I hadn’t slept all night, not because of packing (that had taken ages though) not because of a nightmare nope, it was because of excitement the whole night I couldn’t stop thinking about camp. All the activities and food were going to be great. I thought about that for so long I forgot to sleep, that’s how I earned the black rings around my eyes. The morning felt like it would never come, but it did. Before I knew it, I had made it to school. I had to make sure today was the day, I checked the date. It was 9.8.23. Yes, we were about to start our journey to Mapleton QCCC for Year 5 camp, 2023. As I looked around, I saw a combination of parents excited kids and the odd black rings, like me. I claimed the seat next to my friend and we were off. The parents waving frantically, the students grinning.
It was a super long bus ride to Australia Zoo but totally worth it.We were given our zoo activity and cabin groups. The bus erupted into a cacophony of happy conversations, our poor teachers. I was tired and knew I'd need energy for the day so I tried using my friend as a pillow. I had mixed success.
One hundred and eight chopstick games later and arrived at Australia Zoo and were let off the bus. We were sorted into groups and our group went wild on the bouncy pillow. After burning some energy off on the bouncy pillow, we checked out all the animals tigers, elephants, meerkats, giraffes, rhinos, zebras, tortoises, komodo’s, kangaroos, snakes and we finished the day at the Crocoseum with the Wildlife Warrior Show. As we were going back to the bus I was tempted to sneak off and live with the animals. Mum and Dad could visit – maybe they could get annual passes?
The moment had arrived, I stretched my legs and placed my feet down on the campground. We had made it! Mapletone QCCC.
I have to admit I took the moment for granted. I was too hungry to care. Everyone was grateful for afternoon tea, sponge cake. We played some games, ate some dinner, sausages and mash, and we made a jungle of our rooms. The night finished as we watched Zootopia with popcorn in an outdoor cinema.
We all woke up super early and were saved by a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs and cereal. The meal filled us up as we embarked on our first activity, canoeing. Next, we did the giant swing, which was three-meters ‘gianter’ than last year. Fortunately, nobody died when I participated in archery. At the Team initiative activities we met ‘Mubba the rubber chicken’ (he goes by many names).
That evening, we filled our tummies with an incredible butter chicken. Kerry shared a traditional Aboriginal Dreamtime story at Tribal Link. He shared the story of Coolum and Maroochy and it was a roller coaster of comedy, romance, drama and action. Afterwards, we enjoyed lemon myrtle tea and marshmallows baked over an open fire. We were well and truly ready for bed.
On Friday morning we woke up and started shoving everything into our bags - clothes, books, toothpaste, shoes – and we continued until the room was spotless. Then we headed out for a well-earned omelet. We did rock climbing that morning and we belayed each other. We had no choice but to trust each other with our lives. Gratefully, we all made it safely down again. Finally, we were ready to hop on the bus to go home. We made it home exhausted, but thankful to all the wonderful teachers and camp staff. A special thanks to Mrs Nugent for her meticulous organisation.
Throughout the past two weeks, I was given the remarkable opportunity to participate in the Oxbridge Academics Program at the prestigious University of Cambridge. Through my passion for various fields in engineering, this journey has not only expanded my knowledge but also fuelled my determination to pursue engineering as a career.
From the beginning, it was evident that I was going to be surrounded by amazing people and facilities. For me, it was a dream come true – a chance to learn from experts and be inspired by the different aspects of engineering. Throughout my course at Cambridge, various fields of engineering were taught, the main ones being Aeronautical, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.
Within Aeronautical Engineering, I had the privilege to immerse myself in the mind-blowing engineering of historical aviation. As a class, we were able to visit the Imperial War Museum which allowed me to witness engineering marvels such as the Concorde, the world’s fastest commercial aeroplane, and the Blackbird SR-71, an awe-inspiring jet-engine aircraft that holds records for its altitude at 26km and the mind-boggling top speed of Mach 3.3. Standing in their presence filled me with admiration, however, it was the engaging discussions of the engineering behind these machines both at the museum and the back in our classroom which truly was fascinating. These conversations around the applications of complex engineering components sparked my curiosity and enriched my understanding of aeronautical systems.
