HANDS ON LEARNING/STUDENT WORKSHOPS 

HAND ON LEARNING 

End of term 4 has seen Hands on Learning finish a lot of projects.  We have completed our decking after 3 years and 3 stages.  The last stage was our wrap around step which now not only completes the deck but also meant we could finish the paths, plinth boards and garden bed.  Brodie Conlon made a  drop down serving shelf with the help of our volunteer David O’Dempsey.   Cladding at the front of the Hands on Learning workshop has been completed and been given  a fresh coat of paint.   Bike storage gates have been  cladded and installed and  we finally got to do some planting after all the rain we have had.  We  planted outside the wellbeing area where the bird bath was installed and put in a watering system.  Blueberry and lavender plants have gone in along the red gum garden bed at the chicken pen and a watering system installed as well as the entry gate to the chicken area.   Spring has seen the hatching of  baby finches and budgies in our aviary, and the chickens have been having a great time free ranging in HoL finding bugs.  End of the year sees us say goodbye to our year 9 students as they have graduated.  Thank you to Tayliah Reynolds, Isla Irwin, Lucas Miller-Christie, Summah Young and Justine Swan who have all been great team members and will be missed by their groups.  

WORKSHOPS YEAR 7 & 8 

A visit by Jaeden Williams, a proud Yalukit Willam man of the Boonwurrung, performed a smoking ceremony, followed by workshops for our year 7, year 8 Steiner and Koorie students: 

“I loved learning about the Boonwurrung culture and I felt very connected to the Earth and myself. Some of the things I learnt helped me understand the life before Australia was colonised. I loved the custom of making a wish and walking through the smoke during the smoking ceremony.”

Riley

“I enjoyed the workshop very much, because of how inclusive Jaeden was to everyone. His language and culture fascinated me and I enjoyed learning a couple special words from the Boonwurrung language.”

Tilly

Jaeden’s presentation was amazing. I really enjoyed when he shared his intriguing knowledge. The way he teaches is incredibly fun. Calling us bubups (children) was my favourite part. It was interactive, fun and listening to stories is fantastic. It also changed my mindset, and now I am going to do many things differently to make me and others happier.

Coco