- Today's World is Full of Complexity
- Canberra Study Tour 2022
- Term 2 in the art room has seen students begin to flourish!
- Term 2 in the Library
- Bayside District Primary Schools Sports Association Cross Country Running Championship
- Minimbah Indonesian Update
- National Sorry Day
- Discover the Senior Campus
- Minimbah Space Disco
- Minimbah Christmas in July
- Woodleigh School National Reconciliation Week Gathering
- Raising Colourful and Adventurous Eaters with Dietician Kate Wengier
- Almost, Maine – Tickets on Sale
Today's World is Full of Complexity
A summary look at the news of the past 12 months presents an interesting time in our history. This time has been marked by natural disasters and pandemics, global conflict and significant shifts in the political landscape both in Australia and abroad. It may be that these are unusual times, out of the ordinary, or perhaps this is the new norm. Our world is incredibly complex, filled with challenges at all levels of society and in all areas across the globe. Most of these challenges and complexities come about at the hand of man; others are part of the natural cycle of change outside of human control.
Photos from the Senior Campus Bush Week Planting Session with Year 7s and Year 12s
As an educator who started his career in the 90s, I have spent most of my career talking about my students' need to develop 21st-century skills. Well, we are well and truly embedded in the 21st Century, and these skills are needed now more than ever.
Young people need the ability to unpack complexity to make sense of the many issues facing our world. They need to become innovative and creative problem solvers with high-level interpersonal skills that enable them to lead social change and enterprise.
Photos from Penbank's Prep Science Incursion
Learning Our Way Out of Problems
Recently, our research partnership with the University of Melbourne took several Woodleigh staff members and me to a workshop led by Tony McKay. Our partnership is investigating new ways of assessing learning in our schools and, by definition, new ways of teaching children, and Tony, one of the most prominent educational advisors and leaders in Australia, spoke about the complexities and problems in our world. He also spoke about the importance of education and the possibility that, as a race, humans could learn ourselves out of the complexities and the challenges we face into a positive collaborative future.
His is an incredibly optimistic view of how we can approach the challenge which exists for our planet, yet it holds enormous weight and, in many respects, may be our only option. However, to do so requires a shift in the way we do things. This shift requires us to think deeply about what we are teaching our kids, how we engage them in their learning and what capabilities they will need to make a difference to our future.
We are the current stewards of our planet, and education needs to think about how we can prepare future generations for this stewardship. This is not a project or a bespoke interest that we have, but a fundamental shift required in how we do things. This is fast becoming a national imperative. Our partnership and work with the New Metrics team at Melbourne University will significantly influence how this transformation will occur across Australia and the globe.
Photos from Minimbah's Reconciliation Week Assembly
Building a Better Measure of Success
The starting point for us as a collective of schools is to redefine the way we define excellence. We currently have such a narrow band to define what we consider good learning or understanding. Historically, this has been based upon a traditional interpretation of education as a sorting mechanism that helps society decide who works where. We need to broaden our definition to a strengths-based model where students can understand and manage complexity, develop self-awareness, and collaborate with others to innovate and create.
There are several models of learning that support this process. They all have a sense of student agency or designing student learning to allow students to have agency about how they approach their learning.
Agency is more than simply voice and choice; agency is taking responsibility for how they learn and, in many respects, where they take their learning. In short, these models encourage students to act with purpose, reflect on their actions and understand learning at an individual, collaborative and collective level. Students need to know how to have agency on a moral level, a creative level, and how to add value with their actions.
Our work with the University, as part of the New Metrics program, is supporting our school to develop new metrics (funnily enough) that define success in a much broader and more sophisticated manner and in a way that honours the strengths of our students and promotes and supports student agency. These new metrics will redefine how we design learning in the classroom and, most importantly, how we support genuine, authentic and deep learning.
Later this year, I look forward to sharing our new strategic plan with the School community. This plan will be underpinned by student learning and our desire as a school to purposefully develop each student so that they can thrive in an ever-changing and complex world. It will also be a plan that captures our planet's need to learn our way out of complex problems and into a positive and collective future.
