Minimbah Update
Returning from Camp Week
As I write this week’s Messenger article, I have been madly checking my gear, my pack, my boots, and all of the paperwork before I head off on the Overland Track in Tasmania for Senior Campus Homestead Camp. I have an early departure from the airport and am looking forward to meeting my 10 fellow trekkers from Year 11 and 12.
We have been talking about and preparing for the trip for many weeks, sharing stories of blisters, dehydrated meals, and enough gear to survive the biggest snowstorm Tassie can throw at us in Autumn.
I am aware that at this moment the students accompanying me will be doing the same, checking gear, wondering if they have everything? Will I have enough food? Will I be warm enough? They will also be filled with excitement as the departure day has finally arrived.
All of our Senior Campus students and staff will have similar feelings over the next few days as they also put in place final arrangements for their trips, wherever they may be going. For many, this will be their first trip away with Woodleigh, and for some their first trip away camping and looking after themselves.
It is through these experiences that staff can build relationships with our students and see them through a different lens to that we see at school. We can see strengths that we may not have known existed, vulnerabilities that help us to see the real person, and most importantly, we can share with them the story of Woodleigh; our culture, and our values.
This week I have had three separate discussions with people about Woodleigh students and the sense of character people see in our graduates and alumni. Two of these discussions were with alumni, and another with a prominent member of our local community who described her experience developing relationships with ex-Woodleigh students. They all talked about a sense of independence, confidence, being grounded and having strong values, being people of character.
These characteristics are the hallmarks of the experiences Woodleigh students have during their time at our school and they are also strongly aligned with a community that has a strong sense of self.
I can’t wait to head off on my trek early tomorrow morning, to meet my fellow travellers and begin our adventure together. I am looking forward to learning about who they really are, their views about our world, their aspirations for the future, and hopefully their optimism as well. We will share challenges along the way, and I know they will see all of my vulnerabilities, especially after the first big hill we climb.
Sending our entire Senior Campus off on camp or work experience at the same time requires a huge effort from our staff and everyone involved in the preparation and planning for these trips. People at Woodleigh give of their time because they value the experiences we will all have together next week, and they understand the importance of these experiences to the personal development of our students, their sense of connectedness and belonging to each other, and to the School.
My best wishes to all our travellers returning home this week. I hope your journeys were full of joy and wonder.
Take care,
DAVID BAKER
Principal
Vale Michael Norman
Late on Wednesday 1 March, just before I left for Tasmania, I received the news that Michael Norman, the Founding Principal of Woodleigh School, had passed away. Michael led the development, establishment, and early years of Woodleigh School from 1974 to 1980, as it expanded from a thriving, small co-educational primary school (now known as Minimbah) into secondary education.
Leading a passionate and involved community of parents and educators, he set the school on this new adventure with vision, energy, and purpose. He took what he saw in the Minimbah learning community - a community not bound by tradition, open to the future – and transplanted those values, ideals, and philosophy into the Woodleigh flower farm here on Golf Links Road.
Every choice made in the design and building of Woodleigh was informed by a deep understanding of the difference between ‘education’ and ‘schooling’. His move away from institutionalised, post-industrial ‘schooling’ allowed adolescents to develop, find their passions and grow – as learners and human beings – gaining an education that was both academic and personal. In their six years of growth at Woodleigh, students would leave this place knowing themselves and the world, and understanding their place in it.
Fifty years have passed since Woodleigh was a dream in the minds of the Minimbah community. What exists today is as much Michael’s legacy as it is a school that continues to strive to meet the contemporary needs of young people. His big-picture thinking – grounded in research, community engagement and a deep-thinking, philosophical approach - saw him guide generations of young people to find balance – balance between personal development, social responsibility, academic achievement, and practical competence. His development of cross-age learning opportunities are legendary. Perhaps his biggest legacy is the Homestead system, where students co-habit with younger and older students, learning to be responsible for and respectful of themselves, each other and the environment.
Professionally, he has inspired generations of teachers to put the needs of students and young people ahead of the needs of ‘the institution’.
To Woodleigh, the most enduring legacy is the impact he has made on generations of young people who have received their education under him or since him. His oft-quoted, “We ought never to do for young people what they, with a struggle, could be expected to be doing for themselves”, remains at the forefront of what we do in 2023 and will continue to do in years to come.
Michael leaves us, a community of educators and parents, with a question, a challenge:
Long may we continue to struggle and approach education as an adventure.
Our thoughts, love and support go out to Michael’s children, Claire, Mark and Brett, and his extended family and friends.
DAVID BAKER
Principal
Making melodies in the Music House
The term has been busily ticking away. We started our first gig with a bang, the Minimbah Fair. The brand-new, 2023 Minimbah Rock Band made its debut performance at the fair last week. They rocked out to 'Danger Zone', bringing the crowd alive.
