Around the School

A huge congratulations to Izzy Field of Year 8 who has her story published in the Oz Kids in Print magazine. Izzy will be awarded a certificate for writing excellence at the General Assembly on Thursday week 1.

We unveiled our Indigenous logo, created by our beloved Mr Josh Franks, a proud Gubbi Gubbi man who has raised his two daughters on Gunditjmara land and left us this year to work as a KAELO (Koorie Academy of Excellence Liason Officer) for the DET Wimmera South West Region. 

Josh worked in the library for 12 years prior to his departure and the fact that he created our logo is a source of pride for the entire school.  Thank you Mr Franks.

Aboriginal Artists need permission to paint particular stories. They inherit the rights to these stories which are passed down through generations within certain skin groups. An Aboriginal artist cannot paint a story that does not belong to them through family. This would not qualify as one of these stories.

Symbols, such as gatherings, dots and meeting places are used to help communicate, educate and create survival stories that are still in use today in contemporary Aboriginal Art. Some are common across a multitude of clans, mobs and nations. 

My explanation would be "This is a new story of what happens at our school with a contemporary alignment with the School logo and introduces the school mascot as having a presence within the school community". I hope you enjoy it

The bigger shape represents teachers facing students (3 smaller) with Bandicoot tracks overlapping.

English - 

The Chaos of Finality. 

Leo McConachy.  Year 9.

Flames raged along every edge of the koala’s field of vision.  Great and terrible spires writhed like a high-rise city plan dabbling on the edge of an architect’s mind.  The constant heat of the area was enough to force the koala higher from its comfortable napping place.

The gargantuan red gum tree spanned hundreds of years.  Every tusk that gave way to the delicious gum leaves seemed to have another fire spanning from its base.  Although the forest had seemed quiet with a profound sense of tranquillity before the koala had laid down to rest, the nearby trees blazed and smoldered with unearthly vividness.

The koala felt the heat rise faster than it could climb. The ancient tree had a multitude of accessible limbs, each higher than the last.  However, there wasn’t enough to sustain the koala’s frantic pace. Even in all its long glory of ages, the red gum tree could only grow so far to the sun. Devilish flames reared, fed by the howling wind.  They searched for dry leaves and rotten stumps.  But in this unsated inferno, the lives of trees would feed it well.  The fire sighted the furry shape scurrying skyward. A new relish, not just for wood and trees, but to be the one to still a beating heart.

A new offensive attack was launched at the koala. And thus, the blazing devilry outstretched its gaping maw towards the biggest tree within its grasp.  A face of brilliant red appeared on the edge of the whirling inferno closest to the koala. The fire extended one gnarled flame at a time until it was burning the living skin off the aged sentinel.  The koala squealed in its horrible terror.

Agonisingly slow to burn into the fibre of the gigantic red gum.  Tendrils of flame soared again, due to the flaring wind.  Pillars of choking smoke ascended to the heavens.

Just as the inferno was two clawing steps away from crisping the fur on the koala, a shower of sparkling water rained in from above. The fire was blasted by titanic waves of dulling opposition.  Red fire trucks gleamed from the red, burning embers.

Music/ Production Report

Music

Music has progressed well this term, with many students enjoying the return of Mr. Hunter.

In year 7 there are groups of students who seem to be enjoying the process of gaining skills and making more pleasing sounds that in the previous term.

Many of the senior students are focused on getting lines, acting, singing and some choreography ready for the production of ‘The Wedding Singer’ which is progressing very well.

Mr. Hunter’s VET music industry course seems to be progressing well. I had the pleasure of being a ‘customer’ doing a voice over whilst being recorded by a couple of the class members. The experience was very positive and I felt very professionally managed by them.

My VCE music class are a positive and enthusiastic group who have all managed to overcome all of the challenges of unit 1 very well. Many of them are new to performing and so they are finding that, like any skill, the art of playing for a live audience is something that’s developed and refined over time.

We entered two sections of the recent Hamilton eisteddfod, and we took along a group of apprehensive and nervous students who had never performed competitively before. 

I'm happy to report that our rock band was awarded a second place, with no first place awarded in that category. 

Members of the rock band were Bonnie Jackson, Jenna Charman, Charlotte Dahl and helped out by Mr. Hunter, as it was an 'open' section.

The band played very well and I was particularly glad to see some of the Hamilton college string players dancing on the side of the stage to our band (their competitors).

Our Jazz ensemble played to finish off the night and attained a first place!

The band consisted of Victor Samuel, Charlie Evans, Abbi McClure, Bonnie Jackson, Mr. Hunter and myself.

The Adjudicator's report was glowing, using words such as 'well balanced', 'tight', and 'particularly good solo percussion!'

Glenn Hayes

Music Coordinator.

Production

We have just hit halfway on the production timeline with our lines and blocking really starting to take shape. We have just started choreography with the super talented former school captain Savannah Edwards. Our songs are sounding super strong with a few students stepping out of their comfort zone and really doing a brilliant job. 

The sets are well on their way thanks to the crafty eye of Roger Kennett. 

We are going to start advertising the show in early term 3 with Tickets going on sale on the 1st of August.

Mr Hunter

Art 

Textiles and Jewels

Students explore the challenge of applying a vast variety of materials to create a unique and Sculptural Earth Wand.