Take care,
DAVID BAKER
Principal
Canberra Study Tour 2022
A trip to Canberra in Year 6 is a bit of a rite of passage. Visiting the nation’s capital fits with the curriculum and the timing of such a BIG trip seems to suit the age frame and maturity of the students. But why do we go? Why should we go?
There is nothing better than being immersed in culture and place. By landing in Canberra, we experience first-hand the design and purpose of the place, and we witness the various functions performed by national industries. We feel the importance of collections gathered especially for national galleries and we get the sense of connection between the decision-makers and the people.
Gigi says… We go to Canberra to learn more about government and what goes on behind the scenes. We want to come back as better and more curious learners. And we want to be able to think about our future and learn that we have a big say too.
The Canberra Study Tour is the cornerstone of action for the Unit of Inquiry – How We Organise Ourselves. And boy, do we have to be organised on the tour! There is a jam-packed itinerary that takes in most of Canberra’s attractions with the Minimbah kids engaged with everything from an illuminated model of the city to passing a bill about water tanks at Parliament House. Some of the highlights this year included learning about the history of money after European settlement in Australia, sketching a collaborative Indigenous artwork at the Portrait Gallery, hearing from an elder at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, arguing about the value of Blue Poles at the National Gallery, and spotting the nocturnal wildlife at the Botanic Gardens.
Lily says… My highlight in Canberra was when we went to Old Parliament House, and I became Joan Child – the last Speaker before the move to Parliament House. This was a new sense of learning, and it got my creative juices flowing.
Prior to leaving, the students had set up a reflection platform on their iPads using PowerPoint. This gave them a way to organise the itinerary, their daily reflections through text or voice recordings, and photos or evidence that they collected along the way. As well as reflecting on their experiences each day, the students had developed their own personal question which they were expected to consider everywhere they went. The students’ questions were developed using careful thought and discussion about the concepts of responsibility, function, perspective, and connection. They also considered their own interests or passions. Some of the questions are listed below.
If this place didn't exist, what would society be missing? – Ruben
How do leaders make decisions? What do they consider when making decisions? – Ruby F
What systems are in place to preserve what's important? - Joseph
A Tourdementry: Exploring the interdependence between locations and citizens. – Claudia
How are Art and Creativity represented in the different places in Canberra? – James
Was Canberra built in the right place? – Lenny
Who is the leader? How do they show leadership through action? – Maddie
Are all protests as important as each other? – Patrick
On returning to school, the students have been concentrating on finalising their reflections, answering their ‘big question’ and presenting their findings. We are all looking forward to sharing our Canberra experience with the school community at our upcoming Assembly.
Here are some thoughts expressed by the students on their return:
If you go to Canberra at this time of year, the weather is beautiful, and the autumn leaves are stunning. – Ashanah
I learnt that all the coins in Australia are made in one place. - Jampa
We really relied on each other, basically living together. I needed my mates to be sensible in the rooms. – Nate
I learnt that you could not borrow books from the National Library and that if a politician is late to parliament they can get locked out. - Joe
You must be respectful when you are walking around and going to your room. – Sierra
There’s a difference between having a willingness to learn and having a closed mind. – Lachie
I learnt that ‘Exit’ signs cannot be red unless in the Senate. – Elise
I didn’t expect the food to be that good! – Liv and Molly
This trip to Canberra was an absolute treat for students and staff alike – enormous thanks to Rod, Jo, Lisa, Nicci and Aviv for accompanying us. The students were so curious and eager to enjoy everything we did. As well as all the ‘study stuff’ we found plenty of time for play and laughs and some fierce competition at the bowling alley. It was so wonderful to be together and to build friendships through experiences.
Charlie says… Going to Canberra was great, especially because we got to go with our friends. Doing things with friends is always so much fun, even if it is something little, it’s always fun. But Canberra was even better; so many things to experience, all with friends. Playing cards, sharing rooms and learning; without friends, honestly, Canberra would have been nowhere near as good.
JACQUI and JONNO
Year 6 Teachers
Term 2 in the art room has seen students begin to flourish!
ECC are looking at artists that celebrate colour, such as Piet Mondrian and Alma Woodsey Thomas.
