Student news
Victorian Schools Canoe Championships
Congratulations to Thomas Creed of Year 8 who was very successful at recent Victorian Schools Canoe Championships for marathon and sprint.
What do William Blake at the NGV, French cinema, La Mama and Bon Ap’ have in common?
They were all destinations of the inaugural Year 12 Literature French excursion last week. Two warm March days were perfect for 20 students to go to Melbourne and to dip into some cultural events to support their Literature and French language studies.
The day started in the cinema where we experienced one of the films as part of the current French Film Festival in Melbourne. We then walked some of the back lanes towards Degraves st which was a buzzing hive of cafes and eateries where we had a choice of cuisines. The afternoon was spent at the National Gallery where we learnt about the amazing Blake collection that the gallery is so lucky to have. An amazing writer and prolific artist!
Everyone went off to their billets for the night and met up again at La Mama theatre for an intense one person play that was quite confronting in its sparseness. Then afterwards an interesting forum with the actor, director and managers where students could ask questions to further explore the piece.
We ended the camp with a French déjeuner at the Bon Ap’ restaurant. A place with French speaking waiters and which offered great food including a snail tasting for those so inclined and a crème brulée to die for. Quelle journées formidable! Merci tout le monde!
VCE Drama Excursion
Recent excursions to ‘Mr Burns- a post-electric play’ at Forty –Five downstairs and Top Class, Arts Centre Melbourne.
Successful and entertaining !
Darren Lowe
VCE Drama Teacher
Launch of the Plaque Project
Year 12 VCAL Work Experience Reflections
On the 17th of December I started work experience at Bendigo Health. Monday was eye opening. I was in the children’s ward and a girl who was approximately two years old was diagnosed with a brain tumour. The nurses were crying. They knew the girl personally. Her mums worked at the hospital. In a way I’m glad I was there when they came back with the result of the MRI scan, mostly because I got to see that nursing isn’t an easy job: it requires a strong mindset. I was upset and sympathetic for the family, obviously, but now I know that I want to pursue this career. I’m still as happy as ever after going into nursing, but now I am thinking about becoming a paediatrician nurse.
Tuesday was an easy day. I was in orthopaedics with is bone replacements such as hips and knees. The nurses there were very nice but they didn’t want me to do the normal boring stuff so I didn’t get to see or do much. I said I was keen for the normal stuff because as a nurse you don’t always get to do the more interesting things, you always have to do the rounds: check blood pressure and ask questions. As a work experience student I can’t do a whole lot but I did get to take blood pressure. I was happy to do it.
Wednesday was my favourite day. I was in the Golden Oaks Nursing Home. I didn’t think I would enjoy it a lot but everyone was very nice and welcoming. That morning we went to 'Morning Melodies' at the Bendigo Club. There was lady singing old country songs. I have to say it was really fun. I got up and started dancing with one of the ladies. She just wanted to dance she did not want to sit still. I am like that: when a good song comes on I just can’t sit still. This lady looked sad to be sitting down so we got up, went to the dance floor and started doing the 'nut bush'. The nurses told me I was the first work experience student to get up and start dancing with the residents. I was quite happy to do so. When I was sitting at the table I was talking to a man who was 94 years old. He had travelled the world and was a champion shooter. He was very interesting to talk to. He liked me a lot. In a way he made me feel more confident in asking questions and learning the history of some of the residents. I want to do aged care as well now.
Friday was a quiet day. I was in the medical ward which focuses on people with chest infections, ulcers, and unknown problems. I wasn’t with the nurses that day, I was with the HSA (Health Service Assistant). We went around to people's rooms and checked if they had eaten their food. We also made their beds and did washes. I was also with the physios, trying to make people stand up and get their blood flowing properly through their legs to avoid blood clots.
Overall I had a great and eventful experience and would be very happy to do it again.
Year 12 VCAL Student