From the Grow 2 Be Team …
We are looking very forward to “Freedom Day” to get out and about. We have been discussing all the options we will have available to us in the near future. We are proud of everyone’s perseverance and patience during this lockdown. Everyone has taken it in their stride while we ensure COVID safe protocols are adhered to – both indoors and outside. Well done everyone!
Intentions and Aspirations …
As we are nearing “Freedom Day”, we have locked in our Tai Chi Qigong which will go ahead as from the last week of October 2021. We are looking forward to booking in and completing our accredited barista course in November 2021 and we will be researching excursion venues we can attend now that lockdown is coming to an end.
Bluey and Alice Bunny Refuge …
The Bluey & Alice Bunny Refuge located in Cockatoo has been one of our constants throughout this lockdown. Our participants have looked forward to and enjoyed volunteering here every week – where taking care of animals is an essential service. Our participants have had the opportunity to witness bunnies being bonded; being adopted; being nursed back to health and have even spent time seeing what happens when it’s “vet day” at the Refuge. Vet day involves weighing, measuring, checking diets and ensuring all the bunnies are well and remaining in good health. Watching the baby bunnies grow and develop their own individual personalities has been great but saying goodbye to those that have been adopted has not been easy – as they have become favourites.
Our Voice …
Jess: I love feeding the bunnies and giving them and Bella dog attention.
Riley: Chester is my favourite bunny – he is cute and awesome and he loves a cuddle.
Meiling: I love seeing how these adorable bunnies are growing up. They grow up so fast.
Brayden: Taking care of the bunnies, cleaning their cages and having a cuddle.
Gembrook Wildlife Shelter …
Another month has passed, and we are still having the time of our lives, volunteering at the Gembrook Wildlife Shelter, where they take in and rehabilitate our native wildlife. We have had the privilege of bottle-feeding joeys, bottle-feeding wombats, giving fresh fruit and branches to the possums, feeding chickens and geese and helping with the cleaning of the cages, enclosures and the animals live. A highlight this month would have to be when Riley and Declan were given the privilege of naming one of the joeys – they decided to name her Jackie. We look forward to continuing our volunteering at the Wildlife Shelter.
Our Voice …
Riley: I enjoy feeding the kangaroos and the wombats; letting the chickens out and feeding the birds. I enjoy holding the joeys. They are always very happy to see us – especially if we have bottles to feed them.
Armchair Travel – Literacy
During our Zoom sessions over the last few weeks, we have been researching and studying Mexico. We have learnt some interesting facts about Mexico, which include:
- Colour TV was invented in Mexico
- North America’s first printing press was used in Mexico City
- Mexico City is one of the oldest North American cities – dating back to 1325
- The meteorite that wiped out the dinosaurs hit Mexico
- Mexico has the most taxi cabs in the world
- Mexico City was built on a lake and is sinking at 12cm a year
- Mexico City is one of the oldest North American cities – dating back to 1325
Our Voice …
Nik: I enjoyed making the food and learning about the day of the dead.
Brayden: I enjoyed learning about the sports and famous people from Mexico.
Jess: Learning about which movies were made in Mexico.
Riley: Learning about the ancient animals.
Lucas: I liked learning about the Mexican culture and the traditions that were passed down between generations – and they have really cool movie villains; El Cucuy (Spanish Boogyman); Bullfights.
Bianca: Learning about the folklore eg: goateater, Cinco de Mayo, night festivals.
Our Cooking Program …
Every week, our program involves cooking – generally our recipes relate to the countries we are studying at the time. We have been cooking quite a few Mexican dishes this month – Tacos, Quesadillas and Nachos. Let’s be honest, Mexican food is delicious.
Our cooking program involves sourcing recipes; researching items in Coles Online and pricing the items; working within a budget; using numeracy within the cooking program – weights and measures; participating in preparation and cooking – and participating in the setting of the table and cleaning up afterwards. All life skills we use on a daily basis.
Our Voice …
Nik: Everything!
Bianca: Cooking in a group is more fun than cooking alone.
Brayden: Learning how to put the ingredients together and what food goes with what – and in which order the recipe goes.
Riley: I enjoy preparing the food.
Lucas: Shopping for ingredients and eating the food.
Jess: Putting all the ingredients together to form a meal.
Auslan – Language and Literacy …
Learning Auslan increases memory retention and motion processing while stimulating brain development and mental flexibility … and it’s a lot of fun. We laugh more than we learn but we are making steady progress. Taking the time to learn Auslan as a second language gives you a lifelong skill and increases your ability to communicate with members of Australia’s deaf community.
Our Voice …
Nik: Communicating with deaf people
Riley: I like learning to sign my name
Lucas: Learning a new skill – and realising Auslan is not a country
Jess: Learning to do the different signs
Brayden: Learning how to do the signs correctly and signing my name
Bianca: Interesting to learn signs – we can create our own language between friendship groups
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