KINDERGARTEN

The Farm

On Wednesday the whole of kindergarten went to Fairfield Farm and we saw some pigs and the pigs were very big and we milked cows and we had a tractor ride and we had fun.

Emma P.  KA

Ideas for life without TV.

You could:

• make a mask.

• listen to the radio.

• play monopoly.

• play outside.

• plant a tree.

 William KB

My Scarecrow

My scarecrow has a smiley face. It has a smile and my scarecrow has a red arm and a red eye. He has a nose that is yellow.

Zachary KB

YEAR 1

Athletics Carnival

On Friday 1/2S went to the oval for the Athletics Carnival.

We were doing it at Cherrybrook Public School. We saw people running in the 100m  race. There are four houses Wrens, Currawongs, Rosellas and Kookaburras. I was second in my race. Then we had a bean bag race. I came third and then it was recess. I ate food. After that it was time to go on to the oval again. Then we did tabloid activities. I felt excited. Then it was lunch.

I liked the carnival because it was fun.  

YEAR 2

Field of Mars!

A recount of an excursion by Annie 2W

On Wednesday, the third of September, Year 2 went on an excursion to the Field of Mars. We got there by bus. I sat next to my Mummy on the way there.

When we got there, we got to meet the teachers, Cate and Pat. Pat didn’t get there as early as Cate did. First Cate told us a little bit about the Field of Mars, and then we got into groups. I got to go with Mummy. The groups were for an activity. You all got a special little container, some with magnifying glasses, some with not. Then you shook the branches of the trees and little bugs would fall into our cups. I got a spider with the cutest eyes!!! Then we had recess. I had shortbread and cream biscuits and lots more. We had to sit on mats called “Lily pads”. Recess was shorter than usual because we had LOTS of things to do.

Then Pat came and Cate took 2W on a bushwalk, while Pat took 2S. While we were on the bushwalk we did lots of things. Cate knows how to call birds!!! We did the cone of silence, and as soon as we started calling, a croaking frog interrupted the silence!!!

Then we started to look at trees and insects in the bush. My favourite part was when we looked at the Old Man Banksia. It was just like the one in our old house!

When we got back from the bushwalk, we went into a little classroom. We learnt about how we could care and look at the environment. The two animals I got were a skink and a centipede.

Then we went round to the side of the classroom, and planted all sorts of different grasses. I chose Wallaby. Then we went home. I had a sensational time!!!

YEAR 3

YEAR THREE'S EXCURSION TO THE MARITIME MUSEUM

On Tuesday 29th July, Year Three went to the Maritime Museum.  We travelled by bus. As soon as we arrived we ate recess hungrily.

After that we clumped onto some steps.  A lady told us about safety rules. Then we were  sorted into groups according to which row we sat in.  I was in a group with Alicia, Jessica, Emma, Emily and Mrs Sparks. 

Our guide was a man who explained lots of things.  There were also Sachin and other boys in the group. He led us to the Endeavour.  It was a beautiful, breathtaking, splendid and ancient ship.  We climbed down the ladder, or what they thought was a ladder.  Alicia told us they were steps.

It was tedious waiting for everyone to finish climbing down the steps so slowly.  When everyone had finished, the guide showed us around the kitchen.  I saw all the pumpkins, onions and other foods that they ate.  The guide showed us the ship's biscuits the sailors ate and told us they tasted bitter,

We walked patiently along to the next room.  The ceiling was so low we had to crawl.  It was the room where trainee officers and boy officers slept.  Sailors and all officers slept on hammocks.  Afterwards my group and I climbed up the ladder.  The room we were in now was sunny and had fresh air coming in.  This was where some officers ate.  In front was a table and  behind me were scarlet apples,  a slice of rich yellow butter, and a cracked and giant piece of bread.  We also got a chance to see the botanist's, astronomers' and doctor's rooms with hammocks in them. They were very tiny.  We saw the artists' rooms.  We also saw a room with the botanist's private writing desk in it.  He had paid a great deal of money to join the search for lands.  It was where mapping was done.

Then we climbed up the same ladder we first climbed down.  After that we were shown where the sailors' toilets were. and learnt how they used them.  We also learnt how long black and white ropes lasted for. 

At the Maritime Museum we learnt that the astronomers made a map of constellations.  There were other people who found Australia other than the ones we learnt about.  We saw what cannonballs and cannons  looked like and learnt how to fire them.

Then we climbed into the HMS Vampire.  This was a different ship.  There were proper showers and toilets in there.  There was also a room with chocolates in it.

