Thanks to the following students for sharing their wonderful creations: Cole, Darcy and Chris made the icosahedrons, Jasper and Aslan made the hexagonal prism, Will A and Caj bravely pioneered the rhombicuboctahedron, but the black and yellow model was made by Charlie F, Lewis made the octahedron, Audrey made the dodecahedron, Ollie made the pentagonal prism, and Mace designed and constructed the six pointed star prism.

- By Sam Ford

* Note from the Editor - I had to ask Sam Ford to clarify the names of each of the shapes and he commented that he "quite liked the fact that the kids who made these shapes could name most of them, but most grown ups would probably need to look them up somewhere!" It's not me, I just don't think those shapes even existed when I was at school.

Prep Buddies

Down the Hill Term 1

Rory, Henry H, Ziggy, Harper, Milly RF, Iesha, Cooper, Makinti, Silas, Sam C and Kate

If you stand near the red couches after morning meeting you’ll see a small group of grade 3 and 4 kids gathered together ready to run down the hill. Down the hill has become a much loved term created by the master of creativity Andrew ‘Blizz’ Blizzard. Blizz describes the term like this:

”For their time down the hill they experience an in depth, theme based term of exploration, imagination and creation."

Every term has a different theme so with that in mind sometimes the work they do is outcome based, for example a film, play or construction. Sometimes we create a narrative journey where the students’ roleplay their way through a series of challenges set in an historical or cultural context.

So far the themes we have explored have been based on science, nature, history, literature, culture theatre and art and have always involved exploration, research and hands on construction. ”

I am thrilled to be the down the hill teacher in Term 1 and 2 this year to continue in this tradition. We have been exploring the theme of birds. During the term the French, music, science and humanities curriculum is also designed around birds.

It is a remarkable setup: 10 kids, 1 teacher, an historic homestead, a circle of couches, tables filled with art materials, binoculars, bird guides, bird poetry, bird stories, bird art books, David Attenborough’s series The Life of Birds, bird nests, bird skeletons and 100 metres to the creek for bird watching and beyond, Trigger the horse roaming freely, bird art projects, a growing feather collection, nests, both bird made and student made and an Eastern Yellow Robin that we see every day checking us out as much as we check him out. It’s a budding Ornithologists' playground!

Photographs & Writing by Wendy Wright

Bush Classroom Rejuvenation

Late in the last term of 2019, the very charming, albeit a little rundown bush classroom had a community based makeover! The year 1 and 2 classes had spent a term blissfully demolishing the bottom deck, re-stumping it, and scrounging for new planks to replace the old ones. There was no shortage of joy during these construction classes but there did, by the end, seem to be a shortage of power tools, which we did all agree, were necessary for completion of the project.

We therefore decided to rope in some parents on a sunny Sunday morning, and with the promise of delectable treats and freshly brewed coffee, a pretty chipper bunch of parents we did see. With chainsaws in hand, and high-vis a plenty, we set everyone to work and things began moving forward steadily.

It was however, a bit of a game changer, when a call was made to another parent who just happened to have a professional milling machine, which then crunched up the driveway and plonked itself next to the piles of fallen branches that had been collected.

With this thrown into our working bee, a new energy took hold, (or was that the second coffee kicking in?) and a hum of activity reverberated throughout the forest. Inspiration took hold, a meandering path made from branches was woven through the woods and bench seats took their place in contemplative spots.

A gnarled old branch became a hat rack, the fireplace was filled with sticks for a future campfire and suddenly the second deck was neatly laid with freshly milled timber, and secured with shiny new screws. There was nothing left to do but eat cake and high five each other for a Sunday well played.

Since then, there have been some lovely sessions up in the bush classroom, reading, drawing and simply sitting quietly, enjoying the wild and wondrous forest that surrounds it.

Thank you immensely to all who helped out!

Photographs & Writing by Nat Haimon

Haring To The NGV

5/6z have been looking at the life and work of Keith Haring. After observing his distinctive style and having a go at creating some line work in his manner, we got a chance last minute booking to go into the NGV to see his creations.

The stage of Haring’s short artistic life was set by John, one of the NGV education officers, who really engaged with the students- getting them to imagine what a dynamic and creative time New York in 1980s would have been. He played music of the time and showed clips of Haring working (and being arrested for being a public nuisance) in the subway system. Even after Haring was catapulted to mega bucks stardom he still liked to draw in the subway and create art for the thousands of public transport users. He wanted art to be for everyone.

The discussion we had before going into the gallery was great. John was impressed by the general knowledge of the class, from a brief history of slavery (thanks Oscar) to decoding abstract art works (thanks Liam, Lily, Finbar, Ethan, Felix and Sasha).

The class then had ample time to walk through the gallery and see the great collection of Haring and Basquiat works. Ethan observed how the exhibition shifted from art works made on found objects- doors and subway advertising paper panels, to ‘proper’ canvas as the artists became well known.

After a break outside, where 5/6z learned that sculptures are not actually there to be climbed on, and an inspired game of Keith Haring Dead Fish (thanks Andy), we then proceeded to explore the main collection of the gallery, finding links between art and music. We looked at ancient art and heard the earliest known notated piece of music in existence from 2000-years-ago Greece. We also listened to the Velvet Underground while looking at a massive portrait of Andy Warhol. However the most memorable event occurred while looking at the Dadaist sculpture collection. Here the class was divided up into small groups and asked to come up with a sound that represented the art work in front of them. Barely batting an eyelid each group came up with an offering and were directed in an ensemble that would have been right at home at the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich. Other visitors were intrigued by the loud “BAAAAP” and siren sounds in the international permanent collection at the NGV, and the staff were thrilled that the students performed with gusto.

Thanks to year 5/6z, Andy and the NGV for an excellent arty day.

Back in the art studio we continue to explore the art of Keith Haring through collaborative sculpture and Lino printing.

Written By Katy Penman

Community Notices