Australia 2007 Week 1

Student Teaching in Australia-Spring 2007 Week 1: April 20-April 27 Dr. McDonald and a group of CMU student teachers are currently in the Perth, Australia area. Dr. McDonald is sharing his diary and pictures of the students as they experience student teaching 'down under'. View other pages of diary < 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 River Trip Service Learning >
April 20: The students are set to arrive this morning after a long flight that takes them from Detroit to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Sydney, and finally Sydney to Perth. That’s if everything goes as planned. I received e-mail from a member of the group that related that the entire group had not gotten though customs in time and that they would be on the next flight. The group only had a two-hour layover. So, they came in 3.5 hours later then expected. Daniel McCullen, our coordinator here in Perth, and I split the phone calls to the host families to tell them the news. This afternoon the students arrived and were all picked up by their host families. They were tired and looking forward to going “home” and unwinding and getting some rest. I understand the feeling and that is why I came a little early to visit schools, make arrangements, and meet people. But sleep also helps! It is good to see a lot of familiar faces like Rosemary, the Huttons, Sue, and Robyn and David.
April 21: A day of rest and adjustment for everyone after the long flight. Some students went food shopping with their families, slept in, and got their luggage unpacked. Everyone is glad to be here and is looking forward to the welcoming BBQ tomorrow at Whiteman Park.
April 22: Today is the welcome barbeque that has become a tradition of the Australia program. The host families all come and some of the cooperating teachers as well. Daniel and Irma McCullen meet with the host families and student teachers to go over certain details and then pass out a welcome kit to the students. I met with the host teachers to go over the student teaching forms and expectations for the students. After lunch the CMU students went over to the Caversham Wildlife Park to see kangaroos, wombats, Tasmanian devils, exotic birds, and take camel rides. There is a section of the park that lets you sit for photos with joeys (baby kangaroos) and wombats. I couldn't resist since I was able to do this the last time. This time I got a younger, squirmier wombat to sit next to. Everyone had a good time and went home to get ready to go to Rotto (Rottnest Island) tomorrow.
Group photo of the 2007 Australia student teachers at the welcome barbeque for teachers and host families.	Stephan, Aaron, and Melissa enjoying the BBQ.
Bill, Amanda, Michelle, and Alison enjoying the welcome bbq.	Host teacher Ben, his wife and CMU alum Tammy with their new son Cameron.
Dr. McDonald with a baby kangaroo known as a joey.	Continuing an Australian tradition, Dr. McDonald had to pose with a young wombat.
The students got to see a koala at Caversham Wildlife Park after the BBQ.	Even koalas need some down time.
April 23: We met early this morning to catch the ferry at Freemantle that would take us across to Rottnest Island. Highlights of our first day on Rotto: Biking around the south side of the island to learn about swamps, shipwrecks, and sea lions. Lunch at Nancy Cove The lighthouse on the western side of the island. Brine shrimp and the salt lakes of Rotto. Sunset at the West End of the island. Stargazing at the clear April sky.
To prepare for our full day tour of Rottnest island, first we gathered our bikes	The tour of the island began with a bike trip around the island
We looked for brine shrimp on the final leg of our tour of the island in some shallow salt lakes.	Halfway around the island, the group pauses for a group shot on a beautiful day.
April 24: We got up early this morning to go beachcombing near where we were staying and saw what had washed up on the beach during the night. Highlights of our second day on Rotto: Snorkeling at Little Salmon Bay Receiving certificates for the Environmental Awareness Program An optional trip up to the Oliver Hill gun emplacement used during World War II. The ferry ride back to Fremantle.
The 6 inch gun at Oliver Hill on Rottnest Island
Andy was one of our two interpreters who worked with us on the Environmental Awareness Course.	We ended the day with a trip to the west end to see a remarkable sunset.
April 25: Today is Anzac Day, similar to our Memorial Day. It is a national holiday and therefore school was not in session. Click here for more information about the Australian War Memorial and the meaning of Anzac Day: When war broke out in 1914 Australia had been a federal commonwealth for only fourteen years. The new national government was eager to establish its reputation among the nations of the world. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula to open the way to the Black Sea for the allied navies. The plan was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), capital of the Ottoman Empire and an ally of Germany. They landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers were killed. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians at home and 25 April quickly became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in war. This evening we went on a torchlight tour of Freemantle Prison, now a museum. It was an active prison until 1991 and the maximum security prison for the state of Western Australia. Australia was started as a prison colony on both the east coast (Sydney) and Freemantle started out as a British prison. The tour had some interesting twists and turns and everyone seemed to enjoy it. However, it was a school night and nearly everyone got home about midnight.
The entrance to Freemantle Prison, used as an active prison until 1991
One of the cell blocks inside of the gate at the prison where we took a evening tour	When the prison was about to close and become a tourist attraction, inmates were allowed to paint murals on the wall of the exercise yard
Many of the inmates took painting lessons and were allowed to paint in their cells when the prison was closing	There was some interesting entertainment during the tour including actors playing inmates
April 26: This was the students’ first day of observation in their school placements. Each student is placed with a host family that has some connection to the school such as a teacher, staff member, or parent of a student. They take the student to school and pick them up at night or orient the student how to use public transportation. I visited with Shannon and Lauren at Guildford Grammar, Sarah and Jenn at Mt. Helena Primary School, and Jared at Sacred Heart Catholic School. We had our first seminar to debrief their first day and to collect our thoughts. Daniel McCullen and Dr. McDonald facilitated the seminar.
April 27: The second day of observation for students in the schools and another day of making sure everyone was doing well. I visited with Natasha at Anzac Terrace, Alison at Mt. Lawley Primary School, Michelle at Bassendean Primary, and Stephan at Hillcrest Primary. We are working with some new schools and teachers so I explained how the 8-week placement would work and how students would be assessed. Everyone is enjoying being in the classroom.
View other pages of diary < 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 River Trip Service Learning >