BACK TO SCHOOL TRIP REPORT
26th & 27th August 2017
On August 25th Wendy and I drove to the Hopeland Community Centre and spent the afternoon setting up the classroom of the HOPELESS PRIMARY SCHOOL. We camped overnight and at 9.30am on the 26th George & Annice left Byford leading a convoy of 4 vehicles to the school, arriving at about 10am. These people began setting up camp. Neville & Jo Garvey (old members) arrived about 10.30am.
Just after 11am everyone was given a bag of “Doogs” and a “stewed ant” named Trevor gave a demonstration of “ringee” & “linee” then the other “stewed ants” tried their skill. (Much room for improvement)”. We all gathered under the trees at 11.30am to eat our school lunches (Vegemite, polony, peanut paste and/or cheese sandwiches).
At 12 noon the bell rang and we all lined up at the front door of the school to find “Miss Hap”, the Head Mistress waiting to greet us. Poor Ms Eryguts never recovered from her last visit to the school in 2004, and is now in a nursing home. Everyone found their desk and stood to sing “God Save The Queen”. After introduction and welcome by Miss Hap (an unfortunate accident) it was time to call the roll and inspect fingernails and hankies and sing to the naughty ones who had forgotten them. Teacher then read out a very amusing note from Earle & Susan’s mum explaining why they could not attend.
Neville & Jo gave a fantastic presentation of News and “Show and Tell” while Peter gave us a very interesting news item. Thanks very much to you all for the effort you made.
Everyone recited their “times tables” and then Miss Hap presented a comparison of old to new currency, weights and distance. All so much easier these days with decimal system. Now it was time to play! Each “stewed ant” was given a box of coloured “Cuisenaire Rods” and asked to build busses and trucks, with some excellent results. The teacher’s pet, Wendy, then conducted a brief maths lesson in colours and numbers using these rods. Cuisenaire was a “hands on”, fun, practical way of learning the value of numbers, sadly not used much in schools today.
Next came a “Phonics” lesson with each class reciting words from phonics lists and then writing a brief story containing as many words from their list as possible. Lists contained “EE” “AR” “OW” “IR” and “OO” words. Some very entertaining stories were written. ART was next on the program and some wonderful pictures of “Their Family Having Fun” were drawn by the class. These were judged by Jacob, Aleeya and Carlo. They chose Dave, Neville & Annice as the best artists.
When the bell rang for afternoon recess, school milk and straws were distributed to each child by the Milk Monitors Aleeya & Carlo. Then we all went out to play and have a cuppa or other refreshments as desired.
At 2.30pm the bell rang for return to class and Miss Hap announced that several students had prepared a short play for the DRAMA lesson, with George as Jack, Annice as mother, Dave as the Giant and Wendy as story teller. A gripping production of Jack and the Beanstalk was performed and enjoyed by all (we hope). EVEN THE OLD BROWN COW.
After reading the earlier stories, Miss Hap decided a VOCABULARY lesson was required and this took the form of a game of “Tell Me”. The infants spun the dial and called out the questions. All students took part enthusiastically, with the infants getting the highest score (shame on the higher classes!) This lesson was interrupted by the arrival of School Nurse, “AID”, (Jan Hankinson). Luckily on her way she came across a young boy (Ray H) who had fallen from his bike on his way to school and needed urgent first aid. This explained his late arrival at school. The Nurse had come to the school to check the children’s hair, heart and reflexes and also to give some students their injections. Some very odd creatures were found in Jo’s hair and Carlo had no heartbeat so needed an injection. He was very brave, for a dead person!
It was now time for MANUAL DEXTERITY. Each child was given a pack of “plasticine” made by Miss Hap and her Pet. Each class drew from a hat, the subject of a scene they had to create (a zoo scene, farm scene, beach scene, hardware shop or greengrocers shop). Our club certainly has some talented sculptors, with the older students having a lot of fun. Again, the infants were the judges and they chose the Green Grocery by George, Jo & Wendy as best, but their very own scene of products in a Hardware Shop was equally as good.
As everyone was, by now, getting rather thirsty, hungry & fidgety we decided to finish the day with a quick test of comprehension, using 3 copies of the same “West Australian Newspaper” which they were given time to peruse then answer a list of questions. Once again, great enthusiasm was shown by all. The infants, Jacob, Aleeya & Carlo did an amazing job.
When the final bell rang for the day, all “stewed ants” were keen to run out to play, etc, etc. Wendy was disappointed that Dave did not meet her behind the Boy’s Dunny as she had invited him to do by note in the class. Dave was angry with Wendy because he had to stand in the naughty corner for receiving notes around the class.
After nibblies, we all gathered around a wonderful camp fire lit by the club pyromaniac, ate dinner and chatted till bedtime. One naughty boy had his big sleep while we ate dinner and then woke up about 11pm and wanted to play most of the night. (Poor Jan) or (lucky Jan)?
At 9.30am Sunday the bell rang for the start of School Sports Day, when the boys competed against the girls in Water Balloon Leader ball and Old Duck Waddle relays and Toilet Roll Tunnel Ball. Finally we had the big “Doog Off” in which the students used the Doogs (marbles) received the day before to compete in a game of “Linee”. We think Dave was the ultimate Grand Champion.
As everyone was now exhausted we all relaxed with a drink while Miss Hap presented Merit Certificates to those students who excelled during the weekend. We then packed up our camps, cleaned up the hall (thanks to all those who helped) and wended our way home.
Trevor & I had a most enjoyable weekend and we thank you all for participating so enthusiastically in all the activities and for the MANY LAUGHS we shared. Hopefully you all enjoyed it too.
Wendy & Trevor
