Last Wednesday night, we committed to living out of a backpack, bringing only our essentials. From bonding with new friends to getting our hands dirty with paint, this challenge was both extremely fun and an exceptional way to raise awareness for refugee and displaced children.
I'd also like to thank Miss Capper and Mr Walker for giving up their Wednesday evening to help raise funds and awareness for the plight of refugees.
During the visit, students inquired into how ‘The Past is History’ with a focus on why significant people, buildings and events of the past in the local community have shaped our experiences and lives today.
Our first stop was the Hinterland Heritage Museum. Here community volunteers wore historical dress to transport us back in time to recreate ‘times gone by’. Students explored the inside of Franklin House from the 1950’s, Okey House from the 1930’s and The Nerang Railway Station with its rooms filled to replicate a Camera Room, School House Room, Station Master’s Room and Stockman’s Room. After this, children discovered how comfortable living in a simple Mud Slab Home was, including the toilet out the back. Also on display was a Blacksmith’s workshop, Wash Shed, General Store, Butcher, Wooden German Wagon and a Jailhouse (or ‘GAOL’ as Year 2 discovered was different spelling choice from the olden days).
To top off our Heritage Museum visit, a treat of damper with maple syrup helped the children to understand the importance of being self-sufficient (growing and making your own produce) as a trip to the local shops could take half a day of walking or riding along a bumpy track and by the time you returned the ‘ice-cream’ was long melted!
Next it was time to investigate our discoveries about history, with the Year 2 students descending on Mudgeeraba Town Centre for a mystery tour. As we sat for a picnic lunch in the park, a significant statue watched over the grassy common and young historians. Our riddle was, to solve the name of the dog clutching at the timber getter’s leg.
Travelling along historical Railway Street and its surrounding lanes, the children observed and explored monuments, plaques of significant people from local history and historical buildings to solve the clues. The answers were found at the old School Master’s Building, The Community Hall, The Old Post Office, the Windmill, the Railway Embankment, The Creamery, The Timber Getter Statue, Cuddihy Park and in the Grassy Common.
To end the day, it was back on the bus and we were transported back to the present time to share our wonderful adventures and newfound understandings about local history and ‘times gone by’.
Summed up by many of the Year 2 students, “This has been the best day ever! The past really is history and I never knew we had this much history so close to our school”.
The night was made up of six rounds of questions, each in relation to a different branch of Science. Round one was ‘Future Earth’ and consisted of questions about our outer-space endeavours, resources and conservation. The second round was about technology. These questions regarded the internet and technological innovations. After the first two rounds, Somerset’s ‘Aurum Aquilea’, (Ruben Yam, Jackson McMonagle, Cindi Xue, and Lilah Thurbon) was in the lead, with 16 out of 16 points.
The other rounds; Sciences, Mathematics, Engineering and a wildcard round, all came and went, with the 56 teams battling it out for first place. At the end of the night, before the winning team was announced, a tie breaker was called; between Varsity and Southport State School. After Southport won the tiebreaker, the final scores were announced. As the judges projected the scores from lowest to highest on the wall, everyone’s eyes dropped to the final row, containing the winning score. To everyone’s surprise, the tie breaker had been for second place, and Somerset’s Aurum Aquliea placed first.
The other Somerset teams performed exceptionally well, with ‘The Jakes’ (Jason Li, Kade Reynoldson, Anna Georgeson and Emelia Fink) Placing 11th and the ‘Science Spartans’ (Kate Jordan, Hugh Munro, Raffi Anderson and Lauren Chan) placing 17th.
A huge congratulations to all the teams for their enthusiasm, as well as their ability to collaborate so well throughout the challenge. This was a truly enlightening for everyone involved and we were all grateful for the opportunity given to us by the Science Department to participate. We would also like to thank Mr Walker for driving us to the event.
Students wrote their speeches during class time, and were selected to represent the College on the basis of their performance in class. They were all very courageous to deliver a speech in a foreign language and did so with poise and grace.
Our Year Four students performed very solidly and as a result, Aleeza Tariq was awarded first place, with Danielle Svoboda in second place, and Highly Commended to Grace Frawley, Ayla Chirathivat-Geralds, and Abigail Brinkworth.
In the Year Five section our students took a clean sweep. Anna Thomas took first place, with James Young placing second, Hayeon Byun third, and James Georgeson awarded Highly Commended.
In Year Six, Alice Jones was Highly Commended for her German speech, Ava McCarthy placed second in the Year 6 French Section, and Joselene Chen came third for her Japanese speech.
Congratulations to all students who competed. Their hard work and persistence was evident on the day. An outstanding result!
We were a little nervous, as we were the youngest people attending the class by far. It also didn't help that we got lost at the university. It is so much bigger than Somerset College!
It was exciting to sit in a university classroom and learn about the development of screenwriting. We analysed characters from popular Pixar movies, an award winning BUFTA film and two Tropfest short films. We also did activities such as describing the person next to us, as if they were a film character and creating a pitch for a story, using someone's idea that they had come up with for a short film.
We really enjoyed our time at the BUFTA film-making course. It is an experience Samuel and I will definitely be able to use and we will remember to thank Mrs Coombes and Somerset College in our thank you speech at the Oscars!
Senior School piano players helped set the scene in The Great Hall, where families were met before Year 11 and Year 6 students courageously took tours around the College. As always, there was exceptional feedback on how these students presented and conveyed information.
An impressive number stayed on past their tours and morning tea, to hear brief overviews of College life from our Headmaster, Craig Bassingthwaighte, Head of Senior School, Dr Adrian Johnson and Head of Junior School, Brenda Millican. The audience also heard from Year 11 students, Michael Guy and Joyce Louie.
We were delighted that 150 visitors were able to attend and gain an insight into the College and the many varied opportunities available to students at Somerset.
Special thanks must be extended to the student volunteers who continue to represent the College with outstanding pride.
Congratulations to Hugh who represents Currumbin SLSC and was awarded a Junior Athlete of the Year award by Surf Life Saving Queensland.
Athletics practices are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday before school for South Coast and Knock-out competitors. South Coast qualifiers will be notified shortly, as will members of our State Knock-out teams.
Monday 14 August - Compulsory APS Summer Sports Practice (7.00am or 3.30pm)
Wednesday 16 August - Compulsory APS Summer Sports Practice (7.00am or 3.30pm)
Friday 18 August - APS Summer Sport Back-up Round vs All Saints
Monday 21 August - Compulsory APS Summer Sports Practice (7.00am or 3.30pm)
Wednesday 23 August - Compulsory APS Summer Sports Practice (7.00am or 3.30pm)
Friday 25 August - APS Summer Sport Round 1 vs Coomera
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