Camps

Drama Camp

An unprecedented heat wave didn’t stop the enthusiastic Senior Drama Class from making the most of this year’s Drama Camp. Armed with paper, pens, research notes and lots of water, we embarked on our 2 day “theatrical tour” on March 11 & 12. As part of the class’ study of live theatre we were prepared for our trip by exploring a range of theatrical styles and stagecraft elements before setting off. Students then learnt the fine art of taking copious notes in pitch black darkness on the details of the performance. We also learnt how to stifle sobbing and write at the same time! The performances we saw included “When the Rain Stops Falling” by Brink Productions, a moving tale of 3 generations of one family, struggling to come to terms with love, loss and relationships (this one had most of us in tears!). The performance was followed by a valuable “Question/Answer” session with the director and actors. Our second play was called “X-Stacy” by Fat Lip Productions. The class responded with mixed reviews to this story which dealt with the dangers of drugs and the devastating effects drugs can have on a family. An evening tour of North Terrace allowed us to see the magnificent “Northern Lights” installation for the Adelaide Festival of Arts – just beautiful! Our final performance, “Ruby Moon” by the State Theatre Company of South Australia explored the delicate issue of grief as one family struggles to come to terms with the abduction of their small child. The style of performance was quite surreal and really captured the imaginations of the class. As my class prepares to make sense of their notes and begin writing their reviews, I’d like to thank them for their energy and intelligent approach to the performances viewed. Their parents can also be very proud of them- Keith students have the best audience manners in my opinion! Thanks also to Janine Vickery for her stellar performance of driving the bus!

Tanya Allen
Drama teacher

Year 9 Aquatic Camp

On Wednesday 2nd April the Year 9’s ventured in wet and windy weather to Murraylands Aquatics Centre at Murray Bridge, for the annual Aquatics camp.

This camp allows students to develop confidence and skills in a range of aquatics activities, as well as camping and self catering opportunities. It was fantastic to see the students so enthusiastic (apart from complaining about the cold weather) and willing to have a go at any activity that the instructors set them. With a range of activities on offer all students were able to achieve success and were supportive of others in their group. Each group is allocated an experienced instructor who they work with all camp. The students develop skills in kayaking, canoeing, rowing, windsurfing, sailing, knee boarding, skiing and small boat handling.

On arrival at the campsite all gear was quickly unpacked under shelter and students headed out in rough conditions to their first activities. Knee boarding and small boat handling were on the agenda so that students were not blown to the river mouth. As conditions fined up, not until very late in the day, tents began to pop up and the scene changed from wind and rain to a small tent village. Just after organising all tents hail arrived, just to remind us that the weather was not perfect.

After a long and cold night students woke early to better conditions and a bit of early sunshine. With enthusiasm showing in those who got enough sleep, students ventured off to a big day of water activities. It is great to watch students come back from each activity beaming with the feeling of success and enjoyment in what they have achieved. As usual there were always the few who couldn’t stay out of the water, capsizing kayaks, tipping catamarans or failing to stand upright on the windsurfers.

Bowling was the highlight of Thursday night. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to knock down some pins, although the skills of Mr Costin proved that we all have a long way to go in learning to bowl. Well done Mr Costin for showing everyone up.

Friday morning saw me having to wake most tents at 7.00am, I think this is a first for me ever on this camp, we are normally woken by the chatter and rustle of students eager to get out of bed at 6.00am. With gear starting to be packed, students once again ventured to the water for more activities. There was a little less enthusiasm this morning, with the lack of sleep catching up with some.

After being wet and soggy for three days, we ventured back to Keith to catch up with lost sleep in our own warm beds.

It was a pleasure to take such a well behaved and well mannered group on camp.

As always camps don’t happen without the support of staff and parents. Thanks to Matt Costin and Janine Vickery for all their valuable help with organising and running the camp. A special thankyou to Julie Bleasby and John McMurray who provided fantastic support for the three days.

Alicia Keatley

Years 7/8 Canberra Camp

For many teachers there are a few essentials that ensure a successful camp.  Good food, a good bed and a reasonable amount of sleep, and great kids.  The where and what don’t really matter too much if you have the essentials.  Last week Ken Blake, Tanya Allen, Scott McEachern and Karen Drabsch and I headed off to Canberra for a week with 41 Years 7 and 8 students.

