Languages

Okinawa Visit

They say things come in threes. So it’s not surprising there were 3 very particular features about the students visiting Fairhills from Japan.

1. There were 25 of them; a very big group!
2. They were from Okinawa, a small island in the South of Japan. Our visitors are usually from the mainland.
3. They were science specialist students

Victoria is well known for its science education programs, and Fairhills is well known for its Japanese program, so what better place for them to be hosted.

The students were treated to a number of special science experiences. First up was a DNA lesson from our own Ms. Robyn Grunberg. Ms. Grunberg managed to make the high level content understandable in English, and even to me via her clever use of bracelets and M&Ms.

The students then went to Walter Eliza Hall Institute. Some cutting edge research is done there, and we learned about the work of scientists in finding cures for such diseases as cancer and malaria.

VSSEC, which runs the Mission to Mars experience, was next on the agenda. It was awesome to see the students dressed up in space gear, taking samples on the surface of ‘Mars’ (really a globe at the back of Strathmore Secondary College but it seemed pretty real), and manning mission control. We all got out of Mars before we were hit by solar flares and a wind storm to return safe to Fairhills.

Our last excursion was to Fairhills’ own KIOSC where the students learned how to program a 3D printer and robots. I couldn’t have been prouder showing them a facility that Fairhills is such an integral part of.

The 9 days went by so quickly, but during that time the students learned not only about science in our state education system, but about the friendliness and hospitality of Melbourne people. I would like to thank the host families and school buddies for an absolutely fantastic job of looking after them. Some families took in two or three students, and I am so thankful to them for their contribution in making this a successful visit.

Jessica Winstone

Languages Coordinator

German Language Assistant

Fairhills High School has been very fortunate to have Ms Sandra Haas working as a German Language Assistant during Term 1. Sandra has assisted our students to improve their language skills by practising conversation with them, and she has been an invaluable asset in the classroom.  She has been a native speaker role model for our students and teachers in their endeavours to learn more German.  Vielen Dank for all you have done for us Sandra!

Jessica Winstone

Languages Coordinator