The journey of 22 young minds has been remarkable to witness over the course of this year with so many goals achieved and celebrated, obstacles overcome and friendships developed. These young men will complete 2015 with accomplishments of which they can be very proud.
ANGELA TYLER
Years 3/4 Honours
Semester One was a flurry of activity with many opportunities for the boys to sink their teeth into some hands-on projects and classroom events. Year 4 boys had the opportunity to join their cohort to experience their first school camp at Tyalgum Ridge, and for some it was the first time they were away from their families. It was an opportunity to gain some new skills and bond with their classmates, and even though not all reached the heights of the ropes course, swam under the fast-flowing waterfall or hit the bullseye on the archery target, all boys personally grew and flourished in their own unique way.
NAPLAN presented one of the first chances for our Year Three boys to experience the joys of “testing”. Each took this experience in his stride and excitedly participated. Their results are a testimony of their outstanding dedication and commitment to academic studies. 2015 saw the Years 3/4 Honours class attach itself to the Year 4 Australian Curriculum for Science, Geography and History. Discovering our early 104
THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL SOUTHPORTONIAN 2015
European explorers was of particular interest as we delved into investigating true accounts of what life was really like for these voyagers who were discovering places and mapping countries with such primitive tools and technology. It was hard to imagine life without Google Maps, iPads and computer technology. Not sure if the boys would have survived!
Convict day and our visit from some First Fleet historians was indeed a highlight, where boys were able to let their creativity flow and become their chosen First Fleet convict. Our class produced a book of Historical recounts to share with family and friends. Our Asian Stories English unit with our student teacher, Miss Chelsea Finlayson, exposed the boys to morals and how they can become the sole purpose of writing a fiction story with research elements from an Asian country. Boys were given an opportunity to illustrate their writing, convert it into an e-book and share these on the iPad with our Year 2 friends – a real highlight for many to be able to visit their old teachers, siblings and friends from the younger grades.
In Science, our class was offered the opportunity to participate in an Australia-wide trial for a new unit of inquiry called “Among the Gum Trees” with Primary Connections, where students investigated the life