Foundation students are reviewing colour theory, mixing paint and plasticine to create secondary colours, as well as tints and shades.
Year 1 are creating BIG shapes, inspired by Australian mural artist Hayleigh Mischief Lord.
Year 2 will explore the rainbow dreamz works of Indigenous artist Mali Isabel of the Arabana and Kokatha people.
Year 3 and 4 students are working on their growth mindset and creating large self-portrait planters using plaster sheets.
Year 5 will look at the work of American artist Jen Stark and explore pattern and colour in 3D artworks.
Year 6 are taking a look at some Australian history, including landmark Australian buildings and the works of Australian artist Sidney Nolan.
SAMANTHA DOMINICHI
Art Teacher
Term 2 in the Library
Term 2 has been another busy term in the library. Foundation to Year 2 students have embraced our Non-Fiction collection, learning about the features of Non-Fiction texts whilst learning weird and wonderful facts!
‘Non-Fiction tells us the truth’ Jordyn, Foundation
‘Non-Fiction books are full of facts’ Ned, Foundation
‘If the book has something made up in it, then it can’t be Non-Fiction. All Non- Fiction books must have real information’ Jack B, Year 1
‘The get the information for the Non-Fiction books by watching and observing things’ Lara, Year 1.
Our Year Three and Four students have enjoyed learning about deadly inventions from the First Scientists exploring a book by Corey Tutt. They have had fun creating bark canoes in the courtyard like the first engineers of our country and recently have sharpened their research skills whilst learning about bush medicine. We are looking forward to a day with Lionel in week 7 where he will share more knowledge on Indigenous plants found on the school grounds and ways they can be used in the modern world.
In Year Five, students have been working with a fantastic picture book, The All New Must Have Orange 430 by Michael Speechly. This story links in with their current unit of inquiry centred around businesses and follows a young boy who simply must have a new shiny object, only to realise the advertising tricked him and the object is rather useless. They have been working hard to create a prototype of their own useless object and are currently creating an advertisement of choice as they try and persuade their peers to want their object.
Year Six students have embarked on their annual Buddy Books – where they write and illustrate a picture book for their Foundation buddy. This year, we are engaging with a course run by Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo. As we go along the journey with her, the Year 6 students are beginning to draw inspiration and form ideas for their stories. This is an activity many of our students have been looking forward to and I’m excited to see the final product!
And of course, Library wouldn’t be library without some whole school celebrations. Last week we celebrated IDAHOBIT Day, as we shared in stories about inclusion, acceptance, and the power of being yourself. Students created coloured hands that represented themselves and engaged in thoughtful and interesting discussions around gender stereotypes often found in books. Our Y6 students had fun looking at how the iconic character, Bluey, challenges those gender stereotypes and enjoyed making cartoon characters of their own.
I look forward to sharing more news from the library with you in Term 3.
BRIONY WRIGHT
Librarian
Bayside District Primary Schools Sports Association Cross Country Running Championship
On Friday, 20 May, over 70 students from Minimbah travelled to the Senior Campus to compete in the annual Bayside District Cross Country Running event. In still, cloudy, and ideal running conditions, they ran on a course that winds its way around the Wildlife Nature Reserve in the top paddocks behind Cruden Oval.
Competing with over 500 students from 11 other schools, our students produced a sensational team effort, winning the Division 2 Junior Shield, Senior Shield, and the Combined Team Championship Shield.
The team was very well led by a large group of Year 6 students nominated as Team Leaders for this physically demanding event and the many training sessions in the weeks leading up to the championship.
Final scores for the Division 2 Championship were –
1st : Woodleigh School – 658
2nd : Frankston East PS – 1004
3rd : Karingal PS - 1230
4th : Ballam Park PS -1296
5th : St Francis Xavier PS - 1630
6th : Karingal Heights PS - 1913
Congratulations to all team members and, in particular, to the following students who have now qualified to run in the Northern Peninsula Division Championships at the Hastings Foreshore Reserve on Wednesday, 31 May, by placing in the top 10 at the District Championships. The whole school community congratulate them on outstanding personal achievements and wishes them well in their endeavours. Well done!
