Teaching and Learning

Billabong Ranch Camp

Last week our Year Three Students joined their Campaspe Small Schools peers for a three day camp at Billabong Ranch, on the outskirts of Echuca. Although the weather was not entirely kind to us, there was still plenty of fun to be had with ropes courses, a campfire, rock climbing, mini-golf, paddle boats, archery and rope twirling. Our camp culminated with a morning in Echuca where the students toured the port area and had a ride on a paddle steamer.

News from  Year Prep-Two

Welcome to Term 4 from the P-2 students.

We have been busy in Maths carrying out different Chance activities and learning what is Impossible, Certain, Likely or unlikely to happen. We have rolled dice, tossed coins and looked at jars of different coloured jellybeans to answer questions.

In writing we are starting to create some interesting poetry and learning how to write them. We will publish some of these in a later newsletter.

In Integrated Studies we have designed our passports and are taking a journey around some interesting places in the world. We are learning about the people and listening to their stories told over the years. So far, we have been to New Zealand learning about how the islands were created and how the days were made longer by catching the sun. Our next country will be Japan. 

Music News

Our students are loving the hands-on aspect of our weekly music sessions. Not only have they all been learning to play the ukulele but also the glockenspiel as well as use a variety of percussion instruments. I am not sure the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra are coming recruiting anytime soon, but the students are certainly enjoying themselves! Please see the next page for some further insights into their fabulous learning. 

Outdoor Education and Respectful Relationships

Last week whilst the Year 3 students and Miss Duffy were on camp, Mr Collins took over the reigns taking Outdoor Education and Respectful Relationships. The students used their previous knowledge of ephemeral art to find objects in nature that were appealing to them and work as part of a group to create a mandala ( A mandala is a symbolic representation of the universe. It is used in as an aid for meditation in Buddhism and Hinduism. A mandala serves a focal point to help us relax and calm ourselves when feeling stressed).