Ceramic Work

Year 9/10 Visual Art students learnt the key skill of rolling, flattening and joining clay so that they could make a Ceramic Tile with Animal Sculpture Join. Year 8 Visual Art students learnt the skill of making ceramic plates with a delightful glazed fired pattern.

Visual Art class

Visual Art students learnt how to practice, design and plan a portfolio of Still Life artworks. Inspired by the Grangeburn Wetlands students have also created a portfolio of artworks in a variety of differing artforms. Inspired by the people we admire our students learnt Portrait Drawing skills

Year 7 Chinese work

Students in Year 7 have been working on making and designing Chinese restaurant menus.

Celebrating half a decade of service

Congratulations to Mr Foley who celebrated being the Education Department for 50 Years!  We celebrated Mr Foley's achievements earlier in Term 2, well done on a remarkable career in which you will never know the far reaching impact you have had.

THANK YOU TO ALL VOLUNTEERS

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our volunteers that help out - whilst we only snapped two of our canteen volunteers for National Volunteer Day we know there are many more that make it possible for the service to remain in place - if you have an hour to spare at any time on any day Aidie would love to hear from you.  Without our volunteers the service will simply not run - then we are all making sandwiches again! Nooooooo!

Textiles

Student in Year 9/10 Textiles class have been busy making tie dye tote bags, tie dye cushions, jumpsuits, coats and tops.

The black jumpsuit with blue and silver sequence was made by Shannon Hollingshed (Taylor Swift inspired).

The brown long wool coat was made by Toby Pratt, and the top hat by Jett Robinson.

The green avocado jumpsuit was made my Isabella Elliott.

The navy top with tropical theme skirt in blue, white, and yellow was made by Isabelle Tonissen, Sarah Campe, Edie Jackson, and Ruby Packman.

VCE VM Update

Term 2 has been a busy period for both Year 11 and Year 12 VCE VM students. The Year 12s finalised their Tiny House models and presented their hard work to teachers and students from all grades, showcasing the phases of construction through their digital portfolios. They continued their mathematical learning journey by investigating what it is like to budget financially for life after school. They further developed their project management skills by creating project proposals, submitting them to leadership for approval, and organising The Biggest Morning Tea, which was a huge success. Through this event, they learned how to communicate, plan, collaborate, advertise via radio and newspaper, meet deadlines, hold meetings, request sponsorship, show initiative, work as a team, and develop leadership skills, all while supporting a worthy cause. The Year 12s also investigated unions, workers' rights and obligations, and conducted risk assessments.

The Year 11 VM students assisted the Year 12s with The Biggest Morning Tea by cooking, setting up, and handling any last-minute preparations. They observed and critiqued the running of the event and have already begun developing ideas for next year’s Biggest Morning Tea, which they will be organising. The Year 11s investigated how their workplaces communicate with customers, suppliers, and new clients, analysing the effectiveness of each form of communication. They then created a website for their workplaces that could be used by their employers. Additionally, they are beginning to develop skills in project proposal and planning as they start investigating a community issue. They have studied scale and area by mapping out house plans and costing materials to build a shed. They are also investigating how many cars would fit into an area for a “Drive-In”... stay tuned for this one.

Finally, our students are out in their workplaces each Wednesday, with Year 12s also attending on Tuesdays. Reports from employers indicate that our students are receiving excellent feedback and impressing all involved in their workplaces with the employability skills they have gained throughout the VCE VM program. Great work, Team!

Ms. McLachlan

Year 7 HUB

At the start of the year we learnt about fractions and decimals. Me and a few people had to go up and surds which was a year higher level. After we did fractions and decimals we did square numbers. I thought it was hard but I got through in the end.

 - Brennan MacDonald

This term we did a newsletter report in English on Australian floods. Our newspaper report had to include a headline, by-link, introduction, body and a conclusion. We had to research all our information and put where we found all our information on a bibliography sheet. We also had to include paragraphs and add pictures with captions. Our headlines had to be catchy or a punch line. 

- Tilly Cross

This term Baimbridge College welcomed over 130 Year 5 students from around the region. The Year 5 students got to do activities like science, art, wood and PE. In PE they played hockey, basketball, netball and soccer. Most of the Year 5's thought PE was the best subject. They also really enjoyed nail art which they got a piece of wood that they nailed nails into the wood and put string around it to make an image. The highlight of the day for most of the Year 5's was using the canteen. 

- Siarrah Boyle

This term the Year 7's did a CAT on multinational companies in Humanities. We had to pick from four different companies (Apple, who gives a crap, McDonalds and Nike) then we had to research about the company we decided to do. Our information had to include when the company first started, where the company's headquarters is and much more. The most important thing we learnt in this task was about how these businesses give back to the community. For example the Ronald McDonald fundraiser, we learnt all about how it works. 

- Chloe Evans

Before every maths lesson all of the Year 7's must work through all of the times tables from 2-12 until we have mastered them all. Once you have finished your times tables you move on to written problem solving cards and working your way through the books and trying to solve them all. 

- Freddie Jury

You never know what you are going to discover in the Year 7 Hub - but you can bet your bottom dollar that it will have an element of fun when you do go in there, as our Operations manager Jill discovered when she went to take a student's Compass profile picture - never a dull moment with Mrs Adams & Mr Churchill!