The Year 1/2 physics unit, ‘Push and Pull’, encourages students to investigate forces at work in the world around them. Students investigated how a push or pull affects how an object moves or changes shape as they explored how toys move. We are grateful to Rowan Ault from Saputo Australia for providing us with Great Ocean Road 1litre milk cartons to build cars and vehicles to create 3D examples of toys that were tested to see how far a ‘push’ could move a toy. Sssssshhhh, don't tell them what BIG toys will be coming in to visit them soon!!! Inspired by the brilliant Holiday Maths resources created by Mark Cuthell and Nina Devlin from the Port Campbell Tourist Information Centre our Year 5/6 students have been challenged to plan and coordinate a 3 day family break in the 12 Apostles and Hinterland region. A budget of $1,600 may sound like a lot but students had to determine what they would spend money on, save or splurge with special treats or activities. Mark joined us via Webex to discuss the students’ findings and asked them questions about the cost of things, their favourite activities and how they justified their budgeting. He explained that a lot of tourists were envious of our region and that they appreciated things like the coast and seeing cows in paddocks. Despite a few technical hitches we watched some regional tourism promotions and students considered the different markets or target audiences of the advertisements. Students were reminded of the experiences available through the 12 Apostles Visitor Inspiration Project where visitors could borrow or use binoculars, telescopes, anemometers and microscopes to explore the secrets of the southern landscapes. Mark then introduced the students to our Running Maths project that is based on a weekly run in Timboon designed to promote even more maths skills and promote physical activity. This morning, Jake van Dam drove from Geelong via the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA) office in Colac to talk to our Year 10 Health /Careers class! Jake lived in Kakadu until he was 14 years of age. He was impressed by the massive crocodiles that thrive in the Northern Territory and, living with scientists as parents, learned to love Nature. Jake started thinking about his career pathway in Year 10 - he loved ‘Hamish & Andy’ and the sports journalist, Gerard Whateley. He studied Years 11/12 at Kardinia College, Geelong, and he enjoyed environmental science, where he had the opportunity to examine the ecosystem at Mt Rothwell and the Barwon River. He was even better at English and went to Deakin University and studied a Bachelor of Communications and PR. Jake wanted to balance his life and at Uni only spent 8-10 hours of lectures per week, which allowed him more personal time - much needed after all the hours of study spent in Year 12. He was also able to do some work but mainly enjoyed his free time with mates. Jake has the view ‘Any experience is a good experience’ and he worked hard during his uni course, even though it did not lead directly towards his ultimate career. Jake undertook an internship at Geelong Football Club, and he still has a casual job with them, writing articles and social media posts. He also went to Malaysia for 2 months and he and his peers enjoyed the different culture and experiences that international travel provides. During COVID restrictions, he gained employment at Coles and a photo framing business and a marketing business but he wasn’t motivated by the money involved in marketing. It just ‘wasn’t him.’ Inspired by his experiences in the Northern Territory, his grandparents dairy farm in Irrewillipe and his enjoyment of an outside life he studied a Graduate Diploma in Environment, eventually finding a role as a Communications Officer with CCMA. He was motivated and passionate about the various work offered with the CCMA including farmers involved in Landcare, working with volunteers regarding Biodiversity in waterways and examining plants of salt marshes. Jake wasn't planning on working in comms for an environmental group but recognises the need to ensure that communication is correct regarding what is happening to the environment, especially as digital media grows. Correct information is everything! Jake wants to help create sustainable farming opportunities so farmers can know how to best care for small farms, particularly with the support of Landcare and the CCMA who encouraging women to be involved in agriculture and Landcare. He loves helping farmers and waterways, and knows that it will make a difference to Victoria’s landscape and climate change. Jake is enjoying learning more about indigenous land management, ‘cool burning’ and recognises the need for good soil health. Jake advised students that finishing school provided the freedom to get to understand what they liked and advised that students shouldn’t put pressure on themselves. When asked, the students recalled Jake’s great advice to ‘not stress’, be open-minded and don’t rely on your degree! -Fiona Mackenzie and Katherine Fox As the Year 7/8 Community Project students have been entrusted with caring for a section of Power Creek we thought we would introduce them to ways to help keep rubbish and waste contained and not spread through regional parks and waterways. Corangamite Shire’s, Jess Maxwell, the Waste and Recycling Officer and Taylor Bonin, the Youth Engagement Officer, described the various types of rubbish and waste recycling options available in our region. Jess referred to the role of waste transfer station sites across the shire and the Corangamite Regional Landfill site at Naroghid and explained that was constructed to contain leachate to stop it contaminating the surroundings. After categorizing different types of waste the students were challenged with some ‘Deadly Resource Games’ to sort waste correctly before considering which resources were renewable or non renewable and how long these resources took too produce. Students were surprised to learn that they were driving around on’ dinosaur fuel!’ Today, our Year 7/8 Community Connections class were given an opportunity for their student voices to be heard as part of a community consultation session facilitated by Mark Cuthell from Port Campbell Tourist Information Centre and David Pope, a former Timboon P-12 student, local business operator and regional advocate. Students were asked to consider what were the groups or organisations that made up our community as, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ They compiled lists of what ‘feels good’, ‘annoys you’, or ‘worries you’ and were asked to contemplate options where they could use their interest or passion to create a business opportunity or redirect their annoyance into a solution for our region. The class was challenged to consider options for entrepreneurial prospects and examples of occasions to care for their village or the people they appreciate. Definitely a thought provoking session with lots to consider – thanks Mark and David. As part of their physics investigation of small engines our Year 7 science students visited the South Western District Restoration Group’s rally ground in Cobden. Adam Edge explained that the Club had over 130 members and that the Club’s aim was to foster interest in the restitution and restoration of steam or oil engines and other vintage articles. Club members generously showed students through sheds which included a producer gas unit that produced goal gas for a Crossley engine and they learnt about the workings of a Ruston Hornsby oil engine produced in 1920 that would have driven a large generator which supplied power for homesteads, cottages and buildings at Coleraine. Adam described the workings of an Robey steam engine that was used to pump water in a quarry with the added bonus of being able to cook potatoes while you worked! The class could see how harvesting crop had evolved with equipment like the Sunshine Header and Cliff and Bunting chaff cutter. Ian demonstrated the balance tipping point of a Bedford Dumper and in Barry’s shed students could see the evolution of Fordson tractors like a simple tractor through to a County Crawler and cable loader. Students also watched Brian’s Ram Pump work - which it shouldn’t be able to do - and concluded with a visit to the Cistern Chapel which is nothing like the Sistine Chapel!! The visit concluded with an invitation to attend the Cobden Mini Vintage Rally on 19/20th November in Cobden.Thanks Adam, Brian, Doug, Ian and Barrie you’ve really made forces and physics come alive, we are really looking forward to our workshop at TAP’s On! A feature of the TAP is it’s ability to ‘tap’ (excuse the pun) into our community and support classroom learning by inviting experts in to contextualise students’ understanding with real world examples. Our Year 9/10 Forensics class recently hosted Victoria Police Crime Scene officers, Taya McLeish and Nicole Hunter, who take control of regional crime scenes once an offence has occurred. Taya and Nicole described their role which is to collect/process any physical or forensic evidence located at scenes and take photographs to be used as evidence. They shared examples of how fingerprints, footprints, shoe impressions, DNA – both blood and trace DNA and physical evidence such as fibres from clothing are collected and recorded. The students were able to use the various powders used to dust for prints from mock crime scenes and learnt that the process takes a lot longer than demonstrated on CSI! Despite their enthusiasm, the Year 7/8 Community Project students know when they are out of their depth and when to call for help with their Power Creek rejuvenation project. Today the students met with staff from the Heytesbury & District Landcare Network (HDLN), Geoff Rollinson, Kate Leslie and Lyndell Driscoe and Power Creek Reserve Committee members, Ray Smith and Alan Kerr, to consider planting options for the creek bank. Kate shared details from a NatureFit Victoria map which described the original pre settlement vegetation and the official Ecological Vegetation Class list of trees and vegetation for the Timboon bioregion. The students then investigated the various planting and growth conditions to be considered and the types of plants or structures they could include in their design for this area. What a wonderful community project! This year we celebrate 10 Years of our innovative TAP school and industry / community partnership. After an absence of two years, we would once again invite you to attend TAP's On! 2022, an interactive, peer led demonstration of what we have accomplished this year in the Timboon Agriculture Project (TAP). TAP's On! demonstrates how agriculture and community engagement is integrated into our curriculum through different interactive classroom and off-campus activities. As it was International Taco Day on Tuesday our Corangamite Trade Training VET Cert 11 Hospitality students from Terang College, Mortlake P-12, Camperdown College, Lavers Hill P-12 and Timboon P-12 joined forces provide a Taco Thursday experience for our students and staff. As part of their food service requirements and an opportunity to celebrate one of the food days of the year the students shared the Mexican food staple with our Timboon community. |
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April 2024
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