Shaun Yr 5

Term 3 has been busy as usual. The school has combined with eight other local schools to form the Big Scrub Learning Community. The initiative aims to complement the many and diverse quality experiences available to students and enhance the educational and social opportunities for students enrolled in small schools.

Luke Yr 5

One of the first activities organised was an Environmental Study day for the youngest members of our school communities. Infants’ students from all the schools congregated at Rocky Creek Dam where they had a marvellous day collecting specimens, going on nature walks and joining in cooperative activities under the guidance of the staff of Dorroughby Field Study Centre. We look forward to more of these educational days that enhance students both academically and socially.
Earlier in the term, primary students attended the Writers Festival and heard the wacky and wonderful stories that Jackie French and Morris Gleitzmann had to tell. I think Morris’ lime green gloves were a real hit with the children as were Jackie’s wombat stories.
The primary class continued on the literary theme with a unit studying Storm Boy by Colin Thiele. As well as reading the novel, students discuss how characters develop and feel in the story by stepping into their shoes; write descriptions of events and places; design a new book cover; sequence the novel and think of alternate endings. Some of their writing and visual efforts are showcased here:

It was just horrible seeing half-hearted shooters kill defenceless birds in front of me.  I was so blooming angry when I saw they killed Mr Percival.
Luke Yr 5  

 
I raced over to see what had just happened.  
Three pelican chicks in the broken nest.
I was worried sick about them. Would dad let me keep them?
Charlie Yr 3  

 
As I held them in my jacket I felt angry but at the same time I felt excited.
I knew I had a very big responsibility and I hoped Hideaway would say I could keep them.
Darcy Yr 4

The humpy has rough brushwood, flattened sheets of tin, a dirt floor, blurry windows and a crooked chimney and stove pipes.  The humpy is a little home for Storm Boy and Hideaway.  They are happy where they live.
They have a friend called Finger Bone.  He looks after some sea gulls.
Lucy Yr 3

The humpy is a small beach shack known as home for Storm Boy and Hideaway.  The humpy is made out of brush and flattened tin sheets.  Inside the humpy it has a dirt floor, crooked stove pipes for the chimney and it has blurry windows.  During the winter the humpy is cold and gloomy but during the summer it is very hot and the dirt floor lets out a terrible smell.  Apart from all the not so good features it still feels like home.
Jayden    Yr 6

Finally, our Orientation Program for students enrolling in Kindergarten in 2009 will run next term on three consecutive Tuesdays starting on 4th November.  For more information, please contact the school on 6628 4305.
Bernadine Cooper