Level 5: Connect

Sovereign Hill Camp

Day 1

Excitement was in the air as our Level 5 students boarded the bus to Sovereign Hill, singing and cheering all the way to Ballarat—the town they had been learning about over the past few weeks. A roar of excitement erupted when the Ballarat sign came into view!

Upon arrival, students unloaded their bags and settled into their cabins before heading down to the main street for their first taste of goldfields life. With $20 in hand, they eagerly explored the shops—purchasing boiled lollies, soft drinks, posters, candles, and even some delicate fabric souvenirs. The confectionery and gold pouring demonstrations were definite highlights, with students leaving the lolly workshop with sweet treats in hand (but, sadly, no gold bars!).

The afternoon wrapped up with games on the oval and a hearty dinner, followed by our annual SEPS Talent Show. The level of talent was incredible, but special congratulations go to Alice D (5B) and Essie M (5A), who wowed the crowd with their dance performance to Barbie Girl. Students were then tucked into bed, ready for an exciting Costume Camp experience on Day 2!

Day 2

Day 2 saw our Level 5 students fully immersed in the Costume School experience at Sovereign Hill. Dressed in authentic 1850s attire, students were divided into two groups; those attending the ‘rich’ Wesleyan Church School and those sent to the ‘poor’ Ragged School. The day was filled with activities from a bygone era, including traditional handwriting, etiquette lessons, and old-fashioned games.

Students also had the chance to try their hand at various trades, such as cross-stitching, lavender bag making, bone etching (scrimshaw), and horse saddling. After ‘school,’ they tried their luck panning for gold and even ventured underground into the Red Hill Mine shaft to experience what life was like for miners.

Following a well-earned dinner and some free play, students were treated to the incredible AURA sound and light show. This captivating performance explored First Nations history and custodianship, the origins of gold, and Ballarat’s rich mining past. With tired feet and happy hearts, students drifted off to sleep, ready for their final day of adventure and discovery.

Day 3

Our Level 5 students wrapped up their Sovereign Hill adventure with a final morning in Costume School. Students worked hard to perfect their handwriting using ink and paper, all under the watchful eyes of “Sir” and “Ma’am,” who selected a few lucky students they would have “hired” in true 1850s fashion. With the last moments of Ballarat sunshine enjoyed, students climbed onto the bus—tired, happy, and proud of their efforts over the three-day camp.

On behalf of the Level 5 teaching team, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Sophie and Daisy for volunteering their time to support our camp program. We also offer our sincere thanks to Faiza Nouman and Natalie Wilson for joining us as parent volunteers—their enthusiasm, energy, and willingness to help made a world of difference and truly contributed to the success of the camp.

We wish all students a restful and well-deserved weekend before we head into an assessment-rich fortnight ahead!

Visual Art

Please see the Specialist section of the newsletter for a gallery of amazing artworks.