Year 6 - 12 Class
Here we are at the end of the weirdest year ever. Even though we are all hanging out for the end, I’m thinking our friend COVID will continue to challenge us in the coming year. And we will manage. Just like we did this year.
The year 6-12 class finished HASS studies for the year with a look at Australia’s worst bushfires. They researched a particular fire, its causes, the damage done to property, animals and human life, and what changes have been implemented to aid prevention. One discovery the students found fascinating was that even though last summer’s fires were devastating in terms of wildlife and property lost, they were relatively well managed in terms of human life. This was because of the change to the ‘stay and defend or go’ policy, which became the ‘just go’ policy, meaning people were evacuated rather than trying to defend their properties.
For English we focused on personal narratives, where students were asked to look at a particular moment or event in their life and write about that. Some struggled to come up with ideas, we looked at an example from my own memories (being SO OLD I had no trouble coming up with past events!) and this helped get the creative juices flowing. We have continued working on grammar, spelling and vocabulary, and I feel all students have improved in these areas over the year.
For the last two weeks of the year we are working around play practice to design, bake and construct our own gingerbread houses. These are coming along nicely and will be assembled and decorated on Friday afternoon. I apologise for the sugar rush that will no doubt follow.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank parents and community members for giving me the opportunity to teach my first year at Hawker Area School. I have thoroughly enjoyed my year and hope the kids have as well. I will be returning next year to teach English and HASS for the secondary students, and will also be taking on Home Ec and HPE for years 6-9. I’m excited and in the early planning stages for the two new subjects, as well as planning for a new cohort of students for my core subjects.
I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas, and stays safe and sane during the silly season. I look forward to whatever 2021 brings us.