Calmsley Farm

On Thursday 11th August, Kindergarten, Year One and Year Two went to Calmsley Farm for an excursion.   There were many native and farmyard animals to see and interact with.  A highlight of the day was milking cows and petting the nursery animals.  We also saw a whipping show and a dog show.  It was a busy  fun-filled day for all of the students.  

• My favourite thing was when I got to milk a cow and when we watched the dog rounding up the sheep. - Elise A
• I loved the baby pigs because they were little and running around.  They were also making snorting noises and had little bits of hair on them.  - Taeya S
• I liked Calmsley Farm because there were so many beautiful animals.  I was really surprised to see the peacock and the dancing cockatoo. - Zoe C
• At Calmsley Farm, there were sheep, cows, horses, baby bunnies, baby goats, baby chicks and baby mice.  - Cooper M
• My favourite part was when the dog was rounding up the sheep because I haven’t seen a dog do that before.  It was very interesting to watch.  - Dylan M
• There was a dog at Calmsley Farm that was jumping over the sheep and a high gate.  - Emerson C
• The sheep dog jumped into the water tank where the cows drink.  He stayed in for a little while to have a bit of fun and he splashed around.  Everyone laughed. - Lyla N
• I saw a rainbow lorikeet.  It was eating something brown on the tree and it looked old.  - Bobby M
• I liked milking the cow.  I liked pushing milk out of the cow into the bucket.  - Aiden J
• I liked seeing the piglets because they were cute.  - Marley A 
• I liked milking the cow because milk came out of it.  It was the first time I have ever milked a cow.  - Noah M
• I liked when we saw and petting the sheep because they were cute and Evie and I named one Winter.  - Emily D
• I liked when one of the farmers was whipping in the show and when the man was telling the dog what to do.  The dog listened to him and was getting the sheep to go into the closed gate.  - Leni M
• I really liked milking the cow even though it was kind of hard to do.  - Buddy S
• There were heaps of animals and I thought the red foxes were cute.  - Alyssa E
• We got to milk cows and we saw a baby chicken, which is called a chick.  A baby bunny is called a kitten.  - Travis R

Year Five Nan Tien Temple Visit

By Pippa and Bella, Year Five students 

The excitement built as the day of meditation, mindful eating and calligraphy finally  arrived when Year Five hopped on the bus, unsure of the relaxment the Nan Tien Temple will bring them. From 15 minutes of pure relaxment and quietness (which no one knew we could be so quiet) to learning Chinese!

On the 24th of August, Year Five went on an exhilarating adventure to the buddhist temple in Wollongong. Their tour guide, Julie, taught the class new words, Buddhist religion, and compassion. Everyone learnt something new. When the students arrived, the teachers led them towards a beautiful Lotus Pond. It was wonderful to see and it was so calming and peaceful. The vibe immediately affected everyone…and that was just the start. 

Julie first walked Year 5 round the temple grounds, showing the students their god of compassion, Avalokiteshvara. After the tour, Julie took them for meditation in the Meditation Room where miraculously Year Five students stayed quiet! The only sounds were breathing and Julie guiding us through the meditation. After that light cling, cling of the bell to end the meditation, everyone felt calmer and in the zone. Many of these  children struggled with the exercise but at the same time enjoyed it. It was challenging to keep still for 15 minutes but all did so. Meditation was all the Year Five Beehive needed to help settle themselves and yet still it was only the morning. 

Next, Year Five had lunch in the Dining Hall. Everyone was so excited for the lunch the Nan Tien Temple provided. But, as they read the signs they realised something. Mindful Eating, Keep Silence. That meant no one was allowed to talk during their delicious eating time! It was unusual for the kids and most struggled to keep the quiet scene but all did well and all finished their plates!

At around the end of our fantastic day, students did Calligraphy in the Harmony Room. Their teacher Zheng told us about ancient China and how their brushes were made. He said they carved Bamboo to be used as the stick and different animal fur for the tip. Later, we got to trace over Chinese letters and repeat them as a class. Then it was the end of our amazing day.

The excursion made Year Five see Buddhist culture from a different perspective. Meditation, Mindful Eating and Calligraphy were the three most important aspects of their day. There wasn’t one thing these intelligent students didn’t learn at the Nan Tien Temple.