Junior School

Year 6 OLP - Camp Quaranup

In Week 2, the Year 6 students went to Albany for an amazing final OLP experience in Junior School. We stayed at Camp Quaranup for five days, and our week was filled with a variety of fun experiences. We tackled each activity with adventurous spirits, as we were challenged in different ways through every task. These experiences gave us an opportunity to learn about our peers and ourselves. We are so grateful for the different experiences we had over the week. We learnt how to fish, with Mr Fletcher teaching us how to cast a line. We were very successful, catching more than 15 different species of fish! Then we had an informative lesson about marine science and sustainable fishing guidelines.

We also went geocaching, which many of us hadn’t heard of before, but it ended up being one of the best activities of the week. Putting our collaboration and communication skills to the test, we raced around the campsite led by our GPS devices, looking for clues to solve puzzles. Afterwards we went on a bushwalk and explored the beautiful discovery trails, practising our photography skills on the picturesque landscape. We also visited the National ANZAC Centre, where we were privileged to learn a lot about the history of the ANZACs and pay our respects. Each of us followed a different person’s timeline, and through watching videos, looking at artefacts, and listening to audio recordings, we gained insight into what life might have been like for people involved in the war. This was followed by a visit to the wind farm. Powering 80% of Albany, the wind farm was a magnificent sight. We even got to climb inside one and learn about how the turbines work! Next, we went to the Whaling Station, where our wonderful tour guide took us through the different stations. We saw how the machines worked and how whaling shaped Albany.

As the boat approaches through the mist,

Whales scatter away from the ship,

Running away from masts so high,

Running away from the exploding sky.

The hunters see their beauty and grace,

And feel the need to slaughter them in their place,

But tired enough the hunters turn around,

Waiting another day to claim the ocean’s crown.

— Bryce Murakami 

On our final full day, we had a cooked breakfast that everyone devoured. It gave us the energy to embark on a morning of archery and art, where we were put to the test as we tried to hit bullseyes and draw the shipwreck of Cheynes II with Ms Bykerk. The historic Whaling Station at Discovery Bay was an informative experience, although quite confronting. Finally, some of us conquered our fear of heights at The Gap, where the waves crashing against the rocks were breathtaking. A movie night was the perfect end to our week. Even though camp was far from home, we faced our fears, stepped out of our comfort zones, and had lots of fun. We made many great memories and have funny stories we will continue to reminisce on. 

Written by Joshua Koy, Emily Chen, Kit Ranalli and Bryce Murakami (Year 6)

Da Vinci Decathlon 

The Da Vinci Decathlon was an experience like no other, one that none of us will ever forget. Although it may sound like a gruelling day with boring tests, everyone on both the Year 5 and the Year 6 teams had a really good time and we all look back on it as an extremely enjoyable experience. On Wednesday 14 May, we left by bus early in the morning, laughing and talking all the way till we reached UWA. It was a series of tests divided into three sections, separated by breaks for recess and lunch. Everyone on both teams demonstrated amazing collaboration even though some of us did not know each other well prior to the Decathlon. The results showed that everyone gave their best effort, as the Year 5 team came second in the state, getting three certificates across the Creative Producers, Mathematics and Legacy events, while the Year 6 team earned first place certificates for both Maths and Science. However, at the end of the day, when we returned home, tired but happy, all that mattered is that we all tried our hardest and had fun.

Written by Anish Ray and Jasper Zhu (Year 6)