Issue 5 October 2020 - The Halloween Edition

ISSUE 5 • OCTOBER 2020

TOURMONT TIMES FINTONA'S MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

CONTENTS Front Cover 2.

Contents page 3.

Fifth edition information & consuls message 4.

Ghouls night in!

5.

Ghouls night in!

6.

Book review 7.

Music and netflix review 8.

Board game review 9.

Recipe page 10.

DIY ideas 11.

Boredom busters 12.

Co-curricular interview 13.

Co-curricular interview 14.

Poems 15.

Poems 16.

Halloween word search 17.

School updates : Changes to remember 18. Beyond science building update 19.

Sustainability page 20.

Mental health corner 21.

Weekly challenges 22.

Weekly gallery : Halloween 23.

Weekly gallery : Halloween

About Tourmont Times

1.

Welcome to the fifth edition of the Tourmont Times. Our aim with this newspaper is to provide some fun ideas and some inspiration over the midterm break. 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.

5th Edition Note Message From the Consuls Halloween. A day filled with lots of candy and fun!

This action-packed edition features different fun and exciting ways to celebrate Halloween, even in your own home! You can get into the Halloween spirit with the incredible ideas in this edition, and you can virtually celebrate with friends and family! Speaking of celebrating, it’s amazing that years 5-7 are all already back at school! The two of us are so excited for year 8's to go back to school as well, and we can’t wait to see everyone after spending so much time at home. Online learning has been a challenge to all of us. But without it, the Tourmont Times may have never come into existence! We are also all so lucky to be able to go to such an amazing school, and have such dedicated staff to teach us through this pandemic. We hope the year 5's, 6's and 7's have enjoyed their return to school, and have had lots of fun with their friends. As exciting it has been to return to school, it is important that we remember to keep hygienic, so that we can create a safe space to learn in. So, this Halloween, whether you decide to watch a movie, play a game or create a fun DIY project, without further ado, enjoy this newspaper! Witch-ing you all a very happy Halloween!

From the editor's desk

Thanks everyone! Amelia and Mathangi

Editorial team:

Design team:

Arabella Boschetto Linh Duong Amelia Graham Mathangi Sritharan Demi Arvanitis Elizabeth Pantazis Hera Thavarasah Aadthana Nishakar

Madi Spano Emma Feng Bernice Kha Chanel Chen Justina So

FINTONA GIRLS' SCHOOL

Ghouls Night In!

By Mathangi Sritharan

Halloween is nearing soon, but this Halloween will be different to any other. We can’t trick or treat or go knocking on doors dressed up as spine-chilling beasts, but there are many alternatives to trick or treating, that are just as fun!

Dressing up: Just because you aren’t going around in a costume, doesn’t mean you can’t dress up in an elaborate costume! You and your family or friends (virtually) can have a costume contest. Chose a prompt, like animals, beasts, or scary characters, and see who can come up with the best costume. This will help bring back the Halloween buzz!

At home fun- modified trick or treating and more: Getting lollies are one of the best parts of Halloween. Who would say no to lollies? A fun activity you could set up is a scavenger hunt. You (or a parent/guardian/sibling) could hide lollies and other treats all around your house. You could even add clues to give hints to each scavenger. You can make it a competition to see who can find the most lollies. Don’t forget to write down where each lolly is! If you are artistic, you could decorate your house/living space in a Halloween theme, or even bake or paint something in a Halloween theme. Some ideas include decorated sugar cookies, cake pop eyeballs or a painting of bats in the night sky. If you love a good movie, you good have a Halloween movie night with your family. This is a fun and simple way to celebrate, and if you are stuck on what to watch, there are 3 halloween movie reviews in this edition.

OCTOBER 2020 FIFTH EDITION

FINTONA GIRLS' SCHOOL

Pumpkin carving: Carving or decorating pumpkins is a traditional Halloween decoration, which is a fun, artistic activity which can help bring Halloween spirit! You can carve anything into a pumpkin, like a happy, sad or even scary face. Here’s an easy way to carve a pumpkin! (refer to).

Materials: A knife (small and medium size)- Ask for help from a parent/guardian when handling sharp objects.

