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From the Principal

Why do we teach coding and robotics?

We live in a rapidly changing world. Things have certainly changed since CSIRO built the first computer in Australia in 1949! Your standard smartphone now has around 7 million times the processing power of this first computer.

Look at the huge size of this first CSIRO computer.

Technology is now a part of every workplace and every home. Coding is the preliminary part of any technology process which involves telling a computer what you want it to do through step-by-step commands. It requires technical knowledge of the programming languages of code. If you can speak the language of code you can contribute towards creating the solutions needed for the 21st century.

Coding will be important in all aspects of future employment, not just in programming jobs. Already we are seeing cyber security experts, nanotechnology developers, drone programmers and virtual-reality designers emerging in the fields of health, agriculture, education, law enforcement, engineering, mining and retail services.

At its core, coding is about giving children the necessary tools to solve the problems of the future. We would like our students to be capable of contributing to new technologies of the future, and not just be users of this technology.

The best way to teach these skills is to start as early as the Prep stage – hence you will be hearing tales from all our students about coding and robotics activities in the classroom.

Hughenden Show student participation

Our students put considerable effort into their entries for the Show, and were rewarded with prizes in many of the categories. As well, several adult members of our community were very successful in the hotly contested photography competition. Congratulations to Brenda, Lindy, Melanie and Courtney M.

Our Champion photographer was Brodie. With some initial coaching from Brenda, Brodie took a championship-quality photo to enter in the competition.

Brodie’s photo won First Prize and Junior Champion

Cameron Downs State School

Cameron Downs Station

Hughenden-Muttaburra Road

Via HUGHENDEN Qld 4821

Ph: 07 4741 7250

Fax: 4741 7239

principal@camedownss.com.au

www.camedownss.eq.edu.au

NEWSLETTER June 2018

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The judge’s comments on Brodie’s photo were glowing: “Brilliant!! You have made something ordinary look amazing through your composition. Bravo! Love it! I strongly encourage you to keep practising”.

But wait, there’s more!

Cameron Downs students had many more successes with their entries:

First prizes: Mackenzie Year 1 Handwriting. Zoe Watercolour Art. Zoe Photography. Violet Photography. Daniel M Photog. & Encouragement Award. Hunter Photography. Second prizes: Torah Photography. Hunter Year 1 Handwriting. Hunter Photography. Jack P Photography. Jack H Year 2 Handwriting. Daniel M Photography. Third prizes: Elena Photography. Mackenzie Photography. Jack H Photography. Highly Commended: Torah Prep Handwriting. Hughie Photography. Brodie Photography. Daniel W Watercolour Art. Daniel M Year 6 Handwriting. Thanks go to Brenda for organizing the

photography and mounting all the entry photos

on cards for display.

Cameron Downs School display at the show.

Maddie and Courtney organised and set up the

school display in the pavilion. Thank you to you

both.

P&C Café at the Show

The P&C Café was again a feature of the Show,

selling coffee and yummy food. Thanks to those

who helped with the Café over the two days.

Special thanks go to Stacey and Shona for their

great organisation and dedication in making the

Café such a success.

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Prairie School visit for Art Extravaganza

On Wednesday 23rd May, students and teachers

from Prairie SS, as well as two Distance Ed

students joined us for a day of art activities.

Liz hosted the day; we had Chelsea doing a

watercolour art workshop, Brenda doing digital

photography and Linda Blackoe, the Principal at

Prairie, led activities with collage. The students

were divided into three groups and rotated

through the activities. Our teacher aides, Maddie,

Courtney, and Lisa from Prairie assisted.

It was a very successful day with a huge variety

of art created. All the students mixed together

well and everybody had an interesting, friendly

and creative day.

All students together on the classroom carpet at the

start of the day

Maddie, Courtney, Linda and Lisa amused by the

proceedings.

Linda leading the collage activities

Collage, collage, collage.

Chelsea teaching watercolour art.

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Chelsea did not stop all day, leading the different

groups.

Such concentration.

Zoe working on her masterpiece.

So much artwork created.

