Tourmont Times

ISSUE 1 • MAY 2020

TOURMONT TIMES FINTONA'S MIDDLE SCHOOL

Age Quod Agis

ISOLATION NEWS

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CONTENTS

Welcome from the editors

title contents book review recipe challenge and sustainability poems poems boredom busters mental health school updates school updates cocurricular interview cocurricular interview remote learning in action

Editorial team: Hera Thavarasah Tara Dadafarin Arabella Boschetto Sudiksha Dand Linh Duong Amelia Graham Mathangi Sritharan Demi Arvanitis Anna Cronin Katerina Marcus Maggie Little

Design team: Isabella Liu Madi Spano Emma Feng Bernice Kha Elizabeth Pantazis

About Tourmont Times Welcome to the first edition of the Tourmont Times. Our aim with this newspaper is to provide fun ideas and inspiration during this time of isolation. Remember we are all in this together! We hope you enjoy the following articles and activities created by the Year 8 Newspaper team, and we would love to receive some feedback! Stay happy and healthy, and do what you do well: Age Quod Agis.

FINTONA

ELEANOR AND PARK BOOK REVIEW

BY TARA DADAFARIN

Eleanor and Park is a comingof-age romance surrounding the life of 2 teenagers in 1986.

Eleanor, a new girl who has difficulty fitting in, and Park, a boy who sits at the back of the bus. Eventually, the two form a connection and explore the concept of falling in love and needing someone. Although the book can arguably express the sense of being in love, its narrations are often unbelievable and unrealistic.

The development of their relationship seems rushed at times, but it is beautifully written. Overall, it is an emotionally engaging book, impossible to put down, and always leaves you in suspense about what happens next.

THE HEALTH CODEPODCAST REVIEW

BY ANNA CRONIN

The heath code is a health and fitness podcast run by Australian youtuber Sarah's Day and partner Kurt. Together they talk about real world problems, healthy eating and exercise tips and tricks. Sarah runs a YouTube channel, eBook, activewear collaboration with White Fox, skin care and health food line. Her and Kurt have a little boy called Fox and together shed some light on what it's like being so busy while still trying to stay healthy. Under this current situations they talk about ways to stay motivated and their own personal experiences, with easy recipes and home workouts to follow. This podcast can easily be accessed through Spotify, apple podcasts and most other podcast apps. They have also more recently started recording their podcasts on YouTube. This podcast is easy to access and is lighthearted, relatable fun thing to do through isolation for people of all ages, and I highly recommend it.

RUBY REDFORT: LOOK INTO MY EYES BOOK REVIEW

BY LINH DUONG

Ruby Redfort, is a quirky and independent 7th grader who can crack any case or code. Other than that- she's an average teenage girl.

Unbeknown to her, a secret spy agency called Spectrum has been keeping track of her every move. One day when their ace code breaker dies, Ruby is recruited to solve a code. However, as Ruby uncovers more than she should have her desk job turns into an all-out action adventure. The story is full of mystery and suspense, but the tone is light and the dialogue amusing. This series follows Ruby through 7 books and leaves you satisfied every time. Although it is a thick book, it is an easy read once you get hooked. Highly recommended!

Challenge Column

by Demi Arvanitis Grab a sibling, parent or friend and challenge each other with these activities. See how many of these challenges you can get through. Can you tick them all off? Remember be careful and have fun!

Make a scavenger hunt, inside or in the backyard, and see who collects the most treasure!

Have a family game night. Some ideas to get you started are: board games, Uno & Just Dance. See who can win the most games!

Challenge someone, and see who can build the most extravagant Lego creation! Put your creative hats on.

Feeling active? See who can do the most push ups without stopping.

A good old classic… an arm wrestle!

Create an obstacle course, and channel your inner ninja warrior!

Have a mini MasterChef with your family: Who can bake/cook the best dish?

Who can create the best artwork (It does not necessarily have to be a painting or drawing- think outside the box!)

