Student Learning

P12 and F13 Buddies Share 2021

This year we have had a lot of fun working with our buddies. Our favourite activity together was the buddy events on Sports Day. We loved the competitiveness and cooperation need for activities like the water race and weave the hoop.

One fo the first things we did together was celebrate Book Week. On Book Week, we were given an arts and crafts activity where we coloured three different backgrounds and stuck them together to make a globe.

One of the most recent things we have done was Slime Run. We ran through a course around the oval, while being slimed by the team leaders. This was a very messy and colourful event that was fun to participate in, especially with our buddies. We love doing Buddy class because we get to use our cooperation and communication skills and it's always fun.

Year 5 Mylor Camp

Well, what an exciting three days and two nights for our Year 5's! Luckily, it was a little less exciting for our teachers and wonderful volunteers, as everyone came home in one piece. Flying fox, raft making (in a heated pool, no less), rock wall climbing, low ropes, giant swing and Gahgah ball (like dodgeball on steroids) were just a few of the activities that students were immersed in. It was wonderful to see students challenging themselves to try some new things, especially those that made them nervous, and cheering others on.

Students got to experience the beautiful, native bush surroundings at Mylor whilst braving the odd shower of rain and dinosaur-like mosquitoes - not a single complaint about either... well, not that we heard, anyway. We were pleasantly surprised that most students got themselves and their belongings organised, hopped into bed when asked to and generally collaborated really well with the camp instructors, kitchen staff and us.

We would like to thank our volunteers for their wonderful generosity of time and support: Helen Bentley (a Magill School teacher for many years), Laurence Mattiazzo and Katherine Rideout (current student teachers), Lili Cock (a past student teacher) and Lynton Tierney.

Year 6 Wirraway Camp 2021

On Wednesday 3rd of November to Friday 5th of November, the Year 6 students enthusiastically packed their bags and headed off to Wirraway Homestead, Strathalbyn for three days and two nights of fun-filled activities at camp.

The weather was kind and the rain only stuck around for our arrival, by the time students had unpacked and activities began it had stopped! The students were divided into groups and set off to take part in a range of group activities and farming tasks which required students to show determination and persistence.

The activities included a low ropes course, which required students to become ninja warriors and tackle a range of obstacles in a timed race. The Amazing Race scavenger hunt had students running around the campsite to find answers to Wirraway trivia questions associated with its history. The bush walk enabled students to learn about geographical locations and safety procedures of the bush such as how to treat a snake bite. Eggstronauts was a design challenge where we created a rocket and carriage to house an egg before it was launched into the air using a compression pump. Shelter building required students to use their imagination and a range of natural resources such as logs, branches and leaves to create a shelter; unfortunately many of these shelters did not pass the waterproof test! Sheep herding was a laugh, as the campsite just purchased new sheep who were highly energetic and didn’t like to follow commands and instructions so moving them from pen to pen proved a difficult yet entertaining challenge. Students also had a session learning how to crack a whip. The clear crowd favourite amongst all the activities was riding and grooming horses. The students enjoyed the opportunity to purchase a badge with a picture of the horse they rode to keep as a souvenir. 

The night time activities allowed students the opportunity to take part in a night hike to appreciate the relaxing sounds of the secluded, rural area as well as a camp fire to warm us up on the cool nights. 

The delicious food was also a camp highlight, enjoying chicken cacciatore, mash potatoes and vegetables, penne bolognaise, baked potatoes with a range of toppings and pancakes just to name a few. 

Students can take away many new and developed skills from their camp experiences including patience, negotiation, how to manage on a lack of sleep, clearing and washing dishes and keeping their dorms tidy - a skill some honed better than others! For those dorms who struggled with getting this right, dishes awaited them thanks to the camp spy. 

All students greatly appreciated the amazing, friendly Wirraway educators who planned and ran the activities to ensure all had the best time. 

Wirraway camp was a great way to end the students' final year of primary school, having the opportunity to spend precious time with peers and teachers, making memories that will last a lifetime.