A pumpkin A pen/marker

Procedure: 1. Starting with a pumpkin, use a pen/marker to mark a circle on top of the pumpkin, which you will cut off.

2. Hold the pumpkin still, and using a knife (Ask for a parent/guardian’s help), carefully cut off the top 3. Then, using a smaller knife, cut a circle around the inside of a pumpkin, so you can hollow out the insides. Using a spoon, remove the top off, so you see the seeds.

4. Using a spoon, and with some help from your hands, scoop out the inside of the pumpkin, until it is clean and hollow.

5. Now its time to draw! Grab your pen or pencil, and draw the eyes, nose and mouth (with teeth)!

6. Hold the pumpkin steady with your hand, and getting the small knife cut out the details. Make sure to keep your fingers well away! The easiest way to cut the pumpkin is to use a rocking motion, moving your hands up and down. Wipe off any remaining pens/markers.

7. Once you’re happy with it, place a candle(s) inside, and you’re done!

Remember to have a scary good time and embrace the spirit of Halloween!

We’d love to see pictures of how you celebrated Halloween, so be sure to send it through.

OCTOBER 2020 FIFTH EDITION

FINTONA

MOVIE REVIEW- MONSTER HOUSE

BY MATHANGI SRITHARAN

A movie which has always been a Halloween must watch for me, is Monster House. DJ lives across Mr Nebbercracker, an old man who is overly protective of his house. His house is considered off limits, but when Mr Nebbercracker isn’t home, 3 teenagers decide to figure out the truth, only to find out his house is really a monster which hates children. They escape, barely leaving with their lives, and must quickly devise a plan to save innocent trick or treaters from the wrath of the house. They set out on a quest to kill the house once and for all, but throughout the journey, the learn all the deep, dark secrets the house contains.

I really enjoyed this movie, even as a young girl, as it is a suitable Halloween movie for ages 10+, exploring spooky, other-worldly themes. Its storyline is engaging children, and its sense of mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat! The animation and attention to detail is excellent, allowing you to be lost into another world. These aspects allowed Monster House to win 4 awards and earn 23 nominations! If you are looking for a family friendly Halloween movie, this is the perfect choice for you! I would give Monster House a 9/10.

Note: Some parts may be intense/scary for young children, so I would recommend children to watch it only if you are over the age of 11 (Pre-teens). The rating is PG, so I recommend you watch with someone, or your family if scared easily or under the age of 11.

FINTONA

BOOK REVIEW - A MURDER MOST UNLADYLIKE SERIES

BY AMELIA GRAHAM

A few years ago, I found this incredible book series that I still love to this day. This is the Murder Most Unladylike series. These books follow the lives of Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, two English schoolgirls in the 1930s. These girls are not only best friends, but members of the Detective Society, a club dedicated to solving mysteries and catching culprits. However, sometimes they end up finding more than they originally bargained for.

I have read a few of the books in this series and, so far, one of my favourites has been the first novel in the series, Murder Most Unladylike. In this story, Daisey and Hazel are at their boarding school, waiting for a mystery to arise that needs solving.

They get what they wish for when Hazel finds the body of their science teacher.

However, when she returns just five minutes later, the body is gone! Now, the Detective Society must get to the bottom of this murder, on top of proving that it actually happened in the first place, now with no evidence to begin with- all before the killer strikes again and it is too late.

This series was an awesome read for me. One of the many reasons why I love these books is because you don’t necessarily need to read them in chronological order. I, for one, started with quite possibly my favourite book in the series, Arsenic For Tea (which I also highly recommend that you read).

So, whether you’re into murder mystery novels, or you just want to try something new, this series is what you need. If you are searching for a captivating book to read this Halloween, or at any time for that matter, these stories will do the job!

Note: These books are recommended for ages 9+

FINTONA

MOVIE REVIEW - CORALINE

BY MATHANGI SRITHARAN

Coraline , a young adventurous girl moves into her strange new apartment complex. Her parents are too distracted to focus on Coraline and tell her to explore their new home. She comes across an eerie door, that has been sealed off with a brick wall, but when she returns in the middle of the night, it opens, revealing her ideal home, with her ideal family. There is one major difference between her real home, and the home on the other side of the door: Button eyes. As Coraline spend more and more time at the other home, she learns of its sinister secrets and the true intentions of her ideal world. She tries her best to end the wrath of the sinister forces behind the door.

