Around the School
Last week some of our Q.U.E.S.T students ventured down to Taylors Creek to explore and collect data on our surrounding environment as part of their personal investigations. This years QUEST challenge is taking on a sustainability lense.
100 Days of School
Most school year calendars consist of 180 days so when the 100th day of school rolls around, the year is over 1/2 done! It is a fun time to reflect on some of the major accomplishments that have been achieved in the school year by our AMAZING Prep students.
Our Prep students celebrated 100 days of school on Wednesday by participating in many fun activities throughout the day that all focused on the number 100.
56 Writers
Our Year 3 – 6 teachers have been participating in Grammar in Context Professional Development to further build our capacity for teaching writing. As part of the process we actively searched for good pieces of writing – that included phrases, sentences, paragraphs, excerpts and whole texts. We investigated with the students what made these writing pieces so good. The next step in the process was to imitate (copy) the techniques the author used and to innovate on these to create our pieces of writing. Our final step was to distribute our writing to a genuine reader and this is you. We ask that you read the pieces of writing attached that the students enthusiastically wrote for you.
The following stories have been created from our work and exploration of the book “Mallee Sky” by Jodi Toering & Tannya Harricks.
Students have been inspired to look at the author’s use of language and then follow the style of the book to create their own stories. We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we enjoyed creating them.
The Telegram
By Tomislav Ivkovic
In Cochem women shriek and men crumble to the ground as they discover that they have to go to war; Children worry about their fathers and brothers as teenage boys enlist in the army to make their nation proud. Hours pass and fear creeps deeper into souls across the world and more news about the infamous war has come out. It’s finally day and men are shipped out as families are torn apart.
Water reflects and the waves rock as the boat reaches shore. As March comes around, towards their target gunshots echo through the emerald green fields that’s when the men get a shock. As the target appears closer the men spread out; Some pray and others grip their crosses as they close in on their target. When the men step foot in the town bullets are fired as they rip through bodies while innocent lives are lost.
People have died, the war is ongoing. Innocent citizens have to evacuate as towns perish. People start to become distressed as sleeping at home is no longer an option. Beautiful land no longer exists as most of it has been chewed up and spat out because of this horrendous war. As brutal battles continue, screams of horrified men are heard by women and children across the land while business’s struggle to stay afloat and because people are too afraid to leave their homes while food prices sky rocket.
After years and months of this horrible war people continuously search for ways to stay safe and they do. Some people flee to other countries while others are hidden in basements with other people, but in the night people grow anxious because the fog is abnormal, grey and white, mysterious; and thick time seizes in this bitter winter. After many lives are lost and many buildings destroyed where they once stood high and mighty nations come together and sign a peace treaty.
Bushfires in Maryborough
By Milla R
The sun bleeds through the Maryborough sky into the night. The farmlands dry out and the farmers start to worry. Another drought is on the way.
As days pass the air is getting drier and the beautiful blue sky is now being covered with dust. The air is getting thick with the burning heat of the sun. The ground is showing signs of thirst and the animals lay still under any shade they can find.
The relentless heat has led to weather warnings as the ground cannot cope; it is thirsty. Soon the sky changes to an eerie strange coloured sky.
Grey smoke rises from the forest and a red glow follows it. The trees crumble to ash. In the distance sirens are heard. The fire spreads fast covering anything in its way with golden flames. Ancient buildings start to fall while the locals leave.
The people get messages to leave and that a bushfire has started. Flames take over the town while the firemen are blocked by a burning tree. Colours light up the night sky while ash flies around. The bright fire glows through locals home’s destroying anything it can find. The firefighters slowly find a way to get to the town.
People perish in the fire and animals are cornered. The sound of howling covers the screams of the locals being taken by the bushfire. The pets slowly disappear into the flames and all that is left is ash.The locals house’s fall to the ground while the bushfire grows bigger. Taking everything that people love.
Firefighters put out the burning tree and start getting closer to the town. A grey cloud covers the sky and a tiny drop of rain falls. The firemen get to a house destroyed from the flames of the bushfire. Rain puts out the fire slowly helping those who have been trapped in buildings. The fire starts fading away while the firefighters move past the red golden flames putting it out as they go. The rain gets heavier putting out the bushfire.
The bushfire is put out leaving destroyed buildings. The sky opens up and becomes blue. The golden sun shines upon the town while the people start cleaning what the fire left. The buildings get rebuilt and the people slowly come back to the town Maryborough.
Click on this link if you want to read more of our students amazing writing pieces.
Award Winners
Congratulations to the following Award recipients for going above and beyond to make a difference and for displaying our S.T.A.R.R school values: Show respect, Teamwork, Always persist, Responsible, Resilient.
S.T.A.R.R Students
This award is for an individual who shows all the qualities we would like to see in a St Augustine’s student. These students have displayed the S.T.A.R.R characteristics/dispositions, values that are highly valued by all at St Augustine’s. e.g Show Respect, Teamwork, Always Persistent, Respectful, Responsible
Congratulations Teddy and Paige!