9 Year Old Girls: Ashley Provan 9th Eadie Rix 10th
9 Year Old Boys: Jett Dwight 9th
10 Year Old Girls: Milly Williams 5th
10 Year Old Boys: Dallas Teleskivi 3rd Brodie Johnson 4th
11 Year Old Girls: Molly Barrett 2nd Gabby McGuiness 4th Samaya Boatwright 5th Tilly Falkingham 7th Olivia Matthews 8th Willow Boadle 9th
11 Year Old Boys: Ethan Gately 6th
12 Year Old Boys: Nate Shepherd 1st Lachlan Palmer 8th
MARK RODEN
Sportsmaster
Minimbah Indonesian Update
Year 3 and 4
Students have been learning about the rich biodiversity of Indonesian rainforests. The focus has been on animals and deforestation and how this problem directly impacts habitat loss. While the students have been learning words and phrases that describe animals, they have also taken a keen interest in exploring ways in which we can preserve and maintain the environment. It has been wonderful to watch the children learn a language and demonstrate a passion for wanting to take responsibility for the future of the planet. This topic explored the unit of inquiry, Sharing The Planet.
Year 5
The students had fun exploring the art of Indonesian storytelling by learning about the Wayang Kulit. They also used the wayang as an object to name parts of the body in Indonesian. The Wayang Kulit is a traditional type of puppet theatre that is popular throughout Indonesia. It has also been proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, thus preserving this ancient tradition. One of the topics that the children found interesting was using the Wayang Kulit to perform a rendition of Star Wars. This was an important part of our unit of inquiry, How We Express Ourselves, highlighting how globalisation changes communities and traditions.
Year 6
One of the students’ favourite topics is always food! The unit of inquiry, Where We Are In Place And Time, investigates how culture influences and preserves Indonesian cuisine, including fast food. The children learned about different sambals, a popular chilli sauce used in modern and traditional cuisine. As part of this topic, the students are in the process of writing a role play about ordering in an Indonesian fast-food restaurant. This activity is an opportunity for them to practise and develop their translation and speaking skills and learn about local and global perspectives on food.
Sampai jumpa!
TAMARA McKERNIN
Indonesian Teacher
National Sorry Day
Today is Nation Sorry Day.
It is a day for acknowledging the trauma and loss that continues to affect Indigenous communities, families and individuals, as a result of the wrongs done to Australia's First Nation's People.
Minimbah held their Reconciliation Week Assembly this morning, and we had Uncle Shane Clayton and his children, Lakeisha and Shane Jr from the Bunarong Land Council, welcome us onto country.
Woodleigh parent Brian Walker also spoke, sharing stories of his family's experience of the Stolen Generations.
National Reconciliation Week starts tomorrow, following the theme, Be Brave. Make Change. We look forward to sharing our reconciliation efforts throughout the coming week and at the Reconciliation Week Gathering next Wednesday, where we will launch Woodleigh's Reconciliation Action Plan.
Discover the Senior Campus
The Head of Senior Campus, Nat McLennan, invites you to join her and the Principal, David Baker, for an introduction to Senior Campus life and a student-led tour of the Campus.
The transition from Minimbah and Penbank to the Senior Campus is a significant step in the lives of Woodleigh students and their families – one we hope to ease by building a sense of comfort and belonging prior to the start of Year 7.
Morning tea will be served before the tours, and while this event is intended for parents, not students, young children are more than welcome to attend with you.
If you cannot attend this event, we will be running a second session in Term 3.
We hope to see you at Senior Campus on June 16!
BOOK NOWMinimbah Space Disco
Minimbah's PFG Student Disco is Back!
Join the fun in the Minimbah Hall on Friday 17 June!
- 3YO ECC–Y2 Disco 5.15-6.45pm
- Year 3-6 Disco 7.00-8.30pm
A light dinner is included in the entry price.
- BYO drink bottle and support this zero-waste event
There will be a 'Parents Lounge' in the 5/6 Homestead – tea and coffee available
And of course, DON’T FORGET TO DRESS UP in our SPACE theme!
All profits go to Edgar's Mission.