After a 14 hour bus trip that equates to about 7 DVD’s, five toilet stops and a couple of nana naps, we arrived in Canberra.  Our accommodation was new, fresh, clean and ideal for our group.  The food was fantastic, and then there was Canberra.
The mandatory tour of Parliament House included a schools program and a role play of the passing of a Bill on the Australian water shortage as well as an emergency evacuation drill – an action packed few hours. Our resident Speaker, The Honourable Sam Martin kept order in the House and there was lively debate over the Bill, but the Bill was passed by the Government who coincidently had the numbers!  We learnt about elections and how to vote at Old Parliament House – and peaches won the favourite fruit with the kids.

At the National Museum another program challenged the kids to the notion of the Creation of a Nation.  Armed with digital cameras they headed out to the galleries to photograph images they believe made us Australian.  ANZACS, FJ Holdens and Vegemite all featured and they will create posters back at school. These will be displayed in their classroom if you would like to see what they produced.  Also at the National Museum we practiced our emergency evacuation procedures....again.

At Questacon we spent hours being entertained and enthralled by Science.  Tanya Allen donned overalls and free fell 6 metres down to the slippery dip, a gutsy effort none of the rest of us bothered to copy.  The kids were up there falling to the ground like flies.  The terror and then relief, on their faces was priceless as they overcame primal fear to have a go. 
At the Australian Institute for Sport we looked for anyone famous but didn’t see anyone we knew.  We did however learn the fine art of foot bagging (aka hackey sacking). We decided that besides a love of the sport they play, the essential ingredient for these scholarship holders and graduates was passion, as they spent 8 hours practising and practising.

The War Memorial is truly an inspiring and heart wrenching place. During the course of the trip we talked to the kids about the behaviour we expected of them at these venues and explained that the War Memorial, in particular, is a place where many people feel sad, proud, reflective and any one of many emotions and that we needed to be respectful.
We started our tour at the back by the planes, and moved toward the First World War display.  Needing some air, we then went out by the Walls displaying the roles of honour and into the actual Hall of Memory.  In the Second World War display, I approached one of our boys who was walking around on his own and asked what he thought of it all.  He told me that he wasn’t enjoying the Memorial.  When I asked why, he replied “It’s too sad, too powerful and it made him feel cold inside”.  He went on to say that he couldn’t get over 102,000 Australian people dying at war.  I assured him that many who visited the War Memorial felt the same as him.
Canberra, as a school trip, offers something for everyone. A few have asked what my favourite thing was for the week and the tales I have mentioned already were certainly highlights.  But my absolute favourite memory for the week was actually at the Ice Skating.  Watching the faces of nervous, anxious, excited and cocky would-be skaters, turn to sheer determination and joy, at success, was priceless.  A few young people with wobbly ankles dragged themselves around the edge of the arena and came in, sat down and proceeded to take their skates off.  When asked “what are you doing” they replied “it’s too hard, I am giving up”, “No you’re not, I’m not going to let you give up, get out there and keep trying” was echoed back, a standoff ensued and both won the battle.  The young adults went out and wobbled their way around several more times, falling over, bruising limbs, but kept going.  By the end, they were beaming as they let go of the wall and skated!  But we also saw kamikaze skaters who crashed and burned and crashed and had very sore limbs and got wet and cold and… didn’t stop smiling.  This was my favourite part of camp

Thank you to Ken, Tanya, Scott and Karen for their patience and support.  They came along for the week and contributed to a brilliant camp. Jim Davis, our intrepid bus driver did another sterling job while we nodded off up the back, he didn’t even complain when we took a little scenic route or two!!

We had all the essentials for a wonderful camp: good food, comfort, sleep, but absolutely the most import thing was that we had 41 wonderful students who behaved well, were well mannered, grateful and appreciative of all the activities and of things done for them.  And they were absolutely lots of fun.  You should feel proud of them because they conducted themselves magnificently in your absence.

I would do it all again, anyone
want to come with me next time?

Deborah Cannon
Middle School  Coordinator