Wangaratta Primary School Fireman Sam to the rescue Foundation students were thrilled to welcome local firefighters for an exciting fire-safety visit. Students learned important safety tips, explored the fire truck and even had a turn squirting the hose. The hands-on experience sparked plenty of smiles while helping children understand how to stay safe in an emergency. * Carraragarmungee Primary School Chilling out The school has a friendship seat where students can sit and take some time out together. Mia Bell and Matilda Wilson are captured in a candid photo enjoying a lunchtime chat in the aptly named seat which is located under the peach tree. * Wangaratta High School Science discovery day Recently students had the wonderful opportunity to host Gary Starr’s Planetarium on site. The visiting dome is a mobile, full dome digital planetarium that brings the night sky to life inside an inflatable theatre. With 360° projection and immersive sound, students were able to experience realistic views of the Solar System, stars, and space phenomena at school, without needing to travel. Students from Yarrunga Primary School and Appin Primary School came along for the day and participated in a range of hands-on STEM activities while awaiting their planetarium session. The school is incredibly proud of the leadership shown by the volunteer year 7 students, who confidently facilitated each activity in partnership with Charles Sturt University, DTAC, NE Tracks and Wangaratta Technical School. * Cathedral College Wangaratta Spirit of Christmas At the recent carols service, prep students brought festive cheer to the chapel with a heartwarming performance. They proudly presented a nativity story penned by their teacher, Georgina Wills. The book was beautifully narrated by year 5 students, while the prep class took to the stage with joy and confidence. Their bright smiles and enthusiasm lit up the room, creating a truly delightful celebration of the season. * Appin Park Primary School Safety first The foundation students were excited to have a recent visit from some of the local firefighters. With a timely reminder of the conditions that we could see over the summer months, the students learned about the dangers of bad fires and what role they can play if they find themselves in that situation. Stop, Drop, Roll and Cover could be heard as the students chanted and role-played their way out of their classroom. With any of these types of visits the students love to see the equipment, especially the fire truck and the loud sirens, and they weren't disappointed. Each fireman presented with a great personable demeanour, which allowed all the students to have fun and feel safe in their capable hands. * Quiz questions 1. Which walks faster, a Christmas beetle or a dragonfly? 2. There’s a common fashion item that can make rainbows disappear. What is it? 3. About 1200 kilometres from the centre of Earth, the outer core meets the inner core. What’s the biggest difference between these two layers? 4. In which area of science would you find elves and sprites? 5. For what can we thank the caterpillar, Cactoblastis cactorum? Quiz answers 1. Christmas beetles walk faster. Dragonflies can’t actually walk – their legs are used to perch and catch prey midair. 2. Polarised sunglasses can block the light from a rainbow, making it disappear. But if you tilt your head sideways, the rainbow will reappear! 3. The Earth’s outer core is liquid, and the inner core is solid. 4. Elves and sprites are found in meteorology. Sprites are large-scale electrical discharges high above a thunderstorm cloud. Elves, or ‘Emissions of Light and Very low frequency perturbations from Electromagnetic pulse Sources’, is a glow caused by colliding electrons. 5. The caterpillar Cactoblastis cactorum helps to control a weed known as prickly pear.
