STUDENTS IN ACTION
Year 3 Excursion to Australian Museum and Hyde Park Barracks
On Thursday 27 February, Year 3 visited the Hyde Park Barracks and the Australian Museum as part of their Integrated Studies topic, “Our Fleeting Past”, looking at the question, “How does Australia’s past affect my present and future?” At the Hyde Park Barracks the students were able to experience life in the early European settlement through the eyes of the male convicts. They marched around the grounds of the barracks; saw the types of punishments that were handed out including leg irons and the cat o’ nine tails (whip) as well as lying in the convicts’ hammocks. It was an interesting experience to “live” in the same manner that the male convicts would have done around 220 years ago, but a relief knowing that it was only a temporary experience. In stark contrast the Australian Museum allowed the children to experience the indigenous culture of the aboriginal people, firstly through listening to the museum guide and then using the variety of equipment in the “hands on” room. The children were able to use Aboriginal symbols and paint in a cave, play a didgeridoo, use clapping sticks, pick up boomerangs and aboriginal wooden plates and weaved baskets. One of the most creative experiences was being able to touch stuffed real life examples of native kangaroos, koalas and dingoes. One of the museum highlights was exploring the “Surviving Australia” and “Dinosaur” exhibitions where the students were able to be “up close and personal” with fossilised animals of the past and real- life animals of the present. The Year 3 children thoroughly enjoyed the various experiences and gained a firsthand insight into Australia’s convict heritage and Aboriginal history. “I found that out that the leg irons were extremely heavy and I really enjoyed lying on the hammocks” – Samuel “I enjoyed learning about convict’s lives. I found it interesting that when they built 100 bricks they stuck their finger in the brick and made a hole.” – Mia “I found it interesting to learn that the convicts really lived at the Hyde Park Barracks.” – Isabella
4 | KRB News Issue 03 | 8 march 2013
Junior School ISDA Debating Last week 22 students in Years 5 and 6 trialed for a place in the Independent Schools Debating Association (ISDA) debating teams. The Junior teams have been very successful in the last few years so places are very competitive. Each student prepared a speech on a given topic and presented it to an independent panel of very experienced debaters and adjudicators. The students were also asked to present an impromptu speech with only 10 minutes preparation. The panel commented on the high standard of impromptu speeches for children of their age. They were very impressed at how articulate the students were and the confidence shown by the debaters. Ten students were chosen to represent KRB in the primary section of the competition. These students are Bella Lamaro, Caitlin Mulveney, Dominic Grimshaw, Zoe Davidson, Cassie Banks, Claudia Chen, Tanami Penfold, Louis Bartos, Alice Hodgson and Olivia Causer. These students will attend coaching sessions twice a week with two very experienced Arts/Law Undergraduates who have excellent debating and coaching experience. This is an excellent opportunity for these students to develop their critical thinking skills, their confidence and the ability to clearly present ideas and arguments to others. We are looking forward to an exciting debating season.
Library Lovers Week Library Lovers’ Week was the first celebration for the new school year at the Mary Agnes O’Neil Library. Romance and Classic fiction were on display to entice our readers and viewers. On Valentine’s Day students made a Belle Rose bookmark at our first craft session.