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Today we had a special visitor come into our classroom. Tim arrived in with our little friend Storm - a red tailed black cockatoo, who is now 7 weeks old. He/she was a little freaked out when we were passing him/her around, but he/she settled happily in Chloe’s arms and enjoyed us all patting him/her. Now the next question we have is whether Storm is a girl (hen bird) or a boy (cock bird). We are going to vote online with our guesses. Tim is going to do a blood test sometime in the next week and send the blood test to South Africa, where they will check the DNA and get back to him with the result. Stay tuned.

Well done to the students in our class for being so quiet and gentle with Storm. He/she looked extremely comfortable in the school environment and Tim promises to bring him/her back in one day soon.

A very well behaved Storm, enjoying a cuddle.

Wow - I like the look of these children. I wonder if I could live at school?

Last week we farewelled Tyler, who has returned to his old school in Sorrento. We are really going to miss Tyler’s quiet nature, his cheeky grin and the way he fitted in so nicely to our group. We wish you lots of luck Tyler. Make sure you email us and let us know how you have settled in. Don’t forget us - we won’t forget you.

all your mates at Hawkesdale P12

Congratulations to the 8 students who made up our 2 very fine debating teams for the Warrnambool Eisteddfod last week. Each team debated in a very persuasive way, but in both cases, were not deemed to be the winning teams. We are proud of you nonetheless. The first debating topic was “That PE should be compulsory in schools” (negative)

and the second topic was “That children should be able to own and use mobile phones” (affirmative)

Thanks also to Mylee and Cheryl who drove the two teams into the Mozart Hall in Warrnambool so that the students could perform. Above is a photo of our very successful debaters, who won the battle, not the war.

This week’s writing challenge is to plan a narrative using the 5 step plan we talked about last week.

1. Orientation - characters (limit yourself to 2 main characters) and setting
2. Problem - what is the problem facing the characters?
3. Complication -what happens to complicate the problem and make it worse?
4. Resolution -how is the problem solved?
5. Conclusion - How do your characters end up? (…and then he died OR then he woke up ….. is absolutely banned! Remember the KISS principle - Keep It Simple Simon)

We will post some of your story plans on our blog. They may inspire other writers to develop the story. Good luck.

This week’s challenge is to imagine your mum in her favourite place and then write to her as though you are watching her in that moment. Remember to use adjectives to paint a picture with words. Begin your writing with

I see you………

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I see you, going into Nanny Bev’s house every Tuesday afternoon for lunch and HEAPS of cups of tea.I see you cooking heaps of chocolate cakes and choc chip biscuits. They are so nice and sweet.I see you checking your emails and reading them all the time.I see you watch us swim in the pool at Elaine’s house nearly every hot day. I see you telling Felicity off about going on about losing her phone and not getting it back.I see you going shopping for me and getting some new head bands.

Kirsten

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I see you ironing the clothes and watching Bold and the Beautiful when the telephone rings and guess who it is Fiona. Your on the phone for two hours and you have to go before the ironing burns. Finely you get some time to do the things you like, like doing a crossword or reading a book about African kids.

I see you on your walk around Hawkesdale with carrots at your side. You carry a stick to chase off the swooping magpies that make you shriek.

Happy Mothers Day Mum !

Bailey

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I see you standing in Shaun’s room wondering

where to start. The next thing I hear is a crash,

bang, boom! And the wall is gone. That’s when

you said we were going to have a veranda.

Every spare day and night, whenever you have time you spend it all on making the veranda beautiful. Spuddy usually sits out there with you, curious about what you are doing. You spend as much time as possible out there with the birds and Spud and Basil. It’s your favourite place to be. It fills you with glee. Every mum has to have their special place, and yours is on the veranda.

I love you mum, have a great mothers day!

Chloe

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I see you relaxing on your chair trying to figure out the answer of today’s crossword puzzle out of the paper. The T.V is on and every now and then you would look up to see the score in the tennis. Beside you is your book which has no bookmark inside so you must have finished.

I see Dad come in and ask you for a coffee. The air conditioner is on and the sweat is pouring down your face. The door bell rings and you go to see who it is. It’s a stranger asking for directions. You navigate the person’s way to Dunkeld.

I see you running on the tennis court to get the ball over the net. You are losing and the umpire says it was out but you know it was in. You argue with the umpire. You just lost and you look disappointed. I go and cheer you up. The smile on your face is growing.

I see you on the side lines of the netball court cheering Emily and I on. You’re telling us to shoot. It’s a goal. The netball court is filled with excitement.

Mum, you are the greatest mum Emily, Tim and I could ever have.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! Georgia

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I see you in the garden kneeling on your sore, tired knees taking care of your favourite roses. I see you wiping the sweat off your fore head with the back of your hand. You have dirt on the tip of your nose from all your weeding. You look up at the clouds in the sky and wonder when it is going to rain and water your precious garden.

You forget about the garden and go inside to prepare our tea. You wonder what time dad will be home because you need to have tea on the table straight away.

I see you putting away the dishes and saying that you are going to sit down but you never do. I see you cleaning and sweeping and looking for other jobs around the house.

I see you coming up the hallway to kiss me good night and to tuck us in tight. You pull my sheets in under my mattress and kiss me goodnight.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MUM

FROM RACHEL

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I see you in your nice comfy chair doing your banking on the computer. You love opening a picture of Blink. At your feet there is Milly lying on her back, trying to be rubbed. You can hear Harry and Tammy growling at each other. You click on the internet icon and go shopping for brasses and leathers. You get a lot of bargains on EBay. Nearly all of your collections of brasses come from the wide world of internet. Even Prince came from South Australia. I hope you have the best mother’s day! And you’re the best mum ever.