Coraline is the perfect movie for both children and adults, with its fascinating claymation animation, and engaging story line, this is my go-to movie. Every scene is intriguing, and this movie is quite relatable as Coraline is a pre-teen, similar to many viewers. The movie is empowering, as it portrays Coraline as a young, powerful adventurous girl, able to look after herself and fight. This story is mainly a battle between females, so can be quite uplifting. There was always something to be involved in, and not a single boring moment! It even won AFI Movie of the Year along with 6 other awards and 45 other nominations! I give Coraline, the adaptation of the graphic novel, a 10/10!

Note: This is suitable for ages 5+

FINTONA

BOOK REVIEW - WONDER

BY DEMI ARVANITIS

Wonder, an international bestseller written by the American author R. J. Palacio is an incredibly uplifting and inspirational story about a young boy called August. The principal character is born with facial differences which has prevented him from going to mainstream school up until 5th Grade, as he has always felt judged upon by the outside world. The people around him: his family, classmates and community struggle to discover their compassion and get past his extraordinary face. However through the motivating journey of August, it demonstrates the power of optimism and happiness, and he ultimately becomes an unlikely hero and unites everyone around him. Overall, the novel Wonder shows that when you cannot blend in you were born to stand out!

This novel uniquely follows the perspective of not only the main character, but his class mates, sister and her boyfriend and others. Through these multiple perspectives, it adds depth to the story and engages an audience of a large age range. Furthermore, it gives the audience a chance to truly wonder on the nature of kindness, empathy and friendship.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel because of its positive message to ‘Choose Kind’. In times like this, we often don’t realise how it is the little things in life that give us joy and pleasure, and I believe that this is a perfect example.

Moreover, it is a reminder that we are all different, and face different circumstances, but regardless we should treat one another the same, and that is with kindness and compassion. I recommend this to readers of any age, who are looking for some motivation in their day to day lives!

BOARD GAMES REVIEWS ZOMBIE DICE

BY AMELIA GRAHAM

With Halloween coming up soon, things are going to be a little different this year. You may be a little disappointed that you won’t be able to go out trick or treating, or have some friends over, but what you can do, is stay in with your family and play this awesome game with them; Zombie Dice.

And just to help you get into the Halloween-spirit, this game is about, you guessed it, zombies!

The game is quite simple, with one objective; to get as many brains as you can. In the game, each contestant is a zombie. The game includes 13 dice and a container, which is all you need to play. There are three different options for what you can roll on each dice: a brain, a shotgun or footprints. There are also three types of dice that are in the container: green, red and yellow. On a player’s turn they will, without looking, extract three dice from the container. They will then roll the dice to see what they get. On a green dice it is most likely that you will roll a brain, on a red dice it is most likely that you will roll a shotgun and on a yellow dice the chances of rolling a brain, a shotgun or footsteps are equal. Once a player rolls the dice that they have chosen, they will put aside all the brains and shotguns that they collect. They can choose to cash in their brains so that the next player has their turn, or they can decide to roll again. To roll again, the player will use any dice that they have rolled footsteps on, as well as drawing any new dice from the container that they might need, without looking, so that they have a total of three dice to roll. Once a player has taken new dice, they cannot change their mind about rolling again.

The plus side of choosing to roll multiple times in a turn is that you can collect any more brains that you roll. However, there is a risk that you will roll more shotguns. If a player rolls a total of three shotguns on their turn, then they lose all the brains that they have won that turn, and it is automatically the next player’s turn. At the end of a turn, all dice are put back into the container for the next player. The winner is the first player to collect a total of 13 brains throughout their turns.

I love this game because it is so simple, yet so much fun. You can play with as many people as you dare, and each game is only about 10-20 minutes long. Since this game requires so little, you can practically take it anywhere. One of the things that makes it so much fun, is the fact that the game can turn around at any point, and anyone can be a champion! It’s really a matter of chance and risk-taking. So, even if this Halloween you won’t be able to go out collecting lollies, hopefully with this game, you will be able to have plenty of fun collecting brains instead!

