English, Humanities & Languages
This week, the Languages Faculty launched RVSSC's Inaugural Paper Cranes Project.
In Japanese culture, origami paper cranes symbolise hope and wishes granted. Legend has it that if a person folds one thousand cranes, their wishes would be fulfilled.
Ms Wellgood has tied this initiative in with our PBL focus as a mindfulness activity which means that every student at RVSSC has had the opportunity to contribute to the first 1000 cranes.
The first thousand cranes will be gifted to our college as a gesture of hope and prosperity. However, as our college grows, the Languages faculty hope to fold 1000 origami cranes each year to gift to our local community, including our local first responders and hospital.
Students can get involved during lunchtimes, with prizes and rewards on offer for the most paper cranes folded.
If you have a suggestion for the next 1000 cranes, please contact Ms Wellgood.
On Friday 30th April, our Year 9 Humanities students enjoyed the experience of researching in the state library, as well as the Queensland museum. In preparing for their upcoming assessment, students accessed secondary sources in the state library, but more importantly, were immersed in primary sources available at the ANZAC Legacy Gallery.
The Anzac Legacy Gallery tells the fascinating story of the First World War in Queensland; the people and the things they held close – objects of war and warfare, and personal items belonging to those on the front line.
Of particular interest is the Mephisto - named Mephisto by its German crew. The 30-tonne tank was part of an advance towards the French town of Amiens, resulting in the capture of Villers- Bretonneux, a small French village that was recaptured by Australian soldiers at the cost of 1,200 lives. During the battle, Mephisto became stuck in a shell crater and was abandoned by its crew. It remained on the battlefield for months before troops of the 26th Battalion AIF, composed mainly of Queenslanders, regained lost ground and retrieved it, dragging the tank behind Australian lines under cover of darkness. It was sent to Australia as a war trophy, and it remains the sole surviving A7V tank in the world.
Eventually Mephisto was shipped to Brisbane and preserved at Queensland Museum where our Year 9 Students were able to see primitive technology up close, deepening their understanding of, and connection to World War I.
Special thanks to Mr Sharma, Mrs Sipple, Mrs Easdale for their organisation of the day, and our wonderful teacher aides for their support in supervising the students.
Jasmine Diesing
HOD - English | Humanities | Languages