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What was it like during the Blitz in 1940? 

The Blitz began on September the 5^th of 1940. The German air force flew 350 planes over London and dropped 300 tons of bombs. Blitz actually means lightning in German. The sounds of the bombs must have been awful which would have resembled the sounds of lightning. The Blitz lasted from 1940 to 1941.  

Every day and night London was bombed for 11 weeks. London was bombed nearly every night so the people were always very frightened. They spent most nights sleeping in Air raid shelters which were very uncomfortable because of the blackout. Children were evacuated and food and clothing were rationed. The Blitz ended in mid-May 1941 with 32,000 deaths because the German army had to prepare for the invasion of Russia. 

What was it like to be an evacuee? 

For some evacuees, they saw evacuating as a sign of safety and they looked forward to going to a safer place. But for others it was a dreadful experience being separated from their family and going to an unknown place. A lot of the children were fascinated by the countryside because they were only used to the city. A sight of a cow would make them excited. 

The children often wrote letters to their parents talking excitedly about their new guardians. But others complained because the ride there was awful. For the poorer children, going away was like luxury for them. Some hadn’t even ever slept in a bed. But for the wealthier children it wasn’t so good because they hated the fact of living in a small country town. Not like the city they were used to. 

Yesterday we received our first book of the year; Good night Mister. Tom. So far I have read a little bit past the second chapter.

What do you think of Willie so far? I think Willie is a troubled little boy whom I feel very sorry for. It appears that his mother used to beat him. The sad part is, is that Willie thinks that he really is a bad boybecause his mother puts that into his head. He is also petrified of dogs because his mother told him that they are bad animals and if one bites you, you will die instantly.

How do I feel about Tom Oaks?  I like Tom Oaks because even though at the very beginning he seemed like a rude man, I can tell that he has a nice heart and that he will look after Willie.

What do you think will happen in the future?  In the future I think Willie and Tom will grow a close relationship together. By reading the blurb I think they will be separated and that would be very bad for both of them. 

Have you ever been in a strange place where you didn’t know anyone?    I was in a strange place where I didn’t know anyone when i started Drama lessons. I didnt know anyone and I felt really left out but eventually I made some friends.

Have I Ever Been really Scared?  I once felt really scared when i was little and I got lost in a shopping centre and i didnt know where my mum was.        Book Cover                 

There are six detention centres spread around Australia in different states. There is the Baxter Detention Centre in Sydney, Villawood Detention Centre in Sydney, Maribyrnong Detention Centre in Melbourne, Detention Centre in Perth, Port Hedland Detention Centre in S/A, Curtan Detention Centre in S/A, Woomera Detention Centre & Housing Project as well as several in different countries.
  Inside lies people who ran away from their unhopeful country in search for a better life, a life of freedom and hope. But little did they know they would just be re-entering it just in another country. The refugees are locked inside the camp 24/7 and refused to leave. The people that get sent to a detention centre are those who come to Australia illegally without a Visa mostly on a boat. If this happens they can apply for asylum which may take months some even take years. They have not really done anything wrong but are treated like criminals.
Refuge camps are run by the department of immigration which is run by the Government. The conditions inside a refuge camp aren’t all pretty. As you could imagine, feeding and supplying beds for thousands of people would be costly, therefore the living conditions aren’t what you call five star accommodation. There are about four people to a room.
In Australian detention centres they still have the right to lock up children. But in some other countries they are unable to lock up people under the age of 18.
Detention Centres are often isolated, located away from the public surrounded in barb-wire and some are even surrounded with electric fences.
In some detention centres people work for as little as one dollar an hour, like slaves.
 Here you have read about what the average refuge camp is like and as you might have figured they aren’t a very nice place. These types of places are giving Australia a bad name. What would the little children think? All they would know about Australia would be that it is a prison.
 

By Stefanie

HEY EVERYBODY!!!!

So hello everyone.

How is everyone? Did you enjoy your holiday break?

