Middle Years Update

Much has been written over the last few years about diets, fitness, exercise and Australia's obesity crisis.

There have been countless fad diets, most of which help to shed kilos but once the dieting stops back come the kilos.

There are many forms of exercise classes for which you can pay big money because they embrace the latest gimmick. Gym membership and regular use has become the norm for many. Of course these forms of exercise are generally very good for us although some are so extreme that they don't last.

What about our children and the example we set for them. Our fitness can be gained and maintained in so many simple ways and we can pass these practices on to our children by example. Yes, I know we live in a busy world where time is the essence of the contract. But, do we really have to get in the car every time we leave the house?

As we settle in to the new school year have we taken the time to think that perhaps the kids could walk or ride their bikes to school? I hear it straight away. "What about the dangers?" Ours is a big school and the chances are that there will be other students in your neighbourhood. Arrange for them to met at your house and walk or ride together. The benefits are social as well as physical and in addition it helps the children to gain greater independence.

Perhaps if you would rather drive your child, you could consider making your drop off and pick up point a couple of blocks away from the school, just to remind your child that you regard exercise as important.

Remember to take the stairs instead of the lift whenever you can. Get the children to carry the groceries and unpack them when they get home. Don't be afraid to expect them to carry out the washing basket and hang out the washing. Responsibilities within the household are a vital part of growing up.

Vacuuming, sweeping, mopping and cleaning all fall into that important category of incidental exercise. Gardening provides wonderful opportunities through mowing, digging, pruning, planting just to mention a few as well as its well recognised therapeutic values.

Our children need to see exercise and movement as an integral part of our daily lives not just what we do when we play sport or go to the gym. It is not just something we do when we have time. Exercise and movement and the health and fitness it gifts to us the key to a much fuller, happier life.

Extra Curricular Success

Johnny Suares came second in the recent Victorian State Championships,

He will be going to Sydney for the Australian National Championships in March 20 to 23

Good luck Johnny!

Congratulations to Year 8 student Sam Morris who received his black belt grading for Karate on the weekend.

Year 7 Camp

While transition is an ongoing process, the highlight is most definitely the Year 7 camp to Alexander Adventure resort. I love the energy and enthusiasm our new Year 7 students bring to the camp which includes canoeing, raft building, rock climbing and archery. By the end of the camp, I can see students from a host of different primary schools bonding together and getting to know each other. Koonung brings together families from a number of wonderful primary school communities. Connecting families with the Koonung community is part of the transition process and it contributes to a feeling of belonging and connectedness which helps our students feel part of Koonung and helps foster the students ambition to do their very best in all things. Thank you to all the staff who came on Year 7 camp. A special thank you to the ex Koonung students who gave up their time to come and the Year 12 Student leaders for coming to visit and helping out at activities.

Jake Sheehan

I thought the camp was run really well. They had so many activities, who would have thought they would have had a trampoline, footy goals and an outdoor cinema. The Koonung X factor was very funny!

Jeremy Ball

I liked Laser Sport, I got to use the medium guns in the first round and then the sniper riffle and it was easy to use. I met lots of new friends in my cabin as well as boys in the next couple of cabins. The first night went really fast because we were all having so much fun. I was very tired when I got home.

Marco Candiloro

The night walk was fun because we saw a wild Koala in the tree then we got to roast marshmallows in the fire. I like watching the movie on the outdoor cinema under the stars.

Flynn Hovenden

I had broken my arm before camp so I was pretty restricted but my favourite activity was the flying fox because I got to do it. I had most of my friends in my cabin, it was fun to all stay together and chat and laugh about the day.

Jessica Ashby

My favourite activity was canoeing because I was in a canoe with one of my really good friends. It was a little scary because everyone almost tipped over. I had lots of good friends in my cabin, we spent a lot of time talking and laughing and getting to know one another.

Levi Henson

My favourite activity was rock-climbing because I got to race Isamu the Year 12 Student leader and I beat him. I really enjoyed the cabins because in the end I have made lots of new friends. The activity around the camp like basketball and football were really fun and I got to meet lots of other kids that way.

Lily

I did archery for the very first time, It was really hard but I was very close at hitting the bullseye. I had the majority of my friends in my cabin and we had lots of fun even though we were really tired each night. Morning tea snacks from the camp were amazing!

Alysha Clegg

I got to meet lots of new people, I was in a cabin with one of the girls that I knew but the rest were new. I still talk to everyone back at school now. I won the Koonung X factor I sang the song Hellelujah.

My favourite activity was the leap of faith. I was really scared at the top but proud of myself for doing it. My activity group really encouraged me at the top.

International Women’s Day

On Wednesday the 4th of March, Mrs Howe and three Year 9 students, Keira, Ava and Tinka were invited to spend the morning at the International Women’s Day Breakfast organised by MASH Rotary, at Box Hill Town Hall.

The theme for the breakfast was “She’s on a roll - Embrace the Challenge”. The three panel members consisted of Sophia Grubnic, a social activist in her first year of University and in her 19th year of feminist activity, who spoke about gender injustice and prejudices against women. The second panel member Dr Manjula O’Connor spoke about domestic violence, and we were inspired to hear about how she stood up for a cause with a campaign against dowries in Australia, even though she was criticized by some about it. The third panelist Samuel Johnson who was raising awareness about a highly effective form of cancer treatment called Personalised Treatment that is going ignored in Australia for no reason. Samuel was there on behalf of his sister Connie Johnson who died from Breast Cancer. Connie Johnson is the founder of the “Love your Sister” charity after her many episodes of cancer throughout her life. Ava’s Addition

The mor

Thank you from Anamika Tuteja (9F)

Live Life Blessing Packs Project

Thank you to the Koonung community who so generously donated items for the care packs for the homeless. Your amazing generosity is going o keep me very busy in the coming weeks as I package them.

Live Life Community Excursion

Earlier this term, the current Live Life Community module visited the Endeavour Foundation’s workplace in Kew to deepen our understanding of the lives of people with disabilities, and extend our social skills to be applied within various areas of the community. It is a facility that assists people with disabilities to support themselves, and to provide them with opportunities they normally would not have available to them.

The week before the excursion, we had an information session with a Scope employee and an inspiring Paralympian which was interesting, and prepared us for the following experience.

Where we went, there was an area for packaging goods, as well as an art therapy room I had the privilege of visiting. During the time I spent packaging goods, I met many new, kind people who shared their interests, stories and jobs with me, including a musical theatre fan I met who is hoping to watch this year’s school musical. During lunch break, we conversed with new people, and competed in a spelling bee, which my friends and I helped our team to win.

In the Art Therapy Room which select people were able to spend time in, extremely talented artists of different abilities showcased their past work, and projects currently in progress. I had the pleasure of being shown around by a particular artist called Stefan, who showed his Davie Bowie portrait he was working on for QArt’s upcoming exhibition ‘Rhythm and Hues’ (information available on their website). He also showed my friends and I other amazing paintings of his which included people such as; Freddie Mercury, Kobe Bryant, Rafael Nadal and Eddie Betts. He posts updates of his progress and various achievements on his Instagram ‘@stefsart3’, and was extremely kind and welcoming.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and it prepared me well for my community placement, as I am sure it did for others.

Mietta De Luise 9G

Year 9 Gridiron

Community Notices

Whitehorse Community Indigenous Plant Sale

Kerrimuir Neighbourhood House

Koonung Heights Community Market