BOARD GAMES REVIEWS THE EXIT GAME, THE HOUSE OF RIDDLES

BY AADTHANA NISHAKAR

For people who want to take part in an interactive puzzle-solving experience during Halloween, The House of Riddles is an excellent board game to absorb in! The House of Riddles is a tabletop board game that relates to well-known Escape Room games which have become popular in pop culture and across the world. In this board game, which accommodates up to 4 people, players have to progress through different rooms of the house with the assistance of puzzles and clues.

Although this captivating board game can only be played once (as cards will have to be drawn on), it is still a worthwhile experience to engage in. The instruction booklet feeds players all the required information as well as the storyline in a clear and alluring way. Players have been told by 3 detectives to meet them at a sinister and eerie looking house and end up getting locked inside and notice that solving the various puzzles in front of them is the only option to escape from the house. Puzzle cards include riddles and an image to aid players to progress through the rooms of the house. For example, a puzzle may require a player to draw the points between the lights that are located in a room. Those points may form numbers that direct players to a decoder ring. If the order of the numbers is correct, players move on to the next level and continue their progress through the rooms.

I highly recommend The House of Riddles for people who enjoy solving logical puzzles, as this board game relies on worded problems, clues, the use of real objects and even light. As the game continues, the puzzles get even more complex and abstract. The mix of narrative and puzzles adds an element of fictional role-play into the storyline. This suspenseful, blood pumping experience is sure to put people on the edge of their seats during Halloween!

Pizza Frittata spooky cupcakes Chef: ANNA Madi Spano Chef: CRONIN

PREP TIME TIME PREP

COOK TIME

SERVES

3a 0k m t em s ins cupc e si :n u 15

8 im in us t ei s 3 5 1m nu te n a

4c a k e s 12 cup

decoration: 45 minutes

steam oven.

CUPCAKES

ICING

1 cup (130g) all purpose flour

4 cups Icing Sugar

2u p t e (a2 s0 p7 og o)n s tr ra virgin olive oil 1 c s ue gxa

1/ sk mfitle kned Salted Sweet 1 c u2 p c Bu up tte rim (So

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12 5m g )t u b b u f f a l o m o z z a r e l l a , s l i c e d Cr ea

1w sd me arl* l red capsicum, diced po

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1/2 cup (120ml) buttermilk

decorations)

1/2 cup (120ml) melted butter

2 small pieces of milk chocolate

INSTRUCTIONS

3/4 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup (120ml) hot water*

INSTRUCTIONS

1.preheat the oven on high grill.

3. Grill frittata for 3 minutes or

Heat oil in an ovenproof frying pan

until top is golden and mixture has

CUPCAKES

1. Mixo all wet into ae bowl. mix combine v ethe r m e d ingredients ium to hig h h at. A d dall the dry ingredients s einto t . La e different a v e f o r bowl.

2 m ithen nute s. Sprinkle 2. Place into cupcake tins with orange cupcake wrappers. Put in the oven for 20 minutes.

onion. Cook, stirring occasionally,

with basil leaves. Serve with

for 2 minutes or until the onion has

toasted baguette or any chosen

ICING 1. Mix butter and vanilla extract together until smooth.

o f t esugar n e d . and A d mix d cat ap i c u speed m and h acombined. m.

2. Addsicing aslow until then add a little at b rmilk ead slice s a time until properly combined.

3. Get 3 different bowls, and evenly seperate the icing. In one bowl add the green food colouring, in another bowl

Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or

NOTE FROM COOK

add 2 drops of the orange food colouring (if you don't have orange, 1 drop of red 2 drops of yellow), and leave

until capsicum is tender. Stir in 2

the other bowl the creamy white colour.

