General News
23 August, 2023
St Mary's week of adventures
Students at St Mary’s had a busy but exciting week which began with the Foundation to Grade 2 students trip to Swan Hill, and ending with seeing a show in Horsham. The Chickpea and Wheat students travelled to Swan Hill’s Pioneer Settlement on...
Students at St Mary’s had a busy but exciting week which began with the Foundation to Grade 2 students trip to Swan Hill, and ending with seeing a show in Horsham.
The Chickpea and Wheat students travelled to Swan Hill’s Pioneer Settlement on Monday and principal Nerrida Holland said they enjoyed embarking on a journey back in time to gain an understanding of Australian history and heritage.
“The children had a fabulous time and were enthusiastic to learn about early Australian history and culture,” she said.
The day began with a smoking ceremony, an explanation of the tools used for hunting by Indigenous people and the use of animal skins, before tackling the numerous hands-on tasks that filled the daily lives of pioneers.
“The students gained an appreciation of the lives of indigenous people and challenges faced by early settlers,” said Ms Holland.
“They said their highlights were doing the laundry, making butter and riding in the horse and cart.”
The students learned to use a scrubbing board to do laundry, and how they made their own toys - including peg dolls.
“They learned how only men can play didgeridoos, how to make butter, and how to write old style letters - all of which provided the students with real life experiences connected to their History curriculum,” said Ms Holland.
Then, on Friday, the students joined other schools from Minyip, Murtoa, and Warracknabeal in travelling to the Horsham Town Hall to see Horsham Secondary College’s production of Cinderella.
“They thoroughly enjoyed the two-and-a-half hour performance,” said Ms Holland.
“The costumes were spectacular, the music engaging, with clever costume changes by the main characters, and there was a strong sense of friendship running through the production.
“The cast has been rehearsing for over nine weeks, and produced a polished theatrical experience.”