Three students, Emily, Tara and Dhugan attended a “listen2learners” forum in Melbourne recently.  This was a fantastic opportunity for these three young people to communicate with adults about their virtual learning.

CHINA TRIP

This is the group from our school who recently went to China.  They had a fantastic experience.

Our grade is participating in the global children’s challenge.  Our aim is to walk as many steps as we can each day.  We have been doing it for 30 days – and some children are finding it a real “challenge” to remember to put their pedometer on each day. I am enjoying it – it challenges me to walk as many steps as I can!

As part of Hawkesdale’s 150th celebrations in 2010, HADDAC along with other members of the community are currently seeking approval to conduct a Quarterhorse event at the Hawkesdale Racecourse Reserve.  To conduct a horse event back on the town’s track would be fantastic and to see the reserve utilised by members of the community will add further to the town’s great attractions.

HADDAC again held it’s community Australia Day Breakfast, combining with the “Lessons from the Landscape Project.”  With numbers in attendance approximating 120, the crowd’s taste buds were soothed with cereal, sizzling bacon, scrambled eggs, sausages and toast.  This was all washed down with orange juice or a steaming hot cup of tea or coffee.  The photos taken by photographers were hung around the hall and captured individual’s reflections on Climate Change.  These mounted pictures are now property of the Hawkesdale community and are being housed at the Hawkesdale Historical Society.  While we as a family were kept busy, we were able to later in the day communicate with our daughter in Qatar and sent her photos of how we had spent the morning.  Again another successful event conducted by HADDAC – well done to all!

The frustration of not catching any fish doesn’t deter our family from continually enjoying heading off for an adventurous day’s fishing.  Several times during the holidays we packed our fishing gear and books (for the girls) to torture ourselves at this relaxing task of catching fish. We enjoyed a great day at Portland with plenty of bites and a few catches, but unfortunately they were all too small to bring home.  It, however kept the male members of the family entertained.  We then ventured to Narrawong where again the fish were active, enough to keep the angler intrigued, but cunning enough not to get caught.  Again home without any fish!  Who cares – a great family day out!

What is “flatclassroom Project” – you may ask – as I asked the same question.  Well, my daughter Emily was involved in one at her school which lead her to an opportunity of going overseas to Qatar – near Saudi Arabia.  She communicated with students from around the world on a ‘ning’.  Ha! Ha! – what’s a ning?  I might leave that up to some one else to describe! Each time I think I’m catching up with all the new lingo – they come up with some thing else!  But, I’m happy to tag along or be dragged along – whichever way you see it.  Anyway Emily travelled to Qatar – with two fellow students and a teacher who was the instigator of this project.  She is a very dedicated teacher who exhumes enthusiasm and someone you could trust to send your child away with.  They were involved in three day conference at Qatar Academy where the learnt so much and came away with some many friends. We are indebted firstly to Anne for preparing and traveling with our students and secondly to the fantastic people who organised the conference.  Learn more about this wonderful adventure on my next post!

It is so long since I have written a post that I hope I still can!  I am going to try and do several posts detailing what has been happening – hopefully with some exciting reading and interesting photos!  Sit back and enjoy!

What does this mean?  For all of us it can mean different things.  The Hawkesdale community is involved in a photographic project focusing on Climate Change.  The idea is that persons from within the community, trying to include a range of people to take images of “what climate change means to them”.  A range of photos will then be put on display at a local event which will also include speakers and relevant activities.