*When I made this I also tried

tab l e s pcupcakes o o n s o finporange, a s t a ssome a u c ein . green, and some in white 4. Cover some c o oicing. king it in an oiled muffin tin to 5. Be creative with what you make with the fondant! (you can take inspiration from my photos below)

2. Whisk eggs and milk together in

make individual ones and just

*JUST A TIP: THESE ARE QUITE SICKLY SO I RECOMMEND TO TAKE THEwFONDANT THEM* a i t e d PIECES f o r tOFF h e BEFORE c h e eYOU s e EAT to g o golden

a large bowl. Pour over mixture in

pan. Lift and tilt pan to distribute

brown (this makes it more lunch

egg mixture evenly. Reduce to low

box friendly).

heat. Cook for 8-10 minutes

TAERT ro TAERT

INGREDIENTS INGREDIENTS

D I Y ideas

By Demi Arvanitvis

JACK-O-LANTERNS The DIY Section for the Halloween edition of this newspaper is… Jack-‘o-lanterns!

A Jack-‘o’-lantern is traditionally a carved pumpkin, but alternatively could be a turnip or any other rooted vegetable. With its ghoulish face that illuminates during the night, it is associated with the eerie season of Halloween, and originated from an Irish folktale called ‘Stingy Jack’. It is believed that Jack-o’-lanterns scare away evil spirits with its glowing face. *It is recommended that you do this DIY craft activity with adult supervision as you will be required to use knives in order to carve the pumpkin.

MATERIALS: 1 Pumpkin, 1 Medium Serving Spoon, 1 Medium Knife, 1 Small Knife, Newspaper, Medium bowl , 1 Dry Erase Marker, 1 Candle, 1 lighter.

Prepare your surface for carving, by covering it with newspaper. This will help with the cleanup process at the end, as you will only need to throw out the dirty newspaper.

Cut a hole around the stem at an angle of 45 degrees toward the centre of the pumpkin so the stem does not fall in the pumpkin. The hole should be big enough for your hand to fit inside. Do not discard the stem.

Use a medium spoon to scoop out the contents of the pumpkin so it is completely empty. (You could use the contents of the pumpkin to cook).

Using a marker, sketch the face or design of your Jack-‘o-lantern on the best looking side.

Carve the pumpkin using a small knife, cutting at a perpendicular angle along the markings.

Remove the loose pieces of pumpkin, and if there are any extra markings visible on the pumpkin erase then once you have finished carving.

Finally, light a candle and place it inside the pumpkin, and then put the stem back on the top.

Just because we cannot go trick-or-treating, doesn’t mean that Halloween celebrations stop.

Here are some simple steps to create a Halloween treasure hunt at home! The treasure hunt will consist of hidden treats (or tricks) for your family to find, with a reward at the end.

Clues

Every treasure hunt needs good clues. First, plan out the locations to hide each of your treats. You could even make a map of your house and draw the path needed to reach the treats. Make sure to make your clues interesting by using riddles or poems.

For example, if you wanted the clue to lead to the couch, you could create an acrostic poem clue that spells the word couch. Or, you could use a word scramble as a clue.

For example, cucoh. (couch) Write all your clues down and place them in order so that it is easy to hide them.

Prizes

Gather some materials to use as prizes. Some could be treats, such as lollies or chocolates, and others could be tricks, like a note or a lolly wrapper. Make sure to have a really good prize at the end. If you are stuck for ideas, you could see this week’s recipe column and use that as your reward. You could also find a Halloween movie to watch at the end with your family.

Decorate

To make your treasure hunt even more exciting, you could decorate your house with some spooky decorations. You could make a banner, draw some pumpkins, monsters or other Halloween themed things. Put these up around your house to make your treasure hunt even better.

Hide your clues!

When your family isn’t peeking, hide your clues around your house. Make sure to hide a treat with each clue and set up the reward at the end. Now, you are ready to surprise your family with your treasure hunt!

Co-curricular Interview Mila Masalkovska, Year 5,

By Bella Boschetto, Middle School Co-Curricular Consul When not in isolation, what co-curricular activities do you participate in?

I play tennis. I play competitions on Saturday mornings, and I play in holiday competitions too. I have lessons every week, three times a week Why do you enjoy playing Tennis?

Tennis is my favourite sport. My dad really likes it, he always wanted to get me to start playing. He taught me a little bit, and then I just started to enjoy it.

