Maddingley
Year 9 to 12 Indonesian Independence Day activities
Every 17 August, Indonesians celebrate the country’s independence with a range of activities from flag raising ceremony in the morning to a range of fun competitions for children that are run by the community members and leaders. It is the day when independence is commemorated and celebrated.
On 15 and 18 August, the Indonesian students in Senior School celebrated Indonesian Independence Day by learning about Indonesia’s path to independence and participating in collaborative activities. Students engaged in a trivia quiz on Indonesian knowledge, a chopstick challenge involving transferring plastic shells between tables, and concentration games. Throughout these activities, students actively practised Gotong Royong — a foundational Indonesian cultural principle of mutual assistance and community cooperation, where people work together voluntarily to help each other and achieve common goals for the benefit of the community. This celebration combined historical education with hands-on activities that embodied traditional Indonesian values of collective responsibility and teamwork. Below are some reflections from the years 9 to 12 students.
I learned that Indonesian Independence Day is on 17 August and was made independent in 1945. I learnt that the activities are about teamwork. I enjoyed moving the plastic shells activity because it involved the whole team and was fun but difficult. ~ Emma, Year 9
I learned that Indonesian Independence Day is on 17 August, and some of the activities played. I enjoyed the quiz game because it was very fun working with my partner to solve questions with our combined knowledge. ~ Vaani, PreVCE
I learned that the activities or games in Indonesian Independence Day are not individual games they all work together to compete. ~ Marissa, Year 11
I learned how big the celebrations are and some general knowledge in Indonesia in general. I enjoyed all the games because they were all fun to do on a Friday, and we’ve never celebrated this day at school before. ~ Tara, Year 12
Bintari Setyorini – Senior School Indonesian Teacher
Year 9 Core Science Wetlands Fieldwork Excursion
Recently, Year 9 students from Maddingley participated in an Environmental Science fieldwork excursion to Lake Wendouree in the city of Ballarat. This complimented the Woodlea students’ recent visit to the Deanside Wetlands.
The visit provided students with the opportunity to apply environmental sampling techniques learned in class to a real-world setting, focusing on the man-maintained wetlands area of the lake. Throughout the day, students engaged in a series of structured activities designed to investigate the biodiversity and environmental health of the wetlands. These activities included:
- Quadrat Sampling: Using quadrats, students assessed biodiversity by recording the variety and abundance of species within defined areas.
- Transect Line Comparisons: Transect lines were used to compare biodiversity across different sections of the wetlands, allowing students to observe changes in species distribution and habitat variation.
This fieldwork experience not only reinforced key curriculum concepts, but also reinforced critical thinking, data collection and analytical skills. The excursion was a valuable opportunity for students to connect classroom learning with practical scientific investigation, thus deepening their understanding of Earth’s four systems and sustainability.
Sarah Thomson – Head of Science (Maddingley)
