The Anchor

Junior School 

From the Head of Junior School

With Science Day last Wednesday to launch Science week this week, our students have engaged in experiential learning through investigations, making and building, trialling and testing, observing and questioning. We’re all naturally inquisitive, but children in particular really enjoy finding out how things work and asking those tricky questions around why does something happen the way it does. These are wonderful qualities to foster and celebrate. Students in the Junior School enjoyed follow up workshops in our Maker Space to compliment the Science day theme from last week, ‘Flight’. Mrs Fiona Gouldthorp coordinated the sessions and has shared some reflections from the experience below.

Year Five Camp

In celebrating the experiential learning theme this week, our Year Five students have thoroughly immersed themselves into the camp experience at Pemberton Camp School over four days and three nights this week. Four days away from home is a significant block of time away, and for many students this has also been their first school camp. 

The goal for camp was to stretch our boundaries and comfort levels out a little, whilst still enjoying ourselves and getting involved in as much as we possibly can. To achieve this goal, we spoke about drawing our strengths to approach challenges. For some, who find strength in supporting others, found that encouraging others also gave them the confidence to challenge themselves too. Some students, with strengths of persistence, found that approaching tasks slowly at first helped them to focus on specific things knowing that they would keep trying until they completed the task. It was wonderful to see students considering what strengths they each bring to a new challenge, and really lovely to see how they openly shared their thoughts on the strengths of their friends. 

Over the course of the four days, students experienced many activities including:

  • explored the Yeagerup Dunes (which are just incredible and worth the trip when you get the chance)
  • navigated themselves through the twists and turns, ups and downs of a Mountain Bike circuit (which is an appropriate metaphor for their personal development through a school camp)
  • focused their aim at archery
  • worked as a team canoeing and building rafts at Big Brook Dam
  • pushed themselves through a bush hike following the Lefroy Brook River to camp
  • setting up and washing up for dinner
  • managing their own belongings each day
  • supporting each other through periods of challenge

Many will look at that list and note the ‘big ticket’ items like mountain biking, canoeing and archery and consider them the ‘camp experience’, and without doubt they are fun and certainly a special memory of the time away. However, I would add that the students will also have fond memories and great learnings around the less tangible moments of camp where they were helping each other to set up for dinner, or find a lost hat, or comfort a friend who’s feeling a little low. Perhaps these ‘little ticket’ items are where some of the greatest growth in personal development occurs. Little tickets – big leaps is perhaps more apt.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to teachers Mrs Leah Field and Mr Steve Berryman for their efforts to ensure this was a wonderful camp experience for everyone. Also to parents for the excellent preparations you provided for your children. They were excited for the camp journey which is a reflection on the many conversations you had at home about it no doubt. And finally, to our students, you have been wonderful; your positivity, energy and enthusiasm to get involved in everything to the best of your ability is something you can be truly proud of.

What a joy it has been to take a bunch of young people on an adventure that will stay in their minds forever. That is the power of experiential learning.

 

With warmest regards, 

Mr Ken Raven | Head of Junior School

Science Incursions

As part of Science Week, some of the older students were treated to workshops with Mr Scott Neil (Learning and Engagement Officer and Science Specialist from the Museum of the Great Southern). 

The workshops looked at ‘Space Heroes’ and, following a brief introduction to materials used in the ‘Space Race’, students were given the task of designing and making an insulated space capsule that would house an astronaut. The ‘astronauts’ were then heated up in the microwave and a thermal camera was used to test how effective each space capsule was. A cycle of test, evaluate, re-design and re-test was then completed. Finally, 3D printing in space was introduced and discussions on memory metal and how it works were generated. 

The sessions were exciting and resulted in some great learning. Thank you again to Mr Scott Neil for finding time to inspire and challenge our children's thinking.

 

Mrs Fiona Gouldthorp | Teacher