Junior School Update
Year 5&6 Camp to Sovereign Hill
It was a delight to accompany the Year 5 & 6 students for a two-night camp at Australian tourism icon and former gold mining site, Sovereign Hill, Ballarat. The students had a wonderful time exploring the living museum that brings the gold rushes to life, and wandering through the township investigating the diggings, 1850s shops, trades, schools and dwellings. They went underground to see a mine and attended confectionary and candle-making demonstrations, as well as a range of education sessions.
A highlight was interacting with the costumed staff at a pantomime, a magic show and at mealtimes, which took place in the restaurants and eating houses around the township. The Sound and Light Show brought together the experience of all the Gold Rush stakeholders – the settlers and First Nations people of Ballarat, along with an understanding of the origins of gold itself.
I was so proud of our Shelford students, whose demeanour and engagement was such that on three separate occasions I was approached by Sovereign Hill staff who took the time to compliment them. Thank you to our wonderful teachers who took immaculate care of the students, taking time away from their own homes and families to make sure the Year 5 & 6s had the best camp ever.
Y6 Parliamentarian Reflection
We had an amazing time at camp in Week 6 and have made a full recovery. These are some of the awesome things we did at camp in Sovereign Hill, Ballarat.
Gold Panning!
We all had a great time splashing about in the river, each filling up our class gold jar. Everyone enjoyed the cheeky fun of a small competition to see who could find the most gold! Thank goodness we did not take on board the arguments gold miners had in the 1850s...
Shopping!
Obviously, we all loved the confectionary shop, especially the raspberry drops. There was a huge queue, but the old-fashioned candy was worth the wait. Delicious! Those who bought them admired their personalised horseshoes and a few of us stayed a little longer to chat with Tim. What an amazing influence on our young minds, he was so funny and so knowledgeable! Others chose to buy candles from the candle dipping demonstration and incredible smelling soap.
Pantomime time!
How amazing were those actors at the show? We learnt about how sound effects were created at live shows in the 1800s and how they used large instruments to create the sound effects of thunderstorms. It was jaw-dropping! We all remember the magic trick where Miss Wilson disappeared but also unfortunately returned from the box, what a disappointment!
Education Sessions!
During the education sessions, we did lot of fun activities. We learned how to write in cursive with a nib and ink, we made predictions of about migrants that came to Australia, and we also explored the Red Hill mine!
Aura Sound and Light show!
It was a freezing night when we watched an incredible 3D movie about the creation of gold in the solar system. Next, we hopped onto a bus and travelled to a small lake to view and learn the Wadawurrung creation story. It was amazing how the music, images and sound filled the dark space around us while we watched in awe. Lastly, the finale of the sound and light show was the complete timeline before, during and after the Eureka stockade! It was full of images, sound, firecrackers and history. What an experience!
We all had the most amazing time at camp!
Eisteddfod Success
Talented musical sisters Miranda S (Y6) and Olivia S (Y4) participated in the 70th Ringwood Eisteddfod this past weekend with remarkable success. Miranda achieved first place in the Orchestral Strings Solo category, and Olivia received an Honourable Mention in the 10 Years and Under category.
Well done to both girls!
Berthe Mouchette French poetry competition
The Berthe Mouchette Competition, run by the Alliance Française Melbourne is an opportunity for Victorian school students to practice their French language skills. Of the 12 Shelford Year 6 students who competed, 90% received a score of a High Distinction. Year 6 students, Ariana F and Misha P have been selected to go through to the Berthe Mouchette finals and Holly H received an “Excellent” (equivalent to very High Distinction). Year 5 students, Jessin Y, Astrid H and Stephanie Y also received High Distinctions.
That is an incredible achievement!
Wellbeing Update: A message to share with your children about managing friendships in changing times
Changeis tricky, but resisting change can create stress and uncomfortable feelings, especially when friendships are impacted. To manage this, it can be helpful to embrace the analogy of friendship being like an elevator. Just as they do on an upwards trip in an elevator, people enter our lives at different stages at school or work, and through hobbies and random encounters. We invest time, emotion, and energy into these relationships, each of which holds a special place in our hearts, and many of which are tied to significant life events. As we move through life, people enter and exit.
It is simply impossible to stay in touch with everyone, even though it's natural to want to hold on to friendships. Accepting this natural ebb and flow is comforting. Change is normal and necessary, allowing room for new relationships that align with our current selves. As some friends drift away, new ones who resonate more with our present lives fill the space. Nostalgia for past friendships is common, but for some, staying in one place isn't fulfilling. Past relationships with fair-weather friends can teach us valuable lessons about self-worth, and it's okay to let go of friendships when shared interest fades. As we grow stronger and more self-assured, we attract healthier, more supportive friendships. This perspective allows us to move onward and upward, welcoming new friends and experiences along the way.
Year 3 and 4 Writing Project
Over the last few weeks, Year 3 and 4 have been focusing on Information Reports about the Australian States and Territories. We found information on the Internet and transferred it on to Popplet, which is a mind map app. Next, we published our information reports by creating a power point, brochure, or poster. We worked really hard to finish them. Finally, everyone presented them to their classmates and posted them on Shelly.
JDC Breadmaking
Our Y1 and 2 students loved being in the Food Tech classroom with Ms Goldman making Turkish bread last week, measuring and mixing the ingredients together with great care and picking out fresh herbs from the Shelford gardens to add to the top. They enjoyed their warm, fragrant bread afterwards for lunch.
“I liked kneading the dough in the flour and brushing the oil on top. We picked rosemary and mint from the Shelford garden to put on top of the Turkish bread. In the end we tasted it. It really tasted like bread!” - Clemmie B
“ I liked that we had put interesting ingredients in to make the dough. I liked mixing it and brushing it with the oil. It was delicious to eat!” - Matilda B
“We mixed it for 5 minutes. We cooked it and took it home to eat. It tasted yum and delicious!” - Sofiia B
Year 6 Sketchnoting
In Term 1, the Year 6 students were introduced to sketchnoting. Towards the end of term, they were asked to create an A3 page sharing their knowledge and understanding of the novel ‘Holes’. Karen T took her page home over the holidays, working on it for over a month. Below is the final amazing result of all her hard work and efforts.
Vicky Gemmell
Head of Junior School – Student Wellbeing and Development
Jacqui Sidaway
Head of Junior School – Teaching and Learning