Classroom Reports

Foundation & One

On Tuesday afternoon we got to visit the Grade 4 room where Miss Anderson made us pancakes. They were really yummy. We think she is a great cook! We wonder what she is like at making chocolate eclairs. 

This week in Maths, we made our own 'empires' with cubes. The towers were made up of ten cubes (we called these 't') and after 2 to 3 minutes we had tower check and counted how many 't's we had made . We learnt if you have 4t5 (4 tens and 5 ones), we say 4t5 ‘t’ or ‘ty’ stands for tens. If you have 6t5 (6 tens and 5 ones), we say 6t5. The Teen numbers say ten at the end as ‘teen’ – they may be the smallest, but we learnt they are the trickiest! We have also been practising writing our numbers. We are trying hard at beginning these numbers in the starting corner. Mrs Carrol has been helping us as part of her 4th Year teaching placement. This part of her rounds finishes on Thursday and we look forward to her returning each Friday during Maths and again in July. 

We will also be trying hard at the swimming sports on Friday. Hope to see you these.

Mrs Chalmers, Classroom Teacher

Years 1 &  2

We are well into our classroom routines and the students are very good at checking the job list in the morning and completing their tasks before learning begins. Well done!

We have enjoyed listening to the talks about what’s in the “Me Bags” and learning more about each other. Great work for returning them and being willing to share special things.

There is much excitement in our class as we welcome our new class pets. 

Do you know what they are? Clue: they were around during the dinosaur time! Stay tuned for more information!

Have a great week.

Mrs McKenzie and Ms Martin, Classroom Teachers

Year 4

Another busy two weeks in the Year 4 learning space! 

This fortnight, students have been expanding their knowledge of nouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives and the words that can be used for each of these.  It has been great to see the students share many different words to describe nouns! 

Our Primary Mathematics groups have been exploring Place Value this past fortnight.  Miss Anderson’s group have been working on developing their understanding of place value and trading through games and work with materials such as MAB.  The group have already developed a great understanding of how mathematics is not about being the quickest, but that it is about deep thinking - asking questions to help them understand others mathematical thinking and always being willing to explain their own mathematical thinking to assist others in return. 

On Tuesday we learnt about Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday.  We watched a video explaining the history of Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday and how it is celebrated around the world and then explored Imperative Verbs – Words used to create a command to a person who needs to complete or follow an instruction – in this instance making a vegemite sandwich and making pancakes.   The students in Year 4 enjoyed some pancakes for morning tea on Tuesday, yum! 

Notes have gone home about both SMART Spelling and Mathematics, should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in contact. 

Miss Anderson, Classroom Teacher

Years 5 & 6 

We have been enjoying coming together to explore our science topic of Chemical Sciences. Mrs T went wild with some shaving foam, honey and toothpaste to explore Newtonian Fluids and Non Newtonian Fluids. We think she enjoyed herself a little too much… Soon we will begin researching and designing our gas powered boats to explore how bicarb soda and vinegar mix together to create a gas. 

Our class novel The Iron Man is in full swing this week. We have been using our predicting and inferencing skills to help us make further predictions and understand what the author wants us to know. We are reading the text in many different ways including as a whole group, with a partner or small group or independently. This allows us to choose what works best for us as an individual. We then share our thoughts as a whole group and record or discuss our findings. We have just finished chapter 2 and are looking forward to chapter 3.

A reminder about homework expectations in Grade 5/6… We are aiming for 4 out of 5 school nights of reading during the week. This is help with our class reading and building on our reading stamina and fluency. We understand everyone is busy but reading is an important life skill to have! Diaries are to go home each night to record reading and given to your child’s classroom teacher to be checked for reading. Spelling homework goes home on Mondays and needs to return on Fridays. Maths and Spelling group notes went home last week, if you have any questions please refer to those or contact your child’s teacher. 

Mrs Turnbull 5/6B and Miss Douglas 5/6 A, Classroom Teachers

Year 5/6 B 

Students are becoming familiar with their Chromebooks and enjoy typing their handwritten drafts.

Students have been working on their 'Me in a bag' task. They chose significant items to place in a bag and present to their classmates, as well as write why those items were important to them. It was great getting to know more about our classmates. 

With her permission, we have chosen to share Isabelle Arnup's written piece with you all:

'I chose this glasses case because of the fact, to me, it represents that I have been wearing glasses for basically all of my life. I would never change myself to fit another's expectations of who I should be, or to be beautiful. To me, I am beautiful no matter what someone else says. My glasses help me to read and if I didn't have them, I would never have learnt that I love to read and that I am amazing at it. So what if I could be seen as a nerd, my glasses gave me the ability to read and do what I love.'

In Inquiry, students are working on Chemical Science and are experimenting with chemical reactions as well as designing their own powered boats. 