BOOK NOWMinimbah Christmas in July
Rod and Kerrie invite all Minimbah Parents to celebrate Christmas in July.
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Join us in the Minimbah Hall for an evening of fun and games in a wintry Christmas wonderland.
Have a boogie to the tunes of our fabulous DJ, Father Christmix, and enjoy a drink on arrival, further drinks at bar prices, and delicious food!
Bad Christmas jumpers are encouraged… warm Christmas spirit is essential!
BOOK NOWWoodleigh School National Reconciliation Week Gathering
In the spirit of Reconciliation, Woodleigh School welcomes all community members to join us for the 2022 National Reconciliation Week School Gathering.
Featuring guest Speakers Eva Jo and Monica Weightman, the 2022 event will also feature the presentation of the Woodleigh Reconciliation Action Plan.
We are delighted to be sharing our RAP with the school community as we continue to be brave and make change in our school and community.
Catering on the night is by Cooee Cafe. Please RSVP by Friday 27 May for catering purposes.
BOOK NOWRaising Colourful and Adventurous Eaters with Dietician Kate Wengier
Raising Colourful & Adventurous Eaters – with dietitian Kate Wengier
Tired of yucks at the dinner table? Wished your children ate more veggies?
Join Kate Wengier, dietitian and mum, from Foost as she gives you healthy family eating tips and teaches you how to make mealtimes more enjoyable.
Find out how to:
- Handle fussy eaters
- Provide tips on introducing new foods
- Healthy eating habits
- Tips on preparing meals and snacks kids will actually eat!
Wednesday 8 June at 7pm via Zoom.
BOOK NOWAlmost, Maine – Tickets on Sale
Almost, Maine (PG)-is a series of loosely connected stories about the residents of a fictional remote town in Maine called “Almost.” Each scene happens at exactly 9:00PM in the middle of winter, as the northern lights hover in the sky.
Relationships end, begin, or change beyond recognition, as strangers become friends, friends become lovers, and lovers turn into strangers.
“Well, I can’t help it. It just came over me…I’ve fallen in love with you…”
At times realistic and at times absurd, Almost, Maine is mostly very funny with an element of sentimental “magic.”
Experience the life-altering power of the human heart and have your heart touched and warmed in the process.
Note: Almost, Maine will be streamed to ticket holders in the event that a live performance is unable to go ahead due to Covid.
BOOK NOWA trip to Canberra in Year 6 is a bit of a rite of passage. Visiting the nation’s capital fits with the curriculum and the timing of such a BIG trip seems to suit the age frame and maturity of the students. But why do we go? Why should we go?
There is nothing better than being immersed in culture and place. By landing in Canberra, we experience first-hand the design and purpose of the place, and we witness the various functions performed by national industries. We feel the importance of collections gathered especially for national galleries and we get the sense of connection between the decision-makers and the people.
Gigi says… We go to Canberra to learn more about government and what goes on behind the scenes. We want to come back as better and more curious learners. And we want to be able to think about our future and learn that we have a big say too.
The Canberra Study Tour is the cornerstone of action for the Unit of Inquiry – How We Organise Ourselves. And boy, do we have to be organised on the tour! There is a jam-packed itinerary that takes in most of Canberra’s attractions with the Minimbah kids engaged with everything from an illuminated model of the city to passing a bill about water tanks at Parliament House. Some of the highlights this year included learning about the history of money after European settlement in Australia, sketching a collaborative Indigenous artwork at the Portrait Gallery, hearing from an elder at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, arguing about the value of Blue Poles at the National Gallery, and spotting the nocturnal wildlife at the Botanic Gardens.
Lily says… My highlight in Canberra was when we went to Old Parliament House, and I became Joan Child – the last Speaker before the move to Parliament House. This was a new sense of learning, and it got my creative juices flowing.
Prior to leaving, the students had set up a reflection platform on their iPads using PowerPoint. This gave them a way to organise the itinerary, their daily reflections through text or voice recordings, and photos or evidence that they collected along the way. As well as reflecting on their experiences each day, the students had developed their own personal question which they were expected to consider everywhere they went. The students’ questions were developed using careful thought and discussion about the concepts of responsibility, function, perspective, and connection. They also considered their own interests or passions. Some of the questions are listed below.
