Strong Hearts Strong Minds

SP Camp!

Camps are a pivotal part of schooling. Not only do they build stamina, resilience, independence, and friendships, they provide real-life, hands-on learning opportunities. Senior Primary Camps are directly aligned with the curriculum, and this camp to Phillip Island was created to teach students about the importance of our Southern Ocean. Did you know that the ocean provides between 50% – 80% of our oxygen and the Southern Ocean in particular, helps drive the circulation of water around the globe? It also plays a key role in regulating the earth's climate through its currents, seasonal sea ice, and by absorbing heat and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In God’s glorious creation (and weather for the week), students were immersed in activities to pique their curiosity in readiness for further investigation back at school. Camps are also an invaluable opportunity to develop personal and social skills. 

Please enjoy the following reflections:

I definitely achieved hanging out with my friends and doing all the activities, even if I was a little nervous. It turns out, I wasn’t worried about my friend – all I thought about was where to go next and what I was going to eat! I learned a lot about the ‘Orcas Cabin’, especially one friend, even though I thought I knew everything about her! I achieved all my goals and some extras that I didn’t know I wanted to complete. A memory that will stay with me forever, is the beauty of Churchill Island and walking on the beach – no longer afraid that a monster will appear out of the piles of giant kelp!

Amelie 

I looked forward to the giant swing, flying fox and disc golf. My goal was to get the best score in disc golf – but that didn’t happen! It all went well and was so much fun. I was concerned about not getting enough sleep, but I did! I learned some interesting information from Ranger Sue, for example, the sponge is a simple colonial animal. This means they don’t have organs and their tissue is fibre - like a bath sponge. A memory that will stay with me forever is the unexpected snapping of the rope on the giant swing, as you don’t know when it’s going to happen.

Mack 

I was looking forward to going on the flying fox with Zoe! I packed everything in my duffel bag, but I didn’t get much sleep (probably 12 hours for both nights)! I achieved a goal - I went on the giant swing and the flying fox and I learned something new – that no matter how scary something is, I can do it. A memory that will stay with me will be the amazing activities and the incredible staff there to help us, as well as the awesome breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.

Sammi 

Camp was amazing and I had so much fun with my friends, but I was mostly looking forward to the activities, for example the twin flying fox etc.

These were my worries: I don’t have lots but one of them were not being able to be in the same cabin as my friends but at the end I had nearly all my friends which I was happy about. The other one was not being able to sleep but I ended up sleeping first. It was so quiet I loved it. I would probably go back but with my friends. 

Things I learned: how to light a fire and disc throwing. Disc throwing was kinda hard because you had to throw it in like this bin. But still I had so much fun with my friends!

I achieved lots, for example a giant swing which I went high, a twin flying fox it was amazing etc.

I can’t thank the teachers and especially Mrs Carlson for supervising this camp. Thank you so much for this camp. I can't wait for next year!

Jenny

Before camp I was looking forward to having fun with my friends doing activities, cabin time and the big swing. All of these things thankfully happened!

I was only worried about one thing, Ding dong ditching, and yep it did happen, but luckily not as I thought it would.  

I really wanted to learn about animals, which we did learn about a little bit.

My goals were to: get to sleep (any at all!), have fun and be kind to everyone! (even if they were being mean to me.) And I was able to achieve all of my goals!  

A memory from SP camp to remember is going on the big swing, the flying fox, making sea creatures in the sand with rocks, seaweed and, you guessed it, sand. And of course we can’t forget the failed attempt to save Peak pilot from the harsh amazon rainforest !

It was all so fun and I can't wait for next year's camp! 

Layla

Preps 100th Day

Granny Smith and Granny Holliday had a great day celebrating with the Preps for their 100th day. There were lots of great costumes. Some showing 100 year olds and some showing being 100 days brighter! I think the highlight was having cake together and then doing Maths with Smarties!

Here is a video from the day

https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/998509340/69144dbae3

I liked doing Smartied Maths. 

Maggie

Woah! These cupcakes look so good! I love them. 

Joseph 

I liked that we got certificates. 

Jack

I liked that we got to dress up as bright people or 100 year old people. 

Alethea

I liked that we got photos taken and we got cupcakes. 

Lucy

I liked eating the Smarties and the cupcakes and I liked dressing up. 

Wren

Prep Team

My Christian School

The Senior Primary’s writing focus this Term, is persuasive text. Students began by writing to the My Christian School website as a real-life audience to share their stories of attending a Christian School. To quote the website, ‘Our faith is at the very heart of our schools. It’s what makes our schools different. It’s the reason why parents choose to send their children to Christian schools.’ Students were able to email their experiences and perspectives to policy experts. Parents and teachers are also invited to share their experiences here: https://mychristianschool.au/ The next piece of persuasive writing, will be student-choice to raise awareness around a topic of interest regarding the Southern Ocean. When students are given authentic writing opportunities, it instils a sense of purpose and passion for God’s world. 

Please enjoy the following stories:

Before I was born, my parents were in Myanmar and had my first sister there. It was a peaceful village until a war started. As Christians, my people are persecuted. My parents didn't want to feel unsafe, so they decided to move to a safer country. But it wasn't simple to move; they had to leave all their loved ones behind, like their parents, siblings, and friends. Now they were refugees, but my parents and my sister and I became one blessed family who got a chance! My parents are now free to send me to a Christian school without fear. I go to MECS {Mount Evelyn Christian School}, and this school is a blessing to go to - it's not really like any other schools. It is a school were you can share your faith and learn about the purpose of Christ. The ability to talk about Christ is such a blessing to talk about in school. The teachers here allow us to talk about Christ instead of getting in trouble. Matthew 7:1-2 "Do not judge, or you'll be judged." I love the way we can talk about our faith and we all have something in common in my Christian School. Now, I hope you are able to understand the importance of a Christian school here in Australia.

Mission

Attending a Christian school has had a great impact on my life. Going to a Christian school has allowed me to talk about God and religion openly without being judged. This is important because we get to learn about other people's beliefs and opinions and choose what we believe in life.

At Christian schools we have caring, kind teachers that are also Christian; I believe this is important because they can teach us about God and the Bible. Learning about the Bible is important because it teaches you the way to live in a good, caring life.

Mani

I was blessed enough to be enrolled into a Christian school and I believe that Christian education is so important because you get to learn more about God's word and His creation. That is important because we can talk about our beliefs with others and share more about it. What I also love is that we pray, we pray for those in need, keeping them in our mind while being thoughtful towards them.

Mary

Why are Christian Schools an important part of our community? 

Because of our Christian values, the school environment is safe, caring, and students feel comfortable. My mum went to a Christian school and so she knew that me and my sisters would be treated well and cared for at a Christian school.

Parents should have the choice to send their children to a school where the same values as they have at home are taught. My parents chose to send me to a Christian school because they are pastors and they wanted me to have a Christian life, making Christian friends and learning about God at school, home and church. 

Christian schools are a place where students are encouraged to love God and everyone in the community. This means that everyone is important, even though they are different. 

Christian schools help students to grow and help others around them.

Charlie 

Have you ever thought of going to a Christian school? I think that Christian schools have better values because Christian people like to follow God’s word and respect Him.

At Christian schools the teachers care for you and your future and respect your religion. So for these reasons, Christian schools have better values and that all of the teachers care about you. There will be a God that loves and cares for you and he always will.

Sam