The Prairie students recording their visit to Cameron Downs

A very happy and friendly group at the end of a

successful day.

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Book fair 2018

Book fair kicked off with a bang on Monday 21st

May, with a fantastic Fancy Dress parade where

the students dressed up as a favourite book

character. It was a playgroup day as well with

the RAFS and Uniting Care ladies visiting and

setting up various play activities for the pre-

schoolers. What a Party!

The Fancy Dress participants came as all sorts of

characters, with Brodie and Zoe confirmed as the

best dressed school students. Gemma, as a lovely

“Green Sheep”, and Will as “Ferdinand the Bull”

were judged best dressed for Playgroup. Well

done to everybody.

The Book Fair sales were well supported and we

sold over $1000 of books which means the school

will get a bonus donation of books from the

organisers.

Mrs C is a Wizard. Really!

What a variety of costumes!

Is that you Jack P?

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Gemma makes a lovely “Green Sheep”.

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Flying a drone at CDSS

Last week, Steve Larkin from Kentle came to the

school to demonstrate the drone that he uses on

his property for various tasks.

After a full explanation of the operation and

capabilities of the drone, the students were each

given the opportunity to fly and navigate the

drone. As well, they were able to take some

“bird’s-eye view” photos of the school grounds.

The kids really enjoyed the session and learned

about the role and capabilities of drones in

property operations, as well as the practical

activity of flying the drone. This session

integrated well with our current technology

studies.

Maths and Geography lessons will never be the

same again now that we have mapping capability.

Larko explains the operation of the drone.

Hunter assembles the drone.

The students make stars on the grass that can be

seen from the air. What fun.

A bird’s-eye view of our school.

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Students visit Life Education session in

Hughenden

On May 21st our junior students visited the Life

Education van in Hughenden to learn about life

skills, including respect for others, friendship and

caring. Harold the Giraffe was the star of

proceedings and made learning about these

things a lot of fun.

Activities for everyone.

On the following day, St Francis School invited

Daniel M and Daniel W to join their upper school

group for a Life Ed session on cyber safety.

Jack P meets Harold the Giraffe.

Thumbs up for Life Ed.

NAPLAN

Zoe and Daniel W participated in the NAPLAN

tests this year. The three days of tests were

handled without stress by these two cool students,

and we anticipate that they will have done well.

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Parade at CDSS on Tuesday mornings

On Tuesday mornings, Brenda starts the day with

our school parade. Sometimes this is held

outside, and sometimes in the classroom. We

have a system of shared leadership for the

parade whereby two students, usually a senior

and a junior, will stand at the front and act as

Master of Ceremonies on a rotating basis.

This provides an opportunity for all students to

have their first experience of public speaking in a

safe environment, and with the juniors having the

help of a senior if needed. The pair will lead the

proceedings and invite the appropriate

contributors, staff and parents, to present the

weekly notices, the classroom awards and any

other business. On some occasions we will have

an item of some sort presented by a student.

Most recently, Daniel Wearing presented a piece,

played on his piano, accompanied by his singing.

At morning tea break, Daniel played again in the

undercover area. Our two Kindy girls, Violet and

Elena were so enthralled that they began to

dance. Thanks Daniel.

Daniel W presents an item at Parade.

Violet and Elena dance to Daniel’s music at smoko.

Another enthusiastic student!

After one of Brenda’s art classes, Prep Hughie

was so inspired that at home he constructed his

very own, very mean, crocodile!

Wow, that’s a mean crocodile Hughie.

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Cameron students are in training for the

Athletics Carnival

To be ready for the upcoming Athletics Carnival,

Courtney is taking the students on a short

training run each morning before lessons start.

This is proving to be very popular with the

students, and also really gets the blood moving to

give better concentration in the classroom.

And they’re away!

Courtney sets the pace.

Nearly home!

Claim these Dates

11 June Athletics and Dance Day

at Prairie SS.

11 June Under 8’s Day at St

Francis School.

12 June Discus & 800m at St

Francis School.

27 June Author visit:

Ian McIntosh.

28 June Small Schools Athletics

Carnival at St Francis

School.