Wesley @ Clunes

 

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Group 10: Issue Number 8; 20 June, 2002

 














































From the Director
 All good things must come to an end so they say. Group 10 departed a few days ago amid the usual flurry of hugs, tears, laughter and joy when the parents came to take the students home. Over the last few days I have had the opportunity to talk with a few of the parents about the experience of having their child being home again. Invariably they have all remarked on the amount of time their son or daughter has spent sleeping in the first few days! The eight weeks away is certainly busy and coming home really enables the students to have a well-earned rest.

Now that the students are all at home again, I suspect they are spending time thinking about the experiences encountered over this last term. I hope they are asking questions and seeking answers. “What did I learn?” “What did I achieve?” “What can I apply back here in Melbourne?” “Where do I go from here?” and so on. Reflecting on our experience is a vital part of being a deep learner. Unless we take the time to consider the past, make it connect to the present and then speculate and plan for the future we don’t do justice to what we experience.

I was present at a special event a couple of nights ago. Last Tuesday evening was the final farewell from the College to David Loader. It was a splendid evening with a highlight being a piano piece played by Zac Zavod (Clunes Group 8), which was composed during his time in Clunes. The music was stunning. Prior to performing, Zac spoke about his time in Clunes and how the piece was an interpretation of everything he went through in his time here. Zac had obviously sat down, analysed and reinvented his experiences.

I wonder what the students who left a few days ago are doing now. How are they going to interpret their experiences? I can imagine, drawings being done, pieces written and all manner of ways by which we can recall, reflect upon and thereby reconstruct the world we live in. While the time students spend in Clunes is relatively short and it comes to an end, the feelings, lessons learnt and memories gained, will last for a very, very long time. My best wishes go to the students of Group 10 and their families.

Robert Marshall
Cluster Sports Finals

Today we had cluster sports finals. The finals were between Clusters 1,2,3 and 4. There were semi finals and the grand final. The first semi final was between Cluster 3 and 4, Cluster 4 won. After that, Cluster 1 was defeated by Cluster 2. The Grand Final was between Cluster 2 and Cluster 4. Before the start of the game, we were told to stand up and sing the Australian anthem, just like in footy and soccer grand finals. The amount of people that were cheering the players on was amazing. In the end Cluster 2 defeated Cluster 4, but only just. So, the result of cluster sports finals was decided and also who was going to be the lucky ones to get the couches on the last night for the all night movie marathon. Jess M.

 

Netball

On Tuesday night we played our last game in the finals for Clunes Netball. We were all very pumped as we wanted to record one win for the season. We were leading at quarter time and up at half time, but in the second half we began to slip away and lost by 15 points. Thanks Julie for all your efforts in getting the team together and keeping us motivated. Nicole B.

On each Tuesday night since we arrived here, nine of us have been playing netball. We've had a lot of fun together but this week we played our best game for the term. We played an awesome game and we worked so well together. I’d just like to say WELL DONE! Also thanks to Julie for coaching us and all the other people who came to watch us play. It just makes it that little bit more special. Stephanie


Presentation Day

Sunday was Presentation Day. Everyone was nervous before they had to present their Clunes projects to about 30 adults and the mentor group they were in. I was nervous but once I started talking I was fine. At 2 pm there was a concert that all the music students had been practising for at least 3 weeks beforehand. The music students wrote a song called "The Voyage" that they presented during the concert. All the pressure was off the presentation part of the day and we just let go. I hope that all the families and friends enjoyed the presentations and the concert at the end. Special thanks to Michelle and Dave for helping the musicians put on such a great performance. I don't think any of the students would have been able to present their projects as well if they didn't have the aid of their mentor. On behalf of the students, thank you to all the leaders for helping our projects come together to be so successful. Jess M.

 

Outdoor Trip to a Local Site

Last Wednesday we decided we would go to Hanging Rock and test our climbing skills. It was a long trip to the rocks and once we got there most of us headed for the top. It was a exhausting task and I found myself taking breaks frequently. The view was great and worth the walk. When we walked back down we went into the cafe and had a warm hot chocolate drink to treat our taste buds. We then headed for Daylesford where we could seek a good afternoon tea. It was a great day out and well worth the trip. David S-B.

Big Clean Up

On our last full day here we do a big clean up. And I mean big...

We need to clean the whole of our houses from top to bottom, wiping down the cupboards, scrubbing marks off the walls, sweeping everywhere, cleaning the fridge and the like. Currently, I am in house 5 and on my allocated 30 minute break. Everyone else is cleaning up madly. Our aim is to finish before lunch, but considering the time now and the condition the house is in, I don't think we'll be able to. I hope we finish and pass before the all night movie marathon tonight!
Samuel L.  

 
Run to Mt Beckworth

On Monday a group of about 10 students did a 10 km run towards Mount Beckworth. This was a trial run to check whether or not the group of runners will be able to do the big Beckworth run on Friday, where we run to the mountain and then up to the Lollypop tree at the summit. Although it was pretty hot, I think everyone enjoyed it and we are looking forward to Friday.
Chris R-W.

The run to Mt Beckworth was a hard and hearty run for all who had been training for this event. The 13 kilometre run started at the Wesley @Clunes village and finished at the summit of Mt Beckworth. The following people all participated in the run:
Tim F., Andrew, Alistair, Chris, Hugh, Sam K., Bambi , Krystina C., and Matt G.

