How Flinders Christian Community College is managing agricultural classes during remote learning
When online lessons kicked off at the start of Term 2 one Mornington Peninsula school sent senior students home with a very unusual project. And the assignment is delivering woolly bundles of joy. Have a look.
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Remote learning is tricky when the subject involves sheep.
But Flinders Christian Community College students have risen to the challenge and recently welcomed four healthy lambs into the school’s Corriedale stud.
Principal Nick Haines said the school had to think outside the box to ensure the Agriculture and Horticulture Program could continue at the Tyabb campus during the coronavirus lockdown.
“We had to be adaptable and flexible,” he said.
Agriculture and horticulture teacher Liz Goldberg said the school’s livestock, which includes pregnant ewes, alpacas and chickens, was relocated across five properties connected to current students at the college.
“I have the adult rams at my own farm,” she said
Year 12 student, and Flinders’ 2019 Sheep Show Captain, Erin Douglas took on the responsibility of the “very pregnant ewes”.
Erin, 17, is involved with Moralla Corriedales in Baxter.
The 150 strong stud is managed by Tess Runting, 21.
“We’re really well set up there for lambing and had the space to take on the school’s pregnant ewes,” Tess said.
Both ewes have since given birth to twins.
Champion ewe Charlotte delivered girls about three weeks ago and Juliet had a pair of boys on May 1.
Erin was excited about the prospects of Juliet’s boys.
“They were really big from birth and are already showing all the potential of being champions,” she said.
Erin said witnessing the circle of life during the COVID-10 pandemic was comforting.
“The sheep don’t know there’s a crisis,” she said.
“And to be honest delivering lambs is normal for us. Instead of helping the ewes deliver at school we’re doing it at our stud.”
The new arrivals are yet to be named.
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“We usually run a ballot at the school so the students can pick the names,” Erin said.
The remaining pregnant ewes went home with a student who lives on a small farm in Tyabb.
They will be moved to the Baxter property when they get closer to their due dates in June and July.
“That’s if school doesn’t go back first,” Erin said.