It was wonderful to have many SC Rock Bands and the j6ers join us to help entertain the crowd. Many of these groups feature past Minimbah students. It is fabulous to see them continue to grow musically when they leave our little campus.
We are now preparing for Harmony Day and Grandparents Day. We are looking forward to sharing music with the Penbank Campus for the Harmony Day picnic which will be held at Penbank, on Thursday 30 March. The students have been learning the Torres Straight Island song ‘Kaiapi’, during their choir sessions. This will be performed with all students from both junior campuses. Students have volunteered to be part of smaller ensembles performing with Sambado and Asanti Beats. All students will learn a dance when the Indigenous Outreach Project visits later in the term.
It feels like we have only just shared music with our Grandparents, but it is on the horizon again. We are busily rehearsing for this very special event in our school calendar. We are aiming to have every child perform at the Grandparents Day morning tea this year.
While all this is happening, the classroom program ticks on:
· During class music, Year 6 have spent time preparing for Matilda auditions and trying to answer some big questions, including 'What is Sound?' and 'What is Music?'. Music Workshop has seen the students continue to learn their orchestral instruments. This year we will focus on playing as an ensemble
· Year 5 have been looking at the 'Instruments of the Orchestra’ in preparation for the Music Workshop Round Robin. Students try 6 different orchestral instruments - flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, violin and cello
· Year 4 have been learning 'classic' melodies using the beautiful sounding xylophones; working on music reading and aural learning skills
· The Year 3's have made a superb start with learning new skills on the recorder. We have focused on warming up, being sure of our notes and emphasizing the importance of making a good tone
· Rhythm and beat have been at the forefront of music for Year 1 and Year 2. Students have demonstrated their understanding of beat and rhythm using 'nature' as instruments and as a different mode of music notation. Leaves, bark, sticks, pods etc. were used in different ways to create sounds – scraping/striking/shaking. It was interesting to hear how many different sounds we could make
· Foundation have learned songs about swimming and have been bringing the story 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' to life, using untuned percussion to provide sound effects. Look out for this at an upcoming assembly!
We are looking forward to seeing you all at the Harmony Day Picnic at Penbank on Thursday 30 March.
SUE FLETCHER and JOHN BECKLEY
Minimbah Music Teachers
Expanding Minds in the Minimbah Library
It has been a busy but fun start to the year in the Minimbah Library!
Foundation have settled in well and quickly picked up the library routines each week. They are enjoyed the picture book collection and taking books home to share with loved ones each week. Foundation students have become lunchtime activity experts and loved sharing and connecting to stories about friendships.
Year 1 and Year 2 have been enjoying stories that celebrate the many different family structures that exist, to link into the Who We Are unit of inquiry. We loved reading ‘ And Tango makes Three’ A true story of two male penguins in the Central Park Zoo who created a family together. Mrs Wright asked the students, ‘Who is in your family?’ and they recreated their family as penguins.
INSERT PHOTOS ‘penguins 1-4’ here
This year some changes were made to the Year Three to Six library sessions as a way of providing greater opportunity for students to spend uninterrupted borrowing time in the library with myself and their classroom teacher. This time allows children to make suitable reading choices that reflect their abilities and interests. So far, the student response to these sessions has been outstanding!
We have seen students become more open-minded and take risks by trying books that they may not have selected themselves. These sessions have also contributed to the positive culture of reading within the school. Our 1-hour library lessons have enabled students to have more time and space to connect to big ideas and support elements of classroom units of inquiry, including links to the learner profiles, ATL’s (Approaches To Learning), and concepts, through creative responses to books in the library. We have some exciting projects in the works and look forward to sharing them in the next Messenger with you.
BRIONY WRIGHT
Minimbah Librarian
Dance Update
We had a fun time preparing for the MInimbah Fair performances this week!
Learning choreography, rehearsing and polishing our moves really highlights the importance of working as a team. We even joined body shapes together to create a human bicycle, complete with moving parts! Everyone shone in their own way.
Check out these rock star poses from our Year 3 and 4 groups!
SERENA WONG
Teacher
Selamat Pagi! Indonesian at Minimbah
Selamat Pagi kelas!
(Good morning class!)
Learning to greet each other is an important part of starting our Indonesian lessons.
Our classes have been filled with many exciting learning opportunities. Foundation learned about working as a team and keeping the avocado together in a game of “Alpukat!”, followed by a journey through magical pathways of changing habitats and animals.
Years 1 and 2 explored storytelling through freeze frames and body shapes, building on their vocabulary and imagination through our “Family Holiday” skits. Imaginations went wild with ideas of travelling to holiday destinations via magic carpets, flying hamburgers, and cruise ships!
SERENA WONG
Teacher
Join us at the Harmony Day Picnic!
In cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home, please join us for the 2023 Harmony Day Picnic at the Penbank Campus on Thursday 30 March from 4.45 to 8pm!
Featuring music and dance by:
- Sambado – Spontaneous swinging Brazilian samba
- Asanti Beats – the spirit and joy of West African music and acrobatics
- Indigenous Outreach Project – Hip Hop
All proceeds on the night go towards Woodleigh School’s Indigenous Scholarship Fund.
Federal Government Student Residential Address (and Other Information) Collection
The Australian Government Department of Education has requested for Woodleigh School to provide the residential address and other information for all enrolled students. Under the Australian Education Regulation 2013, the school is required to provide the department with the following information about each student at the school:
• Names and residential addresses of student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s)
• Student residential address (excluding student names)
• Whether the student is a primary or secondary student (education level)
• Whether the student is boarding or a day student (boarding status).
The 2023 Student Residential Address and Other Information Collection (Address Collection) will open in SchoolsHUB on Wednesday 15 February 2023, with data submitted by Wednesday 15 March 2023.
Please refer to the attached document for full details of the collection.
For further information about the Address Collection, visit the SchoolsHUB Address Collection help and support page or contact the Address Collection helpdesk at SEShelpdesk@education.gov.au or on 1800 677 027 (option 4).
PAMELA GREEN
Data Manager
Late on Wednesday 1 March, just before I left for Tasmania, I received the news that Michael Norman, the Founding Principal of Woodleigh School, had passed away. Michael led the development, establishment, and early years of Woodleigh School from 1974 to 1980, as it expanded from a thriving, small co-educational primary school (now known as Minimbah) into secondary education.
Leading a passionate and involved community of parents and educators, he set the school on this new adventure with vision, energy, and purpose. He took what he saw in the Minimbah learning community - a community not bound by tradition, open to the future – and transplanted those values, ideals, and philosophy into the Woodleigh flower farm here on Golf Links Road.
Every choice made in the design and building of Woodleigh was informed by a deep understanding of the difference between ‘education’ and ‘schooling’. His move away from institutionalised, post-industrial ‘schooling’ allowed adolescents to develop, find their passions and grow – as learners and human beings – gaining an education that was both academic and personal. In their six years of growth at Woodleigh, students would leave this place knowing themselves and the world, and understanding their place in it.
Fifty years have passed since Woodleigh was a dream in the minds of the Minimbah community. What exists today is as much Michael’s legacy as it is a school that continues to strive to meet the contemporary needs of young people. His big-picture thinking – grounded in research, community engagement and a deep-thinking, philosophical approach - saw him guide generations of young people to find balance – balance between personal development, social responsibility, academic achievement, and practical competence. His development of cross-age learning opportunities are legendary. Perhaps his biggest legacy is the Homestead system, where students co-habit with younger and older students, learning to be responsible for and respectful of themselves, each other and the environment.
Professionally, he has inspired generations of teachers to put the needs of students and young people ahead of the needs of ‘the institution’.
To Woodleigh, the most enduring legacy is the impact he has made on generations of young people who have received their education under him or since him. His oft-quoted, “We ought never to do for young people what they, with a struggle, could be expected to be doing for themselves”, remains at the forefront of what we do in 2023 and will continue to do in years to come.
Michael leaves us, a community of educators and parents, with a question, a challenge:
Long may we continue to struggle and approach education as an adventure.
Our thoughts, love and support go out to Michael’s children, Claire, Mark and Brett, and his extended family and friends.
DAVID BAKER
Principal
The term has been busily ticking away. We started our first gig with a bang, the Minimbah Fair. The brand-new, 2023 Minimbah Rock Band made its debut performance at the fair last week. They rocked out to 'Danger Zone', bringing the crowd alive.
It was wonderful to have many SC Rock Bands and the j6ers join us to help entertain the crowd. Many of these groups feature past Minimbah students. It is fabulous to see them continue to grow musically when they leave our little campus.
We are now preparing for Harmony Day and Grandparents Day. We are looking forward to sharing music with the Penbank Campus for the Harmony Day picnic which will be held at Penbank, on Thursday 30 March. The students have been learning the Torres Straight Island song ‘Kaiapi’, during their choir sessions. This will be performed with all students from both junior campuses. Students have volunteered to be part of smaller ensembles performing with Sambado and Asanti Beats. All students will learn a dance when the Indigenous Outreach Project visits later in the term.
It feels like we have only just shared music with our Grandparents, but it is on the horizon again. We are busily rehearsing for this very special event in our school calendar. We are aiming to have every child perform at the Grandparents Day morning tea this year.
