Shiloh and Eden’s winning Art

Thank you to all participants of the 2017 DAF Hermitage Research Facility Schools Plant Science

Competition!

Next year’s exciting Hermitage Science Competition starts on it in January 2018. Please consider being a part of this exciting, educationally rewarding Science. I hope that all participants in Hermitage Science will consider sharing their findings at the upcoming Science Fair in their local area. Ann Maree Lee Kingaroy Area Teacher and Hermitage Science Coordinator Sunshine Coast Catch-up A warm hello from the Sunshine Coast area and welcome to the Jackson, Eaton and Winkley families who have joined this term. Another welcome to little Joseph Brundle born on Monday and makes child number seven for Camille and Luke. Congratulations! The home visits are always a great time to see the progress of students, to update programs and to share small activities. I was impressed to see the progress of students using the early readers and to observe other students practicing their reading skills. The activities I shared about friction using a ball bearing effect and how plasma works through the Plasma ball were a real hit and also grabbed the interest of many parents.

Declan & Logan Bull Josh Ford Isabelle Sinfeld – Yr 2, house and sea Diorama Friction lighting the globe

An enjoyable day was had by all at the Sunshine Coast Science Fair workshop which focussed on student and staff presentations. There was lots of fellowship and new friendships were made which was a good welcome for new families. Some of the activities included learning about friction, electromagnets, water power, using microscopes, and hot ice using sodium acetate. It was great to see a range of students from prep to year 11 all interacting together as one big happy ‘Faith’ family. Thank you for all who attended and especially those families who had to travel great distances. The athletics day with North Brisbane area was also a lovely but windy day.

Several families from Sunshine Coast area participated and while I was looking after the long jump I observed some fantastic long jumpers. Some students were jumping for the first time and learning the skills while the more experienced and older students often jumped over half way through the sandpit.

Thank you to all who participated and congratulations to the winners on the day. God Bless Sharon Bryant Sunshine Coast Area Teacher

The Art of Wonder By Kara Followes Senior English Teacher It occurs to me that young people don’t get much opportunity to wonder. Wonderment- to appreciate To wonder- to ponder, to ruminate Life today is one of inputs- internet, phone, TV, google, you tube, Facebook, Instagram, snapchat, Xbox, PS4, play stations etc. . . . Stimuli after stimulus – young minds are constantly filled with images and info they simply don’t have time to process. It is estimated that the amount of data currently available on the internet is 12000petrabytes- I don’t even know what that means but it’s certainly petra-fying! Surprisingly, it’s said that this information increases tenfold every year. Easy answers

Got a question? Here is only one answer- Google! The fount of wisdom? I think not! Let us remember, God created the heavens and the earth! “Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare” Palms 40:5. Ancients looked to the heavens for answers, looked to God. They prayed, they meditated on His word, they thought and listened carefully. This took time, a quiet mind, an open heart.

Was I the only one?

Remember the days parents, of the encyclopaedia? Somewhere out there in the world today is a herd of dejected salesman robbed of their careers! Invariably, in our house, the one volume you needed was the one your mum cancelled the subscription on. Oh, the angst of assignment writing without the “E to F” volume! (Yes, my mum was cheap but that’s not the point!) Still creative writing wasn’t too bad was it? - fuelled by days of hanging out with absolutely nothing to do but dream, imagine and make believe. The fun and creativity of these activities have been replaced by pre-imagined, pre-made, pre-solved entertainment.

Wandering down Wonder Road

Let’s play a game of wonder. There are no wrong answers. The idea is to pose a question, preceded with the words, “I wonder” …because “I wonder...” opens up the possibilities. Consider this question: Which is better- a cat or a dog? What did you say? Sounds like there’s a right and a wrong answer, right? As soon as you give your answer, you’ve decided it’s the right answer and now, you might have to defend it! Now consider this question: “I wonder which is a better pet? A cat or a dog? Now, answers become suggestions, (hopefully) building a safe and fun sharing environment where all can explore the possibilities without the threat of being ‘wrong’- usually to the oldest or smartest or loudest kid in the room! After all- is there a right and a wrong to this question? - Both are God’s creatures who give humans great comfort and joy! Your answer is only a preference anyway! (but cat is the correct answer in case you were wondering!) Now try being a bit more creative, maybe give them problem to solve: I wonder what we can do about all the plastic in the ocean?

So what?