As written on compass, students are required to use their diaries daily. Students will be sent home communication through their diaries. 

We look forward to seeing all of the 5/6B students enthusiastically participating in the swimming sports on Friday. Don't forget to wear your House colours to get into the team spirit! 

Mrs Postle, Classroom Teacher

Year 8

This week in the Year 8 Huddle group session we started looking at careers. Students were able to explore their interests and look at particular skills that are needed to do these. By investigating  career paths during the early years of secondary education, we are hoping to better prepare our students to transition into further education/training or the work force. 

In Homeroom we have been looking for nominations to be elected to SRC. Elected students would be required to represent the Year 8 class and take forward ideas to better student life at Wedderburn College. We look forward to announcing our SRC representatives in the next edition of the newsletter. 

Miss Moody, Mr Pettifer and Mr Monaco, Year 8 Homeroom Teachers

Year 8 Art

Year 8 Art students are seeking donations of clean, recyclable materials for an upcoming construction project. Items we are looking for include cardboard boxes/packages, paper towel rolls (no toilet rolls please), empty milo tins etc. Please make sure recyclables are clean and in good condition, as they will be used for construction and then painting. 

Please bring any donations to the Art room

Mrs Barker

Year 10

Year 10 students are looking forward to the postponed swimming carnival and we’re hoping to see everyone dressed up or in their house colours on the day. Those who participated in NCD swimming put in an excellent effort on Monday. This week important work began on students’ career action plans. With hard work and focus countless career possibilities wait in the future for our Year 10s. 

Mrs Barker, Mr Iser and Mr Merritt, Year 10 Homeroom Teachers

Year 11 & 12 

VCE/VM/VPC Report

What a fantastic start to the year we are having.  The Year 11 and 12’s have settled into their classes and are working well.  The have quickly gotten used to being a combined group and seem to enjoy our morning circles.

Already we have been busy in starting units of work, the VM/VPC students have been working with Robyn and all have placements that are starting this week. At Assembly last week, we were proud to see the student leaders become initiated and look forward to seeing them develop their leadership skills.  Our Year 12’s were presented with their Year 12 jumpers – a mark of respect for the year they are about to embark on and their stepping up into the leaders and role models of the school.

The combined group were fortunate enough to all go on camp to Queenscliff in week 2. This has set the students up with the right attitude to their work.  A report on the camp follows this.  Thank you Eliza and Pippi.

The Career Pathway Individual meetings will commence for the VCE students tomorrow, and all students at the year level will be given an opportunity to complete some more work experience.

Thanks to staff, students and families for the fabulous start to the year.

Carol Woodman

VCE Coordinator

Year 11 & 12 Camp Report 

By Pippi Hartnell and Eliza Turnbull

Monday:

On Monday the 6th of February the Year 11's and 12’s headed off to Queenscliff for the week. The trip down to the beach consisted of lots of singing (terrible), laughter and talking about future plans. We stopped at Corio Village for lunch and some of us did some shopping, whilst broadening our horizons with the atmosphere. It was definitely an experience to remember! 

It was then time to hit the road again and on to Queenscliff where we settled in for an incredible and relaxing time away. The afternoon consisted of swimming, touring the caravan park, setting up our cabins and getting our itinerary. 

The night ended with homemade pizza by Mr Pettifer and Mr G. It was very delicious. We then sat around and did 'Big Questions' - focus on what we want to achieve this year, followed by an evening walk along the beach. 

Tuesday:

Tuesday morning started bright (somewhat) and early, with some of us getting up at 4:30am for the 5am walk, while others needing their sleep got up for the 6:30am walk. After our refreshing walk and filling breakfast of bacon and eggs, we headed off to Geelong to Gordon TAFE. Here we got an insight into TAFE life, had a tour and a performance by our class actor Maikia. We all found this very interesting, with some of us wanting to attend here in the future. 

We then headed back to camp and just relaxed around the park. It was then off to Ocean Grove shops, to get our supplies for the MasterChef Competition. We were given a budget of $10 per person to create a 3-course meal amongst our cabin. Entrees varied from fried dim-sims on the BBQ, bruschetta, 'destroyed camp-fire', double trotters and homemade garlic bread. Mains ranged from fried rice, chicken parmas, tuna mornay, cabana and spam with noodles. The Desserts consisted of 'diabetes on a plate', pancakes and rum balls. Every cabin created great food, judges commenting it was the best they have ever had. Our night finished with an evening walk along the beach at Barwon Heads. It was an amazing time to reflect on the day, and relax before heading back to camp and going to bed.  