While all this is happening, the classroom program ticks on:
· During class music, Year 6 have spent time preparing for Matilda auditions and trying to answer some big questions, including 'What is Sound?' and 'What is Music?'. Music Workshop has seen the students continue to learn their orchestral instruments. This year we will focus on playing as an ensemble
· Year 5 have been looking at the 'Instruments of the Orchestra’ in preparation for the Music Workshop Round Robin. Students try 6 different orchestral instruments - flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, violin and cello
· Year 4 have been learning 'classic' melodies using the beautiful sounding xylophones; working on music reading and aural learning skills
· The Year 3's have made a superb start with learning new skills on the recorder. We have focused on warming up, being sure of our notes and emphasizing the importance of making a good tone
· Rhythm and beat have been at the forefront of music for Year 1 and Year 2. Students have demonstrated their understanding of beat and rhythm using 'nature' as instruments and as a different mode of music notation. Leaves, bark, sticks, pods etc. were used in different ways to create sounds – scraping/striking/shaking. It was interesting to hear how many different sounds we could make
· Foundation have learned songs about swimming and have been bringing the story 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' to life, using untuned percussion to provide sound effects. Look out for this at an upcoming assembly!
We are looking forward to seeing you all at the Harmony Day Picnic at Penbank on Thursday 30 March.
SUE FLETCHER and JOHN BECKLEY
Minimbah Music Teachers
It has been a busy but fun start to the year in the Minimbah Library!
Foundation have settled in well and quickly picked up the library routines each week. They are enjoyed the picture book collection and taking books home to share with loved ones each week. Foundation students have become lunchtime activity experts and loved sharing and connecting to stories about friendships.
Year 1 and Year 2 have been enjoying stories that celebrate the many different family structures that exist, to link into the Who We Are unit of inquiry. We loved reading ‘ And Tango makes Three’ A true story of two male penguins in the Central Park Zoo who created a family together. Mrs Wright asked the students, ‘Who is in your family?’ and they recreated their family as penguins.
INSERT PHOTOS ‘penguins 1-4’ here
This year some changes were made to the Year Three to Six library sessions as a way of providing greater opportunity for students to spend uninterrupted borrowing time in the library with myself and their classroom teacher. This time allows children to make suitable reading choices that reflect their abilities and interests. So far, the student response to these sessions has been outstanding!
We have seen students become more open-minded and take risks by trying books that they may not have selected themselves. These sessions have also contributed to the positive culture of reading within the school. Our 1-hour library lessons have enabled students to have more time and space to connect to big ideas and support elements of classroom units of inquiry, including links to the learner profiles, ATL’s (Approaches To Learning), and concepts, through creative responses to books in the library. We have some exciting projects in the works and look forward to sharing them in the next Messenger with you.
BRIONY WRIGHT
Minimbah Librarian
We had a fun time preparing for the MInimbah Fair performances this week!
Learning choreography, rehearsing and polishing our moves really highlights the importance of working as a team. We even joined body shapes together to create a human bicycle, complete with moving parts! Everyone shone in their own way.
Check out these rock star poses from our Year 3 and 4 groups!
SERENA WONG
Teacher
Selamat Pagi kelas!
(Good morning class!)
Learning to greet each other is an important part of starting our Indonesian lessons.
Our classes have been filled with many exciting learning opportunities. Foundation learned about working as a team and keeping the avocado together in a game of “Alpukat!”, followed by a journey through magical pathways of changing habitats and animals.
Years 1 and 2 explored storytelling through freeze frames and body shapes, building on their vocabulary and imagination through our “Family Holiday” skits. Imaginations went wild with ideas of travelling to holiday destinations via magic carpets, flying hamburgers, and cruise ships!
SERENA WONG
Teacher
In cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home, please join us for the 2023 Harmony Day Picnic at the Penbank Campus on Thursday 30 March from 4.45 to 8pm!
Featuring music and dance by:
- Sambado – Spontaneous swinging Brazilian samba
- Asanti Beats – the spirit and joy of West African music and acrobatics
- Indigenous Outreach Project – Hip Hop
All proceeds on the night go towards Woodleigh School’s Indigenous Scholarship Fund.
The Australian Government Department of Education has requested for Woodleigh School to provide the residential address and other information for all enrolled students. Under the Australian Education Regulation 2013, the school is required to provide the department with the following information about each student at the school:
• Names and residential addresses of student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s)
• Student residential address (excluding student names)
• Whether the student is a primary or secondary student (education level)
• Whether the student is boarding or a day student (boarding status).
The 2023 Student Residential Address and Other Information Collection (Address Collection) will open in SchoolsHUB on Wednesday 15 February 2023, with data submitted by Wednesday 15 March 2023.
Please refer to the attached document for full details of the collection.
For further information about the Address Collection, visit the SchoolsHUB Address Collection help and support page or contact the Address Collection helpdesk at SEShelpdesk@education.gov.au or on 1800 677 027 (option 4).
PAMELA GREEN
Data Manager