Who is the grooviest member of your family? See who can come up with the best dance routine!

How well does your family know you? Come up with a series of questions about yourself, and put your family to the test!

Sustainability with Linh Duong Try making a DIY bird feeder to feed the backyard birds. Here are some simple steps to create one with ingredients in your pantry!

DIY Bird Feeder 1. Use half of an orange and take out the orange leaving the peel.

2. Using a small screwdriver or chopstick poke a hole on each side of the orange.

3. Use twine or string and tie together through the holes.

4. Fill the orange with granola/oats- avoid using cereals with a high amount of salt.

5. Hang on a tree where birds are able to see.

6. Don’t forget to always provide fresh water for the birds nearby!!

Trapped in a Zoo

by Amelia Graham I’m sitting on the couch right now I don’t know what to do It seems as if the house I’m in Has turned into a zoo!

My brothers are shouting loudly Fighting over the last choc’ I would do just ‘bout anything now To hear that front door knock.

But I know there is no chance We must self-isolate Man, this coronavirus thing Sure is not so great!

Soon I make the terrible mistake Of turning on the telly’ But over my family’s clamor I can’t even hear my own belly!

In vain I try to watch the screen But know I will not hear Because the chaos inside my house And my brothers’ jeer…

It makes me want to pull my hair out Even school would make me glad Just to escape this uproar I’m in Before it drives me mad!

I retreat into the lounge room To try to drown them out But there I find my cat And with terror, I almost shout.

She’s stomping on the piano As loud as she can be As if this house was not already Just too much for me!

I tramp into the garden Finally, some fresh air But soon someone finds a way To even ruin it there!

The loud noise of heavy metal That’s coming from next door Don’t you think this racket Should be against the law?

So now you know my story About staying where I live To go outside and get about For anything I’d give!

The Red Rose

By Hera Thavarasah The red rose, a symbol of strength and hope Love that’s pure and divine Thorns that scar you for life Never to be forgotten.

The red rose, a symbol of strength and hope Passion, determination, trust A velvet soft feeling Bittersweet memories.

The red rose, a symbol of strength and hope The sweet perfume scent A small spirit that gradually grows in your heart A new beginning to a journey that will never end.

The red rose, a symbol of strength and hope Superior, Suspenseful and Special The power of love makes us infinite A priceless piece of art.

Trapped in a Fairy tale

By Mathangi Sritharan Once upon a time, Fairies and rainbows covered up the horrors seen in this world.

Good always won, Bad always lost….

If only.

Once upon a time, Faith was blind.

The tooth fairy Santa Claus no need to think twice.

Once upon a time, You finally grew up.

Saw the world for yourself…

No magical warriors, No blind faith.

Not even in your own kind.

Once upon a time, You rolled the dice.

Took a chance, A leap of faith.

Happily ever after, It didn’t seem Little did you know, Till you opened your eyes…

Warfare, Drought, Fires, Famines, Hidden under all, Your once upon a times

Boredom Busters

By Amelia Graham Play a bored game. See what I did there?

Bake something. Then you get to eat it!

Read a picture book that you loved when you were little. This is a great way to feel nostalgic and bring back memories!

Produce your own movie. Even just a twominute trailer on iMovie is fun to make!

Make a list of all the things you’re going to do once the restrictions are lifted. This is a great way to get excited and plan ahead Plan your dream birthday party. Even if it’s 12 months away, this is a fun thing to do when you are bored.

Look at photo albums. This is an awesome fun activity to do that brings back lots of memories.

Write a song. If you’re not the musical type, try writing a parody of another song that you like.

Learn to juggle. Learning to juggle can take a while, but is really fun to do once you get the hang of it!

Tidy your room. No one wants to do it, but it does help you to feel more organised.

Mental health

By Hera Thavarasah Most students experience significant amounts of stress. 67 percent of Australian students experience stress which can lead to problems with health and happiness. One main factor leading to high levels of stress is your sleep pattern. Students, with their packed schedules, are notorious for missing sleep. Not enough sleep can cause you to be less productive and it could make it difficult for you to learn. Some ways in which you can solve this problem is avoid any electronic device before going to sleep and to play meditating and peaceful music to help you fall asleep quickly.