I'm pleased that UI had the privilege of going on this excursion.  I told my parents what happened.  I learnt everything which was told to us and I loved going on the Endeavour most.

by Abhira, Year 3

YEAR 4

BURKE AND WILLS

by Scott 4R

In 1860 the Government of South Australia offered a prize to the first expedition to cross the Australian continent from south to north. Policeman, Robert O'Hara Burke led an expedition which left from Royal Park, Melbourne on 20 August 1860.

Burke travelled with 18 people, 25 camels, 22 horses and some wagons. This was the first expedition to use camels as a means of transport. Burke took a 2 year supply of food, as well as 80 pairs of shoes, beds, hats and buckets, as well as some firewood.

The expedition reached Menindee in about 8 weeks. It is believed that while here, Burke heard that Stuart was going to attempt to cross the continent from south to north also.

Burke's plan was to wait at Cooper Creek until the others arrived. But five weeks passed and they did not arrive.

After waiting for the five weeks, Burke became impatient to race to the Gulf of Carpentaria to become the first white men to cross Australia from south to north.

Burke decided to set out with William John Wills, John King and Charles Gray with one horse and six camels and supplies to last for three months. He ordered four other men to remain at Cooper Creek, with William Brahe in charge, and wait three months for their return.

Burke and his party took eight weeks to get from Cooper Creek to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Although they reached the Gulf, they failed to see the sea because mud and thick mangrove swamps blocked their path.

Burke began the return to journey to Cooper Creek immediately. On this journey supplies were short so the men killed and ate one of the camels and later Burke's horse. Charles Gray got sick and died.

Burke began the return to journey to Cooper Creek immediately. On this journey supplies were short so the men killed and ate one of the camels and later Burke's horse. Charles Gray got sick and died.

In his diary Wills wrote:
Our disappointment at finding the depot deserted may easily be imagined; returning in an exhausted state after four months of the severest travelling and privation, with our legs so paralysed so that each found it a most trying task to walk just a few yards.

Burke died of starvation on July 1, 1861. Wills died a few days later.

YEAR 5

THE RAINFOREST - A Powerpoint Show by students in Year 5.  Click the Toucan to open.

MY HERO

My hero is: Mahatma Gandhi. He is a political leader and activist who was born in 1869 and died at the age of 78 by assassination. He lived in India and his religion was Hinduism.

Deeds performed: Gandhi gave independence to India without using violence. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 5 times.

This person is a hero because he treated everybody equally no matter who they were. I admire him because he always stood up for what he thought was right and he did this with non-violence.

Seetha 5J

MY HERO

My hero is Albert Einstein. He was born on the 14 March 1879 in Ulm, Southern Germany. He liked to play with his little sister. His Uncle and his mum helped him at school.

Deeds performed: He received the Nobel Prize in physics for his services to theoretical physics and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.

This person is a hero because although he was not academic at school, he became one of the greatest mathematicians and scientists of all time. He inspires me because one day, I want to be just like him.

Jonathan 5J

YEAR 6

SURF EDUCATION REVIEW

by Savanna 6G

On Wednesday the 19^th of November 2008 Year 6 went to Dee Why beach for surf education. We left at 8:50am and arrived there at about 10:00am. As soon as we arrived we had our recess.  After recess we changed and put on a red rash shirt. We split into three groups of our swimming abilities, and then we headed towards the beach for our activities.

The first activity I was in was the beach games. In the game we stuck flags into the sand. We split up the boys and girls. The boys went first, they had to lie away from the flags in the opposite direction, and then when instructors said ‘go’ they had to quickly turn around and run to the flags. The aim of the game was to try get a flag. Only some people got flags because there were more people than flags. The flag numbers would go down each time. Eventually we had two winners.

Our next activity was in the water we lined up in lines of five and then our two instructors stood in the water away from us. Each person would go once the person in front of them had run around both instructors jumping over the waves without falling over. The aim of the game was to be the first group to finish. The next thing we did was where we had to dive through the waves and also jump over them.

Our third and last activity was surfing. We had to go into lines and then we had to take turns surfing. Each time we surfed an instructor would be with us to help us and guide us. The instructor would briefly teach you how to surf.

For me my favourite activity was diving and jumping through the waves. My least favourite activity was surfing. Mainly because I found it very hard, I didn’t catch the wave properly and hurt myself. After getting wet and sandy we headed back to the changing rooms. On the way back we sat down and had lunch.  We left at about half past one and we arrived back at school at about half past two. This was a really fun and exiting experience.

ANZAC DAY

A Poem by Sarah 6L

With guns at the ready

They marched onward steady

Through mud and rain

Under constant strain

With boot strapped and laced

They went on and raced

With horses astray

And keeping men at bay

Leaving their loved ones

Their daughters and sons

And when they died

Their families cried

For all our heroes

The lost and the found