From the classroom

Pioneer Settlement Excursion – F–2

On Thursday 18th of June, our Foundation to Year 2 students travelled to the Pioneer Settlement in Swan Hill for a fantastic day of hands-on learning and exploration. It was an early start, with excited students arriving before sunrise ready for our 7:00am departure.

The excursion brought our History unit to life as students stepped back in time and experienced what life was like for people living in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Throughout the day, students explored historic buildings, learnt about daily life in pioneer times, and discovered how people lived, worked and travelled in the past. Students were eager to ask questions and learn more, truly demonstrating what it means to Be Your Best.

Students participated in a range of interactive activities, including blacksmithing, rope making, pioneer toys and games, and travelling in a horse-drawn carriage and vintage vehicle. Many students showed they were Brave by stepping out of their comfort zones, trying new activities and engaging with experiences they had never encountered before.

Despite the rain making an appearance throughout the day, it certainly did not dampen anyone’s spirits. Students embraced the wet weather with smiles on their faces and a positive attitude. They moved sensibly between activities, helping one another where needed and showing how to ‘Be Safe’ while making the most of every opportunity.

The Settlement was filled with excitement as students eagerly shared their discoveries with friends and teachers. Students were Kind and respectful to staff, volunteers and one another throughout the day, making the experience enjoyable for everyone.

Our students were outstanding ambassadors for Rochester Primary School. It was wonderful to see them making connections between their classroom learning and the experiences they encountered during the day while consistently demonstrating our school values of Be Kind, Be Brave, Be Safe and Be Your Best.

A big thank you to the staff who attended and to our families for their support and the early morning start. It was a long day, but one filled with memorable experiences, rich learning opportunities and plenty of fun. We are incredibly proud of the way our students represented our school and embraced every part of the excursion.

What our students had to say:

Piper: "My favourite activity on the excursion was riding in the old car."

Levi: "My favourite part of Pioneer Settlement was drawing in the old school."

Sadie: "I loved going on the horse and cart."

Connor: "My favourite thing at Pioneer Settlement was going on the horse and cart."

Willow: "I loved all of it."

Meg: "I liked making my own nail with a hammer at the blacksmith."

Hazel: "The horse and cart was fun."

Pearl: "My favourite part was the old car."

Sophie: "I loved all of it."

Immy: "The best part of our excursion was the blacksmith and going on the horse and cart."

HOL News

At Rochester Primary School, students have been fortunate to participate in a range of engaging, hands-on learning opportunities this term. These programs help students develop practical skills, confidence, teamwork, and connections with our local community.

Our Café Group meets every Friday and has enjoyed a variety of exciting experiences, including preparing lunch for staff, hosting a scone and coffee morning for families and friends, and opening the canteen to sell some of the delicious items they had made. These activities have provided valuable opportunities for students to build their cooking, customer service, and teamwork skills.

Each Monday, our Junior Rangers visit Kyabram Fauna Park, where they take part in meaningful conservation and animal care activities. This term, students created enrichment items for birds, dingoes, and meerkats to encourage natural behaviours and skills the animals would use in the wild. One of the most memorable experiences was searching for Broad-shelled Turtles. Students were fortunate to observe several turtles laying their eggs and helped identify nesting sites so zookeepers could protect these important areas. The Broad-shelled Turtle is an endangered species, making this a truly special learning opportunity.

On Wednesdays, students participating in the Men's Shed program have been busy constructing bird boxes. Working alongside David and Heather, students have learned how to safely use a variety of tools while developing their woodworking skills. The program has been a wonderful success, with students thoroughly enjoying the experience and many expressing interest in participating again in the future.

We are incredibly grateful to our community partners and volunteers who make these valuable learning opportunities possible for our students.