Maths Talent Quest

This year at Waverley Meadows we encouraged all classes to work together to create a project for the Maths Talent Quest. The Maths Talent Quest is a competition run by the Maths Association of Victoria and has been running since 1982. Students select their own investigation topic based on their personal learning interests and then investigate all the maths involved in the topic.

Each class this year selected a topic of their interest and began investigations mid-way through term 2 and finished their investigations in early Term 3 before submitting their projects.

The class projects were:

Prep/1 ED – Donuts – an investigation into donuts and everything maths related to donuts!

1/2 W – Sports Maths – an investigation into how Maths and sport go hand in hand featuring sports like AFL, Basketball and Cricket to name a few.

3/4N – Bouncing into Maths – an investigation into planning an excursion to a trampoline park (Rush HQ), carrying out maths while there and then investigation the data collected there upon returning to school.

4/5L – Walking Excursion – an investigation into planning a local walking excursion including going mini golfing, fish and chips for lunch and walking half of Wheelers Hill in the process.

5/6E – Gaga Ball – an investigation into a legacy project of building a Gaga Ball pit (think dodgeball in an octagon arena).

RESULTS:

We received results for all our projects this week and they are as follows:

Prep/1 ED – Distinction

1/2W – Distinction

3/4 N – High Distinction

4/5 L – Distinction

5/6E – They did not submit their project as it’s ongoing and wasn’t completed yet, but we’re really excited about the Gaga Ball Pit arriving this term.

These are fantastic results for our school, given it’s the first time we’ve entered the competition. 2 students from 3/4N have been invited to the State Award Ceremony at RMIT in the city to receive their classes awards next term.

We look forward to doing this again next year.

If you haven’t already seen your child’s project their teacher will be happy to email you a copy of the investigation that shows how much hard work and learning goes into the projects

Mr. Noordhoff

CraftPower Incursion (Year 3-6)

This term the Year 3-6’s have been looking at the design process as part of their unit into design and construction. In week 9 we organised an incursion from CraftPower for our students in years 3-6 to build a Formula 1 car.

I AM MINDFUL: Grade 5 Program

I Am Mindful

I Am Mindful (I.A.M) is a program that helps students learn to better manage their mental health by teaching them evidence-based coping strategies. The I.A.M School Program is centred on an evidence-based mental health toolkit and coping planning resources. They teach students and their support system how to manage tough times in a proactive, skilful, and healthy way.

Student Workshops

Interactive with lots of hands-on activities
How to use each item in the classroom and individual I.A.M boxes to help regulate emotions and manage distress.
Integrating I.A.M Box items into personalised I.A.M Student Coping Plans
Understanding mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance and defusing skills, connecting to one’s values and their unique role with the box.

Using the box at school and home scenarios
Personalisation of the I.A.M boxes for each student
Thought provoking discussions to reduce stigma around not being ok.
Combines elements from: lived experience with mental ill being, positive psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and sensory modulation.

In the I Am Mindful workshops, we got to do really cool activities and practice using all the different coping tools. My favourite tools were the word search, the mask, the oil and the sand. I liked the word search because looking for the words really helped me focus on what is around me and not stress about all the bad things. I liked the mask because it helps me focus like all my senses and become calm. The oil helps me because I like smelling the scented oils and focusing on who is there to help me cope and what I can smell and the sand helps me release my stress and anger. The sand is soft and crumbly in my hands and is really good to focus on when you are stressed – Elli

In the I Am Mindful program I learned different mental health management strategies. I loved having a space where I could share my feelings safely with no judgement. I love the box full of helpful calming tools that included an eye mask, lemon oil, a word search, a watermelon squishy, and kinetic sand. Before this program, I used to be extremely sensitive and would get upset about minor issues. The strategies we were shown such as tensing up our bodies, the mammalian diving reflex (holding your breath for 30 seconds wearing the eye mask) and thinking of our happy places will help me in the future. In the future I will use these strategies before I do something important such as netball finals and leadership role campaigns - Mayasha

TRSAILBLZAERS: Grade 6

The Human Development Workshop‘Trailblazers’ Program with Transition Focus

The Trailblazers Program runs for 1 hour per week for 10 weeks and is designed for students who experience challenges in their relationships with others; display a lack of resilience and/or self-esteem or experience engagement issues related to their wellbeing and confidence.

Each Program culminates in a small project OR peer activities run by participating students. Where relevant, participants may also co-facilitate a Family Forum focusing on ‘raising resilient children’ as well as managing technology.

Key concepts:

Building self-esteem and resilience
Assertive communication and problem solving
Teamwork and positive play skills
Positive risk-taking and building self-confidence.
Self-efficacy - their ability to succeed in facing challenges, along with an accurate understanding of personal strengths and limitations.

I would rate Trailblazers a 10 out of 10. If I could, I would do Trailblazers all over again. My favourite thing was learning about the types of behaviours. The program introduces the behaviours using animals as examples. For example the mouse behaviour would show up when we are afraid. The crocodile behaviour is when we show aggression to others and ‘snap’ at them. Understanding these behaviours will help us in the future – Ethan

I have really enjoyed doing Trailblazers. The games have taught us about leadership and how to work as a team. We also learned about brain chemicals, one of which is serotonin also known as the happy chemical which makes you feel calm and relaxed. Trailblazers has helped all of us develop leadership skills, including being able to come up with games we could teach younger children – Emma

Junior Adventures Group

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