During my studies in Mechanical Engineering, I embraced the challenge of constructing a wooden bridge. The process of creating and testing the bridge until failure, as well as analysing those failure modes and the forces which act upon the bridge was very enjoyable. I learned lessons about overcoming engineering challenges and the importance of embracing failure as a means to improve. I found myself captivated by discussions on bridge types and their mechanisms, gaining an understanding of how engineering concepts shape tangible structures.
In my exploration of electrical engineering, I had an exhilarating opportunity to design a robot with self-driving capabilities. My previous knowledge of Digital Design helped me in designing the robot and creating and optimising the code used to control the robot. Through coding and persistent effort, I was able to create a competitive robot which was then on the last day competed to see who’s robot was the fastest around a track. In the competition, I was able to achieve a close second place after losing in the grand finals.
Looking back at my two weeks at the University of Cambridge, I realise that this incredible opportunity has truly been transformative for me and has broadened my perspective and insights on Engineering. In my experience, I have witnessed firsthand, how human ingenuity shapes our world. As I confidently pursue my aspiration of becoming a Mechanical Engineer specialising in Formula 1 Motorsports, I carry with me the knowledge, encounters, and inspiration gained during my time at the University of Cambridge.
This week, Somerset students from Year 9 Commerce classes went on an excursion with Ms Payne and Mr Juniper to the Magistrates' Court in Southport.
It was fascinating to witness the law in action after our two units about the legal system this year in Commerce. In the court rooms, we learned about court etiquette and traditions, such as the formal language used in proceedings and the custom of bowing to the Magistrate when entering or exiting the courtroom. We saw many interesting court cases and defendants — such as people stealing cars and driving them on public beaches, or getting intoxicated in shopping centres, and in one case, a man who was being tried for several crimes he had committed (some while on bail) back in 2008.
After, we were allowed to wander around Australia Fair and buy our lunches before returning to school in the afternoon. Overall, it was a truly memorable excursion, and an experience we will think of fondly for years to come.
Aspects of Pixar and DreamWorks movies often have to be (somewhat) based on reality. As such, digital artists have to reference objects in real life when creating their digital counterparts.
Over the last two weeks, the digital media artists in WorldWrights took exacting measurements and observations of a cupcake. They then recreated the cupcake as a digital model, complete with colouring and lighting.
Students finished the project with their 3D asset and an image of their final creation.
Thanks again to William Hazelton (Class of 2014) for his guidance in this project.
Last weekend Somerset students participated in the annual Senior Schools Cup Volleyball tournament. More than 300 teams from schools all over the state came to the Gold Coast during the three-day tournament.
The Senior Girls finished seventh in their division with amazing improvement shown by all players during the tournament. The Senior Boys made it to the bronze medal match, narrowly missing third place in a close three-set match.
A huge thank you to Ms Candice McKenna and Mr Dane Robinson for supporting both teams and giving us the opportunity to play against other teams across the state.
Team captains share their thoughts on the experience:
Over the weekend, our team had an unforgettable experience participating at the QLD Senior Schools Cup Volleyball tournament. Despite placing 7th, I believe I can speak on behalf of the team when I say that throughout the weekend, we took away many invaluable memories and lessons that transcend mere scores and standings.
Our team displayed exceptional unity and unwavering support for one another, celebrating the small victories and lifting each other up in moments of challenge. Cheering for each other during every skillful play, whether it be executing a great serve or delivering a perfect pass. Equally as important, we maintained our support and encouragement even after losing a point. Our strong camaraderie and enthusiasm fueled our positive team spirit and motivation, reinforcing the idea that a united team is far more formidable than individual talent alone.
We would also like to extend our heartful gratitude to our amazing coaches, Issy and Paris. Your dedication, guidance, and support have certainly not gone unnoticed and have been instrumental in the team's development. As we move forward, your impact will continue to resonate with us as we strive to grow and excel both on and off the court.
In this week’s episode of Spartan Stream, we congratulate our Volleyball and Netball players after state tournaments, honour our Spartan success stories in football, swimming and rock climbing and we go farming with our e-Sports team at the Ekka.
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