So what! Words matter, that’s what! Language permeates, not just communicates. I wonder introduces wonder into your conversation and your children into the world of imagination. One of my favourite places to be is in the world of Jane Austen- I find it ‘quite diverting’ (fellow Austen nerds will get that reference). Jane Austen’s world was a place of quiet reflection. High excitement and stimulus was a daily letter of two tiny pages that could reveal its contents only once for the first time but would be read and reread, shared and dissected many times over. Visits from neighbours called for the best china and missing church was a social catastrophe of epic proportions! But those quiet days of daily constitutionals, lengthy parlour visits and the careful composition of daily missives had space. Space to write, to read, sing, trim roses in the garden, play music, paint, sew, bake and play- all creative outputs that come from a mind uncluttered with other junk! You don’t have to fall in love with Mr Darcy or think that Mr Collins is the funniest thing since the turn of last century. The point is, we were created to create! Through the work of our hands and minds, we solve problems and live a life designed especially for us by God. We were created to wonder, to marvel, to be AWESTRUCK! Our God went big, He built so many layers of wonder into the world we have barely skimmed the surface. Consider the flowers alone! He inspires, challenges and titillates us with his creation.

Be still and know.

I encourage you, take some time (take lots in fact) to switch off and hear His breath across the still waters of your soul. Encourage your kids to do the same. Take time to wonder, to explore and dream together- tonight- at the dinner table. Be silly, have fun! Wonder is curiosity.

Curiosity is the desire to know

To know, we must learn.

Simple, yes?

God is good! Kara Followes Senior English Teacher

Toowoomba Report On Monday, we had our term workshop at the Toowoomba Library. We had over 50 students turn up on the day. It was good to remember Renee Bogdan as a community, who is one of our mothers who passed away just over a week ago. We were reminded that God uses tough times to mould us into the people God intends

us to be. Romans 5:3-5 (NKJV) says

3 And not only that, but we also glory in

tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character;

and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured

out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

We were very pleased with the number of students that turned up and the range of experiments that were presented by students. Ben and Caleb taught us how to use a green screen with video. Children had an opportunity to be videoed in front of the screen and see themselves in a totally new world.

Ethan designed an experiment after watching the Tour De France bicycle racing and showed us how you can go faster on smaller wheels.

Clare did some research on genetics and shared what she had learned about recessive and dominant genes. Noah and Brynlea presented their project on how to get fresh water using different leaves. It was very well designed and they showed great courage helping present what they had done and learned.

Declan presented two experiments. One showed us how you could use vinegar to make eggs bounce, and the second one involved using a balloon to create static electricity to briefly light a light globe. We were blessed to have Ann Maree from Kingaroy, who explained what the Hermitage Competition is, and encouraged the children to be involved in the competition next year.

They could even try the activities this year. One of the activities on the day was using milk, food colouring and detergent to observe chemical reactions in milk. The effect of detergent in the full cream milk was amazing. The students learn more about the Scientific Method through completing this activity.

South Brisbane Excursion On Friday 11th August 2017, Mr Campfens, Mrs Scott and about 32 of their students went on an excursion to the Beenleigh Historical Village. The group toured the village throughout the morning and

filled in a booklet along the way. We explored old houses and structures, such as a General Store, post office, the old Council Chambers, the “Coomera Lock-up” jail cell and even a schoolhouse from 1873. The old machinery and saw shed was interesting to see and we all enjoyed the blacksmith’s demonstration. During lunch Mrs Scott, my lovely and generous teacher, shared out some lamingtons, and Anzac

biscuits and damper that she had made. It was delicious! She also brought along some ingredients and we all learnt how to make butter. After lunch, we were shown a firetruck from the 1960s and then

continued to explore the village before leaving at around 1pm. We all had a great day of learning and fun as we experienced what life was like back 100+ years ago in the olden days. Bella Short (Faith CSDE student)

I found it interesting how the Blacksmith was bending the metal, also in one of the houses they had a pump organ like Brother Andrew had in Holland - Jasmine Hill

I loved it because there was so much to see and learn about in our history – Nitika Weitenberg

Excursion to the Beenleigh Historical Village By Bella Short

On Friday 11th August 2017, Mr Campfens, Mrs Scott and about 32 of their students went on an excursion to the Beenleigh Historical Village. The group toured the village throughout the morning and filled in a booklet along the way. We explored old houses and structures, such as a General Store, post office, the old Council Chambers, the “Coomera Lock-up” jail cell and even a schoolhouse from 1873. The old machinery and saw shed was interesting to see and we all enjoyed the blacksmith’s demonstration. During lunch Mrs Scott, my lovely and generous teacher, shared out some lamingtons, and Anzac biscuits and damper that she had made. It was delicious! She also brought along some ingredients and we all learnt how to make butter. After lunch, we were shown a firetruck from the 1960s and then continued to explore the village before leaving at around 1pm. We all had a great day of learning and fun as we experienced what life was like back 100+ years ago in the olden days. Gold Coast Science Workshop

On Monday 14th of August 2017 our Gold Coast families gathered with great anticipation for our Science Workshop. The teachers were blown away by the quality of the displays. All students who brought in displays are to be highly commended and each one received a prize. It was evident that much hard work had gone into these displays. Students had fun in the process and gained new knowledge.

