Learning & Teaching

Year 5/6 News

Senior Camp Reflections

Recount by Tom B (6AP)

One crisp morning in Kew, the Year 5's and Year 6's of Sacred Heart headed on a bus towards Bacchus Marsh. We were attempting to make it across the rough and treacherous terrain of the Bacchus Marsh countryside to get to our campground where we would be staying with bugs for two nights. 

After a long bus ride, the Year 5 and 6's arrived at 10:30am. We were greeted by a lovely staff member Teash. We got sorted into our cabins and then we did our first activity. Mine was Risky Kids where we did parkour. After that activity, we had afternoon tea which was fruit. The second activity we had was archery. I hit nine bullseyes and we played a fun game called Robin, which was like a knockout. After that, we ate dinner which was pasta and ice-cream for dessert. At night, we went on a nightwalk, but only if you wanted to.

The next morning, we woke up and ate pancakes for breakfast. After breakfast, we had our first activity of the day, mine was yabbying. l caught three yabbies but we had to let them go back into the dam. Then we had morning tea which was fruit. Then we had our second activity of the day. Mine was the flying fox, and I was a little scared at first, but I did it in the end. It was so fun. For lunch we had salad rolls. Then we had canoeing where I got really wet, but it was so fun. For afternoon tea we ate blueberry muffins. Our final activity was the Giant Swing. I thought it was a little sketchy at first, but I ended up going to the top which was like 20m high. Then we ate chicken and vegetables for dinner and chocolate mousse for dessert. Then we watched a movie called The Parent Trap and then we went to bed.

For the final day, we had to do a scavenger hunt where you had to collect items from around the campsite and do challenges to get points. My group won with over 1000 points. For morning tea we had scones and for lunch we had burgers. We hopped on the bus and arrived back at school just after 3:15pm.

On Thursday we went to Gravity Zone. We were invited into a common room where we dropped our bags and got a safety lesson. Firstly l played laser tag. l was the top player and my team came second. Then l played laser tag again and I was still the top player and my team came first. After recess, we went back out and played dodgeball and jumped into the foam pit. Then we went back to school and watched Finding Nemo.

On Friday we went to Rush HQ. We had an introduction to the activities and then started jumping. I played dodgeball most of the time, but I also went on the high ropes course in the middle. We had a little break and ate lunch. After lunch, we went back out. I played dodgeball and did the ninja warrior course, but then we sadly had to leave and that was the end of our wonderful camp week.

Recount by Heidi N (5CB)

On Monday the 13th of May the Year 5's and Year 6's had their Camp Week, which included going to Lady Northcote YMCA Camp, Gravity Zone and Rush HQ.  When we got to school we hung around for a while, then set off on our journey. 

We finally arrived at Lady Northcote YMCA Camp in Bacchus Marsh, after about an hour on the bus. We got all the bags off the bus and settled into our cabins. I was in a cabin with Charlotte, Abby and Lucie D. We were in cabin number 3. Then we were given an introduction about Lady Northcote YMCA Camp by Teash, our Camp Leader. 

Then we got into our activity groups, I was in group 3. Our first activity was Risky Kids with Nick and Bronte. In Risky Kids, we practised three different types of vaults. At the very end though we got to do cartwheels. The second activity we did was archery with Bronte. I got a few arrows in the yellow which I was happy about. Then we played for points. Alaia, Nadia and Lucie D were in my team. We won! With a little help from Bronte to make up the numbers. Then we had free time until dinner. 

My cabin was on duty so we set up the table for dinner. Dinner was pasta with garlic bread. You could either have carbonara or bolognese sauce. I had bolognese. It was so good. The dessert was vanilla ice cream with either caramel, chocolate, blue heaven and strawberry topping. I had blue heaven. It was delicious. After dinner we did a night walk, we had to find all the reflectors and navigate our way. It was tricky but fun. 

I woke up and had to get ready for breakfast quickly. Breakfast was pancakes and optional maple syrup. I got two pancakes and maple syrup. I also had a slice of toast and a glass of apple juice. Then we all got into our groups for our activities. My first activity for the day was yabbying with Bronte again. YAY! I hadn't been yabbying before so I was pretty excited. I didn't catch any yabbies but my group managed to catch 19 which is pretty good for the time of year. Joel caught a really big one that was bigger than his hand. Alaia caught the most with 7. We used ox heart bait and a net as well as a line. Then it was time for morning tea which was fruit. 

