday, but you know I’m also about the underdogs, the success stories. I love seeing the boys achieve beyond their potential which you get to see quite often here at bally and I say Mr Theodore in high heels on stage a few years ago that would be up there for sure, make sure you go and ask him about that ok.
​
Daniel: What can future year seven students expect when walking into a HSIE classroom?
Mr Stringfellow: Well boys, I think you would be almost better to answer this, as you have almost experienced your first year here at bally in the HSIE faculty, but I guess coming from me, year seven students should expect to walk into a HSIE classroom knowing they are being taught by people who are passionate about their subject area and are keen to bring the content to life through a variety of lessons, both within the classroom but also outside to.
​
Harry: What advice would you give to future Year 7 students?
Mr Stringfellow: Tough one, my advice would probably be to relax, enjoy the ride, and you know just know that you are in a school that you will be proud to call yourself an ex-student or an old boy of in the future.
TOP 10 TIPS FOR SUCCESS IN HSIE
January 1, 2023
Come prepared for every lesson, for example, bring your device, pencil case and workbook.
When you get a worksheet glue it into your workbook immediately.
Revise all new material covered in class that afternoon.
Research extra content if needed.
Ask questions and fully engage yourself in each and every lesson.
Do all assigned homework to the best of your ability.
Don’t leave your assignments to the last minute.
Recall all due assessments and homework in a diary.
Be on task at all times.
Complete given work in class to avoid having to do it for homework.
CREATIVE WRITING
January 1, 2023
As I walked into the HSIE room for the first time and as I looked around I felt my heart smashing against my ribs, beads of sweat formed on my forehead feeling like I was about to drown in my nerves. I looked around at unfamiliar faces, it was all a bit overwhelming. I stared up the seemingly massive classroom to the front of the room where the new teacher stood, his gaze almost seemingly locked on me, but I knew he was keen to teach. I didn't know what to expect, questions inside my mind raced inside consuming me and intriguing me.
Not long after the class had started we heard a loud rumbling, but we just assumed someone was really hungry because it suddenly came to an abrupt halt. We settled back into our work but another deep rumble rolled in. Everyone was suspicious, could he surely still be hungry, it can't be a coincidence, surely not. No one could concentrate, by then all anyone could think about was what he must of ate to produce such a loud rumble. Then the teacher started telling us about our new topic, landscapes and landforms and told us the class will be going on an excursion to the local mountain when all of a sudden, we head loud screams from below us.
The room fell silent. A silent gasp was released just as the tip of a mountain busted through the floor of the classroom. Then panic erupted throughout the school. Tables went flying and the ceilings were being ripped off one by one but the mountain was still steadily climbing. We ran out the door as fast as we could and into the quadrangle, but the only thing the teacher was doing was taking photos of the ever-rising mountain emerging through G block. He was always telling us to stop and then he would tell us tell about the geological processes of the mountain forming.
Then as we turned on the radio as we got in the school bus, we heard that we were trapped by the mountain range that had formed around us. We were inevitably doomed but the teacher told us not to worry, that everything will be ok, but on the inside, we were traumatized to the bone. Then an ear-splitting sound pierced through the air. All the windows on the bus shattered into thousands of tiny pieces. The bus started to rock and people started to go flying, their bodies being thrashed around like ragdolls. But finally, the shaking stopped and they dived out,
of the bus safely and landed on top of each other like we were all pillows. The radio crackled announcing that a mega cyclone was heading towards Balgowlah Boys Campus. Luck definitely wasn't on our side.
The storm loomed on the horizon, big grey clouds rolling across the deep blue sky. Then the winds came lifting dirt and rocks into the air and slamming them down. The rain surged down in, curtains of water falling from the sky. Heavy floods encased them. We were forced to climb the mountain, the water rising slowly behind us. We had reached the summit yet the water was still climbing. A low rumble slowly started to emerge some sort of vehicle probably but I wasn’t too sure. Whoosh! Blades continually rotated above our heads deafening us. Finally, we were saved, our savior in the sky loomed above our heads. It lowered a ladder and we carefully scaled it to the top. The water enclosed the tip of the mountain just as we started the treacherous journey home. I hope school is not onto tomorrow.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
By Henry (Year 7 student of 2017)
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first walked into the HSIE classroom. My first subject was geography, which I had only touched on briefly in primary school and I was sure it was going to be great and from the very first topic it exceeded my expectations. The amount of information that I acquired was phenomenal and it helped me in everyday life. History was the same, it was surprising learning about ancient civilisations and methods they used to survive. The most challenging part of these two subjects was the tests. But if you studied and kept your notes together neatly and revised your work each day you would overcome the nerves and smash the test. My best advice to concur HSIE is to pay attention in class and always keep your work neat and tidy so you will be able to revise later. Every day after school I would also revise work for 5 minutes and if you don’t know a topic ask the teacher. If you follow these tips, HSIE will be a breeze.