Students also rotated around some cool activities. They had the opportunity to use the large binocular microscopes with Jason to look at some interesting items: feathers, leaves, and a lizard to name a few.

Bryce worked with the students to investigate how physical activity affects our heartbeat. Our students worked with Emma to examined taste buds. They tasted various foods and determined that we have different taste buds for each of the 5 types of taste - salty, sweet, sour, bitter and savoury flavours. Mrs Thornton and Wanda ran an Exploration Station where kids explored static electricity, friction, magnetism, finding a centre point and buoyancy. Everyone enjoyed the hands on learning experiences. The day was enjoyed by all, new friends were made and interesting concepts learnt. We would like to thank the parents for attending and supporting this event.

Senior Secondary Phil Johnston

Vocational Guidance Page update Our Vocational Guidance page is your first point of reference for careers information. This has many helpful links and we aim to update it as we find new information.

If you are looking to explore career options, we encourage all students from Grade 10 onwards to start exploring My Future- http://myfuture.edu.au/ and check out other links on the page (include Open Days, Expos etc).

There is a huge amount of information in the careers area and quite frankly it can be quite distracting. The following additional information is provided for you to access as you need it. Please don't let it overwhelm you. It is for this reason I will not be sending regular e-mails bombarding you with information... The three document / document folders at the bottom of the Vocational Guidance page are:

1. Careers Subject Selection support document.

A large number of links to information relevant to investigating careers, external courses, tertiary pathways, school based apprenticeships and traineeships and subject selection. This will be updated over time.

2. 2017 SHARED SETP Workshop Folder.

A storehouse of documents used in the workshop, including work experience forms, MyFuture Activities, Tertiary study tables and the like.

3. Options Career information Bulletins.

These are regular bulletins with a wealth of careers related information. Please don't e-mail this information on as we are able to provide these to our school community only. A copy has been attached to this e-mail, but please check on this link for updates.

Engaging and interesting creative writing Engaging and interesting creative writing is all about sharing something meaningful and important to us. It goes beyond filling in blanks on a task sheet or answering comprehension questions. It is not about filling in forms. It can be about capturing a moment, a feeling, an idea. Whatever it does, the words we write reflect on us as the writer and carry a little piece of us to others. For this reason, there is also something scary about creative writing . Words physically written on a page have a permanency about them. Once they are read out loud or published they are out there to be evaluated, to be judged. A misplet word - -yep, that one was on purpose - or a clumsy phrase is usually the first thing many of us readers pick up on, but to the writer it is the last thing they want their reader to think about. We (the writer) want our readers to get our main idea, our message, our picture that we have in our heads. The truth is that it is much harder to put in words what is in our heads. That is because creative writing is not just a one-off event. It is a process and one at which we are continually learning and growing in. In fact, writing is a struggle because our ability to capture that moment, that feeling, that idea doesn't always come out the way we want at first. Like learning to walk and run, it takes many, many stumbles. Like learning to dance a new routine, it involves coordinating steps and movements that require our neural network in our brain to be reorganised. This doesn't happen overnight. What I saw on a recent visit took me by surprise and seemed to come out of nowhere. I was so encouraged when I read this work by a primary student who recently enrolled with us. It came on the back of regular writing blasts, a lot of hard work - and a willingness to persevere through the writing

process. Yes, it involved plenty of involvement from a dedicated parent-teacher who left behind a cluttered curriculum that was leading to negative results, simply tried some of the creative writing tips from our principal’s notes on our website and cues in an integrated unit. Time was spent on conferencing and supporting this student to see how he could make this important event come alive on paper. This writer was given the opportunity to experience the power of using simple aesthetic devices like simile and alliteration, and to turn words into images, sounds, tastes and feelings. But he was also able to see the benefit that working hard on an important piece of writing can have. There are more samples like this out there. I feel bad not displaying other students work I've seen where similar effort and growth has occurred and I'm open to doing more of this in the future. But that is not my point. Can I encourage you to revisit the writing notes if you haven't read them in a while? Everyone of you have a link in your program. Enjoy doing simple activities (unstructured sentence activities are a great place to start) and build up in small steps. Consider it a learning process and see where it takes you when you persevere at it. Phil Johnston