Then I started playing more, and I started to go to some lessons. It’s a really fun sport to play. It takes my mind off schoolwork and things that are happening at school. When I play tennis it just takes me to really good, happy place. Because when I think about it, I think about all my friends and just a fun environment, and lots of different experiences.

Who has inspired you in this activity?

My dad is the main reason I ever started playing, and my mum used to play too.

She is always there supporting me, and she is good at tennis too. I want to be a female version of Roger Federer, because he is my favourite tennis player, and I really want to be like him. I want to follow in his footsteps. My coach, he also used to play, he is really good at tennis.

He’s a great coach, so I try to do everything that he tells me to improve myself.

Co-curricular Interview So, do you think that they are good role models, do you aspire to be as good as them when you are older?

Yes, I want to try to be the best I can be when I am older. I want to try to be world number 1. But, not only with how I play, also my mannerisms on court, like trying to be calm and not angry.

How has your activity adapted to remote learning?

Well, since I can’t really play on a court, I try to make-do with the space that I have. I hit on the wall with my racket, do some drills, some footwork drills, and just practise.

Do you prefer lessons in real life or online?

Yes I prefer real life, because when I’m training, I’ve got my coach and sometimes my friends from my team, so yeah I just prefer it when its normal.

What is your biggest achievement in playing music?

I have actually had a lot! So, when I was smaller, I tossed a coin at the beginning of a match (Dominic Thiem and David Goffin). I have done ‘kids on court’ a few times, Super 10’s, (which is a little organisation where some of the best 10-year-old kids in Victoria play), and I have won awards from playing there. I have also been lucky enough to participate in the Rafael Nadal academy, so I got invited (through Super 10s) to train for 1 hour (with a handful of other kids) with Rafael Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya. And Rafael Nadal came too!

What achievement was your favourite?

Well, I’m not that sure, I just love being out there! Some of the major accomplishments have just been really fun, and I have enjoyed them a lot. Also just playing, it makes me happy, things like that.

Do you have any aspirations or goals for the future?

Well, I want to try and play more tournaments, and try to win more trophies and medals. I just want to become better, take the next step, and progress more, and just do many more things.

Poems HALLOWEEN IS HERE!

BY HERA THAVARASAH

HALLOWEEN

BY AAHANA PANDEY

The morning is gloomy, so extremely dark.

Halloween is here Halloween is here, Children squealing in my painful ear let’s get to the park.

Witches sneaking out at night Ghouls and Goblins, Reassuring yourself that you will be alright are all I see.

Goblins and cats spying on everything you do Decorating the paths, Spiders crawling inside your shoe scary as can be.

The jack o lanterns grinning as we walk past Here’s the Haunted House, “Did you see that?” I asked standing all alone.

What is that I see?

Someone was missing I think it’s a bone.

A black cat was walking towards us, hissing Graves are popping out, An evil, hysterical laugh from above humans beware.

A vampire emerges, removing his white glove Your great uncle Bert, The jack o lanterns grow arms and legs, trudging might give you a scare.

Giggling with a wide and wicked smirk, judging I tread light as a feather, A cluster of Huntsmen spiders crawl on my skin afraid to make a sound.

One spider crawls right up to my chin I don’t want to wake, any ghosts that might be around.

A werewolf howls I open the door, It slowly approaches me and growls and what’s that I hear?

“Come here you little devil!”

My friends threw a party, Halloween had begun at a whole different level and bought me cashmere!

I ran back to my house and locked the door I am so grateful, Hiding from all the evil spirits, until I heard a deafening roar and filled with glee.

I was shaking in fright and because it was really cold I was hiding alone in my wardrobe, I was quite bold I had so much fun, Hooray, Yippee!

A large beast was blinding my sore eyes I stabbed it as fast as I could which was very wise This Halloween had been a nightmare I had no one, which was truly unfair There was a spider crawling on my bed I hit it hard I made it dead The night was slowly fading away It was as if today was doomsday

FREAKY FRIDAY

BY ELENA DIMOU

Once upon a time, there was an abandoned house, Nothing in there was lurking, not even a mouse.

But one Friday, the door swung open, And a couple of children decided to pop in.

This was of course not the best idea, As the swallowed them up and beamed with cheer.

