It’s a tradition at Timboon P-12 School for different Departments to mount a display in the senior building and the Humanities Dept have recently celebrated Halloween. The jack-o’-lantern centrepiece became quite evil as the happy face morphed into something more sinister as the pumpkin dried out. Students learnt that pumpkins with ghoulish faces, illuminated by candles, are a sign of the impending Halloween season. The practice of decorating jack-o’-lanterns originated in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as early canvasses. The name, jack-o'-lantern, comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack! Irish people remembered this story each year by carving scary faces on turnips and placing a burning piece of coal inside. However, when the Irish immigrated to the U.S., they discovered that pumpkins were more readily available and made better jack-o'-lanterns than turnips.The History display featured historical information so students could understand the ancient background to the festivities and the Year 8 English classes were encouraged to read Edgar Allen Poe’s ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ and then watch The Simpson’s (Halloween) episode! Our innovative Year 3/4 teachers have come up with an original concept for their 4 classes to reconnect, bond and work together after a year disrupted by COVID restrictions and online learning. The Year 3/4 students have been working to design and create a sensory garden and were tasked with designing something that worked with the existing trees, used recyclable materials and appealed to their senses. Students wrote up ideas, drew up images with labels / listed materials, googled design concepts and created plans for the sensory garden and a wall painting that is to relate to our local area and location. A home learning task was to create windchimes and these will also be displayed in the garden. The students have already taken ownership of the area and have worked hard to clean up the area, move rocks and sleepers. Watch this space, the results will be great to see, hear, touch and smell! #WorldTeachers'Day2021, #TAPChampions, #ItTakesAVillage, #LearningInCommunity Celebrating our great TAP teachers and thank you to all our generous industry and community contributors The Year 1/2 classes have enjoyed making Bug Houses from recycled materials as part of their Science Unit called 'School Yard Safari'. As part of this topic students learn that living things have a variety of external features, and that living things live in different places where their needs are met, in the context of exploring and investigating habitats found in the schoolyard. The class have put their Bug Houses in the school gardens and they have been regularly checking them to see which minibeasts have moved in! Following the lead of the VCE Business class, our Year 9/10 ‘So you want to run your own business’ students were presented with the GORGE Chocolates and Chocolate Alpaca case study. This recorded interview helped our students learn about Ian and Angela Preuss’ passion for their alpacas and their goal to operate a business in a tourist region that could operate alongside their existing business. The class heard about their extensive research and planning, the type of goods that the Preuss' stock, the ‘7 P’s’ of marketing, pivoting in a COVID environment and their plans for the future. It was a great opportunity to learn lessons from local entrepreneurs and business people. Thanks Ian and Angela! The Year Prep students are currently investigating the Science unit, ‘Growing Well’, when they learn that all living things have basic needs including food and water and students have delved into the life of plants. Our Preps have enthusiastically planted beans, sprouts and sunflowers into paper mache pots and have utilized the Woolworth’s ‘Discover Gardening’ seedling kits by planting vegetable and flower seeds into the compostable wood pulp pots. Watch this space as we wait for their seedlings to sprout and grow. The Year 9/10 Commerce class, ‘So you want to run your own business’, were reacquainted with Charlie Poustie who was a class mate of theirs during his primary schooling at Timboon P-12 School. Charlie is the owner of Coorie Creek Miniature Goat Stud and he was featured in a recent ABC Rural story. The class learnt how Charlie was first intrigued by goats when his was 13 years old and was gifted Nelly, a bush goat, by his grandmother. Charlie began showing and breeding goats and this business has evolved with the creation of his stud with currently, 21 goats. Charlie’s business is fueled by his passion for his goats and his Mum, Mandi, described how the evolution of the goat stud has improved his self confidence and organizational, business, budgeting, monitoring, assessing and planning skills and has given him to confidence to seek assistance when necessary. Presently working five different jobs, the money raised is being reinvested in establishing the business and the Coorie Creek Stud has taught Charlie skills that he can use for the rest of his life. What a great local story, check it out - https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=fJtQaR1PpH8&feature=youtu.be Our Year 1/2s are currently studying the brilliant Science unit, ‘School Yard Safari’ where students investigate and learn that living things have a variety of features, behaviours and habitats. Check out these great photos of the Year 1/2C class enjoying learning about worms and studying how they move, look and feel. Today our Year 1/2 class hosted one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors when Simone Kain, co creator of the George the Farmer series, joined the students via Webex. Initially, students described their investigation of the creation of George the Farmer and the books, videos and songs they had shared in the classroom. Simone provided background about her pathway to become a children’s author and indicated that she always enjoyed writing and explained that the evolution of the series was usually based on some real life experiences or people she knew. Through their questioning of Simone, students learned that the author’s intent was to create an Australian farming series of stories that Simone thought her own boys would be interested in as they loved farming, machinery and animals. Students questioned the main purpose of the narratives and they learnt that it was to inspire children who live in the country with cool role models like George and Ruby and to educate ‘city kids’ about farms, agriculture and where their food comes from. Simone explained that the best part about being an author was to have stories in your head, then writing the text with Ben interpreting her thoughts and words into illustrations and producing a story or book. Emerson summed up the session best when she said, “It was awesome!” Thanks Simone. The students in the Year 7/8 Geography elective, ‘Armchair Traveller’ have investigated various destinations and locations around the world from the comfort of the students’ classroom and homes during Term 3 during lockdown. Looking forward to restrictions being eased, students had to describe their favourite spot in our local area, whether it could be the skate park, the Rail Trail, local beaches, their garden, Power Creek Reserve etc and outline why they liked this specific place. The class then shared their favourite place as described in a poster with their classmates. An armchair travel guide indeed! |
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March 2024
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