Don’t neglect your sleep schedule! Another helpful way to deal with stress is to meditate or do yoga.

Meditation is where you focus on one specific thing, which could be breathing. Meditating relaxes you in a peaceful and calm manner and releases all the tension that is built inside your body. If meditating isn’t what you are interested in, you could also exercise. Exercising is one of the healthiest ways to release stress as it increases oxygen flow around the body. Exercising also reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline.

Exercising produces endorphins which are chemicals in the brain that acts as natural painkillers. This can improve the ability to sleep and reduces stress.

This website has some excellent meditation colouring pages: http://getdrawings.com/meditation-coloring-pagesfree One way to help deal with stress is colouring. It requires repetition and attention to detail, so you can focus on the activity rather than your worries.

Colouring relaxes the amygdala which is a specific region of the brain that is associated with emotional processes.

Many people are deficient in Vitamin D, so it is crucial that you do some kind of exercise every day for a minimum time of 20 minutes.

You could go for a walk or run, ride a bike, go for a swim or play a sport. It’s good to exercise outdoors as you can breathe fresh air and be in nature. Keeping a regular exercise practice throughout your lifetime can help you live longer and enjoy your life more.

Another way you can deal with problems is to listen to music. This music could be anything that interests you and that you enjoy. You could play calm, quiet and relaxing music while studying or just take a break from all the work you are doing and chill out for some time. Another way could be listening to podcasts in your spare time. Listening to music slows the pulse and heart rate, lowers blood pressure and decreases the levels of stress hormones.

Being organised can also be helpful in managing stress levels. Make sure your study space is clean and tidy and your computer files are saved correctly. Try and fit in 10 minutes of your spare time to organise your study area and tidy any of your things before you begin studying and doing your work.

If you have a lot of tests or assignments due in one week, try and create a timetable. Write down in order all your tests or upcoming assignments with what day it’s due. A tip you can do is to write on a piece of paper a study plan. For example, you could write: From 7:00 to 7:30 pm finish my maths homework, from 7:30 to 8:15 pm revise for my history test. If you create a plan and stick to it, I’m sure you won’t be stressed out as you would know what you need to do!

School Updates

By Mathangi Sritharan and Sudiksha Dand

Although students may not be at school, there are many new initiatives in place, to help students adjust to online schooling PASSION PROJECTSÂ Passion Projects are a new initiative for the Middle School, to allow students to have time away from online learning and pursue their hobbies that they already have or new interests they want to learn. They are projects of various skills that each student learns or further develops by spending one to two afternoons doing their chosen activity. This time allocated for Passion Projects, allows the Middle School to immerse themselves into a relaxing and mindful task. There are two categories each from which a task is selected by the girls to work on. Category A is guided by teachers and peers while category B projects are selfguided with girls taking their own action. A majority of the time is dedicated to Category A projects which is run with the help of staff. These include make your own board game, write or illustrate a novel or picture book, documentary app, video or podcast, design or write for the Fintona newspaper team or a skill of your choice. Category B projects are self-guided, allowing students to become independent and responsible with their own work. Category B projects include: sustainability; craft; cooking; knitting, crocheting or sewing or girls deciding their own skill. Students are free to set goals on what they wish achieve in the time, staying within the theme of the project. They learn various skills apart from their chosen expertise such as time management, responsibility and independence. Passion projects give students a creative task to engage themselves in during these challenging times.

School Updates TUTOR AND LUNCHTIME ACTIVITIES Every morning, Middle School has a vast array of opportunities to immerse themselves in.

On Mondays, students meet with their Tutor Group to socialise, organise and give feedback. Ms Laville, the school counselor, offers talks about mindfulness and wellbeing every Tuesday morning.

