Maddingley
Prep Reception visit Staughton Vale again!
During our second visit to the Staughton Vale Campus, the Prep Reception students enjoyed a hands-on day of outdoor learning. We were excited to spot kangaroos on arrival and then checked on the peas we planted last time which have now grown to around 10 cm tall. Students planted additional flowers, laid hay bedding to support the pea plants, and explored a range of herbs and guessed what they could be using their sense of smell.
The class also took part in a variety of activities that supported working together as a team. Students played hide and seek in the lemon orchard, painted individual rocks to add to the garden and began nature weaving using our new weaving frame. We finished the day with cooperation games in which students worked together demonstrating their communication and coordination skills. We can’t wait until our next visit!
Karlisa Smy – Prep Reception Teacher
Year 6 Biology Excursion
Recently, the Year 6 students at Maddingley participated in an excursion to the Staughton Vale Campus which was designed to develop their skills in Biological Sciences. Throughout the day, students worked in small groups with their Science teachers as they completed three practical activities.
One activity introduced students to techniques used for collecting and observing invertebrates found in leaf litter. Students learned how to gather samples responsibly, examine the organisms present, and identify key features that support their survival within this environment.
Students also undertook a classification task focused on leaves collected from various areas of the property. By examining characteristics such as shape, colour and texture, they constructed a dichotomous key as a tool for identifying different leaf types. This process supported their understanding of how scientists use observable features to classify living things.
The final activity explored the relationship between fire and the germination of many Australian native seeds. Students examined the sensitivity of these seeds to environmental cues and then used leaf litter ash to investigate its effect on germination conditions. This allowed students to apply scientific inquiry skills while learning about an important ecological process.
Sarah Thomson – Head of Science (Maddingley)
Woodlea
Australian Wildlife Society Award
On March 20, Staughton Vale Ambassadors Sonova, Surya and Tanish, on behalf of all the SV Ambassadors, were privileged to be invited to receive the Australian Wildlife Society (AWS) Group Youth Conservation Award at the AWS President’s Dinner held in Sydney.
The night started with the President’s address, followed by a guest speaker presentation by Dr. Stephen Van Mil, founder of Australia’s first and only mobile Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Van Mil shared his journey and insights about Wildlife Conservation and the initiatives his organisation is heading.
We were also privileged to meet and network with several other award winners who have been making significant contributions to Australia’s wildlife conservation efforts. We heard many inspiring stories that motivated us to continue to put in our best efforts to assist with wildlife conservation. Each one of the award winner’s conservation journeys started with a single action that grew into a huge initiative. We look forward to following in their footsteps and making an even bigger impact in our conservation journey.
When we received our award from the Australian Wildlife Society’s president Mr. Stephen Grabowski, Mr. Peter Lewis and Mr. John Creighton from the Southern Highlands wildlife sanctuary, we felt extremely honoured and proud of all the efforts we and SV ambassadors have been putting in the last two and a half years. We are extremely grateful to be recognised for our conservation efforts and look forward to continuing our journey throughout this year and the future.
We would also like to thank Mrs Heywood and Mrs. Hunter, our mentors and the driving force behind this initiative, and a special thanks to Mr. Northcott and Mrs. Heywood for taking us to Sydney.
Sonova L, Surya S and Tanish K – Staughton Vale Ambassadors