Tim F.
A hearty runner this one and always eager on the morning runs. Tim showed great pride in his running that paid off in the run to Mt Beckworth. Well Done Tim.

Andrew C.
Not the most experienced runner, but managed to get to the top of the mountain with Sam and Chris snapping at his heals all the way. At the end of the mountain Andy mysteriously disappeared into the mist on the mountain before being the first to appear at the top. Superbly run Andy!

Alistair M.
Formally given the nickname the "Mountain Lion". Through his strides the mountain seemed a little small for this Lion, easily getting to the top! Congratulations!

Chris RW.
Showed strength in his running towards Mt Beckworth and was part of the pack that led the charge to the summit on the mountain. A good runner, look out for this one!

Hugh C.
Not the smartest of all the runners. He was able to get lost on the way up the mountain but finally found his way up the almighty Mountain. Good running Hugh!

Sam K.
His encouragement helped push others to the top making him the favourite. This was an almighty effort going all the way to the top and giving the Lollypop tree a hug. Good on you!

Bambi L.
A strong consistent runner of all of the runners running almost every morning to train for the Beckworth run thus showing the well earned morning run enabling Bambi to get to the base of the mountain. Well-done Bambi Keep Running!

Krystina C.
A strong runner showing pride in the run towards Beckworth unfortunately taking a wrong turn during the run but still she got up while she was down and made her way back to the base of the mountain. Well Done!

Matt G.
Matt  is a wonderful runner and improved immensely through the 8 weeks at Clunes. He strived to run to Mt Beckworth and that's what he did. He almost got to the top which was well past his expectations! Well-done Matt, a truly outstanding run. Look out for this one! 

Compiled by Andrew C.

Group Project

For the group project we were given a square of MDF wood and painted a background and top colour. We scratched messages and words on it. Each term there is a theme for the group project and this term it was interaction. After we finished them, they will be hung up in our houses on one of the walls. It let us leave our mark in Clunes. Jess M.

 
Reflections from the Last Week

I don't really know how to explain my time up in Clunes. I have only three words: CLUNES WAS GREAT-IT-WAS-FANTASTIC-I-WOULD-DO-IT-AGAIN-ANY-TIME-AND_I-CANT-WAIT! Ryan A.

This last week was the best week. There is no project to worry about or any courses to do. We have been having a lot of fun activities. I wish every week was like this! Emmy S.
I'm going to miss socialising with everyone so much. Every minute of the day we are around other people and we can talk, joke, laugh and many other things. Once I go back home it will be a very different atmosphere. Daniel C.


What is... This is...

The Clunes project is
> a reflection of our dedication.
The Clunes Electives are
> the freedom to choose.
The Clunes Journal is
> a story that only one person in the world can understand.
For some the Clunes experience is
> Looking up a mountain and climbing it.
For others the Clunes experience is
> Jumping blindly into the ocean.
We have reached the peak.
We have met the shore.
For all of us
The Clunes experience
> has truly begun.
Matthew W.

Clunes was so much fun and I'm going to miss everyone here so much. I hope we all stay in touch when we get back to Melbourne. I'm so glad I got to meet all of you. 
Cecilie R.

Clunes was REALLY fun! It was a great experience and I really learnt a lot. I will miss all the leaders, staff and people of Clunes. You guys run the best school on Earth! I think Clunes is what you make of it and Group 10 really made it good.
Kenneth S.

Clunes was fun for everyone and a good time was had by all. Everyone got a lot out of this great experience and we hope that it continues for years to come. Jakob V. W.

Clunes was an experience that I won't forget for many years. The things that I learnt about myself will help me in my future school years. I had a lot of fun playing sport with others. Clunes rocks! Sebastian H.

I really enjoyed my time at Clunes and if given the chance would do it again. I especially enjoyed all of the activities. I thoroughly enjoyed the Sports Nuts class, and would like to thank Steven Duke for such a great time. I also really enjoyed the runs in the morning and I will continue to do that so thanks to James Carroll. I also attempted to run to Mt. Beckworth, but unfortunately I did not make it all the way up the mountain without stopping. However, I could not even run 3km at the beginning of term.
I really enjoyed Clunes. IT WAS GREAT. Tim F.

I loved my Clunes experience. I learnt a lot about myself and about my learning. I wish I could do it again. John C.

Clunes was Clunes and you can't know what it is like until you have experienced it. It was the best time of my life. Emily B S.

I thought Clunes was the best term of school learning ever! I've learnt more, not so much academically, but in other unexplainable ways. Sure there were lows but when you get over them it is the greatest experience ever. Clunes has broadened my horizons and now I feel like all I have to do I choose what path to take. Hugh C.

Clunes is the best
The disco was so much fun
The courses are mad
And I had a blast.
Sarah

Clunes has been a great learning experience.  For the last 8 week I had had to cook and clean, as well as socialising and coping with all the courses, electives and the Clunes project work. I have had a lot of fun and have got a lot out of this experience. Sam K.

Clunes has been amazing. We have all had our ups and downs, but there have been more ups than downs. I will be really sad to leave everybody, but I know we will all stay in touch.
Allie B.