Cody

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Brought to you by George

Why did the koala fall out of the tree?

Because he was dead

Why did the second koala fall out of the tree?

Because he thought it was a game.

Why did the third koala fall out of the tree?

He thought they were playing Follow the Leader.

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Brought to you by Rachel C

Why did the skeleton cross the road?

To show his girlfriend he had guts.

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Brought to you by Joshuah

How do you make Picachu get on the bus?

Pokemon

Visit the site

www.oxfam.org.au   and check out the Fairtrade news.

What is Fairtrade?

“Fairtrade provides a labelling system to ensure minimum standards are met and that farmers rights and their families’ welfare is respected. Purchasing fairtrade products has short and long term benefits. importantly, your Fairtrade purchase means:

1. A fair minimum price for farmers - that enables them to have food, shelter, health care and education for them and their families.

2. Coffee farmers receive a Fairtrade premium of 28 cents a kg that is spent on community development projects - such things as improved health services, schools and training.

3. Improvements in sustainable farming practices

4. Access to low-cost credit and technical assistance.”

OxFam Australia - 132 Leicester St. Carlton, Victoria

 Add your thoughts.

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Farmers from all over the world, are being underpaid for their produce. Most of these farmers use traditional methods to grow their products. Fairtrade means that the farmers get a fair price for their products. The extra money covers the cost of production and allows them to develop their farms and update equipment. It also allows the communities to build better roads, pay school fees and generally make their lives more sustainable. The farmers can’t live a good life with unfair prices and they deserve to live a little easier. The farmers want to reinvest their money and be happy like everyone else. So all you companies out there - please pay THE FAIR PRICE!

George (12 years old)

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On Thursday the 8th of May, staff at our school held a Fairtrade morning tea. The staff drank Fairtrade tea and coffee and showed the 4 minute DVD about Fairtrade, to their classes. Some students in our class made posters advertising the Fairtrade brand and these are on display in our canteen. Other students, like George (above) wrote their thoughts about Fairtrade and the great work it does. We enjoyed the smell of the coffee brewing so much, that we now have a permanent couple of plungers in our staff room, so thanks Oxfam - what a great idea it was to run a Fairtrade fortnight!

www.icanw.org

Check out this website and add your thoughts. The motto for the Ican organisation is

I can…you can, we can abolish nuclear weapons.

Dear world leaders,

Nuclear weapons are very dangerous. The uranium can get into the skin and do serious damage to your blood, cells and organs. Even worse it can kill you. \

The detonation of a nuclear weapon would totally wipe out entire countries and hundreds of thousands of people would die, in only a few seconds.

Surprisingly, even though we know all the facts, nine countries still have nuclear weapons. Those countries are France, Pakistan, Israel, Russia, China, USA, North Korea, UK and India.

Today’s Nuclear weapons are 20,000 times stronger then the Hiroshima A bomb. The death toll from the explosion and the fallout of that bomb was 200,000 deaths over a number of weeks and months. The black acid rain killed people weeks after the explosion.

I’m only 11 and I want to live my life to the full. We need to abolish nuclear weapons for us to be able to do that safely. As a beginning point, we need to get the nuclear weapons off high alert. At least then, there is less likelihood of an accidental bombing. After that, the countries need to get together and discuss abolishing these devastating weapons altogether.

If kids can think like this, why can’t world leaders?

If you would like to learn more about this subject, visit the website www.ican.w.org

From Bailey        

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Dear World Leaders

I am twelve years old and when I grow up I don’t want to drink out of disgusting water, get sick from the nuclear fallout, or be killed in the event of a nuclear war.

These Nuclear Weapons have affected many places and countries in the world, and killed many thousands of human beings.

Nine countries including Russia, China, USA, North Korea, France, Pakistan, UK, Israel and India still have nuclear weapons. The weapons are twenty thousand times more powerful than years ago in 1945, when the A Bomb called “the boy” killed around two hundred thousand people in Japan.

It would be a miserable world to live in if any of the countries let the nuclear bombs off. So please, for this generation and for generations to come, get the bombs off high alert. At least then the risk of a nuclear accident is reduced. 

Sincerely

Rachael

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Dear World Leaders, 

I’m 11 years old.

These nuclear weapons have affected land, water, air and human life. Thousands of people have died terrible deaths because of these nuclear bombs. Millions have suffered.   It’s got to stop now!

There are only nine countries still involved or who own nuclear weapons including Russia, France, China, USA, Israel, Pakistan, U.K, Nth. Korea and India.

You owe it to the world to get the weapons off high alert. It would be the start of peace process that will lead to the abolishment of nuclear weapons.

I want my future looking positive. I don’t want to grow up living with the threat of nuclear war: no food and crops, water sources, air pollution and death and disease threatening my future. I don’t want this for my generation or for future generations.

There are only 27000 nuclear weapons left in the world. There should be zero!

Make peace. Stop Nuclear weapons. Everyone can make a difference.

 Sincerely,

Georgia

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I would like world leaders to abolish the nuclear bombs! If we still have the nuclear bombs I see that in a few years, the whole world is in more danger than we are now.  You could just get them off high alert, and then the countries still have a chance to talk about the matter.

While the weapons are on high alert, accidents can happen. Countries can misinterpret each other and accidentally set off a bomb. And why even dare to send one into outer space, putting toxins into the world and its surroundings? What kind of leaders would do that? 

Cody. (11 years old)

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