Moama Anglican Grammar Newsletter

Secondary School

A Very Wicked! Excursion to Melbourne

An early morning drop off and a late night pick up for a full day of adventures. 

Students from Year 7 to Year 12 recently embarked on an engaging excursion to Melbourne, immersing themselves in a day filled with art, culture, and the magic of theatre. The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly the performance of Wicked! The Musical at the historic Regent Theatre. Set in the enchanting land of Oz, students were treated to a captivating spectacle of dazzling costumes and impressive performances, providing an enjoyable theatrical experience for all. There were some very audible reactions as particular plot twists were made clear in the final act, demonstrating how engrossed they were in the story. Before attending the musical, students had the opportunity to visit the Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square. Here, they viewed works from the Top Arts exhibition, featuring pieces by VCE high-achieving Year 12s in Visual Arts for 2023. Additionally, they explored an exhibition by artist Nina Sanadze, sparking thought-provoking discussions about statues, sculpture and society and prompting reflection on contemporary art.Following the cultural activities, students enjoyed investigating a variety of food options for dinner in Melbourne before returning to Moama by bus.We extend our gratitude to all staff, parents, and supporters involved in making this excursion possible. Such experiences contribute to students' cultural awareness and appreciation, enriching their educational journey. Moama Grammar recognizes the value of exposing students to diverse artistic expressions and cultural experiences. We look forward to future excursions that continue to broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding of the world around them.

Supporting your HSC student 

The HSC formal examination timetable has been published which means the end is nearing for our current HSC cohort. As the end of Term 2 quickly approaches, assessment task deadlines and trial examination preparations get closer - to say some of our students may be feeling the pressure right now, is an understatement. 

 

While these deadlines may leave some feeling stressed and overwhelmed, there are some actions that can be taken as a collective to foster productive habits for our students. 

Commonly, we find ourselves wanting to support our students but get stuck between fostering academic independence and micromanaging our learners. 

 

Below are some things you can be doing to support your child on their academic journey: 

  1. Establish a routine by setting aside a particular time each day for study and revision and stick to it. Aim to start and finish at the same time each day to help you have some stability in your day. 
  2. Create a study environment that fosters productivity. This means study is not completed in your bedroom, phones are put away and all other distractions are kept to a minimum. Place all your material where you are studying to reduce the need to get up to find something.
  3. Study smarter. Be prepared, don’t cram. Cramming = stress. Break the material into smaller, more manageable chunks. 
    1. Map out your assessment tasks - what is required in each? 
    2. Where are your summaries up to? For many subjects, the syllabus dot points or content outcomes are a great place to start. 
  4. Look after yourself. Drink plenty of water and eat healthy foods - your body and mind will thank you for it! Make sure you get enough sleep each night as fatigue reduces our resilience, which can make us feel more overwhelmed.
  5. Test yourself and test yourself again. Ask your parents or family members to quiz you on what you have learnt. Use draft questions from books, past assessments or major exam papers and submit these to your teachers for feedback to improve your results. 
  6. Most importantly, if you need support, ask for it!

In the Term 2 holidays, our school will be running academic workshops for our students to support their HSC preparation. Further details on this and the Trial HSC Examination timetable will be published to families and students in the coming weeks. Please remember, we are here to help, reach out and seek the support as you need it. 

Dolly’s Day Sausage Sizzle

Amy Jayne Everett, also very well known as Dolly, was a bright, “happy-go-lucky crazy-haired girl”. Tick and Kate Everett lived on a station in the Northern Territory with their two daughters, Meg and Dolly. Meg and Dolly headed to boarding school to learn, grow and experience what school was like as they hadn't been to school before due to their rural location. Unfortunately, Dolly was a victim to bullying at school and cyberbullying that continued at home, which led to her taking her own life.

 

Bullying can be in many forms and may not be detected straight away so check in on your mates, family and friends before it may be too late. Dolly’s Dream offers various support systems including support lines, the beacon cyber safety app, school workshops, mental health first aid, a parent hub and a youth drop-in centre. 

Friday 10 May was Do it For Dolly Day, a day to recognise and raise awareness surrounding bullying and suicide. At lunch time, we held a student led sausage sizzle to raise money for Dolly’s Dream, a foundation founded by Dolly’s parents to bring awareness to anxiety, depression and bullying that can lead to youth suicide.

 

After weeks of meetings, phone calls, emails and support from local businesses and teachers, the sausage sizzle was held to raise money. We sold over 300 sausages and received a very kind donation from Hammond Providore, smashing our goal of $500, raising $782.40 for Dolly's Dream!

 

We would like to say a massive thank you to Moama Bakery for very kindly donating 20 loaves of bread and Moama Quality Meats for their generous donation of 400 sausages. 

 

If ever in doubt, reach out. To donate and/or learn more, click here. 

 

#BEKIND #DOITFORDOLLY

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

 

Written by Chloe Macknight

Year 8 Camp

This week, our Year 8 cohort attended their camp at The Ranch in Boneo on the Mornington Peninsula. It was an action packed five days with the students participanting in a range of outdoor activities including horse riding, archery, rock climbing, orienteering, the flying fox, a giant swing, bush cooking and other problem solving activities. The students built resilience as they challenged themselves to try something new. Thanks to Mrs Westblade and the other teachers who attended the camp and helped our students foster a love for the outdoors! They will return this afternoon and will have plenty of stories to share over the weekend!

PDHPE Report 

Our Year 7 students are currently studying Soccer in their PDHPE classes, learning the skills and strategies to successfully work together as a team on the field. The students are also excited to be sporting their new bibs from InterSport Echuca. 

Field Sports will be our focus for the remainder of the term.