From Julie
In the last few weeks every class in the school, from the Littlies to the Biggies, have been camping - and what fun they have had. Even the Kinders went to visit the Littlies and Grade 1 students camping at Orana last week. I had the pleasure of visiting Mayfield camp yesterday and joined the walk to Christmas Island to look for cowrie shells. What an opportunity camps provide for children to develop as discussed in the Friday News last week. We all learn from camps and if your child has come home without changing their underwear for the last week then you might like to speak with them about hygiene and learning to be more independent in their self-management. Staff on camps do a wonderful job of completing risk assessments prior to the camp and then organising everything: checking and preparing the bus, driving the bus, checking the site on arrival, going through basic safety requirements particular to that site, planning activities, preparing and cooking food, taking the water tank, the toilet, rubbish bins, first aid kits, food, games, tents and nearly everything else that the children enjoy or need. And, as we know, some children take to being away from their parents more easily than others, so vital emotional support is provided by staff to help those struggling to learn about managing without mum or dad for a little bit longer. This can sometimes be needed late into the night. And then there is the delicate matter of getting the Camp Awards just right. It is huge. Staff are the last to sleep and the first up in the mornings and they take on huge responsibilities all day. The challenges are enormous and the enjoyment is sometimes overwhelming and what makes it all possible is the staff commitment, skill and experience, team work, support from families and the wonderful children who attend Cottage School. The parents who make stuff for camp and come to help unload or clean the bus after camp all contribute in important ways to making camp possible. All the ‘thank you’ comments to staff as they return children to you as they get off the bus are so appreciated by staff members. Camps are so important to Cottage School and I would just like to say a very public thank you to all staff involved in making these experiences happen so wonderfully for our students.
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