If this place didn't exist, what would society be missing? – Ruben
How do leaders make decisions? What do they consider when making decisions? – Ruby F
What systems are in place to preserve what's important? - Joseph
A Tourdementry: Exploring the interdependence between locations and citizens. – Claudia
How are Art and Creativity represented in the different places in Canberra? – James
Was Canberra built in the right place? – Lenny
Who is the leader? How do they show leadership through action? – Maddie
Are all protests as important as each other? – Patrick
On returning to school, the students have been concentrating on finalising their reflections, answering their ‘big question’ and presenting their findings. We are all looking forward to sharing our Canberra experience with the school community at our upcoming Assembly.
Here are some thoughts expressed by the students on their return:
If you go to Canberra at this time of year, the weather is beautiful, and the autumn leaves are stunning. – Ashanah
I learnt that all the coins in Australia are made in one place. - Jampa
We really relied on each other, basically living together. I needed my mates to be sensible in the rooms. – Nate
I learnt that you could not borrow books from the National Library and that if a politician is late to parliament they can get locked out. - Joe
You must be respectful when you are walking around and going to your room. – Sierra
There’s a difference between having a willingness to learn and having a closed mind. – Lachie
I learnt that ‘Exit’ signs cannot be red unless in the Senate. – Elise
I didn’t expect the food to be that good! – Liv and Molly
This trip to Canberra was an absolute treat for students and staff alike – enormous thanks to Rod, Jo, Lisa, Nicci and Aviv for accompanying us. The students were so curious and eager to enjoy everything we did. As well as all the ‘study stuff’ we found plenty of time for play and laughs and some fierce competition at the bowling alley. It was so wonderful to be together and to build friendships through experiences.
Charlie says… Going to Canberra was great, especially because we got to go with our friends. Doing things with friends is always so much fun, even if it is something little, it’s always fun. But Canberra was even better; so many things to experience, all with friends. Playing cards, sharing rooms and learning; without friends, honestly, Canberra would have been nowhere near as good.
JACQUI and JONNO
Year 6 Teachers
ECC are looking at artists that celebrate colour, such as Piet Mondrian and Alma Woodsey Thomas.
Foundation students are reviewing colour theory, mixing paint and plasticine to create secondary colours, as well as tints and shades.
Year 1 are creating BIG shapes, inspired by Australian mural artist Hayleigh Mischief Lord.
Year 2 will explore the rainbow dreamz works of Indigenous artist Mali Isabel of the Arabana and Kokatha people.
Year 3 and 4 students are working on their growth mindset and creating large self-portrait planters using plaster sheets.
Year 5 will look at the work of American artist Jen Stark and explore pattern and colour in 3D artworks.
Year 6 are taking a look at some Australian history, including landmark Australian buildings and the works of Australian artist Sidney Nolan.
SAMANTHA DOMINICHI
Art Teacher
Term 2 has been another busy term in the library. Foundation to Year 2 students have embraced our Non-Fiction collection, learning about the features of Non-Fiction texts whilst learning weird and wonderful facts!
‘Non-Fiction tells us the truth’ Jordyn, Foundation
‘Non-Fiction books are full of facts’ Ned, Foundation
‘If the book has something made up in it, then it can’t be Non-Fiction. All Non- Fiction books must have real information’ Jack B, Year 1
‘The get the information for the Non-Fiction books by watching and observing things’ Lara, Year 1.
Our Year Three and Four students have enjoyed learning about deadly inventions from the First Scientists exploring a book by Corey Tutt. They have had fun creating bark canoes in the courtyard like the first engineers of our country and recently have sharpened their research skills whilst learning about bush medicine. We are looking forward to a day with Lionel in week 7 where he will share more knowledge on Indigenous plants found on the school grounds and ways they can be used in the modern world.
In Year Five, students have been working with a fantastic picture book, The All New Must Have Orange 430 by Michael Speechly. This story links in with their current unit of inquiry centred around businesses and follows a young boy who simply must have a new shiny object, only to realise the advertising tricked him and the object is rather useless. They have been working hard to create a prototype of their own useless object and are currently creating an advertisement of choice as they try and persuade their peers to want their object.