Wednesday:

Wednesday was another bright and early start for most. We jumped on the bus and headed to Ocean Grove for our morning walk along the beach. The views were AMAZING !! When we got back to the caravan park, we were all eager to hear the results from the MasterChef challenge. It was great hearing all the meals that had been made, and the entertainment groups made for the judges. I am sure the highlight for the judges was the “constructed campfire, with peanut butter”! The Ultimate MasterChefs of Wedderburn College’s Year 11 and 12’s were Ella Bailey, Neve Nisbet, Pippi Hartnell and Eliza Turnbull. Today’s activities included wellbeing and health lessons, which helped us prepare for the year and reflect on our positives and challenges over the years. In Mr G’s lesson we focused on S.M.A.R.T goals and managing our time, Mrs Woodman’s we concentrated on a reflection on our schooling and ways in which we can improve. We also looked out our dreams, and that if we put our mind to it we can achieve anything. In Mr Pettifer’s lesson we focused on healthy nutrition and the recommendations for physical activity of our age and how this can improve our overall performance in order to reach our full potential. Lastly, in Janice’s lesson we looked at sleep, how much we should be getting and why sleep is important for our functioning. We would like to thank all the teachers for their efforts and preparation in these lessons, and everyone has taken lots of important notes out of this and we are sure to use these skills in our daily life. In the afternoon, we all had the opportunity of going shopping in Ocean Grove and going swimming at the Caravan Park. Our night consisted of a BBQ tea and a beach walk at Point Lonsdale where we looked at the history of the area and watched the ships go through the Heads.  

Thursday:

Another early start for our second last day at Queenscliff, and arguably the best. We all got packed and ready to head down to Torquay for a morning full of lots of shopping. Where we probably spent way too much money, in all the outlets. Around lunch time, we all headed to Augustus for ice cream, our pre surfing snack. It was then onto surfing and boogie boarding! Some of us had some experience from last year's camp. Many of us were able to stand up and catch a few waves. Some of us were doing 360s on the boogie boards, even Mrs Woodman! It was a great experience, and we thank all the amazing instructors !! They had some awesome tricks, and we wanted to show them up. 

To end the day we feasted on fish and chips at Queenscliff, also having a competition with everyone’s tables at the park with who had the birds (lol)

Friday: 

Last day! Everyone woke up early to get packed up and leave for home. We stopped off at Westfield for a last shopping spree, before the long drive back to Wedderburn.

We would like to thank Mr G, Mrs Woodman, Mr Pettifer, Janice and Macey for an awesome time away and for putting up with us. We all had an amazing time and will surely remember these memories forever. 

PE News

Swimming Sports - Rescheduled: Unfortunately it was necessary for our College Swimming Sports to be rescheduled due to extreme heat last Friday. They will be held this Friday 14th February at the Wedderburn Swimming Pool. It will be a fun carnival with a BBQ lunch available and Annual Jack Vs Ansett Shield up for grabs. All students are encouraged to support their house by coming in either yellow or blue clothing. Even if you don’t enjoy swimming, there will be plenty of novelty events to get involved in and there may even be some teachers to race against! Parents, Guardians, Caregivers and Families are invited to attend.

Triathlon: The NCD Triathlon is fast approaching also. Held in Boort on Thursday 9th March, the event features teams of three or individual races. If you enjoy running, riding or swimming, signup sheets can be found in the breezeway near Mr Lockhart’s office. It has been great seeing that there has been a number of students sign up already. If you have any questions, see Mr P. Please note that this is only available for Year 7 -12 students. 

NCD Swimming Sports

On Monday the 20th of February, Mr Lockhart, Joan and nine students attended the NCD Swimming Sports at St Arnaud.

Results:

1st Junior – 17 Yr 50m Freestyle “B”

2nd Dylan – 17 Yr 50m Freestyle “A”

3rd Dylan, Junior, Trai & Ben – 17 Yr Freestyle Relay

A huge thank you to Amelia Buschmann, Lillian and Violet Stephenson, Kayla Cramp and Lucy Rollinson.  Your help was very much appreciated in setting up and dismantling the gazebo in no time.

Thanks also to Carolyn Stephenson, Toni Cramp and Tania Rollinson who also provided us with coffee.

Big thank you to Joan and Mr Lockhart for taking the students on the day.

An excellent day was had by all.

Mr P’s Secondary PE Student of the Week: Riley Leach. Riley’s energy in every PE class this term has been fantastic. He has a willingness to give everything his best efforts and always keeps persisting to learn different skills. Riley has consistently demonstrated our school values in PE/Health classes. Keep up the good work Riley. See Mr P for your prize! 

Miss M’s Primary PE Student of the Fortnight is: Floss Rogers. Floss is an excellent team mate to have in our team games. She leads by examples and is always encouraging others. During our Health lessons, Floss has thoughtfully articulated various terms and explained her reasoning. Well done, Floss! Please see Miss Milne for your prize.

Mr Pettifer and Miss Milne, PE Teachers                               

Compass

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