Preshil Weekly – Term 1 – Week 8

Middle School Wellbeing Week
Today is the final day of what has been an enriching and educational Wellbeing week for Year 7 and 8.

On Monday we had ‘The Man Cave’ attend and run a program for the male identifying students. This was a day full of engagement, lots of group activities that led to an opportunity to discuss mental health and having vulnerable conversations with friends and being respectful of others in that space. This coincided with ‘The Big Sister Experience’ which was running for female identifying students at the same time.

Wednesday at lunchtime we had a keyring making session open mainly to Year 7/8’s but some other students came in to participate as well. The session was run by Headspace, and it was a great way to establish a connection with mental health practitioners in a creative and fun space!

Wednesday P5 we had Elephant Ed come in and run a workshop on sex, puberty, & relationships in general. It was a really educational space where students could ask questions to the experts without judgement on some really sensitive topics!

We’ll share more on the week next week!

Arlington Working Bee uncovers treasure trove of coins
While participating in the recent working bee at Arlington, parent helpers were focused on clearing, tidying and beautifying the grounds when a seemingly ordinary task took an unexpected turn. As one of the parents struck the earth with a shovel, a glass jar, buried deep in the soil, was suddenly unearthed. It shattered on impact, revealing its mysterious contents: a trove of coins, many barely recognisable due to erosion and decay.

The cache included coins from around the globe, spanning several decades, if not longer. Among the scattered collection were coins from a variety of nations, each telling a unique story of a time long past. Some of the most surprising finds included:

Pre-Euro French Francs, Italian Lira, Coins from Greece, the Netherlands, and the UK, New Zealand and South African currency, coins from the Maldives, French Polynesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand, Pre-decimal Australian coins, including the rare 1 and 2 cent pieces.

The diversity of coins led to an intriguing question: When was this jar buried? After examining the most recent coin, which was dated 1995, a timeline began to emerge. This discovery sparked considerable interest, with many speculating about the circumstances surrounding the jar’s burial. Was it the result of an individual’s personal savings, or perhaps a time capsule of sorts?

As the coins were carefully examined, some appeared worn and faded, with elements of the designs barely legible. Others were in relatively better condition, still retaining the imprint of the various mints and countries they hailed from. This unexpected discovery piqued the curiosity of many of the Loft Room children and siblings who were at the working bee, who were excited by a tale of mystery, travel, and the passage of time.

Choir
Every Tuesday during lunch, the very talented Martika Cetinich, takes us through our vocal exercise to warm up for the Preshil Senior Choir.

This is a great opportunity for staff and students across multiple year levels to connect, relax, recharge and sing our hearts out. This is a seriously fun and uplifting activity and you are always welcome to join us.

Senior Visual Arts Excursion to NGV
Our senior VCE and DP Visual Arts students recently had the opportunity to visit the NGV Australia Gallery, where they explored the permanent First Nations gallery and examined the work of emerging artists in the VCE Top Arts exhibition. The excursion provided an insightful look into the creative processes behind high-achieving student folios, offering inspiration for their own artistic journeys.

In the afternoon, students visited NGV International to experience the immersive world of Yayoi Kusama. From vibrant installations to Kusama’s signature polka dots and pumpkins, the exhibition provided a playful and thought-provoking exploration of the artist’s distinctive style—complete with the obligatory ‘selfie’ moment. This hands-on experience deepened students’ understanding of artistic techniques, materials, and conceptual development, enriching their studies back in the classroom.

Kindergarten Excursion to Melbourne Museum
Our excursion to the Melbourne Museum was a complete success with an abundance of joy from the children. From jumping on the bus to seeing eels getting fed, the children and adults engaged and learnt new things. When asking some of them today what they enjoyed the most, some of them said the Dinosaur Walk and others said seeing real eels.

We learnt that eels are almost blind and that they rely on their sense of smell and their inner magnetic sense to move and survive. We also learn that the older eels are brown to camouflage themselves from predators and that they can live up to 35 years. Eels are important for Australia’s First Peoples during this time of the year as they make their way from fresh waters to the sea, and the question of what is needed to keep water clean for eels and other fish to grow has sparked conversations about how we can contribute to keeping nature clean.

Young Curators
This term our ‘Young Curators’ elective have been busy exploring galleries and public artworks in places such a s Heide Museum of Art, the Lyonhaus Museum and the Hawthorn Townhall.

Every Friday, we have travelled in our magic art bus to embark on creative adventures where together, we experience and discuss the amazing things we observe and feel when encountering artworks. It’s been a fun and enriching journey, and we look forward to continuing these explorations as we deepen our appreciation for art and creativity in the world around us!

Chess
Chess is back! Open to year levels, Chess is a fantastic mind game that stimulates the brain development and ways of thinking. Join Leonid on Thursdays from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Learn more and fill out this form.

Preshil Careers Hub
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