Around the School

 Yr 2: Practical Science 

In their science class, Year 2B have been learning about forces including push, pull and gravity. This week we made paper straw rockets. We pushed air out of our mouths, through the straw to the rocket. Gravity pulled the rockets back to earth. It was a fun activity to show the pull of gravity.

Secondary Netball

Last week our Secondary Girls teams travelled to Ballarat to play in the Victorian Secondary School Championships.

The girls were all met with some extremely stiff competition. Although the results did not go our way, all the girls did a great job to fight throughout the day. They were able to push some really good Ballarat netball sides all the way in what were some really close finishes.

Well done to everyone who participated in the day!

Year 9&10 Bendigo Art Gallery Visit

Year 9 & 10 visual art students visited the Bendigo Art Gallery (BAG) on the 28th July to view an exhibition exploring the history of the Australian Womens’ Weekly magazine, its global influences, and its influence on households in Australia. Students also had the opportunity to see an exhibition of Australian Abstract art, and to practice their life-drawing and plein-aire drawing skills in the Gandry Philanthropic Gallery at BAG, and in Rosalind Park.

Chess Update 

The Moama Anglican Grammar Chess Team ended their good run in the second division Knockout Chess Competition. They played their fifth and final round in this competition online against The Scots School from Albury. This was round 5 of that competition with only a handful of very strong teams remaining in the Riverina region. 

I would like to congratulate all whom represented Moama Anglican Grammar for the way they conducted themselves throughout the competition and foresee strong representation from MAG students in future competitions. They played very good chess which often received praise from the opposition players and coaches. 

The students that represented the school in this competition were Michael Williams (year 10), Kirsten Yuan (Year 10), Alex Barnes (Year 9), Jonah Hunter (Year 9), Logan Mann (Year 9), Boyd Butcher (Year 8), Kaidyn Ottrey (Year 11), Lincoln Bohn (Year 9), Xavier Johnson (Year 9).  There were plenty of others showing that they are keen to give their support to Chess at MAG and they are very welcome to participate in future events. 

Bendigo Sheep Show Report

Lexie Heinrich (Year 11 Primary Industries and Agriculture student)

The Australian Sheep and Wool held in Bendigo each July, is the biggest Sheep show in the southern hemisphere and I was able to experience it for the second time this year. Last year I went along with the school as a part of my Primary Industries work placement, where I participated in the junior judging competitions for the first time. Building from that experience as well as the dairy cattle junior judging competitions in Deniliquin and Sydney, I was eager to compete again at the sheep show this year.

I was very surprised when I found out I had won the state final title in the Meat breeds junior judging competition on the Sunday afternoon. The competition consisted of the competitors judging two breeds of meat sheep, Texels and Border Leicester’s, and then speaking directly to the overhead judge about their placings on one of those breeds. When judging sheep, you take notes about their features, and in this competition it was based on the carcase as they were meat breeds. You start from the top of the sheep (their mouth) and work your way down and compare their features to the rest of the sheep in the class and decide your placings. There is no correct answer when deciding placings, it is your own opinion. There may be features in one sheep that you prefer over the rest and that’s why you placed it above. This means that you could place the sheep in not exactly the same order to what the overhead judge has but if you explain and give good reasoning to why, you can possibly win. I was first up to speak, and I chose to talk about the Border Leicester’s. It was a bit of blur speaking to the overhead judge but I made sure to speak clearly and refer to my notes. It was then time for presentations, and I stood there not very confident I was going to place but then heard my name being read out with a first place ribbon. It was a really good competition and I’m so happy I went in it. 

The weekend was very busy and I talked to a lot of people over the few days. I decided to go on the Friday to meet with Liz Mann of “Glenelm” Poll Dorset stud to take up her offer to help her at the show, exhibit her sheep and sign up for the junior judging competitions. On the Saturday I helped Liz show her Poll Dorsets in a few competitions and also competed in the junior and senior handlers competition run by the Poll Dorset association. In handling comps the overhead judge judges you on how you control and handle the sheep in the ring. You have to make sure the animal is standing square and still with their head up and you have to keep your eyes on the judge the whole time and smile. I came third overall in that competition which I was very happy about and so was Liz. I also competed in the Merino junior judging competition on the Sunday morning which I didn’t place in but it was still a really good experience. Overall, the weekend was a great success and an amazing experience and I was very proud with my achievements, I can’t wait to go to the Royal Melbourne Show next year to represent Victoria in the Meat Breeds junior Judging.