The house still stands as tall as the sky, Because anyone that goes near, yes, they die.

Clouds above the haunted house, oh how they speak of fear, The sun and sky are frightened too, oh dear oh dear, oh dear.

Even the animals have scattered away, Everybody around is grey.

Rubbish flies around the lawn, From noon until dawn.

And all of those swallowed children could relate, That is why it’s called Freaky Friday.

HALLOWEEN

BY TONG TONG ZHOU

My bucket is filled with candy, sweets and chocolate, There’s even more stuffed in my pocket.

I walk past the houses decorated every terrifying trinket, And past people dressed as witches who are wicked.

Spiderwebs line the streets and boulevards, Tombstones explode from people’s yards.

Hidden, screaming witches cackle from porches, And pumpkin lights glow like blowtorches.

We have a grand old time doing trick or treat, With spooky friends that we meet.

When the moon is round and full and bright, We go home with memories of a wonderful night.

Halloween Word Search

Words to find: HALLOWEEN COSTUME GHOST

PUMPKINS TRICKS TREATS

VAMPIRE LOLLIES BATS

SCHOOL UPDATES: CHANGES TO REMEMBER

By Mathangi Sritharan

It is exciting that we can return to campus, but we need to make sure to follow the guidelines to keep each other safe. Here is a quick summary of what you should remember:

Uniform

On the days you have PE, you can wear your PE uniform all day! Make sure to wear your full uniform, and if you do not have it, you must come to school in your summer uniform, to then change into your PE uniform. Don’t forget to bring your sports cap and sunscreen, as it’s beginning to get hotter!

Parents on campus As much as we all love to socialise, you have to make sure that your parents stay in their cars, and make your way to them. If you are worried about your parents not coming into school to pick you up, you can always assign a specific area where you parents will park or you will wait, so you won’t miss them!

Face masks

Yes, masks can be quite uncomfortable, but we need to remember to keep them on, because it helps protect both yourself and others. By doing one simple thing, you are making a big difference. I stress the importance that you wear your mask during school!

So, by following these simple guidelines, we can help keep each other safe, and spend time on campus! Stay safe and we hope you’ve enjoyed the return to school so far.

BEYOND SCIENCE BUILDING FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION AND UPDATE FOLLOW FINTONA'S OFFICIAL INSTAGRAM OR VISIT: https://bsc.fintona.vic.edu.au/

@fintona.girls.school

SUSTAINABILITY

Scary Sustainable Facts about Halloween- Linh Duong

Halloween is soon approaching, and children perk up at the idea of wearing spooky costumes and receiving candy, carving pumpkins and decorating their home. However, there are sneaky environmental horrors that are hiding from the public. Here are some scary sustainable facts about Halloween- and ways you can defeat this evil monster just from your own home!

Did you know that $8.8 billion is spent on Halloween alone in 2019? More than 90% of families during this time consider buying costumes from retail stores, in which 7 million of them are thrown away each year. This is equivalent to 83 million plastic bottles to pollution. 83% of these costumes are made of oil-based plastics, which is non-biodegradable.

The most common plastic polymer is polyester, 69% all materials whilst cotton only 10%.

Adding onto the 83 million plastic bottles, decorations, cups and cutlery, plastic wrappers, unused pumpkins and plastic-based accessories are wasted.

Plastic-based accessories include synthetic wigs, hats, masks, buckets, glittery makeup and dog outfits which increase the environmental consequences of Halloween. Fortunately, there are ways we can reduce this in 3 simple steps.

The most common thought whenever Halloween is mentioned are costumes. Instead of buying from retail stores, shop at thrift stores. Reusing old clothes as costume pieces and make-up is beneficial for the environment and saves you the cost of buying costumes! If you have bought a costume, consider donating your used costumes to thrift stores.

Trick-or-treating is another popular Halloween activity, where children go around the neighbourhood collecting candy and confectionary. When choosing candy, make sure to look for choices which have little packaging or are recyclable, buying in bulk as an example, or buy locally produced food. An easy solution is getting pick-n-mix instead, completely reducing plastic waste. Whilst collecting candy, use and decorate household items such as buckets and bags and reuse them yearly. Make sure to reuse the candy, such as baking them into cookies, as toppings or even creating candy bark!