Anyways today after school I’m going to Subway for lunch because we finish early because of parent interveiws. I have three interveiws tonight:Sose,english and science. I’m hoping the teachers say nice things about me though!

So yer now I’m in English and I have Maths next.

So bibi. Luv Stef xoxo

Weather Poem
As the sky turns as black as night, a fierce tsunami makes its way through Ferntree Gully, swallowing everything in its path. The icy cold water destroys people, houses everything in the blink of an eye as it makes its way further through the once peaceful suburb of Ferntree Gully.
 Following in the tsunami’s footsteps is a massive hailstorm. The hail falls on people’s heads like sharp knives falling from the heavens. All of a sudden, a sound louder than a bomb rumbles the sky. People fall to the ground in utter confusion, unsure of what to do next. It is like a scene in a horrific battle movie. Although more lives are lost, more destruction has been made and even after the clouds disappear and the water has washed away, the end result will be far worse than any battle scene so far or perhaps ever.
 After what had seemed like a life- time of horror, it all stopped like a blink of an eye. The clouds began to disappear like people running away from the sound of fingernails scraping down a blackboard. Everything stood as still as a statue.
 

By Stef

When did her journey start: when she goes to Canada or when she finds the eggs?

At the start of the story, Amy travells from New Zealand to Canada-her new home. As soon as her mother dies she has to go through a life changing jouney of ups and downs. Her jouney really starts when she goes to Canada because everything that happens to her in the movie was able to happen because of her moving. Finding the eggs was only part of her jouney.

 Did Amy’s journey help anybody else?

Even though it is Amy’s journey, people around her were also helped. Her father Tom, got to know his daughter and developed a very strong relationship with her in the end. And of course the geese that Amy helped fly home were helped. From then on the geese would be able to fly by their selves back to her in the summer.

What kind of person has Amy grown into in the course of her journey?

Amy grew into a mature girl and she learnt a lot of things from her journey. She learnt to be patient whilst teaching the geese how to fly. She grew into a brave and determined person.

Are you on a journey? Are you part of anybody else’s journey? Have you learnt anything from the film Fly Away Home?

I am kind of on a journey going through school. I am learning and expirencing lots of things. By watching Fly Away Home I have learnt to keep my mind set on things and not to give up.

By Stef

I have now been at school for 6 whole weeks and next week everyone will be on holidays! I can’t wait because I’m going to Mildura for a week and one of my friends is coming with me. Even though I can’t wait for holidays I have still had fun at school this past year.

So far I have gained a few new subjects such as Food Tech and S.O.S.E. These have both been great learning activities (I now know how to make chocolate truffels) and I’m really enjoying it.

We also had fun in the co-curricular week where we were invoved in 8Alive; a week of activities and learning. But I won’t go on about that because I have already talked about it in my past blog entries.

I have also met a couple of new people from my new core group, which by the way is 8.6. Getting a new classgroup was interesting because you discoved that there are more people than just your friends that are worth chatting to. I was also sad because I had to leave my old coregroup with a lot of my friends in it. But that doesnt matter because I see them at recess and lunch.

Also another new thing for me this year was trying out for my first sport ever, tennis. The junior school tryouts were on Monday and Wednesday after school and went along to tryout. I don’t know whether I’ll get in yet but so far I have won all of my games but then again I have tried to avoid the really good players but i’ll soon have to face up to them!

Well enough blogging for me now. I just want to wish everyone a fun and safe well deserved break.

Luv always…Stef♥

Guys can you please help me with ideas for my blog!!!

I don’t know what to write!

 Love Stef

Last week all of the year 8’s participated in the 8 Alive program.

On the first day did a getting to know each other activity. I found that very boring because I have done them many times before. We also decorated our journals, which we use for doing different things of work.

The rest of the week was spent doing things about our health and self-esteem.

On thursday we went to the Victoria market. It was a lot of fun and it was the best day so far. I also bought myself a nice yellow top for $10!

Anyways got to go.

Love Stef ♥