My second activity was canoeing with Bronte again. She told us we would have her for the whole thing. My canoeing partner was Lucie D. We were in a boat called Poseidon. I was in the front and Lucie was in the back. Once we had our paddles, helmets and life jackets we set off. When we rafted up Bronte wanted us to play Simon Says or Bronte Says. We even had to jump and sometimes double jump. Then we played Fruit Salad and we had to swap spots. In the end I ended up in a boat with Nadia and Joel. Joel paddled so hard that Nadia and I ended up absolutely soaked. Nadia and I swapped back to our old boats. Then we all had to paddle as fast as we could to race back to the deck. As soon as we got back, Nadia and I jumped out and ran back to the cabins to get changed out of our wet clothes. Then we had scrumptious salad rolls for lunch. 

After lunch my group had Flying Fox. Bronte strapped us in and then we flew down a zipline to the end. The group then had to relay race the harness back. Mr O’Shea also had a go. Before we knew it, it was time for afternoon tea. We had muffins, I had a delicious blueberry muffin. Then it was time for the Giant Swing. 

I was super excited but also really nervous for the Giant Swing. It was scary but fun. In the end I went to the top. When we were pulling people up we had to do a sumo stance. Everyone had a go and I think everyone loved it because I certainly did. We had an hour of free time before dinner, which was chicken maryland and vegetables. I had everything but the best part was the dessert, chocolate mousse. Then we watched a movie called The Parent Trap. After the amazing movie, which I think a lot of people loved, we went to bed. 

Then the next day we had a massive scavenger hunt, but first, came breakfast. For breakfast we had bacon and eggs on toast. Once we’d all had breakfast we quickly got ready and then set off for the scavenger hunt in our groups. We did various teamwork activities and group exercises. We also did the toon challenges which were activities like name the flag, name the Disney character and finish the lyric. When time was up we went back to where we started for morning tea. 

Morning tea was scones with jam and cream. Then we set off again for an hour. We did a few activities and then came back. Then they announced the podium. Group 1 - The Pickle People came 3rd, Group 2 - The Goofy Gooblers came 2nd, Group 3 - Gagnantes (winners in French) came 1st. Yay! My team won. We got to have lunch first. Lunch was beef burgers, they were really good. Then we hung around for a bit and then sadly went home. But we still had two full days of fun to go. 

On Thursday the 16th of May we went to Gravity Zone. There was Laser Tag which I had never done before, trampolines, foam pits, dodgeball courts and super bouncy professional trampolines. Some people were in the first group and some were in the second group.  I was in the second group. We went trampolining while the first group played Laser Tag. I learnt how to do a front walkover on the trampolines. Then it was our turn to play Laser Tag,  it was so good. We played a few more rounds and then we had to leave. 

On Friday 17 May we went to Rush HQ. Rush HQ was pretty much the same as Gravity Zone except here there  was no Laser Tag and there was a ropes course as well as a ninja course and rock climbing. The ninja course was fun and the high ropes course was scary but fun. I loved bouncing and even got to practice my front walkovers and backbends. Camp week was so much fun and I can't wait to go to Canberra next year.

Petit Kinder Reflections

On Tuesday 21 May, the Year 5's visited the Petit Kindergarten. The Year 5's arrived at school very excited, we walked for about two minutes since it was only across the road from our school.

When we arrived, we split into two groups to go into the elevator. We then met our buddies! I share a buddy with Lucie D, her name is Emily and she is adorable! Lucie and I gave Emily our cards. She loved them so much. Emily then sprinted over to the toy kitchen where we made her a delicious fruit salad. Emily loved the food, she then led us over to a bright table where you can build blocks with magnets on them. She told us how to build a rocket and together we built a city. She then surprised us both with a card that she made.

Emily then sprinted outside and showed us some cool trucks on the monkey bars. The teacher led us to the rooftop where we played hide and seek. Emily hid under the slide. Lucie and I found her. She then asked us if we wanted to play tag. We ran around and had so much fun. Then we pointed out our school to her, she said it was HUGE!

Sadly it was time to go, we hugged our buddies goodbye. Overall, I had an amazing time with my buddy. My buddy said she couldn’t wait to see me again.

By Olivia B

On Tuesday 21 May, Year 5 students went to Petit Early Learning Centre tomeet our kinder buddies. 

When we had arrived, we were greeted by a receptionist, led up an elevator and to our buddies' classroom. After that we finally met our buddies! The first thing I did was give my buddy the card I made and then we played with the Duplo. 

She was a little shy at first but that all changed when we went outside. We played with dinosaurs, built a mini house and even built an obstacle course before going back inside. 

After that we drew trees, made a rocket ship out of magnets and played with the blocks before going upstairs again to the rooftop. On the rooftop we played on the monkey bars, hide and seek as well as playing on the slide and tag. 

I really liked meeting and playing with my buddy and look forward to seeing her again later in the year.

By Will W