Year Six students have embarked on their annual Buddy Books – where they write and illustrate a picture book for their Foundation buddy. This year, we are engaging with a course run by Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo. As we go along the journey with her, the Year 6 students are beginning to draw inspiration and form ideas for their stories. This is an activity many of our students have been looking forward to and I’m excited to see the final product!
And of course, Library wouldn’t be library without some whole school celebrations. Last week we celebrated IDAHOBIT Day, as we shared in stories about inclusion, acceptance, and the power of being yourself. Students created coloured hands that represented themselves and engaged in thoughtful and interesting discussions around gender stereotypes often found in books. Our Y6 students had fun looking at how the iconic character, Bluey, challenges those gender stereotypes and enjoyed making cartoon characters of their own.
I look forward to sharing more news from the library with you in Term 3.
BRIONY WRIGHT
Librarian
On Friday, 20 May, over 70 students from Minimbah travelled to the Senior Campus to compete in the annual Bayside District Cross Country Running event. In still, cloudy, and ideal running conditions, they ran on a course that winds its way around the Wildlife Nature Reserve in the top paddocks behind Cruden Oval.
Competing with over 500 students from 11 other schools, our students produced a sensational team effort, winning the Division 2 Junior Shield, Senior Shield, and the Combined Team Championship Shield.
The team was very well led by a large group of Year 6 students nominated as Team Leaders for this physically demanding event and the many training sessions in the weeks leading up to the championship.
Final scores for the Division 2 Championship were –
1st : Woodleigh School – 658
2nd : Frankston East PS – 1004
3rd : Karingal PS - 1230
4th : Ballam Park PS -1296
5th : St Francis Xavier PS - 1630
6th : Karingal Heights PS - 1913
Congratulations to all team members and, in particular, to the following students who have now qualified to run in the Northern Peninsula Division Championships at the Hastings Foreshore Reserve on Wednesday, 31 May, by placing in the top 10 at the District Championships. The whole school community congratulate them on outstanding personal achievements and wishes them well in their endeavours. Well done!
9 Year Old Girls: Ashley Provan 9th Eadie Rix 10th
9 Year Old Boys: Jett Dwight 9th
10 Year Old Girls: Milly Williams 5th
10 Year Old Boys: Dallas Teleskivi 3rd Brodie Johnson 4th
11 Year Old Girls: Molly Barrett 2nd Gabby McGuiness 4th Samaya Boatwright 5th Tilly Falkingham 7th Olivia Matthews 8th Willow Boadle 9th
11 Year Old Boys: Ethan Gately 6th
12 Year Old Boys: Nate Shepherd 1st Lachlan Palmer 8th
MARK RODEN
Sportsmaster
Year 3 and 4
Students have been learning about the rich biodiversity of Indonesian rainforests. The focus has been on animals and deforestation and how this problem directly impacts habitat loss. While the students have been learning words and phrases that describe animals, they have also taken a keen interest in exploring ways in which we can preserve and maintain the environment. It has been wonderful to watch the children learn a language and demonstrate a passion for wanting to take responsibility for the future of the planet. This topic explored the unit of inquiry, Sharing The Planet.
Year 5
The students had fun exploring the art of Indonesian storytelling by learning about the Wayang Kulit. They also used the wayang as an object to name parts of the body in Indonesian. The Wayang Kulit is a traditional type of puppet theatre that is popular throughout Indonesia. It has also been proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, thus preserving this ancient tradition. One of the topics that the children found interesting was using the Wayang Kulit to perform a rendition of Star Wars. This was an important part of our unit of inquiry, How We Express Ourselves, highlighting how globalisation changes communities and traditions.
Year 6
One of the students’ favourite topics is always food! The unit of inquiry, Where We Are In Place And Time, investigates how culture influences and preserves Indonesian cuisine, including fast food. The children learned about different sambals, a popular chilli sauce used in modern and traditional cuisine. As part of this topic, the students are in the process of writing a role play about ordering in an Indonesian fast-food restaurant. This activity is an opportunity for them to practise and develop their translation and speaking skills and learn about local and global perspectives on food.
