Year 3 and 4 Set Sail for the Polly Woodside

Over the past fortnight, our Year 3 and Year 4 students stepped back in time with an exciting visit to Melbourne’s historic 19th-century tall ship, the Polly Woodside.

The program provided a hands-on, immersive look into life on the high seas to complement our Topic learning. Our students put their muscles to the test as they scrubbed the decks, took turns steering the ship's wheel, and learned nautical language like port and starboard.

Highlights of our visit included:

• Life Below Deck: Exploring the cramped sleeping quarters, captain's cabin, and galley kitchen to imagine what six months at sea felt like for crew members long ago.
• Shipshape Duty: Learning the teamwork required to ring the ship's bell, haul heavy ropes, and keep the ship running safely.
• Sailor Rations: Hearing stories about what sailors ate on their long voyages—and discovering how tough life on a cargo ship really was!

Both year levels represented our school wonderfully with their curiosity and enthusiasm throughout the day. A huge thank you to the teachers and parent helpers Steph Hegerty, Jess Fraser, Cara Freebairn, Kate Jordan, Lisa Fowler and Danielle Signorino who made these trips possible.

Jack Capicchiano

Middle School Leader