This allows students to connect with each other and know that they are not in this alone. Every Wednesday and Friday mornings, Mr Bourke runs a livestream via Zoom for all students, to ensure physical activity is continued, even at home. Weekly challenges are also offered to families, each week focusing on a different aspect. So far, we have had baking, physical activity and photography challenges.

Every fortnight, students meet with their mentor teacher, to discuss their Remote Learning experiences. This time also encourages peer support and socialising.

HOUSE EVENTS House Cross Country has been a major house event for the girls. This year, the main objective of Cross Country was changed. In past years house cross country encouraged friendly competition. This year, as we were not able to do Cross Country at school, the main objective was to score points for your House by participating and extra points were awarded for creative and unique costumes.

Co-curricular Interview Julia Stefanatos Year 6

By Bella Boschetto, Middle School Co-Curricular Consul What co-curricular activities do you participate in Julia?

I participate in netball and cheerleading.

Out of these activities, which is your favourite and why?

Cheerleading is my favourite, because it is something that I have always wanted to try.

I have always wanted to do tumbling, and when the opportunity came for me to try cheerleading, I was really happy. I am a flyer, which is the position on the team where you are in the air a lot, doing jumps and tricks. My favourite trick as a flyer is an extension, which is when I stand up, and my team hold me by my feet/ankles.

They push their arms up as far as they can go, so I am really high up in the air. I found this trick scary the first time, but I practised it so much that now it’s fun!

Co-curricular Interview - continued What do you miss most about doing these activities?

What I miss most about cheerleading is seeing my friends and coach. I also miss being able to do all the things I can do onsite, using specific equipment.

I also miss my team, as the stunts can only be done with enough other people.

What is your biggest curricular achievement?

Who has activity?

inspired

you

in

this

The people that inspire me in cheerleading are pro cheerleaders, who I watch a lot to look for more inspiration. However, the person that I am most inspired and supported by in cheerleading, is my coach.

He pushes me to my max, and if I do something wrong, he will give me tips. He is an amazing cheerleader. He motivates me to always do better and when I achieve something that I have worked really hard at, he is proud of me. One day I would love to be as good as him.

co-

My biggest achievement in cheer, was when my team and I won a state competition. We trained for a year, practising the same routine over and over. There was a really hard part in the routine, that would either make it or break it. Although it was hard, we did it, and must have done it really well too, since we won first place! I had quite a difficult and important part in the routine. Since I am the flyer, I have to make sure I stay in the air as long as possible, and without a flyer, no stunts can be done at all.

banana berry oat muffins Chefs: Katerina Marcus and Maggie Little

PREP TIME

COOK TIME

SERVES

10-15 minutes

15-20 minutes

10-12

INGREDIENTS 2 eggs

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/4 cup of coconut sugar

1 1/2 cups of wholemeal flour

1/4 cup of oil (of your choice)

1 cup of oats

3 Bananas

Choice of toppings (berries or

1/4 cup of milk

chocolate)

1 teaspoon of baking soda

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Gather a bowl, an electric mixer,

7. Mix until there is a smooth

ingredients and utensils

consistency, however, be careful not

2. Preheat the oven to 180°.

to over-mix as that will result in a

3. Line your cupcake tins with cupcake

dense cake.

liners to guarantee they do not stick

8. Add the flour to the batter and turn

to the pan.

on the electrical mixer on a low

4. Firstly, crack two eggs in a small

setting to prevent a spillage.

bowl to ensure that there are no shells

9. Once combined, fold the oats into

in the bowl.

the mixture then separate them into

5. Beat the eggs, coconut sugar, and

the prepared cupcake liners.

oil in a large bowl until well

10. Add your choice of toppings

combined.

(blueberries, raspberries or dark

6. Mush the bananas and add that to

chocolate chips) and bake in the oven

the milk, baking soda, and vanilla.

for 20-25 minutes or until golden

Then pour into the bowl.

brown.

n o i t c a n i g n i n r a e l e t Remo

n o i t c a n i g n i n r a e l e t Remo