The most stunning site during Halloween are the beautifully decorated houses. Simply reuse your decorations from previous years or decorate with items that are compostable such as pumpkins, corn stalks, hay and leaves. The most creative way is to make your own decorations which you would otherwise recycle like metal cans, milk jugs, and egg cartons.

Cardboard boxes can become tombstones, packing peanuts worms and bed sheets spooky ghosts!

Pumpkins are a fun way to spice up your decorations. Buy your pumpkins from local farms or growing them, yourself are simple sustainable solutions. Choosing the right pumpkin also surprisingly reduces less wastelook out for more hollow pumpkins, the louder the knock the hollower it is! Lastly, use the inside of your pumpkin to make treats such as pumpkin pie, muffin, soup even pasta, or compost it!

Although Halloween is somewhat different this year, keep up the joyful spirits of Halloween during these strange times. Whilst trick-ortreating may not be the best choice, decorating your house, carving pumpkins or even wearing your eco-friendly costumes in your house are fun ways to celebrate this spooky seasonal event! Try out these new sustainable tips and have a happy Halloween!

MENTA L H E A L T H C O R N E R

FEAR OF HALLOWEEN? WITH HERA THAVARASAH Samhainophobia Samhainophobia is the fear of Halloween.

The word Samhainophobia originates from Samhain, which means summers end. The Samhain festival was celebrated by the Celts for marking the transition between summer and winter. The day was the beginning of the dark time of the year that was often associated with human death. On the night of October 31, they believed that the ghosts of the dead had returned to earth.

Some children fear Halloween. This could be being outside in the dark, watching a scary Halloween movie or being forced to knock on a stranger’s door. Also, the fear of Halloween can be based on other specific phobias. Some examples are ghosts, witches, vampires, zombies, blood, darkness, masks, clowns and loud noises.

However, most people love Halloween!

People enjoy dressing up in various costumes and eating several sweets and lollies.

Halloween Mindfulness

Here are some ideas that you can do at home on Halloween: Create your own Halloween themed Meditation jars.

Meditation jars are similar to snow globes.

They help slow down your thoughts, allowing you to focus on the movement of the objects inside the jar as they settle.

Method 1. Place a few Halloween items that can float inside the jar along with some orange, purple or black glitter. Fill three quarters of the way with water. Adding some Glycerin is optional, but it will help the items fall more slowly.

2. Make sure to close the lid tightly and shake the meditation jar. Watch the items swirl and slowly settle to the bottom.

3. Practice sitting in a quiet space and clear your mind, focusing simply on the items inside the jar.

WEEKLY CHALLENGES Halloween Challenges - Demi Arvanitis

Spring has sprung! Here are a series of ten Spring related challenges to do at home by yourself or with a family member. Remember, the only rule is to have lots of fun!

Get some coloured paper, glue and other craft materials and see who can create the scariest looking Halloween decoration!

If you are a slime lover, challenge someone to see who can create the best ‘glow in the dark’ slime, and get someone to judge.

Halloween is all about costumes and dressing up.

Who is the best dressed in your family? See who has the scariest, the coolest or the most obscure costume in your household.

There are a lots of groovy Halloween songs out there.

Get your boogie on, and have a Halloween themed dance competition, and see who has the greatest moves!

Over the month of October, have a photo challenge where you take a photo of something associated with Halloween every day. At the end of each day, compare photos and whoever has the best photo gets a point. The person with the most points at the end of the month wins!

For any aspiring artists, see who can create the best artwork inspired by Halloween.

Turn your house into a haunted mansion and leave treats and snacks scattered throughout the house. Set a timer and then see who can collect the most food in the given time frame.

If you love decorating your front yard during the holiday seasons, challenge someone in your neighbourhood to see who can decorate their front yard the best.

Pumpkin carving is easier said than done. With adult supervision, see who can carve the best pumpkin.

See who can create the best Halloween treat! Some examples include: Monster cookies, Pumpkin Cake and Spider Truffles.

Weekly Gallery HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

Weekly Gallery HALLOWEEN SPECIAL