School News
Our Chicken Journey to date
We started the term with 24 eggs that came from Brett’s farm. We weren’t sure how many might be fertile. He also lent us an incubator. The eggs were placed in the incubator on Wednesday 14th July.
When we came back to onsite learning we candled the eggs straight away using a very bright torch. We could see veins, the air sac and a dark shape inside some of the eggs. Yes we have some fertile eggs and can see an embryo growing!
While waiting for day 21 and the eggs to hatch, we did some experiments on shop bought eggs. We proved the shell is porous and air and moisture can pass through it.
Wednesday 4th August.
Day 21 and 2 chicks have hatched. If you look carefully at the chick in the hand you can see the egg tooth.
More eggs were hatching. It was so exciting! It started with pipping, like this one in the incubator.
On Wednesday and Thursday we all got cuddles. Then we went into remote learning again. We ended up with 10 baby chicks. There was one yellow chick, one grey one and 8 black and yellow ones.
The teachers photographed the chicks so we could watch them grow each week and do remote learning tasks. We have done measurement tasks and persuasive writing. We have come up with some great names for our chicks.
This activity was to look at the wing feathers to determine if the chick was going to grow into a hen or rooster. The hens will go into the school hen pen and the roosters will go back to Brett’s farm.
Most of the chicks are thriving.
We were really worried about one chick that was smaller than the others and only 61 grams.
Week two and the chicks have been moved to a bigger brooder box. In STEAM we designed feeder boxes. Look they work! The kids at school are giving the chicks cuddles each day. Tracy is busy caring for our chicks at school. Last weekend they visited the Boulton household.
Unfortunately chick ten died Thursday night.
Sunday 22nd August. A lovely sunny day and at 2 ½ weeks the chicks are loving Mrs. Mackey’s backyard.
On Tuesday they are moving into the Bondini resident and will get to meet some full grown hens. They will come back to school as soon as we are back onsite for learning.
Indonesian News
It gives me great pleasure to announce that we had two students receive awards at Sayembara Lisan, the Indonesian Speaking Competition State Finals held on Saturday 14th of August.
Oscar B from 1/2C received third place for Level 1 in the State.
Xanthe N from 3/4C received third place for Level 2 in the State.
Congratulations to both students on their amazing achievements. The Award Ceremony, which is usually held at University of Melbourne, will be held online in the next couple of weeks.
Well done to all of our students who made it to the State Finals – I am very proud of all of you.
It was great to see so many students participate in Indonesian games for Independence Day last week. I had students submit photos of themselves and family members playing “sepak bola” (soccer), “balap kelereng” (marble and spoon race) and cooking up an Indonesian meal. Enak! (Delicious!).
The most popular was definitely “lomba makan krupuk” (cracker eating race) with many variations, donuts and biscuits!
Terima kasih,
(Bu) Mary-Ellen Dowling