Sampai jumpa!
TAMARA McKERNIN
Indonesian Teacher
Today is Nation Sorry Day.
It is a day for acknowledging the trauma and loss that continues to affect Indigenous communities, families and individuals, as a result of the wrongs done to Australia's First Nation's People.
Minimbah held their Reconciliation Week Assembly this morning, and we had Uncle Shane Clayton and his children, Lakeisha and Shane Jr from the Bunarong Land Council, welcome us onto country.
Woodleigh parent Brian Walker also spoke, sharing stories of his family's experience of the Stolen Generations.
National Reconciliation Week starts tomorrow, following the theme, Be Brave. Make Change. We look forward to sharing our reconciliation efforts throughout the coming week and at the Reconciliation Week Gathering next Wednesday, where we will launch Woodleigh's Reconciliation Action Plan.
The Head of Senior Campus, Nat McLennan, invites you to join her and the Principal, David Baker, for an introduction to Senior Campus life and a student-led tour of the Campus.
The transition from Minimbah and Penbank to the Senior Campus is a significant step in the lives of Woodleigh students and their families – one we hope to ease by building a sense of comfort and belonging prior to the start of Year 7.
Morning tea will be served before the tours, and while this event is intended for parents, not students, young children are more than welcome to attend with you.
If you cannot attend this event, we will be running a second session in Term 3.
We hope to see you at Senior Campus on June 16!
BOOK NOWMinimbah's PFG Student Disco is Back!
Join the fun in the Minimbah Hall on Friday 17 June!
- 3YO ECC–Y2 Disco 5.15-6.45pm
- Year 3-6 Disco 7.00-8.30pm
A light dinner is included in the entry price.
- BYO drink bottle and support this zero-waste event
There will be a 'Parents Lounge' in the 5/6 Homestead – tea and coffee available
And of course, DON’T FORGET TO DRESS UP in our SPACE theme!
All profits go to Edgar's Mission.
BOOK NOWRod and Kerrie invite all Minimbah Parents to celebrate Christmas in July.
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Join us in the Minimbah Hall for an evening of fun and games in a wintry Christmas wonderland.
Have a boogie to the tunes of our fabulous DJ, Father Christmix, and enjoy a drink on arrival, further drinks at bar prices, and delicious food!
Bad Christmas jumpers are encouraged… warm Christmas spirit is essential!
BOOK NOWIn the spirit of Reconciliation, Woodleigh School welcomes all community members to join us for the 2022 National Reconciliation Week School Gathering.
Featuring guest Speakers Eva Jo and Monica Weightman, the 2022 event will also feature the presentation of the Woodleigh Reconciliation Action Plan.
We are delighted to be sharing our RAP with the school community as we continue to be brave and make change in our school and community.
Catering on the night is by Cooee Cafe. Please RSVP by Friday 27 May for catering purposes.
BOOK NOWRaising Colourful & Adventurous Eaters – with dietitian Kate Wengier
Tired of yucks at the dinner table? Wished your children ate more veggies?
Join Kate Wengier, dietitian and mum, from Foost as she gives you healthy family eating tips and teaches you how to make mealtimes more enjoyable.
Find out how to:
- Handle fussy eaters
- Provide tips on introducing new foods
- Healthy eating habits
- Tips on preparing meals and snacks kids will actually eat!
Wednesday 8 June at 7pm via Zoom.
BOOK NOWAlmost, Maine (PG)-is a series of loosely connected stories about the residents of a fictional remote town in Maine called “Almost.” Each scene happens at exactly 9:00PM in the middle of winter, as the northern lights hover in the sky.
Relationships end, begin, or change beyond recognition, as strangers become friends, friends become lovers, and lovers turn into strangers.
“Well, I can’t help it. It just came over me…I’ve fallen in love with you…”
At times realistic and at times absurd, Almost, Maine is mostly very funny with an element of sentimental “magic.”
Experience the life-altering power